Today the New England Conference Staff visited Vermont to present their "Mission in a New Day" workshops. The two workshops I attended were titled, "Doing What Needs to be Done" and "Being Mission." Both highlighted the importance of local and global mission to our personal, spiritual and congregational health.

The focus on mission was apt in light of the recent tragedy in Haiti. Churches are, perhaps, focused more on outreach now as we seek to minister to the hurting in whatever ways we can. Whether our churches are small or large, we remember that we can all do something to love those who struggle and offer hope to the hopeless.

Coincidentally, in my reading this week I came across this quote from Parker Palmer. Palmer affirms, "The mission of the church is not to enlarge it's membership, not to bring outsiders to accept it's terms, but simply to love the world in every possible way...If we are able to love the world, that will be the best demonstration of the truth which the church has been given."

Do I hear an Amen??