PUMC holds Annual Conference
September 17, 2019
Each year
Methodist churches will hold an Annual Meeting presided over by a District
Superintendent or other official from the Conference to which the church
belongs. Our conference is the New England Conference of the United Methodist
Church. This year’s presiding officer was Reverend Karen Munson who led us in
Holy Conferencing.
The
gathering reflections for Holy Justice were “The
Lord has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of
you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah
6:8 NIV. and “The arc of the moral
universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” Martin Luther King Jr.
paraphrasing a sermon of Theodore Parker
These verses
and phrases led the discussions that linked the Bible to the work of us
together as a Christian community here in South Portland. It also brought
forward how in our work we have not forgotten to serve the Lord beyond our
walls, near and far.
An annual
written report was passed out with entries from all areas of the church
organization. Some of the reports such as Trustees, Staff Parish and Finance
took more time to present and discuss since they did deal with important
financial decisions.
Holy Conferencing included answering
the following questions:
How
have we loved, received, or offered mercy this past year?
What
gestures of mercy has God required of us?
These are good questions to ask of
ourselves every day.
Other areas of church life that were
part of the presentations were words on Lay Leadership, Lay Servitude, and
Retired and Active Ministerial Reports.
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| Prepping for the variety show on November 15 |
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| District Superintendent Karen Munson |
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| Betsy and Brad taking notes |
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| Preparing for the meeting |
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| Earle is with the women |
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| Nice picture doncha think |
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| Studying the reports |
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| Preparing for communion |
These reports were followed by more questions
that included”
How
have we walked humbly with God this past year?
How
are we to walk humbly in the coming year?
As part of the closing those who have
passed from us were recognized in the closing ceremonies. Pastor Tom and
District Superintendent Munson with the help of Kit and Becky served communion.
This event was attended by a number
of church members helping to make this meeting meaningful.
