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    Eulogies, Introductions and Special Occasion Speeches: Tips for When You Are Asked to Speak Well of Another
    Eulogies, Introductions and Special Occasion Speeches: Tips for When You Are Asked to Speak Well of Another
    Eulogies, Introductions and Special Occasion Speeches: Tips for When You Are Asked to Speak Well of Another
    Ebook102 pages1 hour

    Eulogies, Introductions and Special Occasion Speeches: Tips for When You Are Asked to Speak Well of Another

    By John Zehring

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    About this ebook

    If you are called upon to offer a eulogy, introduce a speaker or make any special occasion speech, this book will guide you with tips and valuable direction. Sections on content and delivery in public speaking show how to connect well with your listeners. Includes 24 readings, stories and scriptures for use with eulogies.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJohn Zehring
    Release dateJan 30, 2017
    ISBN9781370649181
    Eulogies, Introductions and Special Occasion Speeches: Tips for When You Are Asked to Speak Well of Another
    Author

    John Zehring

    John Zehring has served United Church of Christ congregations as Senior Pastor in Massachusetts (Andover), Rhode Island (Kingston), and Maine (Augusta) and as an Interim Pastor in Massachusetts (Arlington, Harvard). Prior to parish ministry, he served in higher education, primarily in development and institutional advancement. He worked as a dean of students, director of career planning and placement, adjunct professor of public speaking and as a vice president at a seminary and at a college. He is the author of more than sixty books and is a regular writer for The Christian Citizen, an American Baptist social justice publication. He has taught Public Speaking, Creative Writing, Educational Psychology and Church Administration. John was the founding editor of the publication Seminary Development News, a publication for seminary presidents, vice presidents and trustees (published by the Association of Theological Schools, funded by a grant from Lilly Endowment). He graduated from Eastern University and holds graduate degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary, Rider University, and the Earlham School of Religion. He is listed in Marquis' WHO'S WHO IN AMERICA and is a recipient of their Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. John and his wife Donna live in two places, in central Massachusetts and by the sea in Maine.

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      Book preview

      Eulogies, Introductions and Special Occasion Speeches - John Zehring

      Introduction

      One word inspired this book: Eulogeo. It is a Greek word which means to speak well of. This is where the word eulogy comes from. A eulogy speaks well of another person. Interestingly, the Greek word is also translated as a blessing. When you speak well of another, you have blessed his or her name. The person spoken about is blessed to have someone care enough to speak well of them. Wouldn’t we all like that? But more, you are blessed because you have spoken well of another. Because you lifted them up before others, you are cherished, appreciated, valued and blessed by the audience who appreciates your initiative to speak well of the person. Does that not feel like you are blessed?

      Consider the possibilities for when you might have opportunity to speak well of another:

      Eulogy for a friend, family member, neighbor or co-worker.

      Introducing a speaker, presenter or special guest.

      Honoring someone at a volunteer or anniversary dinner.

      Toast for a friend at a wedding.

      Presenting an award to a staff member.

      Speaking at a colleague’s retirement dinner.

      Welcoming a new leader.

      Announcing a new product or service

      Welcoming parents at parent’s night.

      Dedicating a wing on the local hospital.

      Accepting your Nobel, Pulitzer, Emmy, Person of the Year, or any award.

      Giving a Commencement Speech.

      Representing an organization you care about.

      Special occasion speeches have in common that they are brief (usually 5 to 10 minutes), focused specifically on a person or occasion being noted, and that YOU have a special connection to the person or reason for speaking about them.

      The goal of a special occasion speech is not to convey information or persuade attitudes but to speak well of another person on a particular occasion. If it were art, your presentation would be an impressionist painting rather than an architectural rendition. You are creating an impression rather than portraying every angle and detail. You are the poet or story teller, not the obit writer. Your goal is to capture the unique thumbprint of the person, present them in their best light and entice the audience to want to know them better and learn more about them.

      We have all been in audiences to witness the best and the worst. If there is any word to characterize the worst it is unprepared. The lazy speaker simply did not do his or her homework and invested minimal effort to just get by. Such is an affront to the one being spoken well of. No one remembers what they said and audiences wish they would get done and get out. At the other end of the spectrum, the best, this man or woman prepared well, researched, rehearsed, edited, consulted and invested everything he or she had to provide a worthy speech about the one who is lifted up. Audiences are grateful that this person cared enough to do justice to the one being honored.

      In eulogies, introductions and other special occasion speeches there are two key components: content and delivery. The content is the WHAT is said, the delivery is HOW it is said. Both are equally important. Weakness in one does not compensate for strength in the other. Some prepare well, research, wrestle with the topic, connect the message to the audience and deliver excellent information. For their content, they get an A+. The same speaker, on the other hand, might rate a C- on delivery. Perhaps the speaker does not make eye contact. Listeners do not feel seen. He does not even peek at you when he speaks, let alone linger in a gaze that causes you to feel like you and he are engaged in a conversation. She reads most of her speech. Perhaps ninety percent of the time his eyes are affixed upon the paper on the podium. She stares out the side window as though watching the traffic. If you can see behind the podium, he is making a few hand gestures but they are mostly to himself, not to aid in the delivery. His and her messages are still valuable. Better to have great content with inadequate delivery than the other way around. Who would favor all sizzle and no steak?

      Why not master both content and delivery? This book aims to provide you with increased ability to connect with your audience. It will help you to self-evaluate your content and delivery to identify where more attention is needed. At the conclusion of this book is a self-evaluation checklist to help you review and improve upon your content and delivery. This presumes, of course, that you desire to do your very best for the one being spoken well of. If you do, your small part in the program will be valued, cherished, remembered and appreciated by the audience. You too will be lifted up as one who did his or her best on behalf of another.

      Some of the content of the book is taken from other books or eBooks I have written, particularly Public Speaking for Executives, Leaders and Managers. Please feel welcome to search for "John Zehring books" to see others.

      On behalf of every audience member who cared that the presenter was well-prepared, I thank you for your review of this work.

      John Zehring

      Eulogies

      Introductions

      Speaking on Special Occasions

      Ten Key Rules for Speaking at

      Eulogies, Introductions and Special Occasions

      Connecting with Your Listeners

      The Content

      The Delivery

      Self-Evaluation Checklist

      APPENDIX: 24 Readings, stories and scriptures

      About the Author

      Eulogies

      The word eulogy comes from the Greek word which means

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