It has been quite a journey since June 6, 2005, my first “official” day as a member of the Conference Staff team. It has been a delight to return to Maine and renew friendships and make new acquaintances. I have felt warmly welcomed.

In the not quite four months that I have been serving among folks of the Maine Conference, I have preached two farewell sermons for previous colleagues—Diana Benjamin at Harrison/North Bridgton and Jim Woods at Ellsworth. I am currently working with one-half of the Conference churches who are seeking pastoral leadership. These churches include Dover Foxcroft, Ellsworth, Hallowell, Harrison/North Bridgton, Second Congregational-Norway, State Street-Portland, Woodfords-Portland, Rangeley and South Portland. I am also working with the Church of Universal Fellowship in Orono as they seek pastoral leadership and engage in conversation about becoming a United Church of Christ congregation.

By the time we gather for Conference Annual meeting, I will have preached in six congregations over the 15 Sundays I have been here. It has been a wonderful blessing to share God’s word with Harrison/North Bridgton, Rangeley, Ellsworth, Raymond, Bethel, and Edgecomb. I have enjoyed meeting people and sharing worship, fellowship, stories, concerns and laughter..

I am also serving as staff liaison to Franklin, Kennebec Valley, Lincoln, Oxford Union, and Penobscot-Piscataquis Associations. I am looking forward to meeting folks from these Associations at Fall meetings. I have already attended Church and Ministry Committee meetings for some of these Associations and look forward to working with others as we move into the fall schedule. It was my great delight to be present when Darren Morgan was ordained and installed at Brownville Community Church in June.

Maine Conference is blessed with dedicated and generous leadership. I am coming to know the Conference through the Coordinating Council and Executive Committee. I was so grateful for the hospitality and thoroughness of the search committee and have enjoyed working with and getting to know this leadership team. Likewise, I learned a lot when I met with the Commissions in June. This Conference is very active and engaged in witness and discipleship and encouraging individuals to answer God’s call and grow in Christ-like living.

And as I move from working with young people in the national setting of the church, it has been wonderful to continue working with youth and adults in Maine, some of whom I know from my previous ministries. Working with the Youth Ministry Advisory Team and the State Youth Council keeps me engaged in doing ministry with young people and adults who work with them. I am also serving, with Carolyn Lambert, on the planning committee for the New England Regional Youth Event which will be held at Orono, July 6-9, 2006. We expect about 1,000 young people and adults from the New England region to enjoy Maine hospitality and scenery as they gather in fellowship and ministry with one another.

I am also continuing to work with young people as the co-director of the Stewards program for the joint United Church of Christ/Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Women’s meeting June 21-25, 2006 to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana. Exposing our young leaders to the wider church and working with leadership development is a source of great joy in my ministry. I will look forward to working with women of the Maine Conference and the two young stewards yet to be selected as we prepare to gather in 2006.

As we journey together in this time of transition, I look forward to continued mutual ministry. I pray that we will together seek the creative winds of the Spirit blowing through our lives and in the life of this Conference and listen for God’s guidance and wisdom as we seek to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ.