• District Conference 2008 is scheduled for : August 1-3, at McPherson, Kan.

Moderator’s Musings Four

The joy is coming! As we get closer to District Conference, 2008, I am not only conscious of how much remains to be done, but I find myself looking forward with eagerness to the joy of seeing “my whole church”—all of us who are flung to the far corners of the district but who feel ourselves connected in loving fellowship! 

 I look forward to the joy of hearing from any and all of you with your thoughts on joy. So far, I have one person who has written and another promise. Please let me know what has brought you joy, what you think joy is, and what impact joy has had on your life and your walk with the Lord!

 I look forward with joy to the wonderful workshops that are taking shape. Connie Rhodes, the inspired artist who gave us the stories of Jesus, nestled in a foot, for the last conference, will present a Friday morning workshop on art and worship. We anticipate her showing some of her art as a special blessing. I believe this will be a breathtaking and heart filling time! Then, on Friday afternoon, we are having workshops on “How to Talk with People Who are Different,” “How to Get Out of Debt and Stay Out,” “Ministries for Older Adults,” and we are still exploring a workshop on “Welcoming Home Veterans” (a project which On Earth Peace has). In addition, we are planning for prayer circles and small group Bible studies. Please plan to come, if you possibly can, to the events of Friday!

 I also look forward with joy to a time of Holy Hilarity on Friday night following worship. This will happen at the Cedars, with ice cream! Start planning now for a funny costume you might wear, a joke or skit you might share, a laughter-invoking song you might sing, a magic trick, or juggling grapefruit while performing a Bible reading! Just to whet your appetite, here is a joke:

 A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Ryan, 3, and Kevin, 5. The boys began arguing over who would get the first pancake, providing mother with a golden opportunity for a moral lesson: “If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, ‘Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.’” Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, “Ryan, you be Jesus!”

 The joy is coming! Do not miss any of it!!            -----Moderator Sonja Griffith

In each Shepherd’s Voice from now until District Conference, the moderator will muse on one aspect of the theme and on the possibilities for the Conference. For new, “the joy is coming!” Plan to be there!