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Today our guests are Eliza Marth, Northwest Region Missionary and Anne Hall, Junior Warden at St. John’s in Pine Meadow. Both Eliza and Anne were both participants in the first region based lay preaching course last Lent in 2018. The second round just finished up on March 3. Twelve people participated from five parishes and communities. The course met for four weeks.    We begin our conversation talking about what is lay preaching. Anne says that it is not only the lay members of a congregation that preach under the guidance of colleagues and the priests, but it is also a deeply formative practice for adults.    Alli asks how the lay preaching class came to be. Eliza shares the genesis of the class from the basement of Trinity, Torrington and the desire for a part-time priest wanting more diversity in the pulpit. As Region Missionary of the Northwest region, Eliza took a leadership role with two other leaders and 12 lay preaching students.    The classes in the first round of the classes first concentrated on bible passages that were sermons as examples. Anne says that one thing that had been very valuable for was spending time talking about the difference between preaching and public speaking. Preaching, for Anne, requires an openness of her own faith.    Alli asks why Anne and Eliza both said “yes” to participating in the first course. Eliza says she said “yes” because was very drawn to the process of wrestling with the text and then sharing how the Gospel has transformed in her life. Eliza also says that lay preaching is practical in order to free up some time for priests, and to bring more lay voices into the pulpit. Anne says it has helped to build community within the congregation and in the region, representing all types of backgrounds. Anne said “yes” because she thought it was an interesting challenge.    The second round of lay preaching classes finished up in March. Alli asks Eliza what the differences were between the first and second rounds of classes. First, Eliza says, the Rev. Peter Stebinger, who created the first course curriculum, moved away. Those classes were recorded and are offered as resources for those in the second class. Other priests have stepped in to lead the second class, sharing more insights and resources in response to the feedback given from the first course.    Alli asks if the vulnerability that is required with preaching has translated to their non-preaching life and relationships. Anne shares that this process has opened her eyes to the difficult job that priests have to be that vulnerable each week. It has, for Anne, helped her open up about and articulate her faith to others. Eliza says that this has helped integrate the Gospels into her daily life, and articulate how God has moved in her life.    Eliza shares about how the lay preaching courses has expanded to other regions. In the Northwest Region, there is a desire to have continuing education for lay preachers. On Saturday, June 22, the Northwest Region will host their Region Convocation, which will have a Revival including lay preachers and testimonials.