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Archive > Moving forward
Eastern Virginia Association Extravagantly Welcomes Metro Denver Association
By JoAnne Bogart
On the occasion of the Ordination of Rev. Amelia Richardson Dress, the
Metro Denver Association enjoyed an extravagant welcome from a sibling
association two thousand miles away. Amelia Richardson Dress, a student
In Care of Metro Denver Association, recently graduated with the M. Div.
Degree from Union Seminary in Richmond, Virginia. She successfully passed
her Ecclesiastical Council in July at First Congregational UCC in Boulder,
CO - the church where she is a member. She received a Call to serve the
Berea Christian UCC in Suffolk, VA as Associate Minister for Children's
Ministries. Amelia's husband, Abe, is stationed in Norfolk with the US
Navy and they live in nearby Newport News.
The question then arose about the location of Amelia's Ordination. Normally,
it would be scheduled for the church where she holds her membership,
First Congregational UCC in Boulder. But that church is presently engaged
in a building project and the sanctuary is stripped bare. Amelia's home
church building in Newcastle, CO has been sold while that congregation
prepares to build a new sanctuary. So, in consultation with the MDA Ministry
Council and the Eastern Virginia Association of the UCC, Amelia decided
to have her Ordination in the church to which she has been called. Delightful
conversations ensued between the Interim Minister, Rev. Sallye Hardy;
the E. Va. Association Minister, Rev. Drew Morris; Amelia's In Care Advisor,
Rev. Harriott Quin and MDA Registrar, Rev. JoAnne Bogart. We were delighted
to learn that this would be the first ordination ever to be held in the
life of this 158 year old congregation. What a special gift Amelia gave
to this church who called her to minister with them!
The E. Va. Folks helped Amelia plan her Ordination Service and stayed
in close contact with Metro Denver Association. The Revs Bogart and Quin
were both eager to travel to Virginia for the occasion. Berea Christian
offered housing in the old parsonage, recently converted to Church Offices.
They had wisely decided to maintain the master bedroom and bath for visitors,
and Harriott enjoyed their southern hospitality in that lovely space
next door to the church. Special funds and donated frequent flier miles
made the trip possible without taxing the association.
Ordination Day arrived - September 24, 2006. Harriott preached the sermon
for morning worship; JoAnne read the scriptures. At 4 o'clock, the Eastern
Virginia Association arrived for the Ordination Celebration. Eastern
Virginia began the celebration with the Rev. Larry Diehl, Senior Minister
from First United Church of Hampton, VA preaching. Musicians from that
church offered joyful selections as did the choir of Berea. When the
time came for the Ordination Service, Harriott and JoAnne took over leadership,
and conducted the Ordination Service on behalf of the Metropolitan Denver
Association. All present gathered at the front of the lovely sanctuary
to lay on hands, MDA style. At the close of the service, Amelia's Transfer
of Standing paperwork was handed over to E.Va. Registrar, Drew Morris,
for their completion of her Transfer. The folks of the Berea Church then
presented us all with a magnificent reception that lasted into the early
evening.
Harriott felt particularly blessed to have the opportunity to follow
through to the end with her journey with Amelia as her Advisor. JoAnne
enjoyed the feeling that comes with cooperation between associations
of the United Church of Christ. Even though our churches are 2,000 miles
apart, it felt as if we were at home with family. We were wrapped and
re-wrapped with southern hospitality from start to finish. We were honored
to meet the folks that comprise this part of the UCC family and we enjoyed
a most extravagant welcome, that is fast becoming the hallmark of our
beloved denomination.
– JoAnne Bogart is the Registrar for the Metropolitan Denver
Association UCC
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