When I think about church, I think about gifts. The gifts I have received and the gifts I have given to others. I think one of the hardest things is determining what to give and when. What I know about discernment, I learned in church. Church communities in Northern Kentucky, Cincinnati, Dallas, and now at Saint David’s taught me how to count my blessings and share them with others.
Early in my life, with a career just starting and kids to raise, I didn’t have much money to spare. My churches helped me as much as I helped them. Instead of money, I gave time, skills, and attention. Over the years, my finances improved. I had material blessings to offer, gifts that could help people through the same tough times I’d faced. As Scrooge said at the end of the carol, I owed “a great many back-payments.”
Saint David’s is my favorite place to invest. The opportunities here are nearly endless. For me, that’s the 9 a.m. service, Sunday School, an occasional Wednesday parish dinner, Men’s fellowship (bible study, retreat, and dinners), and others. This community offers so many wonderful ways for everyone to give and receive.
Discernment is personal – you know best what gifts you can give. Maybe you can donate. Maybe you can offer service, outreach, or expert advice. When I give, I like to talk things through with my family and determine prayerfully what gifts make the most sense.
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