You are SO LUCKY -- such an opportunity to make new friends.

Matthew 11:1  And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.

Then follow with

1 Corinthians 13:

"If I speak in the tongues[a] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b] but have not love, I gain nothing.

 4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

 13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Just a Self-writing poem,
Inannawhimsey

Those are really good.

Thanks you very much.

Oh, and Re: New friends.  I already know everyone in this town, I'm not going to be meeting anyone new xD

(3000) people aren't as hard to keep track of as you think :P)

As-Salaamu Alaikum

-Omni

There is a part in one of Paul's letters (someone on here will be able to tell you the letter, chapter and verse) that says something about  "in Christ there is no slave nor free, no male or female, no Jew or Greek, but all are part of God's people". 

I would also suggest that you do a reading from the Koran, and maybe end up with a poem or short reading from something contemporary. 

I'm thinking of doing a reading from the Qur'an, I still have a while to figure out this.  It's this coming sunday evening.  Perhaps a poem by Rumi.

As-salaamu alaikum

-Omni

Damn...now i'm being told what to read.

Methinks I will fall back on my "respectfully decline" stance...

Shucks...The lord giveth, and the lord taketh away...

As-Salaamu Alaikum

-Omni

Oh, you have to read certain stuff, that sucks. I was gonna congratulate you on the sweet opportunity too

Maybe I can still find a way to wrok through this...

Insha'Allah...

As-salaamu alaikum

-Omni

I think that if I were in your shoes I would try to respectfully tell whoever is in charge that I have already given considerable thought to this and I would like to go with another reading - or maybe have two or three that I'm comfortable with and let them choose between them.   I would add that if I have to go with their suggestion (maybe it is a good one - one that you would have picked yourself if you had been aware of it) but if I have to go with their suggestion and I don't feel comfortable with it, I will respectfully decline.

On the other hand I was the type of kid who would never have been chosen for this honor so I've never been in your shoes.

I agree with seeler - let one of the ministers know that you've got some suggestions about your reading. Having said that, its also important to remember that, when a service is put together, scriptures and readings are often chosen for a reason - there are certain things that need to be said at certain times, for the flow of worship.

But - make sure you talk with one of the worship leaders about it!

Christ's peace - rb

It depends on how the service is structured to me.

If someone has written a service , as in the Sunday morning service, and has chosen the readings for particular reasons, then you have the choice to be honoured to be asked and do the reading given to you.

You can make it personal by how you open the reading or how you close the reading.  ie we often hear people say at the end of a reading  "the word of God, thanks be to GOd"  or something along those lines.  You could perhaps finish your reading with  " the Quran tells us to .........., thanks be to God"

On the other hand it woudl be totally ok to say , no thanks, I don't think i can honestly read that. 

If however the service is not structured, then you could ask if it's possilbe to read something of your own choosing.

the reason that it may be structured is the person leading the service may be building to a point with the variety of scriptures/poems or they may in teh past have found that people choose the same reading.

I would just ask.

I also think that Psalm 23, woudl be good.  Whiel it is often read at funerals, it is also about moving on to a next stage

I thought you would have to write the thing you're reading. I didn't know what a "reading" is! ; ) I wouldn't do what they tell you unless you agree with what the passage sais. Too bad.

The rebel in me says agree to read their passage... then show up and read your own