FROM EXECUTIVE MINISTER REV. MARCIA J. PATTON

             This summer it just seems like a number of different experiences came my way. August will be remembered as contrasts between memorial services (Marty Hendrickson and Al Harrington) and a dinner cruise (always fun), a boat tour of the Duwamish River, and intercultural work for seven days running!

Two memorial services were held in August for people ready to go. Although they weren’t all that close in age, Al being 92 and Marty a bit younger, both services were full of the integrity of both these fine people and stories of how they shared their wisdom and knowledge with others (although differently).  Both were Sunday School Teachers and had teachers’ hearts. Al made it his profession and so did Marty in her own way—life well-lived by them both. We are less for them having gone from our lives, but blessed because they were here.

Eighty people signed up for the dinner cruise. Although we were on a different level of the boat and it seemed like this year’s cruise was choppier and shorter than other years, we had a good time. Curtis Price shared with us his complement of “Evergreen” songs including his newest, “Pastor Robinson” and the Euro Caucus song, “Not So White”. We laughed and laughed and sang!

On Saturday, August 15 Clem Winbush and I joined a bunch of other faith-full folk on a boat tour of the Duwamish River. It was both enlightening and enjoyable, filled with facts and wildlife, concerns for work yet to be done, grateful for work done. This river is proof that if we put our minds, hearts and efforts together we can make a difference.

Then for the week of August 16-22 it was all about intercultural work. The first 5 days were spent with Eric Law and basic training in the Kaleidoscope Institute. I’m proposing to the Association Board that we become members of the Kaleidoscope Collective which will mean that one person can go to the Institute every year for free tuition. It will also make consultations cheaper as well.  As if that wasn’t enough, Janet Bennett, the developer of the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS), led trainings with the model on Friday. Then on Friday evening, all day Saturday and Sunday morning Janet spent more time with a small group of folk who know the DMIS to discuss uses and trainings. It was a full week with wonderful folk and all kinds of ideas and notions abounding.

In the midst of all this, the small committee on “Sacred Action” tried to meet. We agreed that we need a call to a specific action.  Although there may be many that may call us to some immediate situation, over the next while we need to do some concerted work around Immigration Reform. We don’t yet know whether we will have anything ready by the annual meeting, but will likely call for some dialogue on this subject, one that has “touched” all caucuses.

With all the various “doings” of the summer, I’m ready to face a Fall full of regular meetings, including the Annual Meeting. Hope to see you there!

Marcia