How many times have we read or heard Matthew 25:14, the Parable of the Talents?

Little did I know that in January I was to be challenged to increase £25, given to me by the Fund Raising Team, before the end of May.
My first reaction was why me? Why not someone else? And I just forgot about it for a few days.

However, I starting thinking what I was asked to do and what God would like me to do, so I started praying for God to help me recognise what my talents were. It didn''t come quickly and I almost decided to give up before I started. I then decided that God was prompting me to use my talents practically, and not just to sit on my backside wishing the challenge would go away.

One of my hobbies is scrapbooking, to those who don''t know what this is, it is cutting up photos and card, decorating pages using all sorts of materials. I thought with all the equipment that I had surely I could have a go at making Greeting Cards. What fun this has been, and I am now asked to personalise cards with different themes, e.g. Wedding Cards with certain colours, Get Well & Anniversary Cards, or even a 18th Birthday Card for a lad who is into Gothic. Have you ever tried getting an 18th Birthday Card for a boy! As you can see I got very excited about making cards and the amount of money I managed to raise.

Cooking is my other passion and I decided that maybe I could use this talent by baking cakes and having a Dinner Party. What had I started? Last year Health and Environmental Safety laws changed so, before I could start I had to have my kitchen checked and go back to school to take a course and sit an exam! It was worth it because now both I and my kitchen are ‘certified’ - not before time Brian says!! It was a jolly good excuse for a thorough spring clean and throw out, it was amazing what I also found!

It has been slow to start the cake side of my fund-raising but word of mouth is beginning to work and this is something I can continue to do all year round. I had a dinner party for eight people recently, asking the guests to donate what they thought they would pay for a meal out. This was great fun. I enjoyed the company and I know the food was appreciated.

So far I have been able to raise over £180. If you get this challenge don''t shy away, pray about it and think what talents you have and how something you enjoy could help to raise much needed funds for the Building Project. Everyone has different skills, for example cooking, art, painting and decorating, gardening, babysitting, dress making, sewing, flower arranging, to name but a few. What you think is easy may not be for someone else, why not volunteer your gifts and have the fun I've had? Carol Apps

What an encouraging tale! Well done Carol. We would like more people to come forward and take up the challenge of increasing £25. Are you up to it? If so, please let me know and I will arrange to get £25 to you. Cecilia Bliss