M.T.S.O. & the Blessed Connexion

I just returned home from a great few days at the Methodist Theological School...where I went to seminary. It was a great experience as I attended the Schoolar Institute for Preaching...and Dr. Marjorie Suchocki was there as the guest speaker.

The topic was using film to preach the Gospel. It was a good conference and a chance to see many of the people I went to seminary with. The neatest moments were during meal times as many of us who graduated together all gathered around one table to share in food and fellowship. We reminisced about times spent in class and in the dorms. We sought to learn more about each other's ministries and family life.

As we joined together to eat, I was reminded of a couple of things. First, how often Jesus gathered with people around the table. There were many times that he would gather with his friends, new and old, to join in food and fellowship. I was also reminded of John Wesley's insistence in being connected with one another...the Blessed Connexion. As United Methodists, we are called to be in contact with each other. Doing this helps us to support each other and share ideas with one another.

As I left today, it was with some sadness as none of us knows exactly when we'll all be together again. But we left in the hopes that we will continue to keep in touch and we look forward to seeing each other again very soon.