What a day and what a week! We’ve gone from celebrating marriage equality across the U.S. to wonderful, engaging worship and prayer to celebrations of disabilities ministries to deep theological reflections from some of our denomination’s most prominent thinkers. Synod 2015 has been a whirlwind so far, but a blessed storm for this first-time Synod goer.
On Saturday, we spent time together in prayer, worship, and reflection, as nationally-known columnist Connie Schultz spoke about the prophetic witness of the UCC in the U.S. today, and the importance of the need for more voices for the gospel of Christ in our public realm. We were also reminded of the UCC’s commitment to women’s ministries and LGBT rights, through the Antoinette Brown Award and the Open and Affirming Coalition.
Perhaps the most blessed part of Saturday was the opportunity for Sabbath. Though many different workshops were available during the afternoon, I chose to spend the time in conversation with other Minnesota Conference delegates about important resolution issues, as well as time in fellowship with other Members in Discernment, speaking about our varied calls to ministry and discerning where God was leading us next.
More than anything, I must give thanks to God for the rain! It’s been a wet past few days in Cleveland and this has been a bit of a burden for those of us walking five blocks from our hotel to the Cleveland Convention Center. Still, I know the need for moisture in the Midwest, and I remember the words to the famous hymn, “We plow the fields and scatter the good seed on the land, but it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand.” May God bless us with God’s hand of grace and guidance as we the UCC make important decisions about our denomination over the next few days, and celebrate our movement toward a more cohesive governance and united call.
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