Worshippers fill Footville Church to Capacity for Confirmation Retreat; Observer surprised by unexpected reading; Reflections on" The Referral Close"

Sunday morning sleepy confirmation candidates and their parents packed St. Augustine Church in Footville for the 8:30AM service. The students were slated for a full day of retreat in preparation for their coming confirmation. Parishners from St. Paul's and their students were there also and thus the place was as packed as opening night at a theatre stageshow.

Right in the middle of political season. Right in the midst of students getting references for future college applications. Right in the midst of a life of job applications and references, came the reading and short sermon that was a total shock to The Observer.

One of the classic sales techniques is called "The Referral Close." It is probably the most powerful of all sales techniques. The salesman says, "I just sold xxxx to your neighbor xxxx and he/she loves it." Or, in the political arena, it is more subtle. It can be a yard sign. It can be in our everyday life, the fact that my friends wear "Ann Taylor" sweaters or drive Lexis cars or yes Dodge Ram pickups etc. etc.

Anyway, it was just a short reading by St.Paul, who it seems was having a little controversy about credentials. He simply says that it is not the letters of recommendation that are the key to determining whether a minister is the proper one for the congregation, but just a very simple thing---- the life you lead.

The Observer was totally shocked. After all the writing. All the campaigning. All the careful purchasing of politically appropriate stuff, it really comes down to a pretty simple deal. Both my long term and short term memory had failed to recall this short epistle. What a nice total shock!

Best wishes to the Confirmation class of 2006 of St. Paul's and St. Augustine parishes.