Submitted by Erna Gobbett
Members of the United Church Boundary Pastoral Charge, Perley Memorial, Christina Lake, St. John’s United, Grand Forks, and St. Columba, Greenwood, attended the Epiphany Exploration Conference 2015 hosted by the First Metropolitan United Church in Victoria, on Jan. 22-25.
Three hundred fifty people from across Canada and the United States attended to listen to 10 speakers during the four days. Present also was the past United Church moderator, Rev. Lois Wilson, and present moderator, Rev. Gary Paterson.
Inspiring music was by composer and musician Ron Klusmeier and two choirs directed by musicians and composer Brian Tate and Fran Pellet, music director at Metropolitan.
Rev. Barbara Langton, minister in the Boundary from 1978-83, organized a Special Needs singing group. Rev. Allan Saunders, lead minister of the Metropolitan, was also the leader of the conference with Clarise Dillman as chair, a huge undertaking.
We were reminded that the United Church of Canada is turning 90 in June.
The groups was proud to represent the Kootenay region. The conference was unforgettable and uplifting. All are invited to presentations coming soon.