This week I’m away at what we call the Minnesota Annual Conference or MAC. The MAC is a gathering of all United Methodist clergy and representatives from United Methodist churches in the state of Minnesota. We call it a conference because back in the day the founders of our denomination were fond of the word conferencing instead of big meeting.
Like a lot of other large group gatherings this one has inspirational speaking, reports and legislation, displays, workshops, different people who want to tell their stories and a lot of catching up with friends and colleagues whom you have not seen since the last Conference.
Each year for the last 12 or so I have carried on a tradition of riding my bicycle to Annual Conference with a couple of friends. Over the years the friends have changed, the route has changed a little but what hasn’t changed is the smile on people’s faces when they ask me, “Did you guys ride up this year?” Truth is, half the reason I do the ride is to be able to say “yes.” It may seem a bit strange, but I think the people asking and believing 3 guys ride from Eden Prairie to St. Cloud on bicycles adds something to the festivities. This is a pic of my buddies Steve and Paul before we took off Monday.
The representative for EPUMC at this conference is Ginger Eddy. Ginger and I sit together to listen to reports and vote on legislation. We also have some time to talk and chat as we usually find our way to sit closer to the back. This is Ginger looks before all the reports and legislation started: still smiling. If you would like to know about some things that happened at MAC, ask Ginger… she remembers everything.
This year something different and exciting happened at Conference. Jon Mehlhaus came to conference as part of his summer internship program called the ELI Project. Jon is working at a church in Mankato as he sorts through the possibilities for the future. We were talking about what Jon is up, and I’m hoping we can work it out for him to preach this fall…Just sayin', I think Jon would be a great pastor. MAC is a great place to sort of get a feel for a part of what he might be getting into…. So remember to pray for Jon. I’ve already told him he doesn't have to wear a tie.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Encountering the Spirit…Live Expectantly!” This theme uses Acts Chapter 2 from the Bible and sounds a lot like what we have been doing back in Eden Prairie… I’m not saying they copied us. Ginger says that it is very affirming to hear that some of the ideas about this theme are pretty close to what we have been experiencing at EPUMC in 2017, so I’m going with that.
Today in an address Ginger, Jon and I heard our conference speaker Junius B. Dotson tell us… “When you know your WHY, your WHAT becomes more impactful.” Junius inspired me to think about the WHY of EPUMC. I’ll be talking more about that in a few weeks. In the meantime… how about sharing with me some of your thoughts on the WHY of EPUMC. Then in a few weeks we can “conference” on it together on Sunday morning.
Keep the Faith,
Pastor Dan
Like a lot of other large group gatherings this one has inspirational speaking, reports and legislation, displays, workshops, different people who want to tell their stories and a lot of catching up with friends and colleagues whom you have not seen since the last Conference.
Each year for the last 12 or so I have carried on a tradition of riding my bicycle to Annual Conference with a couple of friends. Over the years the friends have changed, the route has changed a little but what hasn’t changed is the smile on people’s faces when they ask me, “Did you guys ride up this year?” Truth is, half the reason I do the ride is to be able to say “yes.” It may seem a bit strange, but I think the people asking and believing 3 guys ride from Eden Prairie to St. Cloud on bicycles adds something to the festivities. This is a pic of my buddies Steve and Paul before we took off Monday.
The representative for EPUMC at this conference is Ginger Eddy. Ginger and I sit together to listen to reports and vote on legislation. We also have some time to talk and chat as we usually find our way to sit closer to the back. This is Ginger looks before all the reports and legislation started: still smiling. If you would like to know about some things that happened at MAC, ask Ginger… she remembers everything.
This year something different and exciting happened at Conference. Jon Mehlhaus came to conference as part of his summer internship program called the ELI Project. Jon is working at a church in Mankato as he sorts through the possibilities for the future. We were talking about what Jon is up, and I’m hoping we can work it out for him to preach this fall…Just sayin', I think Jon would be a great pastor. MAC is a great place to sort of get a feel for a part of what he might be getting into…. So remember to pray for Jon. I’ve already told him he doesn't have to wear a tie.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Encountering the Spirit…Live Expectantly!” This theme uses Acts Chapter 2 from the Bible and sounds a lot like what we have been doing back in Eden Prairie… I’m not saying they copied us. Ginger says that it is very affirming to hear that some of the ideas about this theme are pretty close to what we have been experiencing at EPUMC in 2017, so I’m going with that.
Today in an address Ginger, Jon and I heard our conference speaker Junius B. Dotson tell us… “When you know your WHY, your WHAT becomes more impactful.” Junius inspired me to think about the WHY of EPUMC. I’ll be talking more about that in a few weeks. In the meantime… how about sharing with me some of your thoughts on the WHY of EPUMC. Then in a few weeks we can “conference” on it together on Sunday morning.
Keep the Faith,
Pastor Dan
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