By The Rev. Chris Harris
At a previous church, a parishioner had just returned home after a long hospital stay. She was facing weeks of recovery and doing her best to manage the basics, but her garden — the place that had always brought her joy — had become completely overrun. A Eucharistic Minister who had brought her communion called me afterward and explained how the front yard was overrun by weeds and her flowerbeds were dead. And knowing her as she did, explained that, “she’s not the type to ask for help.”
We had recently completed a Time & Talent Survey, where members of the church shared their interests, gifts, and skills. So it occurred to me to run a quick search in the database to see if anyone had listed “gardening,” “yard work,” or “landscaping.” Sure enough, there were quite a few! I reached out, explained the situation, and asked if anyone might be willing to give up a Saturday morning to help her out.
By the end of the week, we had a team!
They showed up with gloves, tools, and a spirit of joy. They trimmed, weeded, and brought her garden back to the sanctuary it had always been for her. And since my gifts lean more toward hospitality than horticulture, I brought the sandwiches.
When she saw what the team had done, she was deeply moved. She felt seen, cared for, and held by her church family. That simple act of love and fellowship was only possible because people had taken a moment to tell us about their gifts.
Would you consider sharing yours as well?
Help us discover the many gifts God has placed among us by telling us about yours. Whether it’s a skill you’ve honed over a lifetime, a deep passion for a particular cause, or a natural ability you were seemingly born with, God has gifted each of us to build up the Body of Christ. No two of us are the same, and no single talent or ability is insignificant; rather, each one complements the others so that together, we might care for and serve one another in ways we could never dream of alone. That’s what it means to become the Body of Christ.
This month, we are inviting everyone to complete our Time & Talent Survey to help us discover the countless gifts we have to share as a faith community. You can complete the survey online by clicking here! It only takes a few minutes and there is no obligation. You are not committing to anything. However, by sharing your skills and interests, you are helping us discover all the ways we’ve been gifted as a community — and to discern how God might be inviting us to give those gifts away.
Thank you for considering. If you have any comments or questions, or would like to talk about how you might be called to serve at Christ Church Cranbrook, please contact our Engagement Coordinator, Michelle Goyette, at mgoyette@christchurchcranbrook.org