Greetings, friends,

Some of the most powerful sermons are preached without words. During a Sunday service at a small country church, an empty communion table and “invisible” flowers set the stage for a quiet but unforgettable act of worship.

I’ve heard some of the best sermons preached in the most unlikely places. 

Such was the case one Sunday morning. My husband was filling the pulpit at a small country church. The deacon of the week stepped to the podium to make the morning’s announcements.

Reading from the bulletin, he said, “This morning’s flowers have been provided by . . .” He glanced at the blank space in the bulletin, then down at the communion table in front of him. He began again.

“This morning’s flowers are . . . invisible. Apparently no one signed up to bring any, so we’re just going to use our imagination to picture the most beautiful bouquet you can imagine.”

Awkward chuckles filtered through the congregation. With their eyes focused on the empty table, few noticed four-year-old Molly, a tiny girl with wispy blonde hair and big eyes leave her mother’s side in the choir. She scurried down the aisle toward the back of the sanctuary.

Assuming she’d decided to join her father in the congregation or needed to go to the restroom, I turned my attention back to the speaker.

“But if you’d like to sign up to bring flowers next week, there’s a sign-up sheet in the foyer.”

He made a few more announcements, then I saw him glance toward the side aisle. Heads turned in curiosity as Molly walked quietly toward the front. She stopped before the communion table, opened her hand, and deposited her gift—a single white camellia blossom she’d plucked from one of the bushes at the entrance to the church.

To the collective “Awwwws” of the church, she made her way back to her mama’s side in the choir. A satisfied smile dimpled her cheeks.

I don’t know what my husband preached about that day. I’m sure it was good, but for me, the sermon had already been preached—by a little girl with a heart for God and a desire to serve.

We worshipped with that congregation again the following week. In the center of the communion table sat a crystal vase filled with long-stemmed roses. They were beautiful, but nowhere near as beautiful as that single white camellia blossom offered to Jesus from a heart full of love.

And [Jesus] said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).

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