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Rev. Joey N. Welsh: July 30, 2006. Dairy Queen ANOTHER ANGLE: the occasional musings of a Kentucky pastor Dairy Queen and surpassed expectations By The Rev. Joey N. Welsh E-mail: joey_n_welsh@hotmail.com I often quote poets and hymn writers when I write my column. For today I'm going to quote someone else, me. This is the text of an e-mail I sent to my congregation and some friends on July 7, after I thought over some things that had occurred in church on Sunday, July 2. The Gospel lesson I am using in church today, July 30, is John 6:1-21. The passage includes John's narrative of the feeding of the 5,000. This John episode is a part of a three-year cycle of readings for worship, the Revised Common Lectionary, so it was set long ago and also announced in my column in my church's July newsletter. I had the John passage in the back of my mind, but on July 2 I primarily was concerned with the worship service for that day. This is what transpired on that day, my first Sunday to wear shoes and stand for the communion service, after a long recovery from eight hospitalizations and 13 surgeries on my feet. After spending 2+ years confined to a wheelchair, I was glad to be back standing in the pulpit. Actually, I was thankful to be standing anywhere at all! This is my e-mail of July 7: "Sometimes things happen that remind me all over again why I like ministry so very much. Last Sunday was a low attendance week for us, with folks with kids vacationing or visiting other family for July 4th. It was even a low week for the kids who take our van from surrounding subsidized housing. When the van arrived only one child got off, Antoine. He is a sweet child and has always been a good buddy to me, asking how I was doing during all the time I was in the wheelchair. Still, it felt disappointing to see only one child when usually we have a bunch. "As time during worship for the children's sermon drew near, I knew that it was going to be a 'child's sermon' with a congregation of one, Antoine. This was my first Sunday in ages to wear a robe and stand while presiding at Holy Communion, wearing shoes at long last. I was fired up and ready with a sermon for children based on the epistle, one about sharing and generosity. As I stood at the pulpit, I decided that I would add something for Antoine at the end of the sermon; I had a couple of five dollar bills in my wallet, and I decided that I would give one to Antoine and tell him to ask Brent, our van driver, to take him to the drive-through window at Dairy Queen on his way home. "I'm sure the choir was nervous as they watched me from behind as I began to hike up the hem of my robe while I was at the pulpit, trying to get access to my wallet before leaving the pulpit to do the children's sermon. I'm also sure they were relieved to see that I wasn't doing it in order to scratch an itch. As things happened, Mike Strope (age 36), our song leader, pulled over a stool and came for the children's sermon. I suppose from now on I can call him "Little Mikie." At the end of the children's sermon I gave the $5 apiece to Antoine and "Mikie." Antoine, at least, was excited. For Mike it was some more money to leave at the chancel for the communion offering. "What I didn't realize was that my spur-of-the-moment decision about illustrating the concept of sharing was only part of a larger story. You see, since Antoine had been the only child at church for our morning Kids Alive program, Chuck Stewart had scrubbed the morning lesson plan and had taken Antoine to Dairy Queen. Chuck said that Antoine had been thrilled, very excited with his breakfast of biscuits, gravy and a hash brown. Chuck said that as Antoine ate he told Chuck in an awe-filled tone that this was the very first time that he had gotten an order of food all to himself without having to share it with someone. "So, when I sent Antoine off with $5.00 on the church van, it was a repeat experience of something he had never encountered until last Sunday. I hadn't known what Chuck had done, and he didn't know what I was going to do (neither did I until I did it). Later, Antoine told Chuck that Sunday had been the very best day of his whole, entire life. I think this is a pretty good return for an investment that amounted to a few minutes of personal attention and a total of $8.00 or so for Dairy Queen. "Something was at work here that is way beyond Chuck, Antoine, Dairy Queen and me. This is one of those Sundays I shall always remember. "I preach from the lectionary. The lesson from John 6 for July 30 is my favorite version of the feeding of the 5000. In John's telling it is a little boy who offers up the five barley loaves and two small fish, no doubt wondering if it could possibly be enough to matter. As in that story - and in our ministry - it is sometimes the little things that are received by God and multiplied beyond our anticipation. It reminds me never to limit God by dissing anything that any one of us can offer up. We never know what seeds are planted or what good will grow from what we share. I find that truth very consoling. We just need to remember to be willing to share. "Antoine has given me a lot to think about, and not just for the Gospel lesson on July 30. I sometimes think that people become unexcited about offering their gifts, their time and themselves because they don't think any of it can make much of a difference. How sad, and how wrong...how really wrong. If you ever get to the point where you feel that way, read John 6, then ask Antoine what he thinks about it. Or, better yet, find someone like Antoine near you, and do something about it." There is an old legal phrase that appears at the end of some affidavits, certifying that the witness (the affiant) has nothing more to add, "Further affiant saith naught." I concur with that thought. I add only: Alleluia, and Amen!" This story was posted on 2006-07-30 09:58:00
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Commentary:
Rev. Joey N. Welsh. July 23, 2006. George Bernard Shaw Rev. Joey N. Welsh. July 9, 2006. Consider lowly wolf peach Rev. Joey N. Welsh. Another Angle July 2, 2006 Proclaim Liberty ANOTHER ANGLE: June 26, 2006: Of Trees and Thankfulness Rev. Joey N. Welsh. June 18, 2006. For Father's Day LETTER from Submit a Story: Reader can't find misspelled sign Rescue Squad Chief Wendell Taylor makes plea for organization Welcome to Columbia, Adair CO, Micropolitan Campbellsville, KY, USA? Bird-Hunting-Mule made a great bird dog for hunters Smile, your house or business may be on satellite camera right now View even more articles in topic Commentary |
 
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