Rev. Mark Thomas, Senior Minister  

Dear friends,

If I ever get around to writing a book I already know what its theme will be. In my thirty-two years of ministry I have officiated at over one thousand funerals. Truth is, sometimes events happen at funerals that are unexpected and often humorous. My plan is to tell my ten "greatest hits" stories from funerals I have officiated at and use those stories as teaching tools for an important lesson. One experience I had years ago will not be in the book but does provide me with an illustration for this month's Columns.

Very early in my ministry at St. Luke's United Church of Christ, in Old Brooklyn, I was asked by the local funeral home to provide a funeral service for someone not affiliated with any church. The usual practice in such a situation is that the funeral director collects a fee for my services that is then given to me. In this case the director said the family wanted to take care of me personally following the service at the cemetery. After the benediction the widow approached me, but instead of a small envelope she handed me a bag that I did not open right away. She expressed appreciation for my words and walked back to her car.

When I returned to my car I opened the bag to discover a pair of old brown shoes. My fee for offering the service was a pair of the deceased man's shoes! Fortunately, they fit and I think I wore those brown shoes for a year. They became known as my "dead man shoes," and they served me well.

Blessings can come from the most unexpected places. And often, even those moments that seem to be negative and without value can, with perhaps a little spit and polish, become beautiful experiences that teach important lessons. I was expecting a check and received a pair of old shoes, but when all was said and done, the shoes served me better and lasted a lot longer than would have that check. I remember thinking about the man whose shoes I was wearing and what travels he had been on and where those shoes had been.

When we try to limit how God can bless us we are always at risk of missing the gift before us. If we think God can only empower us through good fortune and serendipitous experience, we might never discover God's presence in the ordinary moments of life. I will never forget that man and his old brown shoes that became, for me, a sacred gift that has always reminded me to keep my eyes and heart open to the many ways God can come to us with a blessing.

I trust you are enjoying the summer weeks. Does it go without saying that attendance has once again experienced the summer doldrums? We will be worshipping in Bowers Chapel during the weeks of August. Please check out the wonderful bulletin board Claire Stair developed with the fascinating biography of the Rev. Bowers and his ministry at LCC. It was a lot of work and will help you appreciate why we celebrate his ministry in the chapel that bears his name. Hope to see you in church, and may God continue to bless you and those you love through the life and love of Jesus Christ.

                                    Your friend in Christ's Name, Reverend Mark