Paraclete Staff Conference

 

Paraclete associates, staff and board members gathered for the first time in 30 months in late April. Periodic gatherings are a part of our accountability structure at Paraclete. We are so diverse in our ministries and residences that gatherings are essential to the spiritual health of the community.

Our venue was Glorieta Adventure Camps, which sounds like it might be too energetic for a group our our age! But it was actually a relaxing time for most. (Shelly was in charge of the four MKs who attended, so there was little relaxing for her!) 

My opening message to the group was titled, Called Close, which is what was going on at the conference -- close to the Lord and close to each other -- and also is a pretty good literal translation of the Greek word paraclete. Read the whole message: Called Close

Spring in northern New Mexico was delightful -- except for the smoke. Several major wildfires were burning while we were there, and the smoke got really bad in the afternoons. We were never in danger of the flames.

Glen and Shelly at Glorieta

We dedicated a couple of days to pure retreat and fellowship. Bill and Kristi Gualtiere, of Soul Shepherding, were our leaders for that part of the event. It was a great time of slowing down and reconnecting that we missed during the pandemic. Unfortunately, the pandemic made clear that it was not finished with us. One person got sick during the conference, and 19 of the 84 attendees came down with COVID-19 the week after the retreat (including Shelly). So far, I haven't heard anyone but me call this one "The COVID Retreat," and thankfully, no one was seriously ill or hospitalized. 

One family stayed behind after the conference to get a better price on return airfare. Chris, the husband, has done relief work, and when New Mexico named Glorieta Camp an evacuation location for those displaced by the fire, he was appointed "Incident Commander" for the evacuation effort. In His timing!