Parables as usual, and this one is no exception, can be interpreted in several different ways.  The most common view of this particular parable is that the sower is understood to be God, the seed is the Kingdom of God or as Jesus, and the various types of soil represent us - that is you and me.  

This morning, however, I thought I would look at this parable from a different viewpoint.  The perspective  I am going to take this morning is that you and I are the sower.  That is, you and I are supposed to be the ones spreading those seeds of the kingdom of God in all that we do. 

As many of you know, the larger Episcopal Church, the diocese, and even here at Good Shepherd - the latest buzz word is "evangelism." Evangelism has to do with spreading the good news of the Gospel.   However, the word evangelism itself, has over the past century developed something of a negative name - particularly where liberal main-line churches are concerned.
As a child growing up in the rural eastern North Carolina, (that's where they have the really good barbeque you know,) I remember the excitement of some of my friends when church revivals were coming to town.  If it was a large revival, it would take over the fair grounds for three or four days, set up a huge tent and hundreds, ?hundreds  of people from miles around would flock to hear the energetic and inspired preaching and the rousing gospel music. There was always a nightly altar call where people would get up and proclaim Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  And often times, there were seemingly miraculous healings where the lame were able to walk straight and headaches that had been present for years disappeared.  Some people spoke in tongues and some other folks would have fits of ecstasy.   I must admit, - it was a pretty good show and one that I found utterly fascinating - but not so intriguing that I found my way to the altar to proclaim that I was "born again."

Most recently, the evangelical movement has been stigmatized and co-opted by some of the most conservative, very fundamental branches of the Christian church.  Some of these literalists tend to circumvent scripture with a belief system or theology based  on fear - fear that if you don't believe what they believe something is wrong with you and you will spend eternity in hell;  and disapproval and condemnation, that is  if your lifestyle doesn't match theirs - then you will spend eternity in hell...  And not surprisingly, these attitudes have left a negative taste of church and God in many mouths.  Many people find this type of evangelism distasteful because there is no room for thought, imagination, or challenge. 

The larger Episcopal Church, our diocese, and Church of the Good Shepherd are all trying to change these notions of evangelism.  Our church understands evangelism to be about sharing the precious gift of God's love rather than telling people what they need and must believe.  We want people to know that evangelism begins in our basic relationships with other people who care about us and this caring leads to a relationship with the God who loves and cares for us all.  This is our style of evangelism.  These are the seeds that you and I are each called to broadcast out into the world.  God is calling each of us to be evangelists in our own way. 

Can you imagine yourself as an evangelist? ?..  This sounds pretty scary, don't you think ? ?. However, most of us are very busy evangelizing every day and we don't even know it.  For example, when someone sneezes - do you say, "God bless you?"  Do you ever tell people you will pray for them when they are sick?  and many of us will say aloud - "thank God"  when something good happens to us.

Our diocese has put out a pithy little booklet called "A shy person's guide to the practice of evangelism"  that they handed out at the last diocesan convention that provides suggestions and ways for us stodgy Episcopalians to evangelize:  things like 

1. how to invite a friend to church
2. how to tell someone that you will pray for them - and then do it
3. and how to talk to new people at coffee hour.

The diocese has also put out a great welcome packet that tells people about the Episcopal Church in this diocese.   Our  parishioner, Wilga Rivers,  has very graciously complemented that packet with information about Church of the Good Shepherd. This is evangelism!

Within Good Shepherd itself, we have groups and committees that are diligently working together to  implement new ways to be more inclusive and inviting while providing fresh opportunities to attract people to be a part of our faith community here. This is evangelism!
 
We will be creating innovative hospitality through our weekly mid-week Taize services that will begin at the start of the Advent season and continue throughout the year.  This is evangelism!

  Our developing New Life Directions team is busy shaping and planning an exciting new process for life discernment and retreats for the community that will take place in 2006.  This is evangelism!

 
The Scared Space committee is working to make this sanctuary more comfortable, beautiful and useable for multiple purposes.  This is evangelism!

Our Outreach committee is investigating ways the parish can be involved both locally and globally through our "Living Stones" ministry in Ramallah.  This is evangelism! 

These are some of the ways that Church of the Good Shepherd is opening herself to broadcasting the seeds.

My question and challenge to you is how are you going to broadcast the seeds of God's love?   

Could you say to someone, a neighbor or friend at work, " Gee, you've got a great voice, our choir would love you!"

Could you say "  You are so generous with yourself, where do you go to be nurtured and fed?   I know a place that will feed your body and your soul.

And after our service, could you invite a visitor to coffee hour by saying, I don't think we've met, I'm Katherine.  We usually have great food at our coffee hour, would you care to join me for something to eat and drink?

I think what I'm trying to say is that the church provides numerous opportunities to engage people --- but all the programs, banners flying, and advertisements in the world are not going to pull very many people into the pews.  What it is that is going to attract people to enter our doors is you, you, and you, that is each of you and me. 

Now, no one knows whether the seeds we cast are going to fall on hard rocky ground, thorny thickets, or fertile soil.  But, what we do know is that with nurture and care some of these seeds are going to sprout and flower.  Because God is at work in this thing called evangelism, some people are going to respond to the seeds that you cast out that invite people to know and experience first hand the radical hospitality of God's love and graciousness. 

The Church, Ann, and I invite each and every one of you to join us as evangelist.  Go and be sowers of God's abundant love.    Amen