Action or Inspiration; Part One

This last weekend we found ourselves worshiping and leading in Freeman, SD. We were put to the test Sunday morning when we split ourselves in three (note: five divided by three is an awkward number, so instead of dismembering, we sent Matt on a solo mission) and led Sunday School, sermons and different aspects of worship in three different congregations.

While it had its own set of challenges, the results were good. Mark and I were able to collaborate and work together even though our working styles are nearly opposite; I led a song (though I don't want to do this again for quite awhile); Jess and Randy received a lot of encouragement for their leadership during Sunday School; Matt... well, Matt made it through a word blunder during his sermon on Sunday Morning; Randy gave his first sermon from the pulpit; Mark gave his second sermon from the pulpit; and Jess pulled together material for youth session that can be repeated; and Matt did a wonderful job of being a one man show including children's time, scripture reading, sermon and input during Sunday School. As always, there is room for improvement, but we are seeing improvement in our working together and in our material since we started this summer. We thank those gracious congregations and individuals who were first on our itinerary and who helped us with feedback! (This includes First Mennonite in Iowa City, Sermon on the Mount in Sioux Falls, and White River Cheyenne Mennonite, Lame Deer Mennonite and Ashland Christian Fellowship in Montana.)

While it feels like we're becoming more comfortable with our content and starting to ask the right questions I am beginning to wonder who this summer is really for. (one smart aleck comment that could be made here is that this summer is to glorify God and help in the realization of God's vision for Shalom...this is true too, but I'm thinking even beyond that.)

My hope any more is that we can inject some level of excitement back into the congregation about the peace message in the Gospels and in God's overall vision of Shalom. Whether this injection is caught by the pastor or lay leaders, I am hoping for at least a few inspired people. I hope that people can be open to thinking about peace as being a more complicated and exciting word than just the absence of war. While I agree that the absence of war is a part of God's vision, I also believe that just as central is the restoration of relationships; relationships with each other, with creation, with God, with our enemies. I'm sure Jess, Matt, Randy and Mark are sick of me saying this, but somewhere along the way we Mennonites and more broadly we Christians have narrowed God's vision. God in the Bible is not clear about what position we take politically, God does not see the lines between countries or between political parties. God's eyes are blind to the divisions that we sinners have created. One of our greatest sins is destroying God's vision for unity by living by the standards of division set up by the world we live in. This takes physical and psychological forms, for example: the wall between Mexico and the USA, and racism. I could go on and on with examples, but that's not the point. I digress.

What I was talking about was inspiration. I hope to inspire people to see the bigger picture of God's vision. (continued in part two... look below)