Paula D'Arcy, author of Song For Sarah, tells of belonging to a small church in New England. There were approximately 200 members on roll, with about 50 in church on any given Sunday. Usually there were about four in the choir. All was dull and dead: no new faces, no children, no laughter, no spirit to speak of. In time she and a friend began discussing the merits of looking for a new church home. However, they decided to remain until the end of the calendar year. In the autumn came the time for the annual women's banquet. Every year the same 12 or 15 ladies attended, nothing new, nothing inspiring.

That particular year, though, Paula and her friend decided to experiment. They phoned every woman on the church roll and asked, "Would you come next Thursday night? We know you have other obli…