Time at General Assembly

First, let me thank Dr. Henry Hanna and Rev. Sharon Fields for serving as ministers on call while Tracy and I were attending the General Assembly.

Secondly, thanks to all the office volunteers, you could reach someone at the church if you needed them. Thank you to those who served in our absence.

Thirdly, thanks to Travis Cook who preached in my absence.

Fourthly, thanks to all of you for remaining relatively healthy in our absence.

Thanks also to Cathy Caldwell who stepped up as an elder and responded to needs in the congregation.

General Assemblies are always filled with energetic and contemplative worship, consideration of issues effecting contemporary society and the church and the reconnection with colleagues from seminary and other associations.

There were learning tracks with workshops.

There is the understanding of what the larger church looks and sounds like.

I met and spoke with Disciples from California, Maryland, North Carolina, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, Indiana, Kansas and a few other places.

I heard powerful sermons, professional musicians and vocalists and reports from agencies of the church.

It seemed I walked 10 miles inside the third largest convention center in the nation and had to scout out the location to the next event in order to tell others where it was.

There was the exhibit hall and all the trinkets I brought back to share with you on Sunday. In the exhibit hall I had the chance to talk with people who spend their entire lives serving the church in specialized ways.

There are some stories to tell.

There is not the space here to do that.

Let me just say this. I am proud to be part of a church which tries hard be inclusive, anti-racist and reconciling to those who are often on the “outside” looking in.

I just hope, that when I lay down the mantle of service called ordained ministry, those who care to comment, will say, “He tried to do all those things.”

 Moving to the deeper places,
Jeff