For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually we are members one of another. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us:
We use this passage just about every year when we install new officers at the church, members of the Board, Elders, Deacons and Team Leaders. I list the different gifts and responsibilities connected with each of those positions, name the people who have been elected to them, and bless them and the congregation celebrates them. These are the people who are willing to stand in front of others and do the public and visible work of the congregation. Most have to attend business meetings and help in the day to day decision making.
Those are only a few of our members, though. Many folks have gifts that go un-used because they are not aware that every gift is valuable. Every year we mail out a pledge card for our stewardship campaign. On the back are questions about gifts people may contribute other than money. Perhaps we are asking the question in the wrong way, because what I keep getting back are answers from the people who already do stuff listing the stuff they are already doing. This is not what I am looking for, at all. I know what these folks do. I want to know what gifts other people have. I want to know about your hobbies, things you enjoy doing, things you have always wanted to do but didn’t have a place to do it.
We have music pretty well covered, but just think . . . if we had a group of several persons who enjoy knitting or crocheting, they could meet regularly and talk about things important to them while they knit. They might decide to make prayer shawls or afghans for people in convalescent hospitals, or prayer crosses to give our homebound folks. But we can’t start a knitting/crocheting group if no one says they enjoy doing that.
If we had people who love reading, a book club is always fun. Some may be looking for a place to share their love of poetry. Maybe a group could get together to draw or paint or even color. Some people love to read aloud to children and might like to start a story hour like libraries have.
And yes, most of these things are pretty inward looking. These are primarily ways in which people who don’t know each other well can connect. They might invite other friends to join them, expanding our reach. They might raise money for needs in our local community.
There are so many possibilities for connecting with each other and with the community outside of our doors. But first we have to know what gifts are out there. We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us - and all of those gifts are of great value.
Generous God, you have given us so many different gifts and talents and interests. May we share these with each other, so that your blessing may reach more and more people through our gifts. Amen
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