The church finance committee was discussing the fiscal problems of the congregation. The parson was listening.
The problem facing the committee was that the church was obviously not going to meet its budget asking for the year. All the bills had been paid, the parson had been paid, the denominational obligations had been met.
“I'm really concerned that we never seem to meet our budget,” said Franklin Lansing. “For the last ten years this committee had worked hard to make a realistic budget and for the last ten years we always fall thousands of dollars short.”
“Yes, but we've already said that we've met all our obligations,” countered Maynard Sinclair. “What's the point of worry. We're doing what needs to be done.”
“We're doing that only because of the parson's constant attention to finances,” remarked Harry Potter (Yes, that's his name.). “We owe him a debt that he keeps the spending down when the giving is down.”
“You're right,” said Margaret Conner, “we do owe the Parson some thanks. But the truth is we need more generous givers like William Miller. Without his generous weekly giving we'd be in a world of hurt.”
“What do you think, Parson?” asked Harriett Abbott.
“I think Margaret is right in a way,” said the parson. “We do need more generous givers. But we don't need givers like William Miller. We need givers like Bobby and Susan.”
“Bobby and Susan?” echoed Margaret. “Bobby and Susan. Who are you talking about?”
“I'm talking about the Simpson's kids,” said the parson. “Bobby and Susan, when we sent out the request for folks to bring an offering to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy answered the call. Bobby, who's in the fifth grade brought a jar of coins that totaled $18.53. Susan, the second grader, brought another jar with $22.40. Those totals represented the contents of their piggy banks,” the parson continued. “The emptied their banks.”
There was silence for a few moments. Finally Harriet spoke. “You're suggesting we empty our banks.”
“No, I'm not,” said the parson. “I'm just suggesting the people in this church should give with the faith of a child.”
The problem facing the committee was that the church was obviously not going to meet its budget asking for the year. All the bills had been paid, the parson had been paid, the denominational obligations had been met.
“I'm really concerned that we never seem to meet our budget,” said Franklin Lansing. “For the last ten years this committee had worked hard to make a realistic budget and for the last ten years we always fall thousands of dollars short.”
“Yes, but we've already said that we've met all our obligations,” countered Maynard Sinclair. “What's the point of worry. We're doing what needs to be done.”
“We're doing that only because of the parson's constant attention to finances,” remarked Harry Potter (Yes, that's his name.). “We owe him a debt that he keeps the spending down when the giving is down.”
“You're right,” said Margaret Conner, “we do owe the Parson some thanks. But the truth is we need more generous givers like William Miller. Without his generous weekly giving we'd be in a world of hurt.”
“What do you think, Parson?” asked Harriett Abbott.
“I think Margaret is right in a way,” said the parson. “We do need more generous givers. But we don't need givers like William Miller. We need givers like Bobby and Susan.”
“Bobby and Susan?” echoed Margaret. “Bobby and Susan. Who are you talking about?”
“I'm talking about the Simpson's kids,” said the parson. “Bobby and Susan, when we sent out the request for folks to bring an offering to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy answered the call. Bobby, who's in the fifth grade brought a jar of coins that totaled $18.53. Susan, the second grader, brought another jar with $22.40. Those totals represented the contents of their piggy banks,” the parson continued. “The emptied their banks.”
There was silence for a few moments. Finally Harriet spoke. “You're suggesting we empty our banks.”
“No, I'm not,” said the parson. “I'm just suggesting the people in this church should give with the faith of a child.”
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