Rejoicing in Blessings
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Psalm 150 and 1 Corinthians 12:1, 4-12
September 6, 2026
By Pastor Jane Shelton, CRE
As a first grader, there was nothing that I enjoyed more in class than when our music teacher would come to visit with her box of musical instruments.
Row by row, we were allowed to come to the front of the room and choose an instrument to play during the music period she would teach us.
Among my favorite instruments to play were the tambourine, the triangle, and the xylophone. These instruments brought such joy to my soul as I played them as instructed by the music teacher.
In my past, for a short time, I engaged in piano lessons and played the handbells here in the bell choir.
Ultimately, though, I have not trained myself to be proficient with any instrument, even though I still get excited when I see other people play.
While I was in Junior High and high school, I did sing in the choir and enjoyed every minute of it. I found joy in the singing as I grew up in church singing and listening to others sing.
Like many of you, I still find joy in listening to the instruments played here and in the singing.
What I have come to realize, though, is that there is something about the joy that stirs the spirit of the soul that brings praise to the Lord. In other words, it is more than just playing and singing.
We are so blessed to have Donna play organ, piano, and flute. Notice, however, when she plays, it is not just playing like I did whenever I was learning to play the notes; she plays with heart and spirit.
The same is true with Eddy and Kamille when they play violin and Brian when he plays Cello.
Donavan is without a doubt filled with the Holy Spirit when he sings.
I feel the Spirit when you all sing, even when I give you a new hymn. It is such a joy to have you pick out your favorite hymns for our Fifth Sunday Hymn Sings.
Would you agree there is joy in the playing and the singing that we do here?!
You see, though, it is more than what we do, as many are musically gifted, and it’s why we recognize the Spirit when they play or sing. God has provided the spiritual gifts of talent of music and voice, and we are moved by the Spirit as we participate.
It is our God-given spiritual gifts and the Spirit that allow us to sing and rejoice, and through this, we are able to commune spiritually with one another. In other words, we feed spiritually off of each other.
I believe this spiritual connection is what keeps us coming back to this place to be together. It is what makes this place a holy place, not just another building. It’s the Spirit that dwells within each of us that is a bond, a force of good and a promise of hope.
While we rejoice with instruments and voices each Sunday, I want to talk about other gifts you bring for rejoicing in our blessings.
When you all asked me three years ago to step into this pulpit as your church leader and Pastor, you did not tell me it would shortly follow with a hurricane that would damage our roof, and we are extremely blessed that, unlike others in the neighborhood, it was only the roof that we had to deal with, even though it has taken almost two years to restore.
We are blessed in this church with people who offer many gifts on your behalf, and I will start with your Administration, Finance, and Property committee, which includes Vickie Byrd, Ray Chitty, Bart Greer, Michael Taylor, Libby George Clanton, Dick Shelton, and formerly David Carter.
This team of elders has worked on your behalf to secure payment for our new roof, which meant many hours dealing with insurance companies and roofers.
They have dealt with roof leaks and ground leaks, a flea infestation, broken AC units, replacing lights in very high and inaccessible places, bee removal, flagpole repair, kitchen repairs, regular maintenance and upkeep of the church grounds, and applying for funds through Flint River Presbytery grants.
Most importantly, they meet monthly to discuss the most responsible ways to manage your contributions and provide you with the best results possible so that we will continue to have a space to worship and glorify God to our community and beyond.
We are also blessed with a spirit-filled Session that includes our Clerk of Session and TRE, Jennifer Shepherd, Sue Miller, Michael Taylor, Vickie Byrd, John Vick, Matt Watson, Peggy Chitty, Ginger Wilder, and Bart Greer.
This Session is blessed with many spiritual gifts that provide vision and direction for our missions, our fellowship, and our worship services. With the ability to communicate through email and text messages, we are able to meet every other month, with committees meeting in between, to carry out the important business of this church and to make decisions that continue to glorify God through worship, fellowship and missions.
We are blessed with staff with spiritual gifts in Shelley Bromlow, Beth Mathis, Sabina Bennett, and I’ve already mentioned Donna, Donavan and Brian.
We are blessed with all the spiritual gifts that you all bring, and they are wonderful and much-needed gifts to glorify God in this space and, just as importantly, outside this space in community and the world.
You give with generous hearts and compassion that Jesus exhibited. Because of all of you, even though we might be small, we are still working together with the gifts that we have been provided to be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.
We have just completed a very successful Capital campaign for which I am extremely grateful for your participation.
It is because of your spiritual gifts that we not only met our goal, but we surpassed it! What a blessing you are indeed!
In writing her summary of 1 Corinthians, Chapter 12, in the Bible Recap, Tara- Leigh Cobble summarizes Paul’s comments:
‘He encourages them to use their gifts with love as the motivation. Otherwise, all their good deeds are multiplied by zero or are harmful to the body. He describes love and says it’ll outlast everything – even faith and hope. When our faith is made manifest, faith won’t need to exist – it’ll be proven. And when our hopes are fulfilled, we won’t have to hope for those things anymore – they’ll be realities. We’ll be faithless and hopeless. But love will remain.’
Tara-Leigh also writes, ‘God loves diversity and works in and through us to display more angles, textures, and colors of His glory. And because He’s efficient, it not only glorifies Him, but it benefits us too. Through God’s work in us, we enhance each other’s lives. He isn’t building a one-dimensional kingdom where we all look and act the same. He gives His diverse body unique gifts to offer back to Him and connects them all in an orderly fashion like only He can do. He’s where the joy is!’
If I went around the room and pointed out the spiritual gifts that I recognize in all of you, whether it is sewing, technology, singing, completing legal paperwork and filing of grants, moving tiles, repairing lights, repairing doors, playing instruments, singing with loud voices, writing and sending cards, preparing meals, contacting volunteers for liturgists each Sunday, collecting offerings and delivering them to the office each Sunday, preparing communion, calling on those who are at home or ill, delivering meals or giving your time and talents. Whatever spiritual gifts God has blessed you with, there is one thing that I witness in all of you, and that is love.
You are all blessed by the Spirit with God-given gifts, and although many members, you are one body in Christ.
If there is one thing that I want you to know as you leave this holy place today, it would be that you are the hands and feet of Jesus and the Light of Christ, and you are sharing your love with one another and with the world.
To God be the glory!