Jane's Encounter
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle A
Even though Jane's children were all grown and had families of their own, she still enjoyed attending the annual Christmas program each December. There were children from the nursery class who sang a Christmas carol. The first and second grade class came dressed as Mary, Joseph, shepherds, and angels. The third and fourth grade class performed an original skit about the true meaning of Christmas. The senior high students presented a contemporary version of the Christmas story that she particularly enjoyed. Jane said she comes to the Christmas program every year to help put her in the Christmas spirit.
Refreshments were served following the program in the Fellowship Hall. She watched as each child received a box of candy while parents and the other adults talked, ate a cookie, or drank punch. Jane scanned the room for someone who was not involved in conversation or busy with a child to talk with. She spotted Chuck. She was captivated the week before by Chuck's vivid description of the homeless man at the exit ramp. She did not have the opportunity to talk with Chuck other than just to say hello. Jane had something she wanted to tell him.
A couple of days after she heard him tell of his experience she had one of her own. She had spent the afternoon shopping for Christmas gifts for her grandchildren when she saw a homeless person standing in the middle of a divided highway, right outside of the mini mall. "I drove past him," she explained, "and then I thought of last week's Sunday School class. So I turned around, found a couple of dollars in my wallet and gave it to him." Chuck was touched that someone would be affected by his words the week before.
Jane's desire to help those less fortunate was rekindled when she had heard Chuck speak with such passion. They spoke for several minutes in the Fellowship Hall about what could be done not just at Christmas but all year long to help those with nowhere to stay or not enough food. Chuck said he was sure others at work would want to be involved, along with their Sunday School class.
Refreshments were served following the program in the Fellowship Hall. She watched as each child received a box of candy while parents and the other adults talked, ate a cookie, or drank punch. Jane scanned the room for someone who was not involved in conversation or busy with a child to talk with. She spotted Chuck. She was captivated the week before by Chuck's vivid description of the homeless man at the exit ramp. She did not have the opportunity to talk with Chuck other than just to say hello. Jane had something she wanted to tell him.
A couple of days after she heard him tell of his experience she had one of her own. She had spent the afternoon shopping for Christmas gifts for her grandchildren when she saw a homeless person standing in the middle of a divided highway, right outside of the mini mall. "I drove past him," she explained, "and then I thought of last week's Sunday School class. So I turned around, found a couple of dollars in my wallet and gave it to him." Chuck was touched that someone would be affected by his words the week before.
Jane's desire to help those less fortunate was rekindled when she had heard Chuck speak with such passion. They spoke for several minutes in the Fellowship Hall about what could be done not just at Christmas but all year long to help those with nowhere to stay or not enough food. Chuck said he was sure others at work would want to be involved, along with their Sunday School class.
