Jesus said, "And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another, one talent, each according to his ability and told them go forth and do good!”
Today, Imago Dei MCC Board of Director’s is challenging all those who care about this special community to help ensure our church will grow stronger as we move forward to fulfill the vision God has for us as we seek to tear down walls and build up hope.
How come? God gives talents to each of us for each of us and our community to grow, to share, to serve one another. The vision of Imago Dei MCC is growing with Christ, lifting up community, and spreading God’s love.
We have created the ‘Parable of the Talents Challenge at this special time to fulfill our church vision!
It is an idea borrowed from a sermon and remarkable challenge by The Rev. Hamilton Throckmorton to his church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio One Sunday, he reminded his parishioners of Jesus parable of the talents …a story which tells of the master who entrusts three servants with a sum of money (talents) and instructs them to go forth and do good The master lavishes praise on the two servants who double their money, but chastises the one who is so afraid to take a risk that he buries his share.
Taking it one step further, and like the master in this story, the pastor told his flock that he would entrust each one with fifty dollars or "talents" (given in advance by generous donors). He asked each of them in the next seven weeks to find ways to use their talents" to double their money for the church missions "Live the parable of the talents!", Throckmorton exhorted, as assistants handed out hundreds of red envelopes stuffed with crisp $50 bills. Click here to read the article.
We would like to duplicate Rev. Throckmorton's great idea here at Imago Dei MCC with our own special Parable of the Talents Challenge beginning with a Kickoff on October 4, 2009 and concluding with a Celebration of Stories on November 22, 2009.
How to begin? Begin with prayer. What is the Talent God will be asking you to share? Attend Worship and the Congregational Forum on October 4th to sign up for the Talents Challenge. Take a few moments to read Rev. Throckmorton’s sermon and the article which tells the story of how a congregation was transformed by a simple challenge to live into their God-given talents!
To read Rev. Hamilton Throckmorton sermon, click here.
