You can always download sample speeches from here: www.speech-writers.com/sample_speech.html, but they will sound fairly generic and run the risk of coming across as soulless. The key is to use your own imagination and be yourself.
You’re opening the church function, that’s a position of respect and, not to put pressure on you, but your speech will either sink or float the morale for the whole event.
The best way to do speeches is to not plan every syllable of every word as you’ll only end up getting it wrong. Have a rough outline of what you want to say and fill in the gaps as you go. ‘Wing it’.
Once you have everybody’s attention, the first thing to do would be to thank everyone for attending. What is the weather like? If it’s raining or thick with snow, fog or storm then be especially grateful for their attending. End the topic the weather with a good point. For example, if it’s thick with snow say something like ‘but still, everybody loves a snowball fight’. Rain is good for the plants and fog makes everything look gothic vintage. They’re cliché things to say, but they work.
Secondly, keep the conversation light. I know it’s a church, but the function won’t be all hellfire and brimstone. Make a joke. A small, light-hearted joke that isn’t hilarious, but good for a cheap giggle. Above all, keep it clean! I point you to the small joke told in the film Spiderman 2:
"But first, before we start, has anybody lost a large roll of dollar bills in a rubber band? Because we found the rubber band.”
It’s a terrible joke, but they go down so well.
Keep up on current affairs in the community. If someone is pregnant or recently engaged, wish them well and if someone has just passed away take a moment to honor them and talk about how they are missed.
The thing to remember is to just be yourself. These people already know you, so give them what they expect.
At the end of the speech, don’t ask people what they thought of it. If they liked it, they will tell you, but silence isn’t always a negative either. Just because they don’t sing your praise, it doesn’t mean they hated it.
At the end of the function, if you are required to say something, the phrase ‘you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here’ may get a few laughs too.
You’re opening the church function, that’s a position of respect and, not to put pressure on you, but your speech will either sink or float the morale for the whole event.
The best way to do speeches is to not plan every syllable of every word as you’ll only end up getting it wrong. Have a rough outline of what you want to say and fill in the gaps as you go. ‘Wing it’.
Once you have everybody’s attention, the first thing to do would be to thank everyone for attending. What is the weather like? If it’s raining or thick with snow, fog or storm then be especially grateful for their attending. End the topic the weather with a good point. For example, if it’s thick with snow say something like ‘but still, everybody loves a snowball fight’. Rain is good for the plants and fog makes everything look gothic vintage. They’re cliché things to say, but they work.
Secondly, keep the conversation light. I know it’s a church, but the function won’t be all hellfire and brimstone. Make a joke. A small, light-hearted joke that isn’t hilarious, but good for a cheap giggle. Above all, keep it clean! I point you to the small joke told in the film Spiderman 2:
"But first, before we start, has anybody lost a large roll of dollar bills in a rubber band? Because we found the rubber band.”
It’s a terrible joke, but they go down so well.
Keep up on current affairs in the community. If someone is pregnant or recently engaged, wish them well and if someone has just passed away take a moment to honor them and talk about how they are missed.
The thing to remember is to just be yourself. These people already know you, so give them what they expect.
At the end of the speech, don’t ask people what they thought of it. If they liked it, they will tell you, but silence isn’t always a negative either. Just because they don’t sing your praise, it doesn’t mean they hated it.
At the end of the function, if you are required to say something, the phrase ‘you don’t have to go home, but you can’t stay here’ may get a few laughs too.
