[The following is extracted from the "Pastor's Message" in the Sept 92
John Calvin Presbyterian Church newsletter by Rev David Renwick]

                                  ***

...from a letter written some years ago to the editor of a religious
magazine <reflecting> much of my understanding of preaching: 

      "Dear Sir:  I notice that ministers seem to set a great
      deal of importance on their sermons and spend a great deal
      of time preparing them.  I have been attending services
      quite regularly for the past thirty years and during that
      time, if I estimate correctly, I have listened to no less
      than 3,000 sermons.  But to my consternation, I discover I
      cannot remember a single one of them.  I wonder if a
      minister's time might be more profitably spent on something
      else?  Sincerely..."

That letter triggered an avalanche of angry responses for weeks. Sermons
were castigated and defended by lay and clergy, but eventually a single
letter closed the debate: 

      "My dear Sir:  I have been married for thirty years.
      During that time I have eaten 32,850 meals-mostly of my
      wife's cooking.  Suddenly I have discovered that I cannot
      remember the menu of a single meal.  And yet, I received
      nourishment from every one of them.  I have the distinct
      impression that without them, I would have starved to death
      long ago.  Sincerely..."