This week, over 1,000 United Methodists from all over Louisiana gathered at Centenary College in Shreveport for our Annual Conference session. During these four days together, we fellowship, worship, laugh, love, and conduct the business of the annual conference, talking about what all God has done through the United Methodists of Louisiana over the past year and making plans for the future. It's an especially meaningful time for Erin and me, for as clergy, our membership resides not in a local church, but in the annual conference, so this week is like spending four days with our church family.
I must be completely honest with you here - like we all are when we are with our church family, there are great highs that come. Seeing some of the dearest friends you will ever have, recounting beloved memories of days long gone, revisiting a site where some of the most important events of your life occurred, meals with old and new friends alike; couldn't ask for anything more. However, like when we are with our church family, there was also occasion to see people who you didn't particularly care for or people who have hurt you tremendously in the past, as well as decisions made and ideas presented with which you strongly disagree. (All of this I experienced this week).
However, I must say that the week with my church family was absolutely memorable. Processing the past week, I realize once again that what is truly important is not any agenda that I as an individual have, but the truly wonderful experience of being with those whom God has brought me in connection with - when we look at our church family from the perspective that what's going on here is not about us, but about God, then it all makes sense.
Be sure to come spend time with your church family during worship this week!
See You Sunday!
Lamar
I must be completely honest with you here - like we all are when we are with our church family, there are great highs that come. Seeing some of the dearest friends you will ever have, recounting beloved memories of days long gone, revisiting a site where some of the most important events of your life occurred, meals with old and new friends alike; couldn't ask for anything more. However, like when we are with our church family, there was also occasion to see people who you didn't particularly care for or people who have hurt you tremendously in the past, as well as decisions made and ideas presented with which you strongly disagree. (All of this I experienced this week).
However, I must say that the week with my church family was absolutely memorable. Processing the past week, I realize once again that what is truly important is not any agenda that I as an individual have, but the truly wonderful experience of being with those whom God has brought me in connection with - when we look at our church family from the perspective that what's going on here is not about us, but about God, then it all makes sense.
Be sure to come spend time with your church family during worship this week!
See You Sunday!
Lamar
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