We had a great turnout at the 2018 Winter Convocation which was held at Kalahari Resort and Convention Center on February 2-3. More than 370 people attended from 52 of our parishes. Heidi Kim, the Episcopal Church's Staff Officer for Racial Reconcilation, kicked off the event on Friday evening focusing on "Becoming Beloved Community: the Episcopal Church's Long Term Commitment to Racial Healing, Reconciliation, and Justice." As Heidi discussed in her presentation, the plan states "Becoming Beloved Community represents not so much a set of programs as a journey, a set of interrelated commitments around which we as Episcopalians may organize our many efforts to respond to racial injustice and grow a community of reconcilers, justice-makers, and healers. As you continue to read about this strategic vision, we encourage you to imagine a labyrinth. On the road toward reconciliation and healing, we move around corners and double back into quadrants we have indeed visited before, each time discovering a fresh revelation or challenge …" The four interrelated commitments are: Telling the Truth, Proclaiming the Dream, Repairing the Breach, and Practicing the Way of Love. Attendees were then led through a lively musical worship by Ana Hernandez, an accomplished music leader and performer. People sang with each other, to each other, and even in rounds. Ana's lively presence brought a great energy to all who participated. On Saturday morning, participants gathered to celebrate Holy Eucharist as a community. Everyone then moved onto morning workshops that focused on topics such as prayer through the ancient practice of walking a labyrinth, ways to use music to empower congregational singing during worship, lay leadership in the church, and how to work towards preventing sex trafficking. During this time, youth and children had the opportunity to engage in activities regarding "Becoming Beloved Community" that were tailored to their age groups. Lunch followed the morning workshops which also allow community and conversation. For those interested, Table Topic Conversations were made available for discussion about: Making the Most of Flocknote, After Your 200, Bellwether Farm, and Creating a Lay Pastoral Team. During the break, many individuals visited the exhibit tables, including a new addition which was selling Bellwether Farm merchandise. (This merchandise is available to purchase online at the new Bellwether Farm website: bellwetherfarm.com. The shop link is located at the top of the page.) Convocation then resumed with afternoon workshops that included presentations about liturgical art, rethinking community outreach, Daughters of the King, the refugee crisis, and more. It was an opportunity for people to come together from across the diocese and become engaged and inspired with ideas and information to help us move forward into the future together. Photos can be found on our social media pages as well as on our website, dohio.org. Save the date for next year: February 1-2, 2019. We look forward to celebrating with you again!