Reflections from the Windy City

Hello from Chicago!


This week I am in Chicago attending the School on Congregational Development sponsored by the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church and it has been a great conference so far. I wanted to share with you a little of what I have experienced so far this week!


On Sunday evening we convened and were greeted by a wonderful worship service with Bishop Schwerin of the Northern Illinois Conference! On Monday, activities really began with worship and an opening plenary series! I also attended a workshop, Intentional Discipleship Systems and Community Engagement in which we discussed congregational cultures and how congregations can discover new ways to engage communities. 


On Tuesday morning, I attended another workshop with Kristopher Sledge on Dreaming, Embodying, and Leading a Young, Diverse, and Inclusive Church and it really challenged me to ask how we at St. Stephen’s can engage a younger community and build relationships with younger generation of progressives within the Norman community! It has been a great conference so far and I am really feeling my spirit reinvigorated and refreshed. I am eager to share some of what I learned from SCD with all of you and really have a discussion for how we move into the future. 


By the way! I did sneak off for a little and caught the Cubbies at Wrigley Field, wasn’t their night as they fell to the Twins 3-0! But still a lot of fun at a historic field!


Shalom

Patrick

  

 

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