Preparing (to go away) for General Conference

Christ is Risen! I hope Holy Week was a powerful and prayerful time for those of you who observe it. My experience, while exhausting, was rewarding and filled with Spirit.

2/3 of what I'll miss while I'm in Tampa

And now, with out much further ado, my countdown to the United Methodist Church’s General Conference 2012 begins. We’ve got two week to finish getting ready– whatever that means.

I neglected to reblog the link last week, but I was one of three people highlighted in a United Methodist Reporter article about what delegates are doing to prepare. I won’t be too miffed that they dropped my title in the article; I’m very glad that they kept what I had to say about the pressure it puts on my husband and our support network to be spending so much time away from home and family. I think that’s a real issue as we ponder why more young people don’t run as delegates.

Sermon: Now What?

“Now What?”

(April 8, 2012 – Easter) The story of Christ’s resurrection is a good one– but it is only a story if we don’t let it change us and change the world. It takes courage and faith to live in hope, to live as if the resurrection is real. It is, however, the only way to live the resurrection (John 20:1-18).

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This sermon draws heavily on this post by Carl Gregg, citing, as he does, Wendell Berry, Clarence Jordan, and Peter Rollins (quote used earlier in the service, but referenced in the sermon). I also mentioned, but did not play, this scene from “The Hunger Games.” Finally, I was influenced this week by Diana Butler-Bass’ column in the Huffington Post, where she suggests that the church needs to answer new questions (ah, this is so very much what I’ve been waning to say and didn’t know how to articulate!), and while I did not reference her, I tried to present my answer to these questions in the content of the sermon.

Happy Easter!