Jenny and I really enjoyed hosting our District Superintendent, Dee Williamston, as she preached at both worship services this morning. She did a great job and so did the gathered congregation.*

Amanda Cormack will fill the pulpit next week, while we worship with my folks in Council Grove. Amanda is a regular preacher at Grace United Church of Christ here in Abilene. She earned her M.Div degree from the Graduate Theological Union in 2007, and briefly served as a licensed minister in Billings, MT before moving here with her husband Chris in 2009. Since then, they have had two children: Claire, age 4, and Rob, 10 months. Claire sometimes joins her grandmother, Pat Cormack, in worship at Abilene First United Methodist Church.

*The role of the congregation in preaching is often overlooked, but nonetheless essential.