Today’s author is Prince of Peace member and music coordinator, Milt Warkentien.
Take a look at the pictures below.
I’m guessing many of you recognize the first picture, Gooseberry Falls, but how many recognize the second picture? If you don’t know which waterfall this is a picture of, many of you can probably come up with a waterfall you think it might be.
The second photo is actually 5th Falls at Gooseberry, which, by the way, is well worth the hike if you’re looking for something less familiar to see at Gooseberry Falls State Park. If one always stays with the familiar, one might never get to see sights like this. I know I’m guilty of this more often than I care to admit. Coming out of the last couple of years I think many of us yearn for the familiar but is this what God is calling us to do, or is God calling Prince of Peace to do something unfamiliar?
We’ve been hearing biblical stories of people being called to unfamiliar surroundings and some, like Moses, really don’t think the plan God has for him is a wise one. Could some be thinking this same thing about God’s plan for Prince of Peace?
I’ve been at Prince of Peace for quite a few years and over the years we have come up with a number of great ideas, but we tend to have a hard time moving those ideas into action. Thinking about the struggle to move ideas into action has me asking a few questions – Has Prince of Peace been too comfortable with the familiar that we’re hesitant to venture into the unfamiliar? Has Prince of Peace been too divided on ideas to venture into the unfamiliar? Why is it so hard to venture into the unfamiliar?
Being on the visioning team has been an enlightening experience so far but visions are just that, visions. We must come to some agreements to be able to push forward into an unfamiliar future together.
I was told by a friend of mine that the $100 dollar challenge was one of the best things that they’ve done as a member of Prince of Peace. It challenged us to go out and try to better the world. It was wonderful to hear the various stories of how people’s $100 were used. While Prince of Peace looks into the unfamiliar territory ahead I hope we will continue to support a variety of organizations who are making a difference in the world by sharing God’s love.
What are some places you’d like to see Prince of Peace support with more than dollars? When was the last time you helped pack backpacks, or filled boxes at Every Meal? When was the last time you volunteered at Second Harvest or Feed My Starving Children? The list of ‘familair’ service opportunities goes on and on.
What are some unfamiliar things that individuals, families or groups could do? What does our community need from Prince of Peace? We are now living in a very diverse suburb. Are there things that our various ethnic neighbors could use help with? What do our members need from Prince of Peace? Could some of our members use help with shopping and other errands? Could some of our members use help with household chores? What do our youth, young children, and families need from Prince of Peace?
Lots of things don’t need large groups to do them, they just need people committed to sharing God’s love in the world, and I think we have people at Prince of Peace who fit that description. Is the time right for you to lead a group in a service project?
What questions/visions do you have for Prince of Peace? We are now in unfamiliar surroundings, post/in Covid, so while we may yearn for the familiar I think it’s time to realize we’re in the unfamiliar, so even our “familiar” might even be a bit unfamiliar.
Micah 6:8 – “Do justice. Love kindness. Walk humbly with your God.” is in our entryway. As we venture into the unfamiliar I pray that doing justice, loving kindness, and walking humbly with God is always familiar, even in the unfamiliar.
Because Jesus gave it to me, I’m goin’-a let it shine, so ev’rywhere I go, I’m goin’-a let it shine, let God’s light shine, let it shine, let it shine. (Paraphrased from ELW 677)
Dear God, help us all to be beacons of your light as we go about our daily lives. Amen