gifts?
An editorial , Fruitvale Presbyterian Church

When I stand before God at the end of my life,
I would hope that I would have not a single bit of talent left and could say
"I used everything you gave me"
- Erma Bombeck

I received the above quote in an email from a church community member this past week. It’s good food for thought! We live in a culture and time in which we’re often told we have to be perfect in order to do something. We’re told by the stores that want to sell us things: that other people do a better job – so just buy what they made, or pay them to do it for us. We’re told that things are tough; there isn’t enough time; you don’t have the necessary skills; so don’t bother. Maybe that’s why so many people love the Harry Potter books so much. It tells the story of a young boy, becoming a young man, who seems to be no good at anything, not wanted by anyone, of no importance, who turns out to be important – not for what he can do as much as for how he brings people together in relationship and community. We all are gifted like Harry Potter. We all are given unique talents, diverse gifts that are intended not just for our benefit but primarily – and foundationally – for the good of our community – church, neighborhood and even the whole world. The Apostle Paul says that in his first letter to the church of ancient Corinth (Greece) 12:7-12:

“4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;
5and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord;
6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God

who activates all of them in everyone.
7To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”

- 1 Corinthians 12:7-12

Our church is facing challenges (but aren’t we always doing so?). No one person has the answer, but Paul’s words – and the story of Harry Potter among other things – remind us of the mysterious faith that we confess together each Sunday in worship. We are all loved by God. We are all created in God’s image. We are all redeemed, healed and transformed by the radical love of God we know and experience in Jesus the Christ. We are all gifted by the living Spirit of God with unique talents, gifts and visions meant to build up the community through the putting-into-practice of the gospel, in other words for the “common good.” Some of us are gifted at music, others teaching, others understanding Scripture, others making great coffee, others in leadership, others in prayer. Our world often tells us that we aren’t unique, that we aren’t gifted, that we need more than we are needed. Yet our faith in Jesus the Christ reminds us, invites us to believe that we are not just loved by God, but needed by God to accomplish God’s vision and mission for the world! We don’t always know what that looks like. We don’t always understand or know how to do it. Yet if we believe that God calls us today just as God first called Abraham, Sarah, Moses and Myriam, Ruth, Nehemiah, Peter, John and Paul…then we need to be looking, working, seeking, praying, yearning to discover our gifts, to name them, and to use them for the common good. This month’s edition of the Voice details many ways that you can do just that in the life of our community whether that be the Commissioned Lay Pastor Program, hosting Coffee Hour, helping with COPE, special music, standing for Peace, or praying. God is calling us today, here and now. How will you respond with the gifts that you’ve already been given?

Peace to you and yours,