The UCC General Synod is always an exciting and meaningful event for our denomination. This year, I had the privilege of being a delegate from the Southern New England Conference at the Synod in Kansas City, Missouri. The theme, “Into the Deep,” was inspired by Jesus’s call to Simon Peter to "Put into the deep water," and it encouraged all of us to dive deeper into our faith and our commitment to action. For me, Synod felt like the ideal church experience. Delegates from each conference represent the diverse voices of our denomination, and their role is far more than just voting. It's about deep listening, reflection, and discerning where God is calling the church to go next. This sense of calling was deeply honored and felt by everyone there. One of the most memorable moments was during a tense plenary session when a young delegate, no more than ten years old, approached the microphone. He said he wanted to tell a few jokes to lighten the mood. For a full minute, he had the entire room of 2,000 people laughing and cheering. This brave young delegate reminded us to take a breath and remember that God’s love and grace are present in both the tense and the joyous moments. He showed us that God’s "still speaking" voice also calls us to find joy in the work we do together. What was most inspiring for me was seeing every generation sit as equals in every discussion. Whether speaking for or against a resolution or in small, informal groups, all five generations of the church were represented, heard, and valued for their unique perspective on how God is speaking to us today. Another powerful moment came during our closing worship service. The sermon, preached by Rev. Antony Coleman, compared many of our churches to "tidy, well-manicured lawns" rather than the "wild, spirit-led diverse meadows of the early church." He challenged us with a powerful question: "What would it look like if we let go of control, did radically less, and allowed God to guide the growth? What if we let parts of our ministry grow more freely, more organically, more deeply?” Since returning home, this question has guided my reflections. What if we allowed ourselves to be less rigid in our structure? What if we let the Holy Spirit guide us instead of insisting on cumbersome, traditional methods? What could grow if we stopped doing "what we've always done"? I’m ready to embrace the wild and allow creativity to flow, trusting that God's "still speaking" voice is working in and through me. I'm ready to go “Into the Deep” with all of you, trusting that God is already there, inviting us in.