Later he invited me to be a part of his volunteer staff taking youth on a mission trip to Chicago. It was there I began to understand more about the breadth of his experience in all things church. Not only was he equipped to do music ministry, he was clearly good at administration and organizing and problem-solving… all the while clearly loving the young people he was working with. Because of that, I invited him to be a part of the Sing Praise team at Silver Lake Conference Center.

 

Silver Lake is the outdoor ministry program of the United Church of Christ in CT. Sing Praise is a weeklong summer conference during which 35-40 middle schoolers spend a week together, writing an original Biblical musical in 5 days, and performing it during worship service for the whole camp at the end of the week. I was thrilled to have Peter as part of the team. He brought his grounded faith, along with all his administrative skills. But, he also brought such quirky fun and creativity!  He definitely knows how to connect with the sillies of middle schoolers, and he helped them (us all) write songs that expressed our faith and our wonderings. He was encouraging to the young people, supportive of their faith exploration, and always found a way to help us create a song with the right “message” to wrap up our worship…. Often in the form of a “hoe-down” that had everyone singing long after the week was over!

 

Peter knows the power of art and music and drama and all things creative to help people EXPERIENCE the power of the Holy Spirit.  Not only can he make art himself, he consciously brings it through other people wherever he finds himself in ministry.

 

I am excited to support Peter on his path to ordained ministry and joyfully recommend him.

 

Valerie Tutson is a professional storyteller and a Deacon at Beneficent UCC, Providence, RI. 

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