02/07/2023
Greetings Message Community,
"Who is a young adult?"
I get that question quite regularly when I tell people about Message Community. I think the subtext is, "will there be people like me there?" It's the adult version of the classic student ministry question, "who else is going?" :)
I understand that. I feel the same way. I'm looking for a tribe, and to be honest, some of my heart around MC is to create that space at Prince of Peace to improve my own sense of community.
Here is what I can and can't promise you around that question.
I can promise that out of the people that get the weekly email and follow this page, there is at least a small-group-worth of folks that are in the same stage of life as you. Take that to the bank.
The sneaky thing about Prince of Peace on the weekends and whenever we gather as a big church is that the YA community is so spread out that you can't see that reality.
What I can't promise you is that those people will be here every week or whenever we meet. That makes showing up and having nothing in common with people a very real possibility. As an extroverted introvert, I feel that on a cellular level.
Message Community and every other church rises on the power of people deciding to press through that social pain to find and claim a group as their own. There are very few ministries that take off on quality or personality. It's people wanting community.
So, why am I telling you all of this? To challenge you. The next couple of months include classes, worship nights, and one giant service project where you can come to claim some people. You don't know each other, so it isn't like you can plan these meetings in advance, so it'll take consistency. I hope that you'll use the connection points below to make the stars align.
Believe me, there are plenty of stars.
Best,
-Jason
Workshop: Theology and Politics | Monday, February 13 | 6:30-8:00pm | Prince of Peace
Christian T. Collins Winn is adjunct professor of religion at Augsburg University and teaching minister and theologian in residence at Meetinghouse Church in Minnesota. He previously served as professor of historical and systematic theology at Bethel University. In his book "Jesus, Jubilee, and the Politics of God's Reign," Christian argues that the kingdom of God is Jesus himself. Drawing on a wide breadth of liberation theology, the book's content amplifies the echoes of salvation history in contemporary struggles for social justice.
Worship Night + Apps | Sunday, February 19 | 5-7pm | Chapel
Gather with the Message Community for prayer, music, conversation at a new, earlier time. We'll still have apps afterwards and childcare will be provided. This evening will feature a big band and big sound. Invite a friend!
Workshop: George Floyd Woke Me Up. Now What? | Monday, March 6 | 6:30-8:00pm | Prince of Peace
A grace-based training program that equips leaders with tools and resources to facilitate transformative action in interculturality and anti-racism. In this workshop, Joe Davis and David Scherer provide embodied practices that help us get unstuck from the paralysis of fear and shame to take the next faithful move toward God's beloved community.
