My turn to do Friday Five this week; Our Circuit (Methodist) is having a "Gifts and talents day" tomorrow- we have a minister visiting from another circuit who has modified the Myers Briggs personality test and added a few things of his own to run a day where we get to look at ourselves in the light of giftings and of the whole church. The idea is to encourage everyone with the news that there is room for you in the ministry of the church- and perhaps to discover where that ministry might be.....
It should be an interesting day, and one where I hope people will leave feeling encouraged and challenged...
So with gifts and talents in mind here is todays Friday 5;
1. Personality tests; love them or hate them?
Bit of each really, according to Myers Briggs I am an INFP- which is pretty accurate- I can identify with the strengths and weaknesses of this type, knowing this has helped me to focus on self-development and not to try to force myself into a box I don't fit into easily.
2. Would you describe yourself as practical, creative, intellectual or a mixture ?
I am an intellectual creative, my creativity is centred around words rather than around actually producing something like a painting, or like so many revgals knitting/ sewing- I wish I could be creative in that way, but I don't have the patience or the skills for it. I do like cooking though, and given a handful of odd ingredients can often come up with something unique and edible- often surprisingly good!
3. It is said that everyone has their 15 minutes of fame; have you had your yet? If so what was it, if not dream away what would you like it to be?
I've been interviewed on radio a few times because of my involvement in Journey Into Wholeness - the out-reach programme to the New Age/ Alt spirituality community. Not sure that that constitutes fame though. What would I like to do- ah dream world... I would find a hitherto unknown voice and sing in Bizet's Carmen...ah to dream!
4. If you were given a 2 year sabbatical ( oh the dream of it) to create something would it be music, literature, art.....something completely different...share your dream with us...
I would write, I'd love to write really good fiction, though I'm not too sure of a story line/ plot, and so would probably look at some form of research project into feminist spirituaity and faith.
5. Describe a talent you would like to develop, but that seems completely beyond you.
I would love to be able to paint, or draw- of knit, or sew- just to make something beautiful- something that would last....but first I need to find those two qualities dedication and patience ( with myself)....for if I embark on a project of this kind I usually give up in frustration!
Bonus question: Back to the church- what does every member ministry mean to you? Is it truly possible to encourage/ implement?
I believe that every member ministry is very important, that each member of the church has unique gifts and talents to offer, and that part of the ministers or leaders role is to spot and encourage those gifts. This can often be hard where learnt dependence upon the leaders to do everything has become ingrained in the congregation, and is the fault of ministry teams and false expectations alike.
It can be hard and messy to develop in this way- but in the long run it is worth it!
My turn to do Friday Five this week; Our Circuit (Methodist) is having a "Gifts and talents day" tomorrow- we have a minister visiting from another circuit who has modified the Myers Briggs personality test and added a few things of his own to run a day where we get to look at ourselves in the light of giftings and of the whole church. The idea is to encourage everyone with the news that there is room for you in the ministry of the church- and perhaps to discover where that ministry might be.....
It should be an interesting day, and one where I hope people will leave feeling encouraged and challenged...
So with gifts and talents in mind here is todays Friday 5;
1. Personality tests; love them or hate them?
Bit of each really, according to Myers Briggs I am an INFP- which is pretty accurate- I can identify with the strengths and weaknesses of this type, knowing this has helped me to focus on self-development and not to try to force myself into a box I don't fit into easily.
2. Would you describe yourself as practical, creative, intellectual or a mixture ?
I am an intellectual creative, my creativity is centred around words rather than around actually producing something like a painting, or like so many revgals knitting/ sewing- I wish I could be creative in that way, but I don't have the patience or the skills for it. I do like cooking though, and given a handful of odd ingredients can often come up with something unique and edible- often surprisingly good!
3. It is said that everyone has their 15 minutes of fame; have you had your yet? If so what was it, if not dream away what would you like it to be?
I've been interviewed on radio a few times because of my involvement in Journey Into Wholeness - the out-reach programme to the New Age/ Alt spirituality community. Not sure that that constitutes fame though. What would I like to do- ah dream world... I would find a hitherto unknown voice and sing in Bizet's Carmen...ah to dream!
4. If you were given a 2 year sabbatical ( oh the dream of it) to create something would it be music, literature, art.....something completely different...share your dream with us...
I would write, I'd love to write really good fiction, though I'm not too sure of a story line/ plot, and so would probably look at some form of research project into feminist spirituaity and faith.
5. Describe a talent you would like to develop, but that seems completely beyond you.
I would love to be able to paint, or draw- of knit, or sew- just to make something beautiful- something that would last....but first I need to find those two qualities dedication and patience ( with myself)....for if I embark on a project of this kind I usually give up in frustration!
Bonus question: Back to the church- what does every member ministry mean to you? Is it truly possible to encourage/ implement?
I believe that every member ministry is very important, that each member of the church has unique gifts and talents to offer, and that part of the ministers or leaders role is to spot and encourage those gifts. This can often be hard where learnt dependence upon the leaders to do everything has become ingrained in the congregation, and is the fault of ministry teams and false expectations alike.
It can be hard and messy to develop in this way- but in the long run it is worth it!
