Tomorrow (Saturday, February 23, 2019) delegates from around the world will gather for a special called General Conference Session in St. Louis, Missouri.

The first day of the conference will be devoted to prayer. We know the power of prayer in our congregation to provide healing and comfort, strength and peace. The results of prayer can change lives, we have witnessed this time and time again in our lives and the lives of our church family. Bishop Saenz has prepared a video detailing this day of prayer.  Here’s the link: http://bit.ly/2GWlHy9.

On Saturday, I will be praying for the delegates, Bishops and staff at General Conference, as well as for our denomination and all United Methodists around the world. I invite you, wherever you happen to be on Saturday, to join me. This is an anxious time for our denomination.  By centering ourselves in prayer as General Conference begins, perhaps the anxiety can be lessened and we will have a greater sense of the Holy Spirit surrounding all of us in the days ahead.

Legislative sessions for General Conference will begin on Sunday, February 24, 2019 and continue through Tuesday, February 26, 2019. If you are interested in watching the conference via livestream, you may do so by clicking on this link: http://bit.ly/2SZMsZW. (Note: the livestream has already started, at present there seems to be a band rehearsing.)

A word of caution. There will be a lot of information coming out via social media and secular media in the next few days. Please check your facts before sharing that information and remember that it isn’t over until it’s over. At the end of each day of conference there will be a daily wrap up sent out through the official United Methodist News Service. I will work to get the updates posted here so that you can see them. If you have any questions, please call, text or stop by the church. Jenny and I will do our best to answer all of your questions.

Remember too, that in the midst of all of this God still loves us, Jesus Christ still reigns at God’s right hand, and the Holy Spirit remains with us.