Incline Our Hearts
How Good and Pleasant It Is
"How good and pleasant it is when kindred come together in unity" (Psalm 133:1)
It's time for our annual Diocesan Convention. I must admit, I enjoy our convention more than conventions in any other diocese I've served. Why? Here are my top ten reasons.
#10: The Learning. So many people work hard to offer a variety of workshops with practical takeaways for congregations of any size. One of our most important responsibilities as clergy and lay leaders is to continue to learn and grow.
#9: The Fun. Even with a busy schedule, there is time for fun activities, especially late Friday afternoon. You can't be out at camp and not have some play.
#8: The Food. St. Crispin's always feeds us well, especially Friday night.
#7: Efficient Business. I've been in some dioceses where the convention business takes more than a full day, sometimes with contentious resolutions and debates that accomplish little but leave everyone upset. I appreciate that we do the official business of convention well but efficiently, keeping a spirit of unity.
#6: The Vision. Although writing the Bishop's Address every year is one of the most labor-intensive things I do, I appreciate the opportunity to reflect on and share my sense of where we are as a diocese, and where God might be calling us to go.
#5: The Guest Speakers. The diocesan staff and I think carefully about whom to invite to preach at the convention Eucharist and give workshops. There are some "usual suspects" in the Episcopal Church, but we pride ourselves in identifying voices and perspectives that most of us will not have heard before, in alignment with our areas of mission focus.
#4: The Pictures. One of my favorite things about our convention is seeing the pictures of so many of our people from all around the diocese, often with big smiles. I love seeing our wonderful people.
#3: The Location. St. Crispin's is sacred ground for our diocese. Just being there, all together, keeps us rooted in our history and in God's beautiful creation. Richard and his team welcome us so warmly.
#2: The Worship. Convention Eucharist is one of the largest worship services in our diocese each year. With different styles of music, and just a bit of that "camp revival" spirit in the Pavilion, it is the symbolic gathering of our whole diocese to worship Almighty God.
#1: The Friendships. To be together in all of these ways, for worship, learning, fun, and food renews our old friendships and helps us make new ones. Christian friendship is the glue that holds our faith communities together, by God's grace.
How good and pleasant it is when we come together in unity, called by our God, and following our savior, Jesus.
Blessings,
Bishop Poulson
