Faith United Church of Christ Search Committee...

On a beautiful day in Central Arizona, I jumped in the car and drove up the Highway into Dewey. Waiting for me there were Carol and Bod, Steve and Barbara, Paul and Masha - in other words, the Search Committee.

They are preparing their profile, and will soon be ready to circulate it in their Search for a Pastor. We wish them well, and ask for the Spirit to guide them in this time of discernment.

First Annual Spring Clergy Convocation

Tuesday, I met with clergy from across New Mexico and El Paso in Albuquerque, while on Wednesday I met with clergy from across Arizona. This was the first Annual Southwest Conference Clergy Convocation - an event at which our clergy will gather to discuss topics relevant to our time.

In both settings, we reflected on our calls to ministry in a time of prayerful reflection and devotion. We then spent some time talking about the challenges and the joys we experience in our settings for ministry.

The Albuquerue crowd spent the rest of their time talking about changes they see coming in their ministry settings and about strategies for the Southwest Conference becoming more Multi-Cultural.

The Phoenix crowd began with the same prayerful reflections, but after that decided they would spend their time addressing the questions of effective means of Stewardship in times of diminishing resources and about how to maintain the integrity of the gospel's prophetic edge when many of our members are telling us not to mix religion and politics.

These were two very valuable days for me, and I want to thank all of my colleagues in ministry who gave time out of their busy, busy lives to be fully present for the Convocation. I look forward to doing this again next year.

The Vacation winds down....

The week is winding down. The visitors here are making their way home.

But we had a cookout around the pool last night, replete with a game of cards that went into the wee hours of the morning....


followed the next morning by our annual Dorhauer Fantasy League draft with trophies handed out from the year prior....


Then a trip this afternoon to Peoria to see the D-Backs play the Mariners (note the jerseys we are all wearing)....


And after than time for a AAA game on one of the back fields at the complex.


This has been a good week with brothers, Father, nieces and nephews. I will be ready to get back at it come Monday.