Dear Friends in Christ,

     Boy, that's an all-inclusive title, isn't it? May was a wonderful and busy month: Mother's Day, the Car Show, Weddings, Memorial Day Sunday with Air Force Major Patty Kim, just back from Afghanistan, and more. Just when we thought we could sit back and relax a bit, June has come rushing around the corner with lots of good stuff too! Honoring our Graduates, the convening of Annual Conference at Lake Junaluska, Father's Day, and lots of prayers for rain!

     We are, of course, proud of our graduates and will keep them in our prayers during this time of transition in their lives. So many of you have been instrumental in the shaping of their character and in establishing a good foundation for the rest of their lives.

     Annual Conference is held each year at Lake Junaluska, and every church in our conference sends a delegate along with the preacher to represent the interests and concerns of the local church. Mike Bostic will be representing you this year and Laura Gann will be attending as well. At Conference we have lots of dialogue about lots of things that touch upon the life of the church, and pastoral appointments are made (this time last year we were packing furiously to move to a place named Terrell . . .). We're so relieved not to be packing this year! It is important for us to pray for the delegates at Annual Conference, and to pray for both the clergy families and the congregations that will be experiencing pastoral change.

     This year at Annual Conference we will be electing delegates to attend the Jurisdictional and General Conferences in 2008. The Southeastern Jurisdicational Conference is where new Bishops are elected for our area, and the General Conference is the main authoritative gathering of United Methodists from around the world. It is at that Conference that any changes in church law, policy, or The Book of Discipline are made. So from this Annual Conference through next spring, the delegates we elect in June will be studying issues, meeting together, so they can prepare to faithfully and fully represent each of us at those two Conferences. So keep them all in your prayers.

     With summer coming on, many of our people will be traveling on vacation. Please be faithful to remember one another in prayer. And perhaps July will be a little less busy . . .

Yours in the Service of Christ and the Church,

Bob

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