Articles

Conference Minister’s Corner Associate Conference Minister, Linda Hirst, 7.15.26 While driving my youngest son and a couple of his friends to Pilgrim Lodge for a Middle Schooler week (Pilgrim Lodge is Maine’s counterpart to Horton Center), they were excitedly talking about camp and who they’d see again and all the great stuff they were going to do. I said something like, “You guys really like PL don’t you...” And all three laughed and said, "Yep! At Pilgrim Lodge we’re the c

Conference Minister’s Corner Conference Minister, Gordon Rankin, 7.8.26 One morning watch last week at Horton Center, I had a fascinating conversation with a group of middle school students about bravery and courage. We were discussing the biblical story of Queen Esther. You may recall that Esther was asked by her cousin, Mordecai, to speak up for the imperiled Jewish community. Mordecai even suggested that perhaps Esther rose to her royal position for “just such a time as th

Conference Minister's Corner Rev. Linda Hirst, Acting Associate Conference Minister 07.01.2026 There is a brown leaf hanging on a tree outside our window. It has been hanging there for over a month while all around it the other brown leaves have dropped and been replaced by new green leaves. This leaf is not moving. It will not let go. It is hanging on for dear life. Clearly it doesn't like change (and yes, I am projecting feelings onto a leaf). Not many people like change.