Dear Friends,
After a weekend of nearly constant Jumble sale action here at the church, I decided I needed to discover the origins of the proverb “many hands make light work.” It wasn’t such an easy task. My various web searches told me the proverb’s provenance was either a) unknown, b) Zimbabwean, or c) English and first recorded by John Heywood in the sixteenth century. Like many quests for answers, this particular search only helped me understand my ignorance a little bit better (which, let’s be honest, isn’t always a bad thing).
Regardless, the proverb “many hands make light work” certainly applies to last weekend’s jumble sale; I heard the proverb repeated several times by folks involved in the sale, even as they were doing work that didn’t seem all that light to me. In fact the work seemed hard, but the many hands, together, pulled off an entirely successful jumble sale.
I have been a pastor for twenty five years. I’ve served in three different congregations, and I’ve observed and participate in more than my fair share of church rummage sales, and I have to say this was the best organized and most successful church sale I know about.
The numbers are still pending, but we made a lot of money for the church and for Syrian refugees who will be supported by a portion of the jumble sale proceeds. Also, left over merchandise (some of it quite good), will be split between several local nonprofits whose sales and thrift stores can sell what remains.
The sale was entirely successful despite the fact that we ended up with more stuff than really fit in our facilities, we had a few technical hiccups involving our ability to process credit cards, and we even had a significant theft: someone stole the Warriors tickets we were auctioning, but thanks to the diligence of the jumble sale workers, the kindness of the tickets’ donor, and the cooperation of the Golden State Warriors (who cancelled the original tickets and issued replacements), everything worked out.
I am so grateful for this congregation’s ability to work together with such grace and kindness and cooperation. A huge thank you to everyone who organized, worked, and shopped the jumble sale! You are all amazing. Your many hands have lightened my spirit.
Warmly,
Ben