Sermon for Proper 6, Year B [2nd Sun. after Pentecost] –Mark 4:26-32
St. Faith’s Episcopal Church, Cutler Bay, Florida – June 14, 2009
Preacher: The Very Rev. Jennie Lou D. Reid+

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases,
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Amen.

Jesus taught, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head.”

One day the conscientious Administrator of a little church in a big city lets out a groan. Now this Administrator is not the groaning type – after all, she is from New York – and her groan grabs the attention of the Priest of that little church in the big city. “Are you okay?” inquires the Priest. “We can’t pay the bills!” sighs the frowning Administrator with hands in the air. Although this little seed of dilemma will eventually give witness to the God of Grace and Abundance, that morning those two hovering over the mountain of bills wonder how to proceed.

The Priest calls a meeting of the little church’s finance committee. A few days later they look over the list of bills the Administrator has provided. The Vestry member with calculator in hand gives out a groan of his own. In order to stay afloat until the new tenant arrives and begins paying rent for the little church’s classroom and parish hall space, the church will need tens of thousands of dollars. The Administrator reminds the group that the members are giving regularly, and the normal giving reduces the deficiency by a third. The leaders agree that they will attempt to make up the shortfall through both fundraising and a direct appeal to the members. They decide what to ask of the members and the Vestry member with the calculator agrees to make the appeal in church the following week. The Treasurer suggests a raffle as one fund-raising project. The Priest suggests a rummage sale as an additional project. Parishioners are familiar with these kinds of events, and a winter member has ten-year’s experience leading profitable rummage sales. These are good resources. A raffle and a rummage sale will definitely help, but the little church in the big city will need something more.

As the conversation continues, someone suggests a dinner party perhaps at a banquet hall where a parishioner works. The Vestry member with the calculator wonders, “How much can we charge? What can we clear after expenses? There is a big gap to fill!” The Priest suggests a dinner with a silent auction. “What is a silent auction?” everyone asks. The Priest tries to explain but the listeners return blank stares. They are skeptical. “Who will give free stuff to our little church?” someone asks. “Why will outsiders want to help us?” another wonders aloud. In the end, the group decides to go for the dinner and silent auction. The Priest thinks, “God will surprise us.”

The Vestry member with the calculator makes a marvelous presentation at services the next Sunday. The members get out their checkbooks and go to their piggy banks. Some even write friends from far away asking them to help the little church. And they do. The Priest writes to members and former clergy and other friends of members who are scattered near and far asking for their help. And many help. In six weeks the little church receives more extra income than it asked people to give. The leadership is much encouraged. The little church is managing financially. The leaders glimpse the grace of God.

The Vestry member with the calculator starts knocking on doors of businesses asking for gift cards or items from stores as donations for the silent auction or the raffle. Some say, “Our corporation decides annually and you are too late.” Others say, “The economy is bad. We cannot help this year.” But a few say, “Yes. Here is our gift.” There are enough yeses to keep the Vestry member going. The Treasurer calls business contacts to ask for a major donation for the raffle. Businesses are slow to commit, and there are some nos. But someone eventually offers to fly two people for a nice trip. Another leader in the little church in the big city acquires the gift of a weekend for two in a resort located in a destination where the donor-airline flies. The raffle now has something attractive to offer. A raffle will help the little church during its budget crunch.

Meanwhile the Priest’s Spouse asks the Priest, “What is happening about acquisitions for the silent auction?” They consider what they can offer – some airline tickets from their bank of Frequent Flyer miles, tickets to a sports event for which they have a season subscription, and an autographed item from a university boosters’ club which they support. They identify friends whom they can approach for help. The Priest prepares a memo listing ideas of possible items and services for the silent auction and sends the list to the Vestry members and other leaders of the little church. The Leaders offer their gifts: tickets to local attractions, a small dinner party given by a gourmet cook, a week in someone’s mountain home, an original painting created by an artist-relative, and much more. Since the party is the day before the Priest’s birthday, the Priest’s Spouse secretly decides to invite friends to come from every church where the Priest has worked. The Priest’s Spouse asks the guests to bid at the auction (instead of bringing a present).

The member who works at the banquet hall acquires the gift of a hall at no charge, as well as a bargain rate for a simple meal. A creative Vestry member contacts a friend to decorate the tables from his storeroom of supplies. The little church’s reggae musician is working on the night of the event but gladly supplies a series of CDs of his easy listening music to complement the relaxing evening. A former choir member who is working with an opera coach agrees to sing a few pieces as entertainment for the party. The Priest does internet research to figure out the value of each donation and puts together an auction catalog. The creative Vestry member puts together a display to accompany each item. Another leader puts together door prizes – “There must be door prizes, if this is to be a first-class event,” the leader insists! The Priest is not enthusiastic about the door prizes but lets them be. Life is becoming hectic and harried in the little church office.

On Monday, just five days before the dinner, only 27 tickets have been sold. People have taken tickets to sell, but reservations and money are not back. The Administrator becomes anxious. Nail-biting happens. The door-prize champion’s ear gets a workout from its constant contact with a telephone receiver, as that one makes calls to invite others to come to the party. In order to get a count of attendees for the dinner, the creative Vestry member calls those who have taken tickets to sell. The banquet-hall employee-parishioner decides to provide cheese and other nibbles for appetizers as a gift for the party. By Wednesday the count is almost 60. A growing number of businesses in the big city continue to offer help for the little church. The Priest picks up last auction items. The creative Vestry member and son organize all the auction items. By Thursday the count of attendees stands at 127. “God is good!” exclaims the Priest. The Vestry member with the calculator worries, “Will we make enough money?” The creative Vestry member declares, “With 127 people attending, our evening is already a success!”

Guests gather for the little church’s party. The banquet hall looks elegant, with mirrors and candles and vases holding just a couple of majestic flowers at the center of each table. The centerpieces stand out atop two simple, layered tablecloths – black over white. The musician’s recorded music is soothing. The array of auction offerings stretches the full length of one wall and a bit around a corner. People greet each other with delight and survey the donations. Folks gather at tables in a festive and friendly spirit. The bidding is vigorous but respectful. Some bidders offer more than the value of the item. (After all, they are there to help the little church.) The leaders express gratitude to the guests for coming and to all who have contributed. Dinner is served with a festive presentation. The singer charms the audience with the opera arias and a sacred selection – “The Lord’s Prayer.”

At the end of the evening, people leave smiling. “I got my baseball!” says one woman. “I love my mola!” exclaims another. Someone else beams, “I must prepare the guest list for my dinner!” “We’re thrilled with the quilt piece,” another remarks. “That quilter used to work with my husband!” One dad declares with a smirk, “I told my son I’d better not catch him playing with my autographed football!” A guest of the Priest – embracing the major door prize in her arms – giggles with delight, “I’ve never won anything before!” It has been a first-class event indeed. When all is said and done, the little church in the big city makes a mountain of money. And God smiles.

Jesus said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.” The little church in the big city has experienced the Kingdom of God.
Thanks be to God! Amen.
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Lamentations 3:22-23
Mark 4:26-28
Mark 4:30-32