When our older son was a young child, he had an uncanny knack for finding money.  The rest of us somehow could pass blindly over coins, and even sometimes bills, lying on the ground.  Gabe saw them and picked them up.  One time I remember walking into the front entrance of a department store with Gabe and a quarter came rolling along the floor in a wide arc, curving toward him, and collided with his shoe.  He even figured out that there may be lost coins on the floor around photocopy machines in public places, and more than once I saw him head straight for the copier at the library.

I read about a church that began an outreach ministry with a couple of coins found on the sidewalk by a member.  Now all the members are encouraged to bring money they find and throw it in the outreach jar.  The money that was lost, then found, is put to good use, helping other people.

The lectionary for next Sunday includes the parable of the Lost Coin from Luke 15.  The woman who lost the coin searches high and low, sweeping, searching, and persistently pursuing the coin.  Finally, she recovers it, and she was so filled with joy she gathered her friends and neighbors to “Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I lost.” (v. 9b, NRSV)

Jesus tells the parable to illustrate God’s passion for recovering the “lost.”  People who are not part of the community of faith are precious to the heart of God.  The community is not whole without them.  God is diligent in drawing them in.

But, you know, to me it isn’t strictly a matter of getting everyone onto church rolls and into the pews.  I think, rather, it is somewhat similar to the congregation that uses lost money for outreach.

The more people there are who experience the grace of God, and have their lives transformed by the love of Christ, the more people there are to make that grace and love known to others, so that blessings abound.

If you’re a member of my church, you’ll hear more about this on Sunday.