I hear the Kentucky Fried Chicken people approached the Pope with a proposal recently that was hard to turn down. The chicken people offered ten million dollars if the Holy Father would use his influence to change the words of the Lord's Prayer from "daily bread" to "daily chicken."

"Impossible!" said the Pope.

And he held to that until the offer got to be one hundred million dollars.

The Pope finally said OK -- but he had a concern.

"I know," he said, "we will lose the Wonder Bread franchise.

Now listen, I tried hard to rewrite that joke, using a Methodist bishop instead of the Pope, but it just didn't work. Methodists just aren't as funny as Catholics. Baptists, of course, are funniest of all, but I couldn't use them because they don't ave anybody in charge!

(You know I'm joking.)

Now seriously -- about unusual fund raisers. Last year we raised nearly $1,000 for Mission and Ministry by letting people in church fill fruit jars with "silver" coins -- dimes, nickels, quarters.

Can you believe that?

We raised all that money, and people didn't even notice giving it. Just change that piled up on the dresser! So -- we're doing it again.

But this year I have gotten myself in trouble. I told the congregation that I will fill ten jars all by myself.

Having made that foolish pledge, I have now decided to make good on it in the only honorable way possible. By cheating.

I'm going to ask for your help.

Fill (or partially fill) a fruit jar or Miracle Whip jar with coins and bring it by the church any Saturday morning before Dec. 17. (Or call and someone will pick your jar up.) Put your name and address on the jar, so I can thank you.

On Dec. 17, in morning worship, I will use the jars for my children's sermon, and the children will help me place the gifts before the manager scene.

By the way, I don't expect a huge response here. Life doesn't work that way. I hope to get perhaps 8 or my 10 pledged jars -- and that will be a great help.

But for all the free advertising, I do expect some major contributions from KFC, Wonder Bread, and Miracle Whip!

Happy Thanksgiving!