Annual Meeting 2008 Welcome

WELCOME TO ANNUAL MEETING 2008
"TRANSFORMATION: WALK THE TALK"

LETTER FROM OUR MODERATOR, REV. JACK DAWSON   

Grace and peace to you from God, the Creator, and our Savior Jesus Christ.

As moderator and on behalf of the Northern California/Nevada Conference, I bring you greetings. I sit and write to you in the third week of October. Here in the Central Valley, grapes have been harvested, other crops, too. The land is beginning to change, taking on that look of fall.

A few drops of rain have fallen reminding us that change is com­ing. However, when you read this, we will have reached the heart of winter and spring will not be far behind.

With spring, comes our great gathering, the Annual Meeting of our Conference. This is a marvel­ous time of fellowship, worship, business and, dare I say, Sabbath Rest.

It is a time of stepping away from the routine of the world and retreat into the life of the church. I look forward to the gift of Annual Meeting. It holds for me so many opportunities to be inspired, strengthened and changed!

This will be my fourth year of being a part of Annual Meeting planning. What an amazing journey! You cannot imagine the amazing gifts and the amount of time volunteers and staff give to create this event. I am grateful for all who have already said yes, and those who will say yes, to being a part of leadership for Annual Meeting.

Every year has been great, and this year will be no exception. Our theme for this year is: “Transformation — Walk the Talk.”    Our focus will be on what it is that God expects of us in our ever-changing world. How do we, through the way we live and serve, become the means of bringing transformation and hope to God’s creation? How can the church be transformed to be a voice of hope to a new generation? How do we move from talk to walking in faith with God?

This year, we are pleased to have the Rev. Felix Carrion as our featured preacher. Carrion was recently named the new “God Is Still Speaking” coordinator for the UCC.    He brings a passion for the church and the work of The Stillspeaking Initiative as it transforms into its next phase.

I hope you will set aside May 15 -18 to attend what will be an uplifting and challenging Annual Meeting. There is more information in this issue of The Pacific, including the registration form and fee schedule. I look forward to seeing you there!

The Rev. Jack Dawson is moderator of the Northern California Nevada Conference and pastor of United Congregational Christian UCC-DOC, Lodi.