The Charismata of the Spirit

Gifts of the Spirit to Emmaus Anglican Church

Charisma is the Greek New Testament's word for spiritual gift. Charismata is the plural. Our English expression gifted comes close but Scripture also uses charismata for everyday material gifts and redemption itself. The key concept is that all of our skills, talents, and resources are His gifts, His charismata. Our very lives are charismata.

The gifts of the Holy Spirit are gifts to the Church, not to individuals. We are only the box and wrapping paper. Some gifts are ephemeral: cleaning up, altar guild, ushering, music, and services for the poor. The gifts and talents given to individuals that enable them to take care of the church in these ways are of first importance. And they have lasting effects—not in a statue or a building or the printed word—but in the lives of people. In the Sermon on the Mount, in the Ten Commandments, in the Law of Love: Scripture promises, encourages, expects, and celebrates these essential gifts of personal service.

These ordinary acts are the living evidence that the Church is His Body. The cathedrals of Europe are witnesses to His glory as well. But empty, as they are today, they have become witnesses to the emptiness of our souls. This is the difference between art and life. Life, like the lilies of the field, is ephemeral. The Spirit, as we learn from our Lord, blows where it will and is beyond the ken of any human person. So when we seek Him, He finds us among living human people gathered in His Name around His Word and His Sacraments. On the move, with not even a fox den as a permanent home, finding every opportunity to grow and change and follow that Voice of the Shepherd. Ephemeral. A workshop, not a museum. Quick and not dead. Africa and not Europe. Finding permanence in His love alone.

Join us at Emmaus Anglican Church for the Holy Eucharist on Sunday morning and other times during the week. Study with us in Bible classes, which we Anglicans call formation. Bring children to be with our children in prayer, learning, and play. Join us as we serve our brothers and sisters in Castle Rock and Colorado. Call on us if you need help or forgiveness or sympathy. Be with us as we eat and drink together, as we pray together, as we serve together in His Name. That is the real Church. These are the true signs of His Presence.

Other gifts of the Spirit also come to us, some a little more persistent, but not more important, than the provision of altar flowers. In our congregation we have been given gifts of wood working and other visual arts, music, preaching, and poetry. This index is a celebration of those gifts and a gift to you if you are unable to join us physically. Here you will find verse, sermons, class materials, and photos of visual arts. Perhaps more skill on our part will also allow audio or video files of music and readings. We are closer to these goals now that charismata.biz is html5 compliant.

May the Holy Spirit use these thank offerings to work His good work in you.

If you have art to offer the church, please email it with a statement of permission or copyright restrictions to offering@charismata.biz.

Some parts of this website are copyrighted. If you wish to use them privately, there is no restriction. However, if you wish to use them publically, please contact us for permission at permit@charismata.biz. In most cases there will be no charge but, because of their religious character, we must control how these materials are used publically. Also, some copyrights are held by others than Emmaus Anglican Church so every copyrighted page carries its own notice. Please obtain permission from the actual right holder.