Discover Peace Adventures
How members are connecting through bike rides, cactuses, and new friendships
Discover Peace Adventures has been a new opportunity for Peace members to connect with each other in new ways. This past summer we’ve had chances to go on an early morning bike ride, join a creative writing group, enjoy music or a play in the park, plant a cactus, jam with a ukulele group, attend Pub Theology, and tour the Arboretum—to name just a few. Read on to hear from a few Peace members about the adventures that became this summer’s favorite ways to connect.
Meeting New Neighbors
I’ve enjoyed taking part in a number of these Adventures and found them a great way to meet people and have fun with others who share my interests. If you’d like to connect with others in new ways, I encourage you to try a new adventure—or better yet, suggest or facilitate one yourself!
But connection at Peace isn’t limited to these Adventures. There are so many ways to get involved—teaching Sunday School, joining a Bible study, playing pickleball, helping with Necessities for Neighbors or Feeding South Dakota, playing in bells or singing in choir, or making prayer shawls or quilts. Check out all your options in this edition of Discover Peace Magazine!
– Bernice Gertz
Riding the Loop
Joining “Ride the Loop,” a Discover Peace Adventure, turned out to be a highlight of my weekly summer routine. I’d tackled the Sioux Falls bike loop solo many times before, but suddenly I was experiencing it in a group setting. Pastor Jason, his wife Julie, and other members created a welcoming environment for riders of all skill levels. Meeting every Saturday morning with up to a dozen riders, this Adventure struck a perfect balance between church community and healthy motivation. We almost always rode the main 19-mile loop, sometimes venturing onto other legs of the bike path for an even better workout—but there was always flexibility built in for anyone wanting a shorter ride or different pace.
Beyond the physical benefits, these rides became a meaningful bridge to real community. Discover Peace Adventures serve as a natural entry point for getting to know people at Peace without it feeling forced or overly formal. Gathering for a quick prayer before each ride set a positive tone, and a mid-point break to relax and chat let me connect with church members in a way I rarely experienced in our more formal gathering spaces. Whether your interest is bicycling or something else entirely, I highly recommend a Discover Peace Adventure in your future!
– Bryan Ruby
The Cactus Adventure
Connie Stout’s care for the plants in the Peace office lobby has drawn admiring comments for years. This summer, she finally said yes to all those curious onlookers and turned her passion for plants and cactuses into a Discover Peace Adventure. People showed up ready to listen, ready to laugh—and some ready to confess their greatest plant-care failures.
Stories flowed freely: well-intentioned overwatering, plants forgotten in dark corners, one participant who brought in a struggling succulent hoping for a second opinion. By the end of the evening, everyone left with their own cactus, planted with their own hands—and a request for a reunion to see how everyone’s cactuses had grown. That request says everything. It was the start of a shared investment in something small, a reminder of that evening, those conversations, and the friendships that began.
Being part of a large church has real benefits, but getting to know the other people who call Peace home can be a challenge. Discover Peace Adventures have helped people make those connections this summer, and we’d like the fun to continue! If you’re interested in an activity—learning to knit, watching a football game together, touring an area nonprofit, and more—or would be willing to facilitate one, connect with Holly ([email protected]) so we can get it on the calendar and help even more connections happen.