From the Elder's Pen "The New Preacher" 8/17/03 Past/Future Articles

 There is an interesting story I was told about concerning a small town church and its new preacher.  I do not know whether or not the story is true or just a parable, but consider its lesson.  The author of this story is unknown.

 A new preacher came to town and spent the first few long days calling on the inactive membership, one by one, family by family, begging them to come to his first service.  Sadly, however, all his effort was in vain.  None of them showed up on Sunday morning.  On Monday morning, he placed a prominent notice in the local newspaper.  The notice proclaimed that the church was dead and because of that, it was his duty as a minister to give it a decent Christian burial.  The funeral was announced to be held the following Sunday afternoon.  Morbidly curious, of course, the whole town turned out.  Inside the church for everyone to clearly see as they entered the building, there was a large coffin, prominently placed high in front of the pulpit, smothered in flowers.  Everyone was seated and anticipation was in the air.  The service began.  The minister said an opening prayer, led in a quiet hymn, then solemnly read the church’s obituary and delivered a touching and eloquent eulogy.
 He then invited the congregation to step forward and pay their final respects to the dearly beloved who had departed.  Everyone got up from their seats and formed a line, which slowly filed by the casket.  Each mourner peeped inside and then turned away in shock, with a guilty, sheepish look, some in tears.  Their faces became ashen.  This is what they saw; inside the coffin, tilted at the correct angle, was a large mirror.  Everyone saw himself!
 Dear Friends, this is a dramatic example that the church is us.  We are the body of Christ.  It is just as much you and me personally as it is the next person.  Let us heed the Lord’s exhortation, and “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25)