1. The illustration features “a brother who shall remain nameless” who drives the same silver Corolla as Brother Dale. Brother Dale is now studying the hymnal with great intensity.
2. The pastor makes eye contact with the entire congregation in a slow, fair sweep, then lingers on row seven for a full verse of Leviticus.
3. The sermon title in the bulletin was changed on Friday afternoon. The original was “Joy in the Journey.” The new one is “When Board Meetings Become Battlefields.”
4. The text is Matthew 18, read twice, slowly, with special emphasis on “go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone,” which is ironic, given that 140 people are now involved.
5. The head elder, seated on the platform, suddenly develops a deep interest in the stained glass.
6. The closing hymn is “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” and the pastor asks everyone to stand, except, he says warmly, “anyone who feels they need to remain seated and reflect.”
7. At the door afterward, the pastor shakes 139 hands normally. The 140th gets both hands and the phrase “I’m always here if you want to talk.”
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