Pondering with Pastor Peter

 

Romans 1:8 “ 8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the world.”

 

Proclamation of faith can be hard, especially when you‟re a 17-year-old high school student wondering if there are others who share your same desire to follow Jesus in genuine and dynamic ways. Hungry for this connection with peers of my same age, I followed in my older brother‟s footsteps and attended Teens Encounter Christ (TEC), a retreat for high schoolers in the Catholic church.

 

My first TEC weekend was amazing! I found a group of people and peers who struggled with the same things I struggled with and valued the same things I loved; struggling to fit in, searching for friendships where faith didn't have to be hidden, and loving Jesus without excuses. We enjoyed singing songs like Place in this World by Michael W. Smith, connecting with the lyrics of trying find our place in this world. What I remember most vividly was the selflessness of, „Uncle Dick‟, one of the outstanding chaperones who selflessly lived their faith so authentically that even rowdy and wondering teenagers could feel free to let go and let God be who God was for us. A God of refuge.  A God of mystery. A God of acceptance. Uncle Dick was my early inspiration to be courageous in living my faith out loud.  

 

Whether through worship, music, prayer, sacraments, or service to others, it takes courage for any of us to proclaim our Christian faith. But it is in these ways that I  believe that God is leading and will be equipping me to be your next pastor.

 

Today, I‟m humbled and grateful that God has called me into your midst to guide our church into a new and exciting season of courageously proclaiming our faith in Jesus Christ through dynamic worship, inspiring music, transformative prayer, life-saving sacraments, and loving service to each other and our neighbors.

 

Where is God calling you to be courageous? I look forward to the ways we will ask and answer that question together in the years ahead.

 

Thankful to God through Jesus Christ for all of you,

 

Pastor Peter