Epiphany 3 (A) Fishing With the Lord

 Epiphany 3 (A) Fishing With the Lord
January 24, 1999
By Rev. Ernest F. Campbell


They say that numbers don’t lie; which is probably why the National Episcopal Church asks all it’s parishes and missions to annually report a bunch of numbers. How many baptisms, confirmations, transfers (in and out), total membership this year compared to last, etc. Plus, a lot of numbers pertaining to our financial status. All these numbers are presented on something called the Parochial Report. All the Parochial Reports are then collected by the Diocese and sent on to the National Headquarters. The reports are due by February 1st. I can assure you that their arrival in the mail does not evoke wild cheering from the parish secretary. 



All the national church knows about St. Paul’s is expressed in numbers!


From my years of experience, the most telling number on the report asks for the “Average Sunday Attendance.” The total number of weekend worshipers divided by 52. I believe that is the most telling because it is purely objective. Either you are present and participating or you are not. All the ushers have to do is count. (Other numbers such as “members-in-good-standing” can cause serious subjective headaches.)


The year I retired in 1990, the average Sunday attendance was 184. Would you believe that the Average Sunday Attendance this past year in 1998 was…. 185? In fact, over the past 18 years the Average Sunday Attendance has been 188. 


If it is true that numbers don’t lie, and that the Average Sunday Attendance is the most telling number, then the number 188 is showing us that Church participation at St. Paul’s is very…. consistent.


I remember reading that nationally the Average Sunday Attendance represents 1/3 of your church membership. By my last count in our new parish photo directory, St. Paul’s has 604 members. Approximately 40 of that number (for reasons of age and infirmity) can no longer attend church. That leaves 565. One third of 565 is…. 188! Which tells us that we are consistently average. 


I’m guessing that some of you are thinking, “I know what Fr. Campbell is going to say next.” He’s going to say, “Let’s make our Sunday average 200 by the year 2000!”


200 by 2000 …. Has a nice ring…but I’m not going to say it. Setting a number as a goal would, I believe, totally miss the point of our mission.


How would this sound? “Hi, I’m Bob from St. Paul’s. Our old priest has challenged us to raise our Average Sunday Attendance to 200 by the year 2000. We would love to ‘count’ on you!” In other words, …. come and be a number.


On the other hand, if numbers don’t lie, we know that close to 400 parishioners have consistently found satisfaction for their spiritual needs here at St. Paul’s. That, I believe, is something to talk about! If people are looking for a Christian faith community, I believe we have something to offer.


When I was an assistant priest in Minnesota, a sign that hung over the office door at St. George’s that read: “If your faith is not worth giving away, it may not be worth keeping.” Obviously, if numbers don’t lie, a significant number of St. Paul’s parishioners act as though their faith is worthwhile. Consistently over the years members of this church live out their faith in worship, study, service, and fellowship.


Yes, we count numbers, but we are not in the numbers game. Our mission is to proclaim by word and deed the good news of God’s love in our lives. That good news has made a joyful difference in my life. And I believe that I can confidently say, because of what I have seen with my own eyes, that it has made a joyful difference in your lives as well. We are lucky people…we are blessed people. We are people with a story to tell.


I’m going to stop here for just a minute and ask you to think of some specific person that you could tell our story too. Who do you know that you believe would find joy in God’s love and joy in this fellowship of Christ’s friends. Think of your own family, friends, business acquaintances, and lapsed members of this parish. Silently name that person and put that name on your heart. You may be the only person in the world that will take the chance to say…. come and see.


In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites Peter and Andrew to bring their professional fishing skills, follow Him, and become fishers of people.


Qualities possessed by good fishermen can be very useful in our mission to bring people into this joyful fellowship. I found William Barclay’s commentary on the practical application of fishing skills to our mission to be most interesting.


  1. Fisherman must have patience. They must learn to wait patiently until the fish takes the bait.

  2. They must have perseverance. They must never be discouraged – always ready to try again. (Our son Dave said to me once, “Isn’t it great that we didn’t catch any fish today?” I asked, “Why?” Dave said, “Because they will all be here tomorrow!”)

  3. They must have courage. People generally don’t want to hear that they are looking for joy in the wrong places.

  4. They must have an eye for the right moment. A wise preacher and teacher know that there is a time to speak and a time to be silent. 

  5. They must fit the bait to the fish. the wise preacher and teacher know that the same approach will not win all people.

  6. Wise fisherman must keep themselves out of sight. Our job is always to seek to present, not themselves, but Jesus Christ. 


Now, recall the name that came to mind a few minutes ago. How might we invite that person into the joy of Christ’s fellowship? With patience, perseverance, courage, timing, and the wisdom to connect them with just the right attraction?


If numbers don’t lie…. We have a wonderful story to tell. And the love of the Lord to share. 


We are not fishing for the Lord – but fishing with the Lord!

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