A full weekend in New Mexico

I had my first trip to Angel Fire this weekend - Wow!

What a spectacular place this is. The church is in a time of pastoral transition, and my visit with them was to help them understand how to conduct a search for a pastor with a church that is affiliated with four very different denominations.

The sanctuary is spectacular, as are the views from it. The worship was lively and engaging. And, lest I forget, a heartfelt thanks to my gracious hosts for the weekend, Bill and Karen Chapman.

From there I drove down to Los Cruces (after spending the night with our CoCAM chair Lee Albertson, who accompanied me on the trip). While there, we met with members from our churches in Silver City and El Paso - who with us met with members of First Christian Church in Los Cruces. We all then spent the afternoon talking about how to help First Christian discern whether or not they are being called to dually affiliate with the United Church of Christ. Now THAT was a joy-filled afternoon, let me tell you. Picture here are Mike from Silver City, and Ellen and Marcos from El Paso.

Lee and I drove home and were privileged to view on the almost 4 hour drive some of the most spectacular scenery the Southwest has to offer. This picture is actually from the drive down from Angel Fire, but you get a sense of what I am talking about. Enjoy.

Some exciting family news...

So, I'm at the ball game last night with Mimi. My cell phone rings.

It's my son - the older one. He had just spent the previous week with us, along with his girlfriend, Kelley. Why, this picture was taken just last week on the day we all spent together at the Grand Canyon.

I guess I should now say Kelley used to be his girlfriend. That's what the call was about. She's not his girlfriend anymore.

She's his fiance.

Yep, my son is getting married!

Mimi and I are very excited, and very proud, of John and Kelley.

Just thought I'd share the good news.

And can someone explain to me how this child of mine is now ready for marriage? When did that happen?

Mazeltov.

Clergy Luncheons

The Southwest Conference has been planning Clergy luncheons, and this week we were able to sponsor our first two.

On Monday, I travelled to Prescott to spend the afternoon with the clergy from Northern Arizona. Here are a few of those who were there: Charles Cooper, John Mansfeld, Lorraine Ciniceros, and George Ault.


Then, on Wednesday, I did the same thing for the clergy from Southern Arizona. Here are a few of the ones who were able to join us: Lee Milligan, Marie Bacciocchi, and Judith Hambleton.


This is a great opportunity to spend time with our most precious resource: our clergy. I am grateful for this time, and for the opportunity to get to speak with them about their ministry, and about the shared ministry of the Southwest Conference.

I've waited all my life...

... to see the Grand Canyon, and finally got to do that this week. My son John and his girlfriend Kelley are in from Chicago, and we thought why not?

Wow!!!!

It was a glorious day. I'll include two pix here, but took a ton of photos. If you have never been, there is no way to describe the awesome grandeur that is the Canyon.



And from there, we did what we always do when the boys are in:


Off for a day trip to LA - stay tuned for those details. That, too, is kind of a trip of a lifetime: my first Hollywood Premiere! A great story, and I'll be posting some details soon.

Personnel Committee

The meeting of the Personnel Committee - now doesn't that sound like fun!

To be quite honest, no it does not.

But look at the picture - they are all smiling! The fact is, this is a very good group of very hard working people who are doing some very important work for the Conference - and who enjoy each other's company even when we are working hard.

The entire morning was spent re-writing the Personnel Manual for the Conference. This IS hard work, and it is important work, and I am grateful for the time and attention that they each give to it.

We are far from finished, but the rest of it will have to wait for another day. For now, I'm deeply grateful for the time they have given.

Another full weekend...

Molly came by late last week to deliver my birthday present. Yeah, a little late - but I was a few thousand miles away when it came around.
Then, Friday evening came and George and Claudia Ault just happened to have tickets to the D-Backs game. Yep, there we are in the front row. Nice!

And after the game, fireworks! Cool!!!

On Sunday, I was at West Congregational United Church of Christ - the little church that could. Though not one of our largest, West Church does a lot of very good work in their community, has an incredible Spirit, and a choir that is magnificent (here they are). They were one of three choirs that in June was chosen to perform in a Mass Choir at Carneghie Hall.

Well, maybe one more...

I had forgotten I had taken this picture. This is, of course, our good and dear friend Cally Rogers-Witte. We are so proud of her - and here she is marching with many of us at Synod as we demonstrate for Health Care for All!

Here is a picture of Angie, who works in the office of the Center for Progressive Leadership. We, namely the Southwest Conference, and they (the CPL), are working to forge an alliance. We have many of the same interests, and are asking how our respective organizations might work more closely together.

Well, although my birthday was a couple weeks ago (in fact, while I was away at Synod), it was not until last night that Mimi and I were able to sit down for my birthday dinner, after which I got to open my presents. So, here I am doing just that.

Last shot of Synod, and a very special day

Here is a shot of the delegation, about two minutes after the close of Synod. What a great week we had. I am so very proud of each and every one of them. They worked very hard, they slept very little. Please feel free to call or invite them to your church for a recap of Synod, and a lively discussion about the key issues and main events.

I did not come home right after Synod. I flew to St. Louis to help my brothers and sister celebrate my Mom and Dad's 50th anniversary.
Here are my Mom and Dad, just seconds after opening their gift from their eight children (seven of them were theirs, the eighth we sort of adopted). The gift is a Mediterranean Cruise.


And one final shot. My Dad grew up as a caddie on the oldest golf course west of the Mississippi. He was a club pro, and turned down an invitation to play on the Tour. We have wasted many an hour on the course together, and while home this time I got to play with him and my two sons. Here he is still hitting it straight.

Remembering Synod

Memories and snapshots from a very special week in Grand Rapids:

Josh and Michael Ann on the floor of Synod...


Davin getting some quick texting in during a short break...


Caryn having some fun (um, those are tiny mints with the letters I Heart UCC on them)


Caryn and Pat on the floor of Synod...


Mark Clark on a Segway, touring downtown Grand Rapids...


Caryn showing she knows how to win a vote...


Alissa Marquis with Mary Lou Carson, our Southwest Conference Honored Laywoman


Remember this guy? Looking cool as the Conference Minister of the next host of Synod - Tamp Bay. See you all there...