Articles

Conference Minister Rev. Gordon Rankin 9.9.26 “Sculpting every move you compose a symphony. You plead to everyone, ‘see the art in me’”. These are lyrics from the chorus of the song Art in Me by the Christian Contemporary Musicians, Jars of Clay. For eleven years now, I have been part of a Community of Practice with other Conference Minister colleagues. It has been the same Community of Practice though some folks have gone and others have come. There are so many things this

Conference Minister Rev. Gordon Rankin 9.2.26 Twenty-four years ago, I spent a week of my summer serving as a chaplain at Silver Lake Conference Center. Usually, I preferred to serve as a dean. However, that particular summer, my wife and I were at the point in our adoption process that I needed the flexibility in schedule that being a chaplain allowed. During my week as a chaplain, I became particularly well acquainted with a young girl named Jess. Jess was in one of our..

Acting Associate Conference Minister Rev. Linda Hirst 08.26.26 I used to imagine retiring to western NC. My family is in Hendersonville, and I love everything about it there: the mountains, the rivers, and the slower life (which I’m sure I'm imagining). I have shared my thoughts with Brad, whose response has been decidedly lukewarm. While he loves that part of the country, he is hesitant about moving, and it’s all because of this one thing: community. We’ve lived in Maine

Conference Minister’s Corner Conference Minister, Gordon Rankin, 8.19.26 This past Sunday, I told an old story as the invitation to gather for the Sacrament of Communion. Sometimes as worship leaders, we end up needing to be multitaskers. This is definitely true when preparing for communion. Often, we are folding up napkins and removing covers while trying to sing along to the communion hymn. One’s focus can be split during these times. I remember this one time when we were

Conference Minister’s Corner Acting Associate Conference Minister, Linda Hirst, 8.12.26 I learned some new slang/phrases while hanging out with a bunch of middle school kids at Horton Center. “Low key," "strat," and "trust." While I sort of got the gist of them, it did take me a while. “Low key” seemed to mean "seriously," though AI says it means “admitting a true feeling without a lot of emotion," like…I low-key like him (I guess). I heard “strat” while playing 9 square. On

Conference Minister’s Corner Acting Associate Conference Minister, Linda Hirst, 7.29.26 I have a collection of rocks. It’s not a great collection; just some random rocks from places I have visited over the years. Rocks from Nova Scotia. A rock from Scotland while hiking. Even plain old rocks along the beach here in York, Maine. I use these rocks from time to time as sermon illustrations, devotions, children’s messages, and on women’s retreats (I bet you have too.) They hold d