UCCNY Crossroads: Off to Grand Rapids...Almost!

So, it's almost time to head off to Grand Rapids for General Synod 27. Of course, many people are already on their way. The UCCNY Bike Challenge cyclists (Michael Caine and many others) started last week. Hopefully, they've at least crossed over the Ohio border into Michigan by now. I also hope that the beautiful weather that we are experiencing in Central New York today has replaced the torrential rains of last week for them.

Geoffrey Black left for Synod today. Others are going to various Pre-Synod events. Marian Shearer is attending the GLBT Coalition event. David Felton flew out today. Most of our delegates along with Carol Giordano are flying out tomorrow. I'm driving. I'm taking out the audio/visual equipment with me. Better than renting it from our hotel.

This Synod will be a special event. We'll have the chance to vote for Geoffrey as the next General Minister and President of the UCC! Wow!

We'll celebrate those from out midst who will be lifted up as Honored Lay Women. Mona Arnold from East Side Congregational, Binghamton (Susquehanna), Dorothy Gist from St. Albans, Queens (Metro), and Jean Golden from Mountain Rise, Fairport (GVA) will be honored at one of the luncheons.

Please pray for Geoffrey, Mona, Dorothy and Jean. Also please pray for the UCCNY Delegates from the Upstate Region Association: Patty Farr and John Werley (Black River/St. Lawrence); Anne Hurd (Essex); Wayne Fuhrman, Margot Phillips and Al Twyman (HMA); Ashley Clarke, Sue Gibson and Jim Turturro (Oneida); and David Heckman, Ann Withers and Peter Wright (Susquehanna).

On another tack here are some tidbits from various events in which I have been involved since the UCCNY Annual Meeting at Silver Bay.

First, here is a slideshow of the Annual Meeting that I've also posted on Facebook and Flowing Streams. In case you haven't seen the photos here they are:

Last Saturday folks from our churches in Ithaca, Liverpool, Phoenix, Syacuse, and Mattydale represented the New York Conference at the 2009 Pride Parade in Syracuse. The rain didn't dampen the spirits of the participants. Here are some photos from the event. (Thanks to J.K. Boodley for his photos.)

Finally, after the Annual Meeting our guests from the Evangelical Church in Hessen and Nassau visited churches in GVA, Oneida and Susquehanna for a couple of days. They all gathered at the Conference Office for lunch on June 10. Then Clare Price, David Heckman and I drove them to JFK for their flight home. Everyone reported wonderful visits and exchanges in the churches. Before they left they gathered for photos on the front steps of the Conference Office. And, they sang to us. Here are the photos of our luncheon along with the closing song.