Exploring Our Giftedness Together
By Ross Taylor, Stewardship Chair
I am so honored to have the opportunity to explore our giftedness both individually and as a community with my church family as the Chair of the 2022 Stewardship Campaign. As I consider specific gifts that I have to offer (and I invite you all to do the same! ), I find myself having to first take a step back and contemplate the gifts that I have received throughout my life.
Our Lord is so lavish with his gift-giving. There are things in my life that I enjoy personally and thank God for: the love of my wife, the infectious laugh of my oldest son, and the fact that my younger son is a generous hugger. More generally, I join with Christians throughout the ages in marveling at the gifts that God bestows on His creation. Inexhaustible grace, love that knows no boundaries, and a hope built on the reality that every human is made in the image of God - worthy of love, acceptance, and eternal life.
When I reflect on the gifts I have received, I think an often overlooked one is God's gift of participation. How wonderful that God invites me, invites all of us, to engage in the continual repair and renewal of this world. Our Father demonstrated his utter commitment to this very repair through the incarnation. Jesus reveals to each of us that God is not removed from our joy or suffering, in fact He descends directly into it. He still does this-and delights in our commitment to join Him in His work.
Ready to Give?
The needs in our world are great. And the truth is that God sees each of us as wealthy when it comes to our ability to aid in the repair and redemption of this world. Our gifts can come in the form of time, talent, or treasure-and all three are crucial. Treasure can fund so many of the initiatives our church feels the Lord calling us to participate in. Time spent with those in need clarifies for each of us how little time we have to waste. Talent is our unique offering, and we look more like the church Jesus intended when we bring our individual abilities to the table. The beauty and pain present in our world as inextricably intertwined. Where there is pain; however, there is also redemption. There is no doubt that the needs are great, but our God is greater, and He is eager for us to join Him in His mission. We've got exciting work to do. I'm thankful I get to do it with each of you.
Ross Taylor
Stewardship Chair