Dr. Christine Dodson and Rev. Dr. Belton Joyner gave an official welcome to North Carolina and our annual conference to Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton and her husband, Rev. Dr. Joey Shelton, along with their daughters, Bailey and Jessica. Rev. Joyner reminded the Conference of the hope found in this time of the UMC. He prayed for the Bishop and her family and pledged the Annual Conference’s support and prayer to undergird her ministry among us.
Worship and song was woven into our work Thursday afternoon. We are grateful for the music ministry of Paul Saik of Centenary UMC in New Bern, as well as choir members and musicians from churches around the Conference.
Rev. Sam Kiley, associate pastor from Church on Morgan, shared a spoken word which challenged us to think about church membership as being someone who welcomes. Jesus invites us to be where He is and to share God’s goodness and welcome with others.
Bishop Shelton picked up on this theme of welcome in her sermon, focused on John 17, and shared a story of when she and Joey had their car break down on I-40. Someone drove by with a speaker attached to their vehicle and yelled, “Jesus loves you” to them. The bishop said, “We already knew that Jesus loves us. We needed someone who loves Jesus to come and help us.” The bishop asked us, “How do people know Jesus through us?”
Bishop Shelton reminded us that in this season of division to go forth from one another in peace. We must let go and trust even in our division. No matter what, we are held together in Jesus. Sanctifying grace helps us to let go of what was and to go forward into what we are becoming.
Lament is healthy. Nostalgia is deceptive.
Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton
Speaking of nostalgia, the bishop’s daughters went to a benefit concert put on by folks from the TV show, One Tree Hill. Bailey chose an unusual souvenir, a welcome mat with a quote from the show appropriate for us in the church, “Somebody told me that this is the place where everything’s better and everything’s safe.” God is known by our acts of piety and mercy. Are we willing to be welcome mats and place ourselves where Jesus is to help folks live better and safe lives?
As this section of the day drew to a close, Josiah Curry, a young man from Piney Grove UMC, joined the bishop in singing, “I Just Want To Be Where You Are.” We are invited to be where people are in our communities because that is where we find God already at work.