This afternoon the second and final day of the 2007 General Assembly of the Central Pacific Conference of the United Church of Christ ended as it began: with worship.  The Rev. John Thomas and The Rev. M. Linda Jaramillo presided over the communion table.  Communion, for those not familiar with the UCC, is one of the two sacraments we practice.  From the UCC website:

In the sacrament of Holy Communion, also called the Lord's Supper or Eucharist, meaning "thanksgiving," Christians hear, taste, touch and receive the grace of God revealed through Jesus Christ in a unique way. Communion is:

• a joyous act of thanksgiving for all God has done, is doing, and will do for the redeeming of creation;
• a sacred memorial of the crucified and risen Christ, a living and effective sign of Christ's sacrifice in which Christ is truly and rightly present to those who eat and drink;
• an earnest prayer for the presence of the Holy Spirit to unite those who partake with the Risen Christ and with each other, and to restore creation, making all things new;
• an intimate experience of fellowship in which the whole church in every time and place is present and divisions are overcome;
• a hopeful sign of the promised Realm of God marked by justice, love and peace.

During the day delegates from UCC congregations across Oregon and Idaho attend workshops and Rev. Thomas (pictured here along side The Rev. John Gantt, CPC interim minister) spent several hours talking with delegates about the future of the denomination and both of the problems and opportunities we face as a church.  Delegates also adopted a resolution on global debt relief (more here) and offered blessings for all those attending the UCC General Synod in June.  We also had the chance to thanks those who have served on the many different conference committees and our board.  I think all of us who attended return to our churches tomorrow renewed to do God's work.