PRISMS

Identifying Gifts that Reveal Gods Creative Spirit

Joyce Madsen & Clair Woodbury

The Congregational Life Centre

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Prisms

Prisms is published by:

The Congregational Life Centre #1405, 5328 Calgary Trail, Edmonton AB T6H 4J8 Copyright 2004 Joyce Madsen and Clair Woodbury. All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior permission from the publisher. For permission, or to share any comments or questions, contact: Joyce Madsen & Clair Woodbury Congregational Life Centre #1405, 5328 Calgary Trail, Edmonton AB T6H 4J8 Phone: 780 619-0386 e-mail: joyceandclair@congregationallife.com Internet: www.congregationallife.com The cover design and interior art is by Robert Woodbury. Swirling galaxies convey the energy released when we allow the full range of our gifts to flourish. The full spectrum of colours depict the abundance of gifts generated by Gods love as it flows through us to others. Unless otherwise indicated, scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used with permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations in Appendix G: What Jesus and Paul Say about Gifts are from the Good News Bible, second edition 1994, American Bible Society. Used with permission. ISBN: 0-9688358-2-1

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Contents
1.
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

A Spiritual Prism
Gifts Using Our Gifts Channelling Your Passion Companions on the Journey Looking at Community Exploring your Personal Gifts Working with Groups Individual Gifts Instrument Identifying Your Passions Companions on the Journey Community Opportunities Your Personal Prism Exploring Gifts as a Group What Jesus and Paul Say about Gifts Celebrating Gifts

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8 22 26 33 39 43 46 51 63 70 72 74 76 78 84 88 89

Appendix A Appendix B Appendix C Appendix D Appendix E Appendix F Appendix G Appendix H

Works Cited Bibliography and Resources

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Prisms

This resource is dedicated to the members of our Congregational Life Centre Board who have journeyed with us as we sought to explore our gifts and put them at the service of the church: Carol Allen, David Barnum, Margaret Hetherington, Debbie Hubbard, Scott Montgomery, Linda Paddon, Molly Platts, and Leslie Whitehead. Our thanks to those who volunteered to read the manuscript or test our Prisms instruments and have offered so many helpful suggestions. Thanks to Summer Bozohora whose artistic sensitivity helped shape the presentation. Our special thanks to Heather Marshall for once again editing our final draft and giving us such sage advice.

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Prisms
We cannot see light. It may be all around us, but light itself is invisible. When you shine a beam of light through a prism a triangular piece of glass white light turns into a rainbow of colour.

We cannot see God, though Gods love is all around us. That love becomes visible to us when those around us exercise their God-given gifts to reach out to us. The qualities of leadership, planning, communicating, caring, discernment, spirituality, mentoring, and artistic creative each is a gift that reveals the love of God. That is why this resource is called Prisms it reveals the gifts that reveal God. Joyce Madsen and Clair Woodbury

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Prisms

A Spiritual Prism

1. A Spiritual Prism
You are a gifted individual! When you realize this, you have access to a new way of being a Christian. Too often in the past, being a Christian meant following someone elses model of how to relate to God, how to relate to others, and where to put your energy. That is changing today. We relate to God in a way that flows naturally out of the spiritual practices that fit us best. It is our gifts that guide how we contribute to the welfare of others and where we put our energy. We wrote this book because we want individuals to have a clear understanding of what constitute their strongest gifts. We have a deep conviction that it is precisely these gifts that God wants us to use and develop to their maximum potential. There is a great freedom in going with your gifts sensing a call to do what you do best and be even better at it than you ever have been. Paul wrote to the Galatians, For freedom Christ has set us free, (Galatians 5:1) and You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters. (Gal. 5:13) If he were alive today he would be writing those same words to churches all over it is freedom to which you have been called, the freedom to use the gifts God has given you, because that is precisely why you have been given special gifts, that they might be used. Paul would remind us of Jesus words, No one after lighting a lamp puts it under a bushel basket . . . Let your light shine. (Matt. 5:15-16) We shine when we develop our gifts and use them to the best of our ability. This book is also for congregations. When a congregation recognizes where the real gifts of its people lie, the benefits begin to appear right away. People finish tasks with more energy than when they began. They develop a deep sense of satisfaction. They relate to others with a smile on their face and love in their heart.

Prisms

As you read through this resource, you might want to have a candle burning nearby. You have a light that needs to shine, just like that candle. Jesus was certainly clear, and we are too, that the task God has given every person is to release the light their gifts can provide for the world God loves. Gifts are For Giving, not Plugging In We developed Prisms because we have seen too many congregations held back by old ways of being the church more intent on plugging people into vacant positions than bringing out each individuals true gifts for ministry. Congregations all too often greet newcomers with the question, Which of our groups would you like to join, or is there a committee that you would like to serve on? This often results in people being plugged into slots where they do not really fit because there is a vacancy in the churchs structure.

Love in your heart wasnt put there to stay, Love isnt love till you give it away.

We propose a 180 degree turn on that approach a complete about face. We would like to see congregations develop a relationship with a newcomer to the point where that persons gifts and needs become known whether, for example, they have come for healing or for helping. If it is for healing, the gifts of the congregation can be brought into play to meet that need. If it is for helping, the question is then, What ministry do you have gifts and a passion for, and how can we help you carry out that call from God? Recognizing and supporting peoples gifts may well require a congregation to drop some committees that did good work in the past but whose focus is no longer contributing to the current direction. When a congregation builds on peoples gifts, it eliminates conflict over what activities or programs to keep and which to leave behind. You keep the programs that make use of peoples gifts, and drop those that dont. A congregations focus must change as the needs of its people and those in the surrounding community change. In this era of scarce resources, scarce funds, and scarce volunteer time, focusing on essentials is crucial. We are told that the key to being a successful retail outlet is location, location, location. The key to being the church today is focus, focus, focus.

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