In my many years of ministry I have learned two very important things about my job. The first is this: Jesus knows what he is doing.

When I follow Jesus, everything works out great. When I try to

• please people, or
• avoid conflict, or
• duck difficult conversations, or
• try to look good, or
• sound smart, or
• feel important

It all goes right to hell.

Every time.

The second very important thing I have learned about my job is that I am not the only guy Jesus talks to. Jesus talks to just about anyone who cares to listen.

A faithful covenant community that is truly trying to following Jesus works out solutions to its problems. What issue faces the community?

Pray. Listen. Jesus will lead us.

Of course Scripture study helps a great deal. It helps us tune in to what Jesus has to say. It also gets us in touch with what Jesus has already said and should not have to say again.

And Jesus is patient. He will let us bang our heads against a brick wall for a long, long time. When we are ready, he will show us the door.

This is why I believe in sharing information with people. Sometimes I'm the guy with the bruised and bloodied head.

At a recent Vestry Retreat Jim Tracy (our General Manager) shared some information I find very interesting.

St. David's Church:

• Consists of 685 parish families
• 78% (!) have been here less than five years
• 103 (!) people attended church for the first time in 2006
• The 2006 budget includes $119,000 that does not come from the offering plate
• We regularly surpass 80% of capacity in worship at the 10:30 service
• 50 newcomers visit our parish each month
• We add 15 children each month to our Sunday School program

What does this mean? I don’t know. At the very least it means this: Someone is discovering something of value at least sometimes at St. David’s Church.

Yesterday I had a conversation with Jim Tracy. And learned this. (I really gotta stop talking to Jim Tracy.)

• Of 685 parish families, 180 families have made a pledge to the 2006 parish budget.
• As of Monday afternoon our Financial Administrator reports we are about $12,000 “in the hole,” and this seems to have been the pattern for the past 16 years or so, (going in and out of "the hole," sometimes punctuated by a franctic appeal for help to get the parish out of a crisis).
• 68 parish families who have pledged consistently for the past four years, did not make a pledge in 2006.

What does this mean? I’m not sure. But it doesn’t surprise me. This is consistent with conversations I have had with members of the Search Committee, members of Vestry, members of the Staff, as well as with a number of parishioners.

As I learn more about the parish, I think Jesus is trying to tell me something about the relationship of people’s faith and money.

Surely I am not the only guy Jesus is talking to. Is Jesus trying to tell us something?