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We are still preparing for our All Church Conference at Haller Lake, but I’ve had the honor of attending and officiating at the Conferences of three other congregations already this fall. My role is  part of the new way that the superintendency team is working with local churches and fostering collegiality, connectionalism, and communication between local churches. Each conference follows the same agenda and covers the basic business items of the church, but they are each also an expression of the celebrations and longings of the unique expression of the church in that location and context.
 
Each conference was different from the others. One was on a Sunday afternoon, in a church conference room. One was on Zoom in the evening. The final one was the hour preceding an Administrative Council meeting for church leaders. However, they’ve all included moments of vulnerability and moments of joy. I’ve been able to witness unique ministries related to the empowerment of the African American community in the central district, the accompaniment of candidates for ministry in the Safe Harbor program, and a vibrant ministry among toddlers and their families. I was also able to witness hopes for the future, including a hope that the church will repent of some of the ways it has caused harm to Native Americans and people in the LGBTQIA+ community, hopes that neighbors will be healed, hopes that leaders will lead, and hopes that the Holy Spirit will move.
 
I hope you will be part of the holy work of conferencing in our congregation on Sunday, November 30, which is not this Sunday but next. After worship that day, those in person are invited to have lunch together in the Fellowship Hall and then begin the conference at 12:30pm, led by Rev. Jeremy Smith, pastor at Edmonds UMC. I hope you will bring your celebrations and longings for our congregation. I hope you will come with curiosity for how the Holy Spirit is moving among us and supporting those who are emerging as leaders in many ways.
 
We won’t have any ballot measures this year and there won’t be much news shared that you haven’t already had the chance to read in this newsletter or hear about at church. Still, your attendance is valuable to the community as we mark the close of one year and look ahead to the start of the next. It will be an opportunity to hear updates on a few things including Pastor Cole’s work at Aldersgate UMC and his continued discernment about ordained ministry, a few budget items for the new year, and our ministry priorities.
 
The lunch preceding the conference will feature hot dogs that we brought home with us after the Day of Service and Learning 2.0, and whatever side dishes we all bring to supplement the hot dogs. Drinks and desserts are being provided by our Member Care committee, since the event falls on the day they would normally host Coffee Chat. There will not be a presentation during lunch but we may bring back the Jeopardy game we started on Camp Sunday and didn’t finish if there is a game playing spirit among us.
 
Whether you attend in person or online, all church members will be voting members of the All Church Conference. Others are welcome to attend and share their perspectives without voting. For those who will be online that morning, we will keep the Zoom open through lunch and the Conference so you can participate with us virtually. If you need to leave and come back during our lunch time, the link will work the same as at the start of worship.
 
We pray that the Holy Spirt will guide our church with wisdom as we seek to co-create the future.