Many of us United Methodists know that June has come as we’re preparing for the session of our Annual Conference. This year, the California-Pacific Conference will meet mostly in-person for the first time in three years. And we will be led by our new bishop, Dottie Escobedo-Frank. How wonderful it will be to gather with friends and colleagues to give thanks and to lean into God’s future—clergy and laity together.

To last year’s theme of “Ending Physical and Spiritual Hunger,” Bishop Dottie has added the word “Nourish.” Nourish God’s people—body, mind, and spirit. How well that fits our focus here at First UMC Santa Monica across these last months. Our community Conversations after worship have been opportunities for fellowship and to share our experiences, hopes and dreams about how we are in mission and how we nurture our spirits and deepen our faith.

We are grateful for the worship, music and prayer life of our community of faith which nourishes us—bringing peace, comfort, healing and hope. We are grateful for all the ways we nourish God’s people across the wider community and around the world in service and mission, especially those we have celebrated during our May Month of Service. And this month we will again rejoice to award scholarships to our students, nourishing their amazing minds and deepening their faith and rootedness in the community of faith.

Nourish—body, mind, and soul. Let’s keep going deep and reaching wide. The Spirit is sending us power, light, love and hope.

Rev. Patricia Farris
Senior Minister