Fall Meeting of the Metro and Suffolk Associations
New York Conference, United Church of Christ

Saturday, November 19, 2005

Garden City Community Church
245 Stewart Avenue
Garden City, NY 11030

Flutist Lana Noone set the scene for meditation with Bach's "Sonata for Flute Alone".

As the bright sun shown on the Saturday before Thanksgiving 2005, we gathered in Gardner Hall of Garden City Community Church for the Fall Meetings of the Metro and Suffolk Associations.

Host pastor James W. Adelmann welcomed us. Regional Conference Minister Michael Caine urged us to try new things as we seek to be "The Resurrection People". "As you go through this day," he said, "listen with your whole heart. Try to look beyond the words you hear. See if you can 'connect' with what is really being conveyed."

Metro Vice Moderator Peg Mainusch asked us to light the candles in the center of our tables as we turned to the "retreat mode" of the morning's activities. Lana Noone of the Garden City Community Church inspired those gathered with her playing from Bach's "Sonata for Flute Alone".

A speaking Choir reminded us "God Is Still Speaking"

A Speaking Choir gave a rousing presentation which encouraged us to "Come on over to our house where God is Still Speaking." "You are welcome here, where God is Still Speaking."

Ann Van Cleef led us in prayer.

Dianne Rodriguez and Nancy Schaffer led the meditation on Ecclesiastes 3.

Nancy Schaffer, Dianne Rodriguez and Jane Ann Groom led us in a spirituality exercise where we were asked to move from a time of busyness to a time of stillness, a time when we can JUST BE. Noting that spirituality is the movement of God's spirit within us, Nancy reminded us we must be still to hear that spirit. She concluded by reading from Ecclesiastes 3 - "For everything there is a season, a time for every matter under heaven."

Participants at each table created a montage.

Reported by Lucy Werner