I started sewing when I was in 8th grade. It was a requirement of young girls at that time. I struggled to make an apron which finally ended up with poorly sized ties and an upside-down pocket. As time went on, I forgot all about sewing and started thinking more about my social life. I picked it up again when my children were old enough to sew for. It was an economical way to dress our kids in special one-of-a-kind clothing. When they got older, homemade clothing didn’t cut it anymore. I turned to sewing costumes for my drama students. Over my 40 years of teaching, directing and writing plays, I must’ve created at least a thousand costumes or more.

There were always remnants from those designs. The leftovers, so to speak. I recall my grandmother telling me to use every inch of fabric you have left, because you can truly make something beautiful out of those scraps. She was a whiz at making quilts with what remained. They were indeed beautiful. The word “remnant,” is one that isn’t used much today. When things wear out, we rarely mend them with patches. We usually throw things away and buy new. A remnant can mean a low number of a remaining group or an unused portion of something. It can be referred to as a leftover – odds and ends or a residue of something that once was.

When we look at church attendance today, maybe instead of looking at the low numbers, we should be looking at the possibilities available with what remains. Our churches are losing ground lately. There are new means of worship, thanks to online services. Many have given up going to church because of other obligations, busy schedules and other interruptions that get in the way. Does that mean all these beautiful churches should be abandoned or left to die? There’s still a remnant at many of those edifices. The leftovers, the unused, the core, the believers, those who hunger for the peace that comes from the Word of God. 

When Jesus ministered, He often would speak with small groups of people. Even going one on one with them. In fact, His first congregation consisted of twelve young men. I’m quite sure He wasn’t looking at the numbers. We shouldn’t either. Numbers will grow if the message is true, and God is in the midst of it. Jesus not only ministered to His followers, He also ate with them, slept alongside of them, walked with them and had times of enjoyment with them. This is something else we get at church. A chance to spend time with like-minded Christians – to encourage – to lift up and spend quality time with them. You might even be on the receiving end of all of those things as well as being filled to the brim with God’s Word.

Those beautiful quilts my grandmother crafted, were snuggled under by chilly bodies over the years. What she did with all the leftovers was a sight to behold. The same can be true of the remnant of believers at some of those dwindling churches. Using what we have remaining, often creates amazing results. Keeping God’s Word alive in this way most definitely will.