A unique experiment in faith began in January, and it is far
from over. It was on Jan. 25 that the Rev. Anita Warner made an
announcement to worshipers during the two Sunday services at Morgan
Hill’s Advent Lutheran Church.
A unique experiment in faith began in January, and it is far from over. It was on Jan. 25 that the Rev. Anita Warner made an announcement to worshipers during the two Sunday services at Morgan Hill’s Advent Lutheran Church.
An anonymous donor, who is not a member of the congregation, had provided $2,500 to do good in the community.
The day’s gospel reading was from Luke 4:16-21 in which Jesus admonishes his followers to “bring good news to the poor … proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
During the offertory those present were invited to take an envelope containing $50 in cash and pray about what they could do with it, considering their own experience and relationships in determining how they could best use this gift for the benefit of others.
Pastor Warner asked that people report back on the results of their efforts. Following are some of their stories.
One parishioner (who had herself received financial aid in college from a complete stranger) called Live Oak High School and got the name of a deserving student, a senior who needed money to attend college. The senior wrote a grateful letter back, telling how she hopes to become a teacher and “touch lives and be an example to others.”
Another family used the money to host an ice cream social at the Joseph Care Home, a board-and-care facility for the mentally disabled. The daughters of the family prepared ‘goodie bags” with items like playing cards and mints. Then the whole family went to the home and served ice cream sundaes and rootbeer floats to the residents, who enjoyed the party enthusiastically.
After waiting for several months, another family was inspired by the approach of Easter to provide a gift for residents of a local convalescent home. The children prepared colorful plastic bows with Easter candy and homemade cookies, wrapping them in colorful cellophane and attaching with a bow a friendly note wishing the recipients joy with “love and a smile.”
Another story tells of an 82-year-old San Jose resident made afraid and vulnerable by a rent increase on her mobile home. She later wrote to Pastor Warner expressing her appreciation for a gift that helped her “through a rough time” and gave her “hope and a sense of the love of others.”
A staff member at Nordstrom Elementary School used the money to purchase an assortment of unisex sweat pants and underwear. Now when the younger students “have an accident” at school and a parent can’t be contacted, students will have dry clothing to wear the rest of the day.
Not all the money has been spent yet. Recently a parishioner contacted Pastor Warner to ask about returning the $50 she had picked up because she hadn’t found a worthy cause yet. When Warner determined that the caller was feeling guilty about waiting so long, she encouraged her to be patient a little longer because there is no pressure of a time limit to do good for someone else.
One of the themes of Lutheran theology is “vocation,” that each person responds to God’s call by serving God and neighbor in concrete, individual ways. This current
“adventure in faith,” according to Warner, allows each participant to become a “shining witness to God’s love” and have an opportunity to share that love with others in the community.
