Grace to you and peace from God whose love overflows in creation and from our savior, Jesus Christ.
 
I send you warm greetings in these days as the summer draws to a close and the early hints of the beautiful fall colors begin to appear.  In nature the fall is a season of fruition and culmination, as the crops ripen for harvest and the seeds for the future are collected or fall and are scattered.  In the church, the fall is often the season of beginnings, as programs that took a bit of a rest in the summer return to the schedule, and folks who have been away for many weekends are home again and coming to worship.
 
I pray that this fall will be rich time of renewal for your congregation and its ministry.  May it be a time to invite new people to come and worship with you and to grow in Christ with your community of faith.  May worship life and learning opportunities find new life and new patterns of service emerge and give energy to your ministry.  Don't ever lose sight of the reality that God has need of your church, large or small, and the Holy Spirit is at work, right now, to bring hope and vision to your work in Christ's service and to offer blessing.
 
The Associations and the Wisconsin Conference program also takes on a renewed energy in the fall, with many programs and services to support your church's ministry.  This "Wisconsin Conference Life" will give you an idea of the many places you can connect to the wider church's ministries.
 
The Lay Academy will offer several new programs this year, including a new cycle in Youth Ministry leadership.  The other big news for Lay Academy is that there will be several classes offered in a web seminar format.  You can learn from some of the best teachers in the UCC right in your home or church fellowship hall!
 
We'll celebrate the 500th anniversary of the famous Reformer, John Calvin, with a seminar at Pilgrim Center on November 2.  Clergy and laity are invited to learn of the importance of Calvin's thinking to the church today.
 
Speaking of  Pilgrim Center, on Sunday, September 3, we will dedicate the new Ralph P and Ruth Ley Chapel, built through gifts to the Trost/Ley Special Gifts Campaign.  I've just spent three days at Pilgrim, and the chapel is beautiful, and this dedication service, at 3:00 PM, will give you a chance to greet Ruth Ley and her family and to say thanks for the Ley's many gifts of leadership to our Conference.
 
These are only a few of the opportunities for you and your church to participate.  Our four Associations have many additional programs where you can meet people from other churches and learn and grow together.  I hope you'll take part, and I trust that this fall season will be a time of blessing for you and your congregation.
 
Much joy and great hope to you all.
David Moyer-Conference Minister