Millgrove United Church (The liveliest little church in Flamborough/Ontario/Canada!)

It seems like we’re surrounded by numbers. They’ve become so ingrained in our lives that we begin to think they’re part of nature. Temperatures, sports results, credit ratings and, especially these days, unemployment figures, job losses and the stock market averages dominate our minds and conversations.

Those numbers begin to take on a life of their own and can control our moods, our confidence, our lives. For those who have been affected by the current economy, becoming an Unemployment Statistic can be as disturbing as the reduction in income that comes with it.

This is the time for people in the community to rally together to support those who are suffering. We need to remember that there are real people and families behind those statistics. In Matthew chapter 25 (yes, another number), Jesus instructs us to help the hungry and the thirsty, provide clothing, and visit those who are lonely.

It is crucial to care for those in need, but it is also important for those who are not directly affected to resist becoming so depressed by what they read that they stop living their lives. Fear can be paralyzing, and one of the central themes of the Gospel is to “Fear not!”

The Church is not immune from a dependency on numbers. Congregations with increasing Sunday attendance rejoice, while those in decline worry about their future.

Some church events are judged by how many people came through the doors, rather than if those present had their lives touched in a meaningful way.

One of the most important numbers that we need to keep sharply in focus is three – specifically, the Three Persons of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

But a more surprising number to consider is One. People attend church for many different reasons: to develop their faith and spirituality, to make sense of their lives, to find an extended family that really cares about them. Sunday services can provide all these benefits, but they can also be judged as effective, if just one person finds more Hope in their life, if one person is motivated to mend a broken relationship or if one person understands the Bible more clearly than they ever have previously.

Yes, if just one person finds more peace than they’ve ever known, if one person is surprised how well the Bible can relate to their lives, if one is motivated to invite their friends or family to share their joy, if just one person hears the message they really need to hear, as they might in this Sunday’s sermon, then the church is being truly effective.

And most of all we need to concentrate on the ONE, Jesus, whom God gave us, because “God so loved the world” (John 3:16).

You may not be able to control the numbers that surround you, but you can set your mind to not be controlled by them, and the church of your choice can definitely help you with that!

Reverend Ted Vance