Time, Talent and Treasure

"God's Work. Our Hands." It's a familiar slogan used to emphasize service in our church body, local communities, and the world.

Using your time, talent, and treasure, you can do God's work, serving people and places with your hands. Doesn't that sound amazing?

But what happens when the speed bumps in life occasionally slow down a desire to seek opportunities or change? And why is it so darn comfortable following the same routine (including service of time, talent, and treasure) day in/day out, or even year in/year out? Do you hesitate to change the path, try something new, or serve with people you don't know very well?

So here's the big question: How can you best spend your time, use your talents, and share your financial treasure? Colossians 3:23-24 Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. There are many possible (and very acceptable) answers to the big question, but where is the best place to start? Here are a few things to think about:

• Did you know that Holy Trinity has checklist to help you identify specific areas of interests? This form represents some of the opportunities that are currently available. Check the areas where you would like to serve. 

þ	Worship	7:45	9:15	10:45	Comments
	Assist with communion
	Read lessons in worship
	Usher at worship
	Greet at worship
	Volunteer at the Welcome Center
	Prepare & serve coffee after worship
	Volunteer in nursery
	Operate Sound Board

	Prepare the altar for worship (Altar Guild)
	Provide cookies for after services
	Straighten up church after worship
	Other (please describe)

  

þ	Choir &  Music	Comments
	Participate in Jr choir (gr 2 through 6 )
	Participate in Adult choir  (gr 9 and up)
	Participate in Orchestra - list instrument
	Participate in Handbell choir
	Participate in Praise Worship Music Team (10:45 Service)
	Other (please describe)

  

þ	Outreach	Comments
	Participate in Habitat for Humanity team
	Participate in Mexico Mission team
	Participate in Treasure Box Distribution
	Write articles for newspaper
	Other (please describe)

þ	Fellowship - Small Groups	Comments
	Participate in Koinonia (adult fellowship & study meets once a month)
	Participate in Campouts
	Participate in Dinner for 6
	Participate in Bible Study
	Participate in Men’s Breakfast Group
	Participate in Tuesday Women’s Fellowship & Bible Study (Circle)
	Assist in planning Women’s Events (Women’s Tea & Advent Dinner)
	Participate in Widow’s Mite (support group & fellowship)
	Participate in Quilters Group (sewing skills not necessary)
	Participate in FACESS - Young Parents Group
	Participate in Fun Team (planning Fall Festival & Annual Picnic)
	Other (please describe)

þ	Youth & Children’s Activities	Comments
	Assist with children’s activities – Indicate Grade:
	Assist with Junior High activities
	Assist with Senior High activities
	Assist with Wednesday evening Confirmation Class as a group leader
	Be a Prayer Partner for a confirmation student
	Serve on Youth & Family Ministry Team
	Other (please describe)

þ	Education	Comments
	Be a Sunday school teacher
	Be an assistant Sunday school teacher
	Be a substitute Sunday school teacher
	Assist with Vacation Bible School
	Teach/lead adult classes
	Other (please describe)

þ	Social Ministry  & Caring Ministry	Comments
	Participate in Christian Meditation
	Participate in email Prayer chain
	Visit sick and shut-in
	Prepare & deliver meals to families when needed
	Provide babysitting when needed
	Deliver Meals on Wheels (4 times per year)
	Deliver tapes of worship services to shut ins
	Assist with Divorce Care classes
	Assist with Grief Share classes
	Assist with Divorce Care for Kids classes
	Assist with Card Ministry (sending cards to prayer chain)
	Assist with Blood Drive
	Give rides to church
	Provide transportation service when needed
	Other (please describe)

þ	Finance and Financial Stewardship	Past Experience/comments
	Assist in annual stewardship program
	Count Sunday morning offerings
	Serve on Finance Committee
	Serve on Endowment Committee
	Other (please describe)

þ	Property Maintenance and Improvement	Past Experience/comments
	Serve on Property Committee
	Help on church “work days” (bi-annually)
	Gifts I can share:  paint, woodwork, electric, plumbing (please circle all you can share)

þ	Administrative Assistance	Past Experience/comments
	Assist with bulletin folding (Friday mornings)
	Assist with folding newsletter (one Thursday morning/month)
	Assist with miscellaneous office work

  

1.  These are the areas where I have served in previous church and community groups:

  

2.       These are the areas I am currently serving and participating in at Holy Trinity:

  

3.      Of all the areas I checked, my top three interests are:

1. 

2. 

3. 

• Is there something you'd really like to do, but it's not listed on the form? Talk to a church leader or a friend in the congregation. Get the conversation started and participate the magnificent effects of your time, talents, and treasure!
• Not sure what to do? Uncomfortable making a change right now? Take your thoughts, concerns, and desires to the Lord in prayer. Listen for Him. Keep asking. Keep listening. Psalm 145:18 The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

As a church body, our ministries and programs rely heavily on the service of our members in a variety of areas-doing God's work as a caring and sharing congregation. How will you join in? Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Salt and Light v. Sugar and Spice

Pastor Michael Zarling from Epiphany Lutheran in Racine, WI shares his thoughts on the person tug-of-war struggles between what we are called to do and what we're actually comfortable doing in our daily lives.

Read his commentary here.

God, Valentines, and Love

The first act of love came from God. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

In love, God gave us Jesus, a human being who would promise eternal life and a personal relationship unlike any other.

On Valentine's Day and throughout the month of February, random acts of kindness and intentional expressions of love are anticipated and often willingly shared. As God's love is everyday, all the time, unconditional, and never-ending, how can you share His love in your daily life?

Mark 12:30-31 “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Mid-Week Devotion

It's Tuesday and nearly mid-week since Sunday's worship service. Have you given any thought to how you might "fish" and share God's love?
Today's post includes the Gospel verse that reflects Jesus' invitation to the disciples. It's followed by a devotion, written by Nance Wabshaw, posted at www.allsaintsphoenix.org.

Matthew 4:12-23

Gospel Lesson for Sunday, Jan 26, 2014

12Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. 13He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the Territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15“Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali, on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles – 16the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”

  17From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 18As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea – for they were fishermen. 19And he said to them “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people. 20Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21As he went from there, he saw to other brothers, James, son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. 22Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. 23Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.
    (e-Devotion text by Nance Wabshaw) Matthew is determined at every turn to underscore the fact that Jesus’ geographical moves were each a fulfillment of prophecy.  This move to Galilee is no exception and appears to be the direct result of Jesus learning that John has been arrested.  In addition to fulfilling prophecy, it is a prudent move on Jesus’ part as he realized just how serious Herod was about putting out the light that was shining brighter each day (Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:16). In what might be called holy defiance, Jesus landed in Galilee and began to proclaim the exact words of John, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” Jesus’ ministry of teaching, preaching and healing was now in full swing. Those moments of seeming chaos were all working together to bring Jesus into the fullness of his calling.
    I don’t really like to fish.  Getting up before first light to get into a boat, wrangling worms on a sharp hook and snagging a living creature that I don’t really enjoy eating just doesn’t light me up! When I see news reports on the struggling fishing industry in the northeast or the starfish blight along the west coast, I wonder how people can hope to make their living this way, let alone do it as recreation. But as grueling as this work could be, it was also extremely important work, taught and bequeathed down through the generations. Fishing was no less arduous when Jesus was on the shores of Galilee collecting his ragtag group of disciples. It was also not a recreational activity; it was livelihood for these coastal folks.
    I can imagine Jesus walking along the shore, leaving sandal prints in the sand to be washed away with the tide.  It was still dark because Simon (Peter) and Andrew were just casting their nets when Jesus showed up and offered them a “new job.” Jesus’ spirit probably outshone the sun as he approached them so it would be no surprise to read that the response to his offer included such words as “immediately” and “at once.” No returning home to discuss with family, no season of pondering pros and cons…just the immediate response to the great light that had dawned on them. And, as with anyone who spends enough time with someone, the disciples began to take on the attributes of Jesus so that he could tell them (and us), “You are the light of the world (Matthew 5:14).”
    For whatever reason, Zebedee stayed in the boat as his sons, James and John, left to begin a brand new journey.  It is intriguing that he didn’t join them.  Perhaps he was thinking of his other responsibilities.  Maybe he had already “sowed his wild oats” as he might have considered his sons’ impetuous behavior. We don’t know if he rejected Jesus or simply wasn’t invited to join Jesus’ initial group of missionaries.  Whatever the reason, Matthew leaves Zebedee in the boat which suddenly, to me, seems like a perilous place to be. And yet, how many times have I chosen to stay in the boat, seasick as I might be, rather than climb out and begin a journey of unknown dangers (and equally unknown joy) with God?
    Discipleship is not something we can understand from the beginning.  It unfolds for each of us in a God-ordained way. If they had known “the end from the beginning,” who knows what they would have chosen. But Jesus’ beckoning must have been exactly what these men had been seeking.  Their immediate response is the essence of repentance, which is not necessarily an emotion of sorrow for sins as it is a decision to change our minds, hearts and life directions. God gives us more than one chance to say “Yes” so I choose to believe that Zebedee eventually got out of the boat to do whatever God asked of him.
    Being a fisher of men and women is not on a list of optional spiritual practices; it is the heart and soul of any disciple of Jesus Christ. And each one of us is worthy of that call, regardless of what we are doing when we hear it.  It doesn’t depend on our talents, our good looks, our bank account, our current profession.  It depends on the grace of God and God’s desire that each of us abandons our leaky, self-driven boat and joins him in the most amazing journey there is. My prayer is that I will receive each day the strength of will to untangle myself from the things of this world—to “leave my
nets”—and experience the exhilaration of simply following the Lord.

2nd Sunday After Epiphany

Second Sunday after Epiphany Texts: Isaiah 49:1-7; Psalm 40:1-12; 1 Corinthians 1:1-9; John 1:29-41

In a blog post penned by Delmer Chilton, a pastor authoring an article in Living Lutheran, he shares a memory of feeling lost.

Read it here.

His story is simple; an everyday kind of thing. It's an experience that could be dismissed as one that isn't worth sharing with anyone. When he reflected on this experience, he was reminded of a God-present life. A life that includes God's eyes set on him everyday, all the time, even when he might not be looking in His direction. The Gospel of John illustrates how John the Baptist told others about the Messiah. In telling them, they learned and followed Jesus.

How does this week's text apply to your everyday life?
Do you have a seemingly everyday experience to share with others that might lead them to the Lord?

Sunday School

January 12th marks the first Sunday after Epiphany, a day to recognize Jesus' baptism. Reference the Gospel of Matthew 3:13-17.

Most Sunday School classes resume on the 12th at 9:15.