Conference Minister's Corner 6.24.26
- Matt Alighieri
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
Conference Minister's Corner
Rev. Gordon Rankin, Conference Minister
6.24.26
Sabbatical Announcement
Our Conference Minister, Rev. Gordon Rankin, will be using the remainder of the sabbatical time he started in 2024 early next year. Gordon’s sabbatical leave will be January 6 to February 16, 2027. The Rev. Deborah Blood has agreed to serve as a half-time Sabbatical Bridge Conference Minister to assist Rev. Linda Hurst with the ministry needs of the Conference while Gordon is away. Some more details about Gordon’s sabbatical leave will be shared in the fall.
Reminders of Caring
Today, there are a lot of aspects to ministry that are hard. But some of the simple parts of being in church are still some of the most impactful. We pray with and for one another. We remain present to one another throughout life’s ups and downs. And we persistently show each other how much we care.
This week I was reminded how impactful such things can be.
Last November, the Southern New England Conference announced that 2026 would be the last summer they would operate Silver Lake Camp in Sharon, Connecticut. What Silver Lake’s future will be is still a matter of ongoing discernment. Nonetheless, as you might guess, those who have connected with Silver Lake over its 69-year ministry are feeling a whole mix of emotions.
As a sibling camp, the Horton Center community has felt this as well. And we wanted to be a church for the Silver Lake community. Throughout the spring our deans, summer staff, and many of the folks who attended our Horton Center Souper Saturday event made prayer flags for the Silver Lake community. On Monday, which was the first full day of camp at both Horton Center and Silver Lake, I was able to deliver and install those prayer flags in the Social Hall (dining hall) at Silver Lake. They will surround all the Silver Lake staff, volunteers, and campers as they gather for meals all summer long. They are visible reminders that the Horton Center community’s love, care, and prayers are surrounding the Silver Lake community during this tender season.
Yes, sometimes the simple parts of being in church are the most impactful.
Gordon