Oct. 24, 2018 Using our gifts to do God's work in the world.

Although I’ve been attending Christ Church for about a year and a half, many of you don’t know me yet, so I’d like to briefly introduce myself.

My husband, Keith, and I moved to Coronado in late March 2017 and started attending Christ Church right away. Although his work schedule keeps him from coming on Sundays, some of you have met him… and we are hoping that next year his schedule will allow him to be here Sunday mornings.

Both Keith and I grew up in the LA area, but lived in Astoria, Oregon for 25 years. It was a wonderful place to raise our two children, but we were finally ready to return to the sunshine. Keith’s dad was a Lutheran Pastor and Navy Chaplain, and we were very involved in the Lutheran church – doing Youth Ministry for over 13 years, teaching, leading worship and in choir. Although we have had “day jobs”, we both have degrees in music and pursued Opera in our early days. Which leads me to the main point of my reflection here…

As Paul teaches us, we all have different gifts – and God invites us – or rather I would say, expects us – to use those gifts to praise Him and share the love of Christ. If you have the gift of teaching, you share that gift in Sunday School or Bible Study. If you are good with numbers, you might assist with the church accounting procedures. If you are great at organization, you help lead events. If you are blessed financially, you support many ministries. I feel I have been blessed with a good voice. For me, God calls me to use my talent to lead worship and share the incredible love he gives me. For me personally, singing can be the highest form of worship, and I am grateful that God chose to grace me with this ability.

Another favorite passage of mine is from James 2: 14-17 -

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

I think this passage reflects the faith culture of Christ Episcopal Church well… I have frequently said to people that this church “puts its money where its mouth is”. It is evident that the people of this church acknowledge the many blessings they have been given by giving back to our community in a myriad of ways. In this crazy, self-concerned, vulnerable world we live in, I am so very thankful to be part of a Christian community that uses our many varied gifts to show and share God’s love in very concrete and tangible ways. Let us always remember the invitation that God gives us - to join him in his work in the world!

My 2019 Pledge