When we consider all of the resources that God has entrusted to our care, we realize that each of us has been blessed with time and unique talents, and that we are called to use these to love God and our neighbors. This month, you are asked to prayerfully reflect on how you are investing your time, and using your special abilities.  

Here are a few pertinent passages from the Holy Bible:

  “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (1 Peter 4:10 NRSV) 

     “We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us:  prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity;  the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness.”  (Romans 12:6-8  NRSV)  

     “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit;  and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord;  and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit,  to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,  to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.  All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11  NRSV)

  “The gifts he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers,  to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,  until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.”  (Ephesians 4:11-13  NRSV)

Time is one of the most precious commodities that we possess: we don’t know when it will run out, and we cannot obtain any more than the amount that has been allotted to us.    Think about how many hours you actually spend in a typical week doing various specific activities (working, cooking, eating, sleeping, exercising, cleaning, playing, etc.) and then ask yourself, “Do these hours actually match my values?”, and “How could I better use my time to love God and my neighbor?”

Each of us has been given unique combinations of specific inclinations, abilities, interests, and concerns that we are passionate about. During the month of August at Peace, each person is encouraged to use a ELCA Spiritual Gifts Inventory to discover his/her unique gifts and talents through a guided self-assessment process, and to consider how those gifts and talents could be used for the good of the entire church.  Paper self-assessment forms will be available at the Ushers’ station in the Narthex. If you need assistance in completing or interpreting your spiritual gifts assessment forms, please contact Tom Winn, Bob Van Gulick, or Darrell Bailey at church.

This year, Rally Day will be on Sunday, August 18. Rally Day is the annual kickoff of our congregation’s program year, and we will be conducting a Ministry Fair during Community Connections. All congregational groups, activities, and programs will be represented at the Ministry Fair. You will have an opportunity to indicate your areas of interest, your special abilities, and your willingness to serve in our congregation. Find out about Peace’s programs and activities, meet new friends, and share the gifts that God has given to us all. Come and see!