What a delightful lunch that was, after church on Sunday. The children of "Big Air" had invited guests of "a certain age" to share a simple meal of soup and biscuits. (Big Air is the mission-based children's program that runs during our second service.) Handmade placemats graced the tables and the happy buzz of dozens of conversations filled the room. The children had spent weeks preparing for this event, their program and learning based on Proverbs 16:31: "Gray hair is a crown of splendour, it is attained by a righteous life."

Everyone brought some of his or her favourite candy to share along with stories of childhoods long past or presently lived. Boys were enthralled by tales of schoolrooms equipped with "the strap." A little girl frowned sceptically at the description of Sunday afternoons circa 1920, the only permitted activities being reading and napping. It was difficult to tell who was having more fun: the children or the grandmas and grandpas.

The generation gap, the multi generation gap, was bridged. Maybe there is something here for all of us to learn.

In his regular column on youth ministry Andrew Hyde makes some critical observations on how destructive it is to our faith community when labels are attached to people, assigning them to this camp or that group. Ideas or contributions are then dismissed based on the label. The interview with the new moderator, the Right Reverend David Giuliano, also points up the impoverishment of our congregations and our denomination when people only talk with and to the people with whom they are in agreement.

You know those sticky labels you get at meetings? The ones you put your name on before affixing to your shirt? I can think of at least three shirts I have ruined by neglecting to remove the label before the shirt went in the wash. That's the minor reason as to why I hate labels. The major reason is, well, I just don't like to be labelled. I've been annoyed when, upon introducing myself, I've had people say, "Oh, a United Church minister," spoken with either tones of disdain or condolence. Likewise, there have been instances in United Church circles when my connection to Fellowship Magazine has been a conversation killer. In one instance an invitation to speak at a conference was withdrawn when, in the interest of fairness, I described myself as "more on the evangelical or conservative side of the theological spectrum of the United Church." See? I don't like labels even when I get to devise them myself.

Dialogue, debate, even disagreement is surely preferable to a yawning chasm stretched between groups who intentionally, even defiantly, remain separated from one another. At Fellowship Magazine, we consider it a privilege to contribute to the dialogue of differing viewpoints that is essential to our life together.

May you find in this issue some things to consider and discuss and pray about. Thank you for all your support and encouragement; it is treasured.

God Bless,
Diane