Bring together people who are passionate about a task

What talents do you have in the group?

We need another volunteer in Sunday school, another employee to do the youth work, etc. So often the solution is closer than we think, because our communities and churches are full of people with talents and attributes who dream and yearn to use their gifts and bless others.

It triggers its own godly dynamic when we bring together people who are passionate about a task, rather than closing the gaps in our work with more or less random solutions.

Letting people go and allowing them to take tasks they are eager for and can perform is the first step in the right direction. The next thing is to put together different people or groups to achieve things that may initially seem impossible.

This winter, as a priest, I held a devotional at the nursing home in our parish. Then I discovered that there was a brand-new greenhouse there, and I became curious - perhaps because I virtually grew up in greenhouses, as my father was a gardener.

I asked the activity manager at the home what the plan was, but quickly realized that she had no plan. Then I couldn’t help but offer my help and wrote some emails to the local gardener and garden center.

As a result, the nursing home is now up and running with its new greenhouse. They’ve got everything they need from pots, soil, and plants. This became a concrete example of how we as a church can bless what others do and in turn reap blessings.

I could also talk about the young people in the parish who have formed a technical group and take care of work with sound and images. They are now also engaged in digital production of services and film snippets, in addition to providing them with other actors in our local community, such as the local children’s and youth theatre group, etc. He who sows with blessing shall reap blessing (2 Cor 9:6b).

READ THE FULL TEXT – 2 COR. 9:6-12

6 But I say it: He who sows sparingly shall reap sparingly, and he who sows with blessing shall reap with blessing. 7 Every man shall give what he has decided in his heart, not with lust or by coercion. For God loves a happy donor. 8 And God is able to give you all his gift in rich measure, that ye always and in all conditions have plenty of everything, yes, have abundance for all good work. 9 For it is written: He strewn out and gave to the poor, his righteousness shall always last. 10 He who gives seed grain to the one who shall sow, and bread to eat, he shall also give you seed and let it bear abundantly and let your righteousness bear rich fruit. 11 You’re going to have plenty of everything, so you’d like to give. And then thanksgiving shall ascend to God as we deliver the gift. 12 For this ministry, this service, is not only some help for the Saints in their need; it also creates an abundance of thanks to God.

PRAYER:

Thank You, good Father in Heaven, for all the blessings and gifts You have given us: the individual, our community, and our church. Help us use our gifts and equipment in the best possible way to bless many.

Thank You for earlier generations who have lived out this in practice with fear and frugality. Help us find our way of managing our talents and gifts so that we can stand in the blessing chain that passes all the way from Abraham to all the peoples and lands of the earth.

Dear Jesus, our liberator, free us from wanting more than we need ourselves; help us to bless others.

Dear Good Holy Spirit, help us see the opportunities in our community as well as the opportunities to bless our sister churches around the world. We worship You. Amen.

DISCUSSION:

1. What talents have you discovered in your group after the previous session? You could take a round and help each other discover each other’s talents.

2. How has someone blessed you recently? What could this blessing say about their talents?

F Ms. Jaquelini de Souzza, Teacher, Ceará, Brasil