God Noticed Their Hearts
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle B
The vote to have a new church pictorial directory made was approved. Everyone was excited. The sanctuary had new carpeting, a new banner would be made, and flowerbeds were planted.
A photographer was hired to take pictures of the grounds. The bell tower would be photographed in the morning and at night. The eight-foot steel logo on the outside was polished. The newly seeded lawns were mown. There was excitement in the air. All was readied.
The chairwoman of the pictorial directory had meticulously outlined the calling tree and everyone had a specific appointment time. Anyone late would have to make up the appointment time in a week. She wanted to make sure that everything ran smoothly. Connie didn't like tardiness. And she despised disorderliness. Especially in the church.
Connie was proud of her accomplishments in the church. She was the head of many committees and, at 84, felt she had contributed much to this church. Her parents had come to this church when they were first married, several years before Connie and her five brothers were born. They were all baptized, confirmed, and married here. It was their home church.
The first family came for their pictures. They were dressed in red, the father wearing a red tie with his navy suit and the mother and daughter having matching red dresses. Connie was proud of them.
The next couple came and Connie had them sit in the appointed waiting area. They looked attractive in their elegant clothing. Connie remarked that their picture was sure to come out beautifully.
On and on the members came. Many singles, many couples, and many families. Even a pair of sisters. Much of the day was spent straightening ties, arranging stray hairs, and holding up a hand-held mirror. Connie was happy people were arriving on time. She liked efficiency.
Then a family walked in dressed in denim shirts and jeans. Connie was stunned. She didn't recognize them. Is that what they would wear for the directory? She marched straight toward them just before they entered the waiting area. "Would you rather be photographed tomorrow? If you are on your way somewhere, maybe you would like to come back. I have one opening left tomorrow night at six o'clock. We'll just see you then."
The family was very quiet and left. Connie forgot all about them. The next day went the same as the first. Singles, couples, and families were photographed. Then at six o'clock, the family returned -- wearing denim shirts.
Connie couldn't believe it. Didn't they get the hint? They couldn't have meant to be photographed actually wearing farm clothes, could they? She would get to the bottom of this at once.
The gift of grace was not always evident with Connie. She walked up to the mother and asked if they were expecting to be photographed tonight. And in those clothes? What was happening today, she thought? Didn't anyone have respect anymore?
No, Connie was not having any part of this. She measured the candles every Sunday. Exactly twelve to fourteen inches and no more or no less. And the offering plates were placed on the altar exactly six inches to the left of the candle. And the paschal candle was one footstep from the altar. It had to be perfect. This was God's house. This was sacred territory for her. She wasn't going to let anyone spoil this place.
The mother was finally about to answer Connie when the pastor arrived. Pastor was so excited. Had Connie met the new members? They had just moved in two months ago and already were involved in the church. Mother was teaching adult Bible study and Dad was sponsoring the upcoming youth trip. Pastor was very enthusiastic about this family. Didn't Pastor notice their clothes, Connie wondered.
Pastor smoothed the moment over and welcomed the family. The pictorial directory turned out beautifully, with people dressed in their best, in their comfortable, and in everything in between. Connie noticed their clothes. Fortunately, God noticed their hearts.
A photographer was hired to take pictures of the grounds. The bell tower would be photographed in the morning and at night. The eight-foot steel logo on the outside was polished. The newly seeded lawns were mown. There was excitement in the air. All was readied.
The chairwoman of the pictorial directory had meticulously outlined the calling tree and everyone had a specific appointment time. Anyone late would have to make up the appointment time in a week. She wanted to make sure that everything ran smoothly. Connie didn't like tardiness. And she despised disorderliness. Especially in the church.
Connie was proud of her accomplishments in the church. She was the head of many committees and, at 84, felt she had contributed much to this church. Her parents had come to this church when they were first married, several years before Connie and her five brothers were born. They were all baptized, confirmed, and married here. It was their home church.
The first family came for their pictures. They were dressed in red, the father wearing a red tie with his navy suit and the mother and daughter having matching red dresses. Connie was proud of them.
The next couple came and Connie had them sit in the appointed waiting area. They looked attractive in their elegant clothing. Connie remarked that their picture was sure to come out beautifully.
On and on the members came. Many singles, many couples, and many families. Even a pair of sisters. Much of the day was spent straightening ties, arranging stray hairs, and holding up a hand-held mirror. Connie was happy people were arriving on time. She liked efficiency.
Then a family walked in dressed in denim shirts and jeans. Connie was stunned. She didn't recognize them. Is that what they would wear for the directory? She marched straight toward them just before they entered the waiting area. "Would you rather be photographed tomorrow? If you are on your way somewhere, maybe you would like to come back. I have one opening left tomorrow night at six o'clock. We'll just see you then."
The family was very quiet and left. Connie forgot all about them. The next day went the same as the first. Singles, couples, and families were photographed. Then at six o'clock, the family returned -- wearing denim shirts.
Connie couldn't believe it. Didn't they get the hint? They couldn't have meant to be photographed actually wearing farm clothes, could they? She would get to the bottom of this at once.
The gift of grace was not always evident with Connie. She walked up to the mother and asked if they were expecting to be photographed tonight. And in those clothes? What was happening today, she thought? Didn't anyone have respect anymore?
No, Connie was not having any part of this. She measured the candles every Sunday. Exactly twelve to fourteen inches and no more or no less. And the offering plates were placed on the altar exactly six inches to the left of the candle. And the paschal candle was one footstep from the altar. It had to be perfect. This was God's house. This was sacred territory for her. She wasn't going to let anyone spoil this place.
The mother was finally about to answer Connie when the pastor arrived. Pastor was so excited. Had Connie met the new members? They had just moved in two months ago and already were involved in the church. Mother was teaching adult Bible study and Dad was sponsoring the upcoming youth trip. Pastor was very enthusiastic about this family. Didn't Pastor notice their clothes, Connie wondered.
Pastor smoothed the moment over and welcomed the family. The pictorial directory turned out beautifully, with people dressed in their best, in their comfortable, and in everything in between. Connie noticed their clothes. Fortunately, God noticed their hearts.
