I\u2019ve been thinking about the prophetic word \u2013 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 \u201coff their rockers\u201d 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\u2019s voice. I want to remind you about a prophetic voice that spoke a word to us.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s local and worldwide justice work and his role in developing the annual UM Special Peace With Justice Sunday. I forgot that Bishop Ott\u2019s 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\u2019s call into our future as well. I\u2019ve not stopped praying about this challenge, friends, and I feel \u2013 especially with the increasing violence in Milwaukee [for all kinds of reasons] \u2013 that an urgency is before us to listen with intention, together, about our next steps in this congregation\u2019s ministry.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cFamily Peace Center\u201d.<\/p>\n
At the time I thought his word was spot on but we were scared and grieving and not ready. I guess that\u2019s the nature of hearing a prophetic word! They risk speaking it, no matter how \u201ccrazy\u201d it sounds, and then the Spirit, if you let it, opens you to God\u2019s timing. Since then, we\u2019ve become a Reconciling Congregation, we\u2019ve launched a Memory Caf\u00e9, 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.<\/p>\n