Happy Summer, St. Lukers,

Greetings from Lake Junaluska, NC, where the Southeast Jurisdiction of the UMC has gathered for their quadrennial meeting.

Every four years, United Methodist delegations of clergy and laity representing Annual Conferences from Florida to Virginia and over to Mississippi gather to elect and appoint Bishops, nominate people to serve on UM Boards and agencies, and settle budgets for the large geographic area known as the Southeast. Florida was represented by 28 clergy and lay delegates, including 4 from St. Luke’s.

This year, the meeting had little to vote on. It was a week of learning, particularly regarding our history of racial injustice in the Methodist church of the South. The creation of jurisdictions was organized in the South, including the creation of the Central Jurisdiction for African Americans, as a way to stay segregated in the 1930’s. We learned not only the sordid history that calls us toward repentance for the past but new practices to increase our ability to listen, practice empathy, change structures steeped in the biases of this world, and how to move forward in new ways together that truly reflect inclusion for all people.

I’m proud to be a part of a denomination that, in these times, is willing to “do the work” it takes to face our past in truth and seek to rectify injustice for the present and future. In a culture that seeks to erase history, we can’t change the world without changing our hearts.  This is the importance of this sermon series about self-care and learning what it means to truly love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  We cannot do the qualitative work of battling injustices that divide us until we are personally centered and grounded in expressions of love of self and our belovedness so we can express our love of God and others.

I pray you are reading along with us the book Four Gifts by April Yamasaki as we move through this series. Jad will be bringing our message this week on how to care for our Spiritual centered in our Soul. Galatians 5:22 – 23 and will focus on those fruits of the Spirit that spiritual disciplines and love of God produce in and through us:  love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  These are the fruits so needed in our culture today, don’t you think? Join your clergy and leaders for worship on Sunday on campus or online.

Can’t wait to see U on Sunday because it’s not St. Luke’s without U!

Jenn

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