Normandale Lutheran Church Foundation

For full information about Normandale Lutheran Church Foundation please visit our site: www.normluth.org/foundation

Stewardship:

“Now there are a varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit” 1 Corinthians 12:4

When I’m visiting with Normandale members, I like to ask them “what do you love to do, and what do you naturally do well?” Why do some people struggle to answer these questions? Is it the fact that Lutherans are just a modest bunch when it comes to talking about their talents? Or is it because we need to be reminded, as St. Paul reminded the Church of Corinth over 2,000 years ago, that each of us is uniquely designed by God with a variety of spiritual gifts given to us by the one spirit to reveal who God is in our world?

At our recent annual meeting we celebrated the remarkable accomplishments of our congregation in revealing who God is in our world this past year. Some might say that these accomplishments happened “in spite of” the challenging times we find ourselves in (e.g. severe economic recession, senior pastoral leadership transition period, etc.). But I believe they happened precisely because we find ourselves in challenging times. It is times like these, when we answer the call of getting in touch with our spiritual gifts and using those gifts to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and affirm the Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as fundamental to our faith and witnessing through worship, education and ministry.

I’m using one of my spiritual gifts right now, my gift for writing. God has given me this special gift to express my faith, (along with Church teachings and scripture) as these relate particularly to strengthening the stewardship of our Church members. If one of my articles in this newsletter can teach or inspire members of our congregation to get in touch with their spiritual gifts and then use those gifts to strengthen our Body of Christ in the world, then I have done what St. Paul has asked me to do 'for the common good.'

So what are your 'gifts?' You have plenty to choose from:
“to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, to another the utterance of knowledge…to another the gifts of healing…to another the working of miracles…to another prophecy…to another the discernment of spirits…to another the various kinds of tongues…to another the interpretation of tongues..” 1 Corinthians 12:8-11

If you haven’t already done so, I would urge you to go on the Normandale website and click on Stewardship/Pledge/Take a Gifts Assessment. There you will find a simple list of questions that you can respond to in about 15 minutes. This instrument will then score your answers and give you a report highlighting where you are naturally gifted by God as a member of our Body of Christ. Once you’ve identified your spiritual gifts, resolve in 2010 to use those gifts in support of our Church during these times of challenge and opportunity!

In the meantime, I resolve, as your Director of Stewardship, to help you identify your spiritual gifts and then make it easy for you to use those gifts at Normandale.

"I hope to visit you soon, but just in case I’m delayed, I’m writing this letter so you’ll know how things ought to go in God’s household, this God alive church, bastion of truth.” 1 Timothy 3:14-16 (The Message)

Yours in Christ,

William Marsella,
Director of Stewardship & Development

bill@normluth.org

Who are the members of the Legacy Society?

Legacy Society members have made provisions to leave gifts from their estates to support the funding of Normandale ministries for future generations. If you would like to learn more about becoming a member of the Legacy Society, please contact Bill Marsella at 952-929-1697, ext. 12, or at bill@normluth.org.