Today is our first day of ministry together in the Missouri Mid-South Conference! Woohoo! This is a day that many of us have been preparing for and praying about for many months and even years. Words cannot begin to describe how honored I was to receive your affirmation of our ministry together.

One of the memories I will cherish forever is the sound of all of us singing the doxology after you elected me as your next Conference Minister. I heard a harmony of voices and words that expressed our collective doxology. This is how we begin our ministry together - giving praise to the Holy One with our unique voices and theologies, which create a beautiful expression of music. Worship. Our ministry together reflects our worship of God's image created and lived within each of us as the Missouri Mid-South!

            As you read this on Tuesday morning, I am in Memphis. When I was interviewing with the search committee, they asked me what I planned to do on my first day if I were to become your Conference Minister. Rather than share my plans of unpacking my boxes in my new office or meeting with the MMS Conference Staff, I shared the first thought that came to my spirit (which even to me seemed a bit outside-of-the-box): I would visit the 3 UCC churches in Memphis. There's no better way to get to know all areas of the Missouri Mid-South Conference than to hit the ground running by visiting different churches and ministers in the conference. On behalf of all of you, I will bring a warm Missouri Mid-South greeting to our UCC churches in Memphis! Woohoo!