The New Year's Sermon That Echoed
"How do we avoid having just another sermon that's forgotten before dinner is over?"
That was the question raised by the worship committee at Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, Illinois, after learning that Pastor Donald Gerig intended to kick off the new year with a message on spiritual growth.
The eventual solution: a blank piece of paper and an envelope inside every bulletin. "At the close of the sermon, I gave the people a few minutes to write a letter to themselves," Gerig says, "outlining goals for their own growth. Then they sealed the envelope, addressed it, and turned it in. We promised we'd mail it back to them six months later as a check-up."
Some stayed in the pews that morning, busily writing, while others turned theirs in as much as a month later. Altogether about 40 percent of the audience responded.
That June, the letters went out to remind people of their aspirations. "It was a positive growth experience for many," Gerig remembers. "Quite a few expressed appreciation for the reminder." It was certainly one message that outlasted the afternoon football game.
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