I’ve been thinking about the prophetic word – the Sunday lections this summer have let us hear Hosea, Amos, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. These voices spoke with courage and often sounded like they were “off their rockers” as they prophesied solutions and heavenly consequences for earthly missteps. They cast out vast nets of hope for those who could hear and they risked very real personal harm by following God’s voice. I want to remind you about a prophetic voice that spoke a word to us.
A little more than 3 years ago I invited retired Bishop Don Ott to preach on Peace With Justice Sunday. He was here to dedicate our new Peace Pole in honor and celebration of the person and ministry of Rev. Dick Truitt. I thought the Bishop would speak to Dick’s local and worldwide justice work and his role in developing the annual UM Special Peace With Justice Sunday. I forgot that Bishop Ott’s feet and vision, his truth and his word are always for the ground his hearers stand on. So, in the midst of his sermon, Bishop Ott reminded us of our call to stand on this corner in this urban neighborhood. As he celebrated what we were already doing he challenged us to seek God’s call into our future as well. I’ve not stopped praying about this challenge, friends, and I feel – especially with the increasing violence in Milwaukee [for all kinds of reasons] – that an urgency is before us to listen with intention, together, about our next steps in this congregation’s ministry.
At a time when we were losing our long held relationship with the Bay View High School Outpost Program, our preschool was worried about its enrollment and many were worried that our Sunday School would fade away with dwindling numbers of children and few volunteers, Bishop Ott challenged us to birth a “Family Peace Center”.
At the time I thought his word was spot on but we were scared and grieving and not ready. I guess that’s the nature of hearing a prophetic word! They risk speaking it, no matter how “crazy” it sounds, and then the Spirit, if you let it, opens you to God’s timing. Since then, we’ve become a Reconciling Congregation, we’ve launched a Memory Café, our Bread & Jam Free Meals are now served weekly and our Sunday School is alive and well. Adding to these ministry programs is our greater awareness of our individual Spiritual Gifts and my commitment to being mindful to their use in our midst.
I believe that now is the time to launch a conversation about this place birthing/being a Family Peace Center. If you have interest in this conversation please contact me at pastorkelly@bayviewumc.org or sign up on The Cube and indicate your preferred meeting time.
I’d like to gather us together on Sunday October 2nd (Packers have a bye). If someone is interested in hosting us in their home that would be welcomed.
Pastor Kelly