EDYTHE:  (To herself.) Might as well do all these charities at once, and get it over with. Let’s see. Red Cross, what did we do last year? Looks good. (Mimes writing check.) Friends of the Library, renew membership. (Mimes writing check.) Marine Science Center, renew membership. Hmmm. It was great having little Edie stay with us while she went to that day camp. She learned a bunch of stuff. Gave me her fish art. I guess we can kick that one up a level. (Mimes writing check.)  Okay. Land Trust. Same as last year. (Mimes writing check.) St. Paul’s. Same as the Land Trust?

            (ANGEL enters, dressed like an angel.)

ANGEL:  Excuse me.

EDYTHE:  Yikes! You’re not the canvasser from St. Paul’s. Are you?

ANGEL:  I’m your guardian angel.

EDYTHE:  Wow. Do I need a guardian angel?

ANGEL:  Everyone needs a guardian angel. I’m here to help. Now, why do you give money to these groups?

EDYTHE:  Umm … Well, I think they do good work. I support their goals. Why, is there something wrong with this list?

ANGEL:  No, it’s fine. Do you support St. Paul’s for the same reason you support the Red Cross?

EDYTHE:  No. I’ve been pretty lucky and haven’t needed the Red Cross for myself. Yet. But when I came to town, I needed St. Paul’s. Didn’t even know how much until I started attending. The worship service, and the people. I guess I support these other groups because they make the world better, but St. Paul’s because it makes me better.

ANGEL:  So… St. Paul’s makes you better.

EDYTHE:  Right. (Thinks.) Right! (Makes out check. Very pleased with herself.) Okay, then. They don’t get a donation like that every day. Thanks!

            (ANGEL exits.)

            (HOWARD the Canvasser enters, knocks on door.)

EDYTHE:  Come in!

HOWARD:  Edythe? I’m Howard, from St. Paul’s.

EDYTHE:  Have a seat. I’m all ready for you.

HOWARD:  You are?

EDYTHE:  Absolutely. Let me tell you what I’m giving to St. Paul’s this year.

HOWARD:  Well, Edythe, I don’t need to know –

EDYTHE:  Oh, that’s okay. I want to tell you, because I just had a kind of epiphany about it. I was taking care of all my annual donations to charities and was going to make my pledge to St. Paul’s pretty much the same as all the others, when I realized just how important the parish is to me, how much it does for me. St. Paul’s has really helped me get closer to God.

HOWARD:  I’m very glad to hear it.

EDYTHE:  So here it is. (Shows him check.) Three times my usual donation.

HOWARD:  Why, thank you. Thank you very much.

EDYTHE:  (Slightly disappointed at his response.) A little more than the ordinary, I bet.

HOWARD:  Well … not really.

EDYTHE:  It’s not?

HOWARD:  No. As Treasurer at St. Paul’s, I did some analysis to prepare for the pledge drive, and I can tell you that the most common annual donation to this parish is between two and five hundred dollars.

EDYTHE:  Really? This is just average?

HOWARD:  Oh, no. No, no, that’s not anywhere near average.

EDYTHE:  You said it was the most common.

HOWARD:  Well, the top givers change the average quite a bit. And it’s a good thing they do. We couldn’t make it otherwise. Well over 100 households gave to the parish last year, but the top 20 paid more than half our bills.

EDYTHE:  Really? So, what’s the most anybody gives?

HOWARD:  Last year, our top two donors gave more than $6,000 each to the parish.

EDYTHE:  (Stunned.) What? That’s incredible. They must be loaded!

HOWARD:  Not necessarily.

EDYTHE:  Man, that’s some commitment.

HOWARD:  Yes, it is. But you have to understand, these are usually people who have life-long ties to the church and strong ties to the parish. They support the parish in a variety of ways, time and talent as well as money. They’re really committed. St. Paul’s is their parish.

EDYTHE:  St. Paul’s is my parish.

HOWARD:  Yes, absolutely. It’s your parish too. And we’re blessed to have you here, blessed in every way. So, are you ready to give me your pledge?

EDYTHE:  Umm… No. I guess I need to think about it some more.

HOWARD:  Well, bless you, Edythe. Thanks for the visit. You’ll bring that pledge card to Ingathering Sunday, won’t you?

EDYTHE:  Yes, I will. Goodbye now.

HOWARD:  Goodbye, Edythe.

            (HOWARD exits.)

            (ANGEL enters.)

EDYTHE:  Hello, again. I thought you were here to help me. But you didn’t exactly tell me everything I needed to know, did you?

ANGEL:  (Kisses EDYTHE on her forehead.) Under Christ’s direction, the whole body is fitted together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy, growing, and full of love.

            (ANGEL turns and addresses the audience, leaving EDYTHE working on her pledge.)

And now you have seen what was done

By Edythe in year number one.

You have seen her first calculation

Of her annual St. Paul’s donation.

What will she do in year two?

We’ll return in a bit to show you!