The road trip was purposed so I could attend Deacon Day Apart with the Deacon Order of the North Carolina Annual Conference of the UMC. Even though I did travel the farthest distance (and received traveling chocolate as a prize!) I only had a 10 minute ride this morning and easily came through the flood waters that kept several people at home. It was a reflective time designed that we might remember our call and consider the unity of our common journey as we seek to serve God in the church and the world in many diverse and wonderful ways (after all, they let me, doing doctoral research and writing
in NJ, be a
provisional member!). We worshiped together, celebrated the Eucharist that the Bishop offered, ate lunch and fellowshipped even as we engaged in contemplative practices of the Church which included walking a labyrinth. This is a picture of the day's participants in front of a banner depicting the call of the deacon, being poured out in the power of the Holy Spirit for service in the world. Since we had to squeeze together to make it into the frame we unfortunately blocked some of the beautiful artwork. I have these great photos because I travel with my camera (as a result of this blog) and there was a little trouble with the camera that belonged to one of the organizers so photographing responsibilities were delegated to the one with fresh batteries. I'll give you three guesses to figure out who that was.....
The North Carolina Order of Deacons procured the banner following a 2007 international convocation celebrating the 10th anniversary of Deacons being included as an order of ordained ministry and 30th anniversary of the Diaconal Ministry in The United Methodist Church. The banner was presented to Bishop Gwinn on behalf of the order to be hung in the new conference building and is supposed to be displayed at Annual Conference come June.
Back in the spring, at
Annual Conference, we decided to meet at St. Francis UMC at this time because the church was hosting this canvas labyrinth. Though I've walked labyrinths in a variety of places both by myself and with different companions, the opportunity to follow the pathway to the center before returning to the world as I encountered peers and cohorts in ministry was very special and will stay with me for quite some time.
The road trip was purposed so I could attend Deacon Day Apart with the Deacon Order of the North Carolina Annual Conference of the UMC. Even though I did travel the farthest distance (and received traveling chocolate as a prize!) I only had a 10 minute ride this morning and easily came through the flood waters that kept several people at home. It was a reflective time designed that we might remember our call and consider the unity of our common journey as we seek to serve God in the church and the world in many diverse and wonderful ways (after all, they let me, doing doctoral research and writing in NJ, be a provisional member!). We worshiped together, celebrated the Eucharist that the Bishop offered, ate lunch and fellowshipped even as we engaged in contemplative practices of the Church which included walking a labyrinth. This is a picture of the day's participants in front of a banner depicting the call of the deacon, being poured out in the power of the Holy Spirit for service in the world. Since we had to squeeze together to make it into the frame we unfortunately blocked some of the beautiful artwork. I have these great photos because I travel with my camera (as a result of this blog) and there was a little trouble with the camera that belonged to one of the organizers so photographing responsibilities were delegated to the one with fresh batteries. I'll give you three guesses to figure out who that was..... 
The North Carolina Order of Deacons procured the banner following a 2007 international convocation celebrating the 10th anniversary of Deacons being included as an order of ordained ministry and 30th anniversary of the Diaconal Ministry in The United Methodist Church. The banner was presented to Bishop Gwinn on behalf of the order to be hung in the new conference building and is supposed to be displayed at Annual Conference come June.
Back in the spring, at Annual Conference, we decided to meet at St. Francis UMC at this time because the church was hosting this canvas labyrinth. Though I've walked labyrinths in a variety of places both by myself and with different companions, the opportunity to follow the pathway to the center before returning to the world as I encountered peers and cohorts in ministry was very special and will stay with me for quite some time.