Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference (Signature Stole)

ILLINOIS GREAT RIVERS ANNUAL CONFERENCE

United Methodist Church

Words of Hope from The Lion King:

"Simba, let me tell you something that my father told me.  Look at the stars. The great kings of the past look down on us from those stars. So whenever you feel alone, just remember that those kings will always be there to guide you - and so will 1."

How we need our community to support us!

This stole represents the thousands of witnesses to the fully inclusive church – those who currently are working for full inclusion and those who have gone before us.

With each signature, we reflect the light from the stars, answering, sometimes awkwardly, and sometimes clearly, the love we have for each who has had to make a choice – stay or leave.

And for those who had no choice – those who were asked to leave – the love we have for the courage it took to try to make a difference.

When you look up at the stars, try to remember the ones who are no longer with us, those whom God called to minister to the church.

May we find hope in messages written on this stole that they will tell of the support and the hope we have that one day the United Methodist Church will truly live the message of Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.

And so it is.

Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference
June 2008