Millie Sanderson nodded. "We can argue with you, but we can't argue with the Bible."
"All right, I'm not sure what that means, though. I've heard thatOlivia's candles are the highest quality, and that many times the church has used them to burn throughout January, which is typically a dark month. I've heard they brighten the church and encourage people to come. Not to mention, her scents are delicate and lovely, but not overpowering where people who are allergic are unable to handle them."
It was true, Pastor Johnson had gone on and on about Olivia's candles. But mostly, he'd said that Olivia needed to work, and then Pastor Johnson had quoted the verse about taking care of widows. Then he'd said sometimes you just had to make a person feel like they were contributing to society, and not like they were a charity case.
Mark figured Pastor Johnson's wisdom far surpassed his own, and he thought it was a good idea, not just to support someone in their congregation, but to help a widow in her time of need, and also to purchase something from her, and not just throw money at her like charity. Although there wasn't anything wrong with charity.
"The church can use the extra money that we would save on purchasing cheaper candles on other things that would be beneficial to the community," Bob Knapp spoke up. "We could just give Olivia money if she needed it. Has she asked for it?"
"I think it would be better to purchase something from her business, to support her that way, rather than just throwing money at her." Thankfully, when Ralph Jones spoke, he didn't seem like he was attacking Bob's point of view, just disagreeing with it casually.
"I agree with that. There are too many people who just want a handout. And sometimes, if a person can't work because they're sick, because they're taking care of someone who's sick, or something like that, then you might have to just give money. But if you can support a business, especially the business of a widow, then I think we should." Casey Hill added his opinion.
"What do you say, Pastor?" Millie Sanderson turned to him with her brows raised.
"I think she's part of our community. I think her candles areexcellent quality. I've heard multiple people say that not only do they burn for a long time and give off a beautiful scent, but they add warmth and cheer to the church in January. An added bonus is that we would be supporting a widow, as the Bible commands, and also a member of our congregation and our community. I say we purchase the candles."
He wasn't going to add that last part, because he was new, and he didn't want to be rocking the boat or commanding everyone. Except... he was the pastor. He was supposed to be the leader. The shepherd, too, of course, but also the leader of the church. As he had been reminded several times this evening, that's what they hired him for. Not just his preaching, not just to visit people, but to lead the church in the direction it should go, following Jesus. He couldn't help but think that Jesus would probably buy Olivia's candles.
"All right then. If that's what the pastor thinks, I'll fall in line behind him." Bob Knapp nodded his head and crossed his arms over his chest, stretching his legs out and crossing his ankles.
It wasn't exactly a submissive pose, but his tone was conciliatory, and Mark nodded. "I appreciate your support. I was thinking to myself that if Jesus were here, I'm pretty sure he would buy Olivia's candles, not just because they're great candles, but because she's a member of the church and a widow." He paused. "He would probably even help her make them."
A small murmur of laughter rippled around the circle, while everyone nodded in agreement.
"Well, Pastor, I guess since you're the one that's supposed to be the most like Jesus, you should go offer to help."
They all laughed, but as the meeting went on and Noah came in, slipping in in time to talk about the music at the Christmas Eve service, Mark tucked that idea in the back of his head. He probably should offer to help her. Not just because he was a pastor, but as the Secret Saint, they hadn't been able to find a whole lot of things that they could do to give Olivia a hand. She was very tight-lipped about her needs, and Noah said the few times that they had tried to giveher an envelope of cash, he'd seen she had passed it on to someone who was even more desperately in need than she was.
But helping her make them and purchasing her candles were two things that he could do.
He did not stop to think that perhaps there were ulterior motives. After all, he was the pastor, and he wasn't supposed to have any of those.
Chapter 7
"I believe that's everything. Meeting adjourned," Mark said, folding the paper he held in his hands in two and standing up from his chair.
"Pastor, if it's okay with you, I'd like to convene an emergency meeting for the town emergency management committee. Because of the weather," Ben Tucker said, standing up from his chair and speaking in a low tone to the pastor. His words were quick, like he was afraid that people would leave before he was able to do that.
"Totally fine with me."
"Thanks," Ben said. Then he looked around at the people still mostly sitting in their chairs. "If everyone who is on the town emergency management committee would please stay, I'd like to have a word with you all. The weather doesn't look good."
"I heard we're supposed to get a good bit of snow," Mark said, wondering if there would even be services for the first Christmas that he was here at his new church.
"The latest weather models I've seen have doubled the original estimates. You hardly ever see the forecasted amount go up. Usually they adjust down."
"Yeah, they start out scaring everyone to death, and then we barely ever get anything," Mark said. And then it sunk in. "Double? I heard one to two feet."
"Yeah. They're forecasting up to three feet now."
"Wow. I don't think I've ever been in a storm that dumped three feet of snow. Not here in Virginia."
"Sometimes in the mountains we can get a good bit. I think you came from a lower elevation."
"I did. And I’ve heard about road closures and that type of thing up here, but three feet of snow?" He could hardly believe it.
And at Christmas.
