Say!

Do! Think! Stewardship!* "Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” (1 Peter 4:10)

Talent—What are my talents? How do I steward, manage, use my talents? Discerning our gifts

How to employ our gifts in God’s service is an ongoing Christian spiritual practice. Anyone at any age can decide how to use their talents for God’s mission. The concept of Glad Gifts, Quests, and Don’t Asks1 is one model for discernment.

Glad Gifts

Things you do well and are willing to share, things that people say you are good at, things you are excited to begin once asked Example: making food for an event, being grateful to be asked, doing it with care, thinking about its purpose, and offering it as your gift

Quests

Don’t Asks

Things you would like to learn Things you are good at, but or improve, things that you are don’t want to offer at this time curious how someone else does in this setting easily, things you want to try Example: helping with your congregation’s social media to learn to use the tools for other communication

Example: as an accountant you would rather offer other talents than serve on the Finance Committee at this time

Three Spheres of Activity Once you have considered your talents according to the groups above, how and where will you serve with them? Which talents now belong in each sphere of activity? Family and Friends

Congregation and Denomination

Wider Community

Finish by reflecting on what you learned about yourself, about giving, and about the stewardship of your talent. How does your talent inventory reveal your faith and love of God?

Time, Talent, and Treasure are the gifts we receive from God to nurture and share throughout our days. In the June issue of The United Church Observer, we will contemplate the gift of treasure; in the April issue, we pondered time. Consider using this set of three reflections in your personal prayer time and at UCW or other church gatherings.

1 Developed by Ivan H. Scheier (1926–2008), a leader in the field of volunteerism, in “The Window of Work Process,” a chapter from his resource Building Staff/Volunteer Relations (Energize, 2003). Used with permission.

The United Church of Canada L’Église Unie du Canada Stewardship Services 1-800-268-3781 [email protected] • www.united-church.ca

*Stewardship is everything that we think, say, and do after we say “I believe.”

Retrieve a version of this page online at www.united-church.ca/communications/newsletters/think-say-do