CALIFORNIA. 08:00am

"Thank you, Lord, for your presence with us this day. As we depart from this space now, we ask you to bless us throughout the remainder of the day and guide us safely home. Do not let the learning and conversations of this gathering die, but, instead, may they continue to ruminate within us and bear fruit in our ministries throughout the year, until we find ourselves together again. We ask this in the name of Jesus, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, Amen."

The sky is turquoise blue. Staff of slim light spill from the sky. Clouds shaped like tufty pillows glide slowly across the...