By Dawn Taloyo, Associate Superintendent, PacNWC
What a gift to be at Midwinter this year. For those who are unaware, Midwinter is our annual gathering of Covenant ministers, most often occurring in Chicago, where we have the opportunity to share interests and ideas, encourage and be encouraged, reflect and be inspired, laugh, and relax. Last year’s in-person gathering was canceled, and many weren’t sure if this year’s conference would or should happen. Personally, it was a struggle deciding whether to go, but I’m glad I did. While not the same (I’ve heard 50% of normal attendance), it was an incredible time of worship, inspiration, and challenge as we engaged the theme “Mission through the Mosaic.” I encourage you to check out the sessions that are available on the ECC YouTube channel. We ended up having approximately 70 colleagues from the PacNWC in attendance, and it was wonderful to connect with so many of them.
I particularly loved and commend to you the Wednesday morning session with Sandra Maria Van Opstal, who addressed Acts 15, a passage I’ve preached on many times. She invited us to use our theological imagination and consider some aspects of this text that I had not considered before. Very challenging.
You’ll definitely want to check out our own kahuna Pastor Jim Sequeira, pastor of Cascade View Covenant Church in Vancouver, WA, and his personal and engaging story-telling during the Thursday morning worship service. Thank you, Uncle Jim! So grateful for you!
Another highlight was the Spanish Worship Service sponsored by ALIPE, which I admittedly attended for the first time this year. We had a whole row of us from the PacNWC! Since I do not speak or understand Spanish, I wore a headset for the English translation. It was difficult to hear given the joyous volume of the worship leader and participants, nevertheless a great experience. And, a hoot, as the translator couldn’t help but sing the translated lyrics.
Checking in with my conference team and a sample of pastors, I’ve only heard positive remarks. There was such a sense of “we needed this.” Admittedly, there was commiserating and lament as we shared losses and challenges, but there was also mutual encouragement and care; a resonant sense that we are ‘in it together.’
To our churches: Thank you for encouraging and supporting your pastors in their participation in this annual event. It is so important to our health as clergy and our connectedness as a denomination.
And pastors, I know many of you were unable to attend or felt this was not the year. We all hope and pray that circumstances will be different next year. And a little something to look forward to, if you didn’t catch the announcement –