Árdís - 01.01.1954, Page 55

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Ársrit Bandalags lúterskra kvenna
53
How Much Do I Give My Church
Delivered at the Convention of the Lutheran Women’s League
At Selkirk, Manitoba, May 28th, 1954.
By ELIZABETH H. BJARNARSON
In answering this question let us realize that it does not refer
to financial gifts alone, but it refers to something infinitely more
precious to you and me: Our time, our energy, our love, our talent.
Do we give all the time we can spare to our church? Do we
put all the energy we have into church work? Do we give our love
and talent to our Master? Are we bursting with love for God so
that nothing is too great to give, no talent too great to share?
All these things if given from a heart filled with love and
adoration are like bread cast upon the water. They are brought
back to us and multiplied, so that we have more energy, more love,
more talent than before. Do we realize that whatever we give, even
though our health fails in the attempt is little enough, for what the
Saviour did for us.
Let us take a bird’s eye view of the general work of the Church,
and then try to figure out how we ean give the best of our ability
to assist. First I would say that we have our church, the Lutheran
Church, and how proud and happy we are to belong to it; for that
privilege we bow our heads in deep thankfulness and humility to
God, our Father. And now let us consider its different branches of
work.
We have the Sunday School, where our little ones attend—the
little ones whom God gave us and whom Jesus loves. Do we work
there? Are we who have the talent to teach willing to take a class?
Too often we find that people are tired after their week’s woi'k—
need to rest on Sundays—or have to stay at home to cook Sunday
dinner, or simply do not want to bother—so—the answer is no.
Perhaps I am too severe—perhaps there are plenty of teachers
in your Sunday School. But if so, I apologize for this statement.
But as I began teaching in Sunday School at the age of fifteen, and
have done it ever since, I have had the experience of meeting with
this great difficulty in obtaining Sunday School teachers. In the