Annual Conference

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.

Prepping for the variety show on November 15

District Superintendent Karen Munson

Betsy and Brad taking notes

Preparing for the meeting

Earle is with the women

Nice picture doncha think

Studying the reports

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.