Chris Campbell

"...let my young men find favour in your sight; for we have come on a feast day. Please give whatever you have at hand to your servants and to your son David.”

Beloved in the body of Christ,

Contemplating on today's reading from Samuel I find myself troubled. David entreats Nabal, who is described as a very rich man, to feed him and his men on a feast day, after spending time guarding Nabal's servants and sheep. Yet Nabal answers:

"Shall I take my bread and my water and the meat that I have butchered for my shearers, and give it to men who come from I do not know where?"

I have spent a large portion of my life at Saint Philip’s, and I have always been amazed and thankful for the generosity of its parishioners, and their willingness to answer the call to help the church and community in whatever way they can. But it is not the only church community that I have been a part of. Some of the churches I have found myself at are smaller parishes, whose resources are very limited.

I remember those smaller churches, the ones whose parishioners wish to give just as much as Saint Philip’s, but who can serve their community only with the work of their hands and the sweat of their brows as many of them cannot afford to contribute financially. Saint Andrew's in Glendale is a community much like this.

Now upon reading this section of Samuel I am forced to face the situation we are confronted with as members of such a blessed community as Saint Philip’s. We must ask ourselves if we wish to be like Nabal, who rejected those outside of his community, or like his wife Abigail, who helped them?

Saint Philip's has pledged $25,000.00 to Saint Andrew's, Glendale, to be raised by the end of this month. Yet we have raised less than half of that amount so far. If you are willing to help this small family of God's people in their work to better their community, please reach out to Mtr Mary atmary.trainor@stphilipstucson.org.

May you live in Truth, Peace, and Love,
Chris Campbell