God's Claim on Levi

God’s Claim on Levi
NUMBERS 3: 1-5: 4

Last night I was watching the “Extras” on the DVD of a movie called The Soloist, whose background is Skid Row in Los Angeles, ten minutes away from where I sit. It noted the contribution made by volunteers (of the kind I could be) to the needs of homeless people there. Just now I read an e-mail from our pastor reminding us that Saturday is another “work day” when members of the congregation are cleaning up the grounds around our church, disposing of weeds and brush, and so on, and I am wondering whether I should take part rather than sit at home writing Numbers and Deuteronomy for Everyone (you can e-mail me to tell me the answer). At least I shall take part when our church makes dinner at a local homeless shelter next week, and I shall thus miss the Episcopal party at the Dodgers game. And on Sunday I shall preside at the Eucharist; does that constitute my alternative contribution to the church’s work? And what about the coffee sign-up—should I put my name down for one Sunday? Another congregational e-mail exchange this week discussed the appropriate salary for our organist; and while members of churches sometimes fulfill the duties of janitors, secretaries, and receptionists, often churches employ people to do them...