May 2008

It can be a wonderful gift to visit other UCC churches and Conferences and see how other folks express their faith.  Each spring I travel to the western UCC Conferences to attend their Annual Gatherings - while there, I present information on and lead workshops for the UCC Cornerstone Fund - a denomination fund that accepts individual investments and loans money to churches for capital improvements.  I meet wonderful, faithful persons from local churches, Conference staffs and our denomination's National Staff - all with stories of renewed vitality in their churches.  From bluegrass bands leading worship to food and beverage service during the sermon, churches are finding ways to be witnesses to God's love and grace in their own communities.

Next month we have an opportunity to attend the Annual Gathering of our own Southern California Nevada Conference on June 20-21 at the First Congregational Church, UCC in Glendale!  Rev. Anne G. Cohen of our own congregation has just begun her tenure there as an Intentional Interim Minister, helping that congregation identify their ministry and supporting their search for new, settled pastoral leadership. Imagine worshipping with other UCC folks, attending stimulating workshops and meeting our new Interim Conference Staff - Rev. Jane Fisler Hoffman and Rev. June Boutwell!  All this without a long journey on the freeway, a flight on a plane or an overnight stay in a hotel!  There is a registration fee involved, but if you need help with that, the church will pay your way - just ask Marlene or myself. 

Last year a few of us went on a field trip the day before Annual Gathering - we left Chula Vista and drove to Tijuana, where we learned about several different ministries among the persons just south of our border.  It was an enlightening and engaging day with other UCC clergy and lay persons in our Conference;  this year, there is a field trip planned for June 19th - we will visit four different UCC churches in the LA area that represent four different cultural communities, to help us understand and celebrate the diversity of our Conference.  In this newsletter you will find the agenda for Annual Gathering, a description of the workshops that will take place and a sample registration form.  You can sign up online if you like, at www.signmeup.com/59802.

Marlene and myself, Ann Appley and Grace Rinck all plan to attend as delegates for our church - come and join us!  Our sisters and brothers in the Conference have much to teach us about what it means to be a community of faithful persons?

The Rev. John H. Pomeroy