Away at Camp...

I used to do this every year.

Then I went into Conference Ministry, and just couldn't make it happen.

This year I made it happen.

When asked if I miss working in the parish, I say no. I am doing what I was called to do, and love what I do. But then I add: "What I miss is working with the youth and children." Conference Ministry just doesn't afford me many opportunities to do that.

And so what happened this week came as pure joy to me.



There was the lunch in an amazing setting:



Children falling asleep exhausted after a full day in the lap of someone they trust:



Getting to know a quirky, energetic, fun-loving group of kids:



Playing in the water on a hot day:



Meeting a ton of new friends:



Let me add one more thing: the youth and young adults who volunteer their time to make these experiences come a live for our children are among the most dedicated, passionate, creative, faithful, brilliant, energetic, and committed people I have had the pleasure to work with. Our program staff, our counselors, our volunteers give the Southwest Conference a good name. I am proud to work with them, honored to have won their trust, and lucky to have spent this time with them:

Red Rocks

This past Sunday, I drove up to Sedona to participate in the Installation of the Rev. Dr. Donna Cavedon as the Associate Pastor at Church of the Red Rocks.

It was, to be sure, a magnificent afternoon and evening.

I will let the pictures tell the story.

Here is the view as you walk up to the church - it is stunningly beautiful:


Here is Donna pictured with the Sr. Pastor, The Rev. Dr. George Ault. They look very happy, don't they:


Here is Donna with the Confirmands, all of whom were willing to participate in this Installation:


And here I am with Donna and the one we simply refer as The Saint, the Rev. Dr. Dosia Carlson:

An Historic Church Closes Its Doors...

This is a picture of First Congregational Tucson early in my tenure here in the Southwest Conference.

On Saturday, we gathered as a Conference to dissolve the church. It was a sad, celebrative day. A day in which a church's history was recounted with pride and dignity. A day when tears were shed - some of them in grief, some of them in joy.

Mission partners were present to receive gifts from the proceeds of the sale of the property: HIV-AIDS support networks, relief agencies for Somali refugees and Zambian orphans, Camp scholarships, and new church starts - among others.

Cakes were cooked from recipe books published by the church in 1909.

Names and faces and stories attached to them emerged throughout the afternoon.

A courageous former Missouri Synod Lutheran preacher came back home to the church that was first willing to receive her ministry: the Rev. Dr. Donna Schaper.

If you want to see more, go here and see how a very good photographer captured images that tell a deeper story about the day. His images reveal much.

A Full Weekend

What a rich and joyous weekend this was! It was one of those weekends that reminds me how fortunate I am to be offering ministry in a setting like the Southwest Conference.
On Friday, Josh Whistler graduated from Iliff Seminary. We are very proud of Josh. We lift him up in prayer and look forward to him completing his steps toward Ordination.

On Saturday, I spent the morning and afternoon with a creative and energetic group of youth, young adults, and (ahem) more mature adults planning our Church camps for the summer. Here are some photos.
A group deep in thought, no doubt diggin up some profound biblical insight and finding a creative skit, game, or activity they will use to communicate that insight:

And somewhat less insightful, but no less delightful, Ray Gentry dancing to Michael Jackson's "Thriller." Ray and his wife Donna came to cook for the camp planners and provide us lunch.

On Saturday evening, I attended a 20th anniversary celebration for Steve Davis, who has completed 20 years of ministry at Shepherd of the Hills UCC in Phoenix. The celebration included a 'Cabaret' - replete with Steve being serenaded over and over again, a clear outporing of love, gratitude, and pride for their pastor:

And here Steve Davis is at the end of the night sharing laughter and joy with a dear friend, the Rev. Steve Wayles:

And then Sunday I drove up to Dewey, AZ where Faith Community United Church of Christ celebrated the Installation of their new Pastor, the Rev. Diane Thomas. Here she is with her good friend, and preacher for the day, the Rev. Ken Heintzelman:

Among those attending the service was a founding member, Anna Parker, whose husband was also the founding pastor of the church.

What a full weekend this was. I leave it with a deep sense of joy and satisfaction.

A Documentary in the Making

The following was sent to me by David Mellot, member at Church of the Beatitudes. He has spent the last year working on a Documentary film called "The Exodus." He is hoping the finish production in time for an early December release. I invite you to read his words, check out his website, and if you feel so inclined, donate to support the production of this remarkable project.

When SB1070 was signed we were at the annual meeting.

The SWC decided to boycott by having the next meeting in New Mexico.

A short time later a portion of the TOX ministry's congregation (who had and remain nested at Church of the Beatitudes Phoenix AZ) decided to move, "as a matter of safety".

We went with them and filmed the trip and the "extravagant welcome" they received in their new locations.

When the first post-signing "big march" happened, the full page ad
and Rev.Felix came and marched with us as we filmed.These pictures are from that March:






Revs. Linda and Geoffery went to Arizona to see for themselves the conditions in
Phoenix and in Sahuarita and got a tour of the water stations near the border.
We were there filming as they witnessed the situation.

It has been almost a year since we started and there is so much more to do.

I am sending you all a link to the website for our film "EXODUS"the documentary.
Within the website you can see what we have been up to for the last 11 months
continuing at the forefront of the issue.

Please look over the website and read ALL of the pages. Learn about the "story behind the story".

The blog pages detail the accomplishments of the documentary team in Arizona, Utah, Texas and Kansas.
The Crew pages tell about who we are. Our editor is certainly "A find" and some of his previous
employers are aware of the project.

Website; www.exodusdocumentary.com

As of this date ALL of our funding (Approx. $30,000.00) has come from 1 donor, we are truly blessed
that this UCC couple is so passionate about Faith and Justice. Their generosity has let us move
along for the last year capturing history in the making.

We could use some assistance with publicity and additional fundraising.
[ If four people from every UCC church in the country would donate $20.00 we could
meet or exceed our total projected costs to film, edit, reproduce, and distribute the film..