October 7, 2001
Mark 12:41-44
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Luke 12:15-21
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"Soup for Breakfast"

What would the reaction of Jesus be if he saw how you handle your money?  That is the fundamental question that I will be asking during this month of emphasis about giving.

I will be talking alot about money because that is the medium, in our culture that represents our priorities.  Show me where a person spends his or her money and I will be able to tell you what their life’s priorities are.  Money is the tangible object but the real issue is commitment.  Just how committed are we to our God and the ministry of this Church?

The story from Mark is another of the stories Jesus told and did not give a conclusion.  The scene was familiar in that day.  There were large metal objects outside the temple; sort of like a tuba horn into which people would throw their money.  The opening at the top was large, to receive money but it would get small at the bottom so people could not reach in and take money out.

The wealthy and the pious would saunter up to the bell shaped container, dressed in their finery and throw in their coins, which would make considerable noise.  The object was for all to hear and then to look and see who was being so generous.

The writer simply says many rich people put in, large sums.  There is no indication of approval or disapproval from Jesus.  Then, a widow, a very poor person because in that society, widows always wore black to show they were widowed and they lived on what their husbands had left them or on what was given to them by benefactors.

Evidently, this widow was very poor.  Quietly, without fanfare, in fact almost embarrassed by the presence of anyone, she slinks up to the opening and softly tosses in a penny and slips out into the evening.

Jesus calls together his disciples and says; “did you see her?  That widow put in more than anyone else.  All the others gave of their abundance, she gave everything that she had.”  The inference here is, she had enough faith to rely on faith to get her through tomorrow.  Notice, Jesus did not say one was better than the other.  There is no scolding here.  He simply says, She was the one to watch, she had total commitment. The conclusion is ours.  Was she wise or was she foolish?  Who of the givers was the happiest?  Who had learned the true secret of living with contentment?  I don’t know the answer.  I only know I cannot read that story without being troubled.

The other story is much more pointed. Luke is anxious that we do not miss the point.  A rich man has just harvested a huge crop.  “What shall I do?” he asks.  “I‘ve got so much I can’t store it all.  I know what I’ll do, I’ll tear down my old barns and I will build bigger one’s and store up the crop then I’ll sit back and say, I’m set for many years.  I will relax, take life easy, eat drink and be merry.”

God says, ”Fool, tonight you will die and then who will get what you have stored up?”  Then Jesus adds, this is what happens to those who store things up for themselves but fail to remember God.  One doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to understand what Jesus is saying.

Dear friends, that is the issue that you and I face as we contemplate what will we give to God’s work through this Church.  This Church has in its membership many who are bombarded by a host of appeals all asking for money.  I do not hesitate to stand before you and ask for your support of the ministry of this Church.  It is as worthy of your yearly support and your long-range support as any organization in society.

Last Monday, in the Journal Sentinel, there was a full section on the merits of people of means leaving a legacy.  This section dealt with leaving a legacy to Wisconsin.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if First Congregational Church received a bequests or bequests of say, two or three million dollars in bequests that were ear marked for the maintenance of our buildings.  That is a very attainable goal.  Such a combination of bequests would allow the interest income to systematically take care of the buildings we love, which are aging.

The practical application is the building maintenance would not need to be part of the operational budget thus, member giving could go directly to programming in all of its aspects from Nursery to benevolences.  This would also require, as it should, that each generation support the program ministry of the Church of which they are a part; not relying on the giving of the past.

Shortly, I will be proposing that we have some seminars, led by experts in this field, to reveal to interested people in this fellowship, the advantages to both the donor and the receiver of such bequests.  We are very weak in this area of financial support.

Now let me address briefly, the financial needs of this Church and the support we are receiving.  The number I want to fix in your mind for 2002 is $800,000 from pledge income. $800,000: let it resonate in your mind during this week.  Let it keep you awake at night as you consider your support for next year.

May I be very blunt?  I have been a Christian minister now, for 46 years but friends, the level of giving in this Church is frankly, very poor.  Let me illustrate.

There are only 27 giving units in this entire congregation who give $5,000 or more, per year.  We are truly grateful for those of you who are able to be giving leaders.  What I am pleading for is more giving units over the $5,000 per year level.  In the last Church that I served, we had two givers over $30,000 per year and others over $20,000.

Let me take a risk here and use myself as an example, not for glorification but for clarification.  Chris and I, like you give to several religious enterprises, one of which is this Church.  Our pledge to First Congregational Church is $100 per week.  There is nothing unusual about that.  What I find particularly disturbing is that gift makes us one of the upper 27 givers in the Church; that’s unbelievable.

There are only 23 giving units, and a unit may be one person or one family, in First Church who give between $3,000 and $5,000 per year.  That means only 50 giving units, out of a potential of over 600 give $3,000 or more.  That speaks of priorities. That shouts about the level of commitment.

Going on, 210 giving units give between $1,000 and $2,500 a year.  That’s between $19 and $48.00 per week.  And, 115 giving units give between $100 and $500 per year-that’s then equivalent of one to three big Macs per week.

I find it hard to believe that there are people in this congregation who cannot give a $20,00 per week to the work of God in this Church.

The last statistic is upsetting.  Over 150 units, who participate in our Church, use our facilities, experience our services and receive our mailings pledge $0 to this Church; they may give something, I don’t know that, but they don’t pledge and that makes systematic and wise planning very difficult.

One of the most frequently asked questions I get, particularly at this time of the year is, how much should I giving to my Church?  Because you and I have other obligations, the number I suggest is 5% of your take home pay.  5% for the work of God through First Congregational Church: 95% for all other purposes.  Every two weeks or every month, however often you are paid, if you will sit down and write the very first check to the Church, you will be amazed how the rest works out.  If you do it the other way, the Church will loses out and your involvement will wane.

My dear people, God has blessed us richly.  Some here have the ability of making money, that is a good and great gift that needs to be acknowledged with gratitude, to the God, the giver of the ability and the means.  Others are not so gifted in this area yet they too must set a priority in their lives that acknowledges the greatness of God because, where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.  Jesus was wise; it doesn’t work the other way around.  Until you put dollars into what you believe, it is only thoughts.

Next week, when you arrive, pledge cards will be received in the atrium or mailed to those who are unable to be present.  October 21 is Consecration Sunday.  Pray about it.  Push around figures.  Consider 5% to the Church or think about $ 800,000 to under-gird this ministry - then give until it feels good.

"World Wide Communion"

Now we come to celebrate the sacrament of Holy Communion.  Historically, in our Congregational tradition, the service was conducted on the floor level so all are included in the community of faith.  There are no levels of rank, only believers.  Today, we are celebrating in just such a manner.  And as we celebrate, we recall to mind all that enters into the lives of people of faith and how it frequently demonstrates itself in unlikely places.  That’s why we share in Holy Communion.

The phone rang in my office. Dr Lobb can you come to Winnipeg and lead us in a preaching workshop.  “When are you proposing this happen?  ‘I asked.  In October was the reply.  After looking at my calendar and consulting with the officers of the Church, I returned the call and said, “October works.  My calendar allows it at that time.  What is the weather like in Winnipeg at that time of the year?”  I asked.  “It’s great”, he said.  “We almost always have an Indian - summer and that is one of the great seasons of the year, all you will need is a light jacket.

I flew to Winnipeg, was picked up at the airport, told the schedule of events, which began early the next morning and then taken to a motel near the Church where the event would take place.

Early the next morning, I was awakened by the telephone.  “Dr. Lobb, we will have to postpone the event.”  “Why?” I asked.  “Oh,” he said, “You haven’t looked out.  Last night we had a big snowstorm.  It caught everyone by surprise, Trees are down and the city does not have any snow removal equipment ready to go this early.  It’s a mess.”

“You’ll want breakfast”, he added, “ the only place nearby is the bus depot.  Go out your door turn right and go to the corner than turn right again and you will see it.  There is a café in the depot.”

I put on my dress shoes, slipped on my light jacket and ventured forth through about 10 inches of heavy wet snow to the café.  When I got there, a lot of others had the same idea because the place was full. I looked around and finally, some men at a table scooted over and waved for me to come and join them.  After I was seated, a large man, wearing a soiled apron came and said, “what do you want?”  “May I have a menu?”  I asked.  “Don’t really need one, he said, were out of everything except soup.”  “Oh, soup” I murmured, “ I always wanted soup for breakfast.”

About that time, a young woman came in.  Like me she looked around until another table, all men, invited her to take a seat.  She wore a light khaki colored raincoat and her hair was wet and matted from walking in the wet weather.  She was obviously, freezing.

“What’ll you have?” asked the waiter.  “Just a glass of water” she said.  ”I’m very cold and very wet and I just want some water so I can warm up and continue to work.”  “Look lady!” he said, “if all you want is water, you’ll have to leave.  I don’t have room for people who don’t want to buy something.”  “Please”, she asked, “just a few minutes so I can warm up.”  “No”, he said, “You will have to leave.”  She rose and began to put on her wet coat; and then an amazing thing happened.  The men at her table got up and began to put their coats on.  Then the people at my table stood up; I stood up and I hadn’t even tasted my soup.

“Ok, OK, he said, “she can stay for a while.”  So, I sat down and looked at my soup.  It was funny looking soup, sort of purplish-gray.  I took my spoon and tasted it.  Funny soup.  It tasted, sort of like, bread and wine.