Exodus 31:3-5 CEB: “[The Lord told Moses,] ‘I have filled [Bezalel] with the divine spirit, with skill, ability, and knowledge for every kind of work. He will be able to create designs; do metalwork in gold, silver, and copper; cut stones for setting; carve wood; and do every kind of work.’”

Acts 9:39 CEB: “All the widows stood beside [Peter], crying as they showed the tunics and other clothing Dorcas made when she was alive.”

The spiritual gift of artistry empowers you to reveal God’s presence and work in the world through creative expression and to serve others through your craft. Through this gift, you make the Spirit alive with color, shape, texture and movement in ways that awaken faith and curiosity. Exodus 31 is only one of the many biblical witnesses to creativity, craftmanship and artistry that exists throughout the text. Creativity is abundant, and this gift assists those around you in bringing beauty and wonder into ministry and life.

At its heart, artistry is an expressive gift that lives out God’s creative energy, which helps make faith alive to our senses. Those with this gift are passionate about experiencing the fullness of God through endless avenues of creative expression and often find joy in helping other people tap into the depth of their spiritual life through the creativity we were all imbued with as image bearers. Some with this gift may enjoy serving communities by ensuring that community spaces are designed for function and aesthetically pleasing for those who use them. In these ways, artistry becomes a wonderful communal experience of curiosity, connection and care that helps individual and collective faith in life feel more alive.

Some ways in which the gift of artistry might show up in your spiritual and communal life:

• Crafting children’s ministry activities and teaching tools for your community.
• Designing and redecorating a contemplative space or a chapel.
• Embroidering baptismal towels to commemorate new baptisms.
• Making quilts or other craft items to auction at a fundraiser.

Looking for more opportunities? We encourage you to reach out to your local synod. Connect, collaborate and co-create with peers through the ELCA Leadership Network.