I have just returned from the yearly gathering of United Methodists in St. Cloud. I have often wondered if the residents of this fine river city steel themselves against our arrival. "Must the the first week in June. Here come the Methodists!" they might say. Or perhaps, as is probably the case, we scoot under the radar like any other group that comes to the Convention Center. I hope that somehow an employee or two heard the fine singing that has been happening over the last three days. I also hope a few stuck their heads into the ballroom where we held worship and were stunned by the beauty of candles, banners, images and transformation from big-black-block-room to a kind of sacred space. 

This annual Conference is rather like a big full-blown family reunion which carries with it all the complexities of any family. All the differences of opinion, complicated relationships, outright arguments and hurt feelings show up. But also so do the warm, heart felt embraces, the smiles and laughter that come from shared experience, a common history that people remember and recount in different ways but mostly with a sense of deep love. It carries with it the fullness of what it means to be the church, warts and wonders for all to see. 

Last night we welcomed and celebrated those newly ordained to ministry. This service is always rich and glorious, full of memory and hope. The red fabrics and stoles associated with ordination and Holy Spirit, made the room where we worshiped feel as if it was on fire. And in some ways it was. The Spirit's presence moved through those who were ordained, their ministry an experience yet to be fully discovered. That same Spirit moved among the families, churches and friends of those who had worked so hard, so diligently over the last years. Pride and excitement filled each, often tear-stained face. The Spirit also danced above the heads of those who have been in ministry for a long time as knowing looks could be seen as those who have 'been there' watched those at this entry point be blessed in their journey. The entire service was, yet once again, one of those mountain top experiences in which we all can see one another as our 'best selves'…..perhaps as God sees us.

While this mountain top experience was fabulous, the high point for me came in the meeting where the clergy meet to affirm those to be ordained, memorialize those who have died this past year, and vote on several other things that keep us up to date with the institution. The high point came when one in our midst was asked to pray. Not an unusual thing except that he began his prayer:"Galactic God of grace……" I heard nothing after that naming. Galactic? Grace? In all the prayers I've ever heard(and there have been many), not once, has anyone every referred to the Holy as "Galactic". My mind was catapulted to the immensity of this Source of All and bounced right back toward my own small self. Here I was, here we all were, connected to this 'galactic' One and everything in between. Isn't is a staggering thought?

I am not sure if others in the circle heard this in the way that I did or not. I am also not sure if those newly blessed to be hearers, speakers, doers and be-ers of God's word, in other words 'clergy', heard the enormity of this address either. But if they did, they must have realized that what they are signing on for is a life bigger than anything they can imagine. It will take knowing, no matter how poorly or how brilliantly they have done their work, at the end of the day they are loved in an unconditional way by the God who birthed the immense galaxies and them. And who holds both in eternal grace. 

From experience I can say, it is a message that will come in handy.