No SALT on June 18: We’re Headed to Annual Conference

There will be no SALT gathering on Thursday, June 18, as many of us will be participating in the North Carolina Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church in Greenville.

Annual Conference is one of those uniquely Methodist things. It’s part worship service, part family reunion, part continuing education, and part business meeting. Over several days, clergy and lay members from across eastern North Carolina gather to pray, worship, celebrate ministries, remember saints who have gone before us, commission and ordain leaders, and make decisions that help shape our shared ministry. This year’s theme is “Serve Joyfully.”

John Wesley famously described Methodists as people who “watch over one another in love.” Annual Conference is one expression of that. It reminds us that SALT is not alone. We are part of something much larger—a connection of churches and communities seeking to follow Jesus and share God’s love in the world.

While we won’t gather in the little chapel on June 18, we invite you to pray for all who will be attending. Pray for wisdom, grace, holy conversations, and renewed energy for ministry. Pray for those being ordained and commissioned. Pray that we might continue to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously.

And don’t worry—we’ll be back together the following Thursday, June 25, for a very special evening.

Our guest speaker, Natalie Coe, will share reflections from her recent journey through the places where Jewish diarist and mystic Etty Hillesum lived, worked, and ultimately died during the Holocaust. Along with stories from her travels, Natalie will introduce us to Hillesum’s remarkable writings—words of faith, hope, and humanity that continue to inspire people around the world.

We look forward to seeing you then.

Grace and peace,

Pastor Gayle