Definitions:
a) Talent (Biblical): "a measure of weigh of a precious metal. 1 talent equaled about 33 kg (about 75 lbs) of gold. A hude fortune!"
b) Talent (present day): "the natural ability to do something well..."

Let's use our talents (b) to grow talents (a) for mission!

Jesus told a parable about a man who, when leaving on a journey, entrusted his servants to watch after his considerable wealth. (Read Matthew 25:14-30 or Luke 19:11-27.) When he returned, the servants gave a report of their activity, with one increasing the wealth 10-fold, and another 5-fold. One servant hid his coins in the ground, out of fear, and returned only what he had been given.
Our church’s Mission Committee is using this parable as the basis for a special, fun challenge to “use our talents to grow our talents!”
On Sunday, October 12, Misty Poush will be preaching on this parable story. At the conclusion of the service, everyone in attendance will be given a symbolic “talent” (yes, some real money!), with the challenge to then find ways to help it grow for four months, until February 15, 2026, when we’ll celebrate the talents’ return! What are some possibilities? Perhaps you enjoy baking. Use the dollars you are given on October 12 to bake some cookies. Market them to some friends, keeping track of the “return.” Repeat! Perhaps you sew. Use the dollars you are given to buy some material to make into a small quilt or some placemats. Market those items, keeping track of the “return.” Repeat! Maybe you enjoy woodworking. Use the dollars you are given to buy some wood to build a birdhouse. Sell it, with the proceeds being your “return!” Perhaps you could host a dinner party, teach a skills class, do some animal sitting, or shovel a walk. Maybe you could change the oil in a neighbor’s car or wash some windows for a friend. At the very least, you can add the dollars you are handed on October 12 to your savings account, and then measure the return for the four-month period. Yes, we can tell our First Presbyterian friends about our “talent projects,” and they’ll, undoubtedly, be excited to help grow our funds. We don’t need to leave the project all within the First Pres family, though. Friends, relatives, or neighbors in the community can, just as easily, be invited to help grow our talents! Our emphasis on growing our talents with our talents is meant to be interesting, intentional and FUN! Yes, it’s something different, but let’s enjoy the creativity and challenge of “thinking outside the box” for missions!
The project that will benefit from our talent initiative this year is our church’s mission to The Dakota Presbytery – with a specific focus on training of Commissioned Ruling Elders for Native Churches.