Kalispell 2014

Last week several of us had a chance to travel to Kalispell, Montana, for the annual assembly of the Pacific Northwest Mennonite Conference (38 congregations spread over six states). We don't get to see each other very often, so I always find it meaningful to hear the ways other congregations are living out the Gospel. As delegates we had some pretty candid conversations about the differences in our congregations and the commonalities that hold us together. Among the official business, we affirmed our own Brett Tieszen to be the conference Treasurer (replacing our own Harold Nussbuam, who finished his term). Pastor Samuel Moran, of Ministerios Restauracion (the Spanish-speaking Mennonite Church with whom we share our meetinghouse), was also affirmed as the Moderator-Elect. I've asked each of the delegates to write a short paragraph about their experience of the Assembly and we'll pass those on in the next week or two. And you can mark your calendar now for next year's conference in Lebanon, Oregon - June 19-20, 2015.

Last Sunday morning many of us joined Mountain View Mennonite Church for worship (and yes, they have a pretty terrific view of the mountains right outside their sanctuary). Then a number of us headed up to Glacier National Park for an afternoon hike. The picture above was taken at Avalanche Lake. The words of a Manley Hopkins poem kept looping through my head - 'He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change: Praise him!

Peace to you,
Rod Stafford