The Plentiful Harvest
Illustration
Stories
Paul watched the people streaming through the door of the church hall for the community meal. He recognized the regulars who were there for the fellowship and the food and said hello to them as they entered. Paul frowned as he noticed there were lots of new faces entering as well. He did a quick head count and his heart started to race as he wondered if there would be enough food. He would hate to send people away hungry. He dreaded having to close the doors at a certain time because there was no more food. He counted once more and then headed for the kitchen.
“Sally?” he said as he came through the doors. “Have you got a moment? I think we might have a problem.”
Sally stopped what she was doing. “What’s up?”
“I’m watching the people finding a seat and did a head count.” Paul took a deep breath. “How many meals can we serve this morning?”
Sally had a look at the stew in front of her. “I prepared for 75.”
“Oh.” Paul narrowed his eyes. “I counted 70 people out there already.”
“Wow! We have that many already? How many regulars are still to come?” Sally asked.
Paul started to count on his fingers. “I think there will be about another dozen.”
“Ok.” Sally opened up the panty and started to rummage around. “We should be able to stretch for another 25 people or so.”
“But...” Paul tilted his head and then sighed once more. “You expect even more people, don’t you?”
Sally nodded. “Times are tough for families and the most vulnerable people are struggling so I imagine we’ll have more people than ever.”
“You’re able to make up the difference on the spot but if there wasn’t a meal you could do that with there would be a problem.” Paul sighed. “So, what does this mean for next week?”
“There certainly could be a problem if we keep getting high numbers. I think it means that we need some more help to prepare these meals.”
“More money or more volunteers?” Paul asked.
“Both.” Sally handed some ingredients and a couple of volunteers started adding them to the already prepared meal to increase its size. “I think we need a couple of more people for each shift to help with the extra load and honestly, the more money we have the better meals we can serve.”
Paul stepped off to the side and tapped his chin.
Sally moved next to him. “Wondering what you’re going to say to the congregation on Sunday?”
Paul nodded. “I know we need more of these things, but I also know that money is stretched for everyone, and people don’t have a lot of free time to spare. I’m not sure that we can do much more than we are already doing.”
Sally looked at him for a moment. “I think you need to remind everyone why we are doing this ministry. Remind them that the people coming here are looking for food but also somewhere that they are welcomed and cared for like Jesus commands us.”
“There is just so much to do,” Paul said. “There is much need in our community and more people than ever turning to us for help.”
“Yes, which is why we need to be praying for God to help this ministry. Remember what Jesus said before he sent the disciples out to their mission?” Sally took a deep breath. “There is a great opportunity for us to spread the gospel and to make a difference. These people are coming here for help and when we feed them we show them grace, we share love, we help them understand that even though the world has forgotten them that God has remembered.”
Paul smiled at her. “I think that is exactly what I will say on Sunday as I ask people for money, for time, and for their prayers.”
“That’s certainly what we need.” Sally looked over at the stew ready to be served. “So, let’s get to it and do what we can do and put it in God’s hand. I know my task is in the kitchen preparing meals and I know that people look forward to seeing you, speaking with you, and having you welcome them to the meal.”
Paul nodded and headed out into the hall. He wasn’t anxious anymore but more resolved than ever that he had great things to do in this ministry as well as an invitation to extend to others so that they could join in and be part of what God was doing in this time and place.
*****************************************
StoryShare, June 18, 2023 issue.
Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
“Sally?” he said as he came through the doors. “Have you got a moment? I think we might have a problem.”
Sally stopped what she was doing. “What’s up?”
“I’m watching the people finding a seat and did a head count.” Paul took a deep breath. “How many meals can we serve this morning?”
Sally had a look at the stew in front of her. “I prepared for 75.”
“Oh.” Paul narrowed his eyes. “I counted 70 people out there already.”
“Wow! We have that many already? How many regulars are still to come?” Sally asked.
Paul started to count on his fingers. “I think there will be about another dozen.”
“Ok.” Sally opened up the panty and started to rummage around. “We should be able to stretch for another 25 people or so.”
“But...” Paul tilted his head and then sighed once more. “You expect even more people, don’t you?”
Sally nodded. “Times are tough for families and the most vulnerable people are struggling so I imagine we’ll have more people than ever.”
“You’re able to make up the difference on the spot but if there wasn’t a meal you could do that with there would be a problem.” Paul sighed. “So, what does this mean for next week?”
“There certainly could be a problem if we keep getting high numbers. I think it means that we need some more help to prepare these meals.”
“More money or more volunteers?” Paul asked.
“Both.” Sally handed some ingredients and a couple of volunteers started adding them to the already prepared meal to increase its size. “I think we need a couple of more people for each shift to help with the extra load and honestly, the more money we have the better meals we can serve.”
Paul stepped off to the side and tapped his chin.
Sally moved next to him. “Wondering what you’re going to say to the congregation on Sunday?”
Paul nodded. “I know we need more of these things, but I also know that money is stretched for everyone, and people don’t have a lot of free time to spare. I’m not sure that we can do much more than we are already doing.”
Sally looked at him for a moment. “I think you need to remind everyone why we are doing this ministry. Remind them that the people coming here are looking for food but also somewhere that they are welcomed and cared for like Jesus commands us.”
“There is just so much to do,” Paul said. “There is much need in our community and more people than ever turning to us for help.”
“Yes, which is why we need to be praying for God to help this ministry. Remember what Jesus said before he sent the disciples out to their mission?” Sally took a deep breath. “There is a great opportunity for us to spread the gospel and to make a difference. These people are coming here for help and when we feed them we show them grace, we share love, we help them understand that even though the world has forgotten them that God has remembered.”
Paul smiled at her. “I think that is exactly what I will say on Sunday as I ask people for money, for time, and for their prayers.”
“That’s certainly what we need.” Sally looked over at the stew ready to be served. “So, let’s get to it and do what we can do and put it in God’s hand. I know my task is in the kitchen preparing meals and I know that people look forward to seeing you, speaking with you, and having you welcome them to the meal.”
Paul nodded and headed out into the hall. He wasn’t anxious anymore but more resolved than ever that he had great things to do in this ministry as well as an invitation to extend to others so that they could join in and be part of what God was doing in this time and place.
*****************************************
StoryShare, June 18, 2023 issue.
Copyright 2023 by CSS Publishing Company, Inc., Lima, Ohio.
All rights reserved. Subscribers to the StoryShare service may print and use this material as it was intended in sermons, in worship and classroom settings, in brief devotions, in radio spots, and as newsletter fillers. No additional permission is required from the publisher for such use by subscribers only. Inquiries should be addressed to permissions@csspub.com or to Permissions, CSS Publishing Company, Inc., 5450 N. Dixie Highway, Lima, Ohio 45807.
