wfn.org | Opening worship offers hope and encouragement "For Such A Time as

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Note #5976 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

This"
25-June-2000
GA00030

	Opening worship offers hope and encouragement "For Such A Time as This"

	by Bill Lancaster

LONG BEACH, June 25 -- The congregation at the opening service of the 212th
General Assembly meeting here experienced worship on a grand scale as a
massed choir of hundreds swayed and sang the offertory "Hope for Resolution"
in English and Zulu accompanied by swirling dancers.

	"Hope for Resolution," a "juxtaposition of a European chant melody and an
anti-apartheid song from South Africa," was described in the program as "a
celebration of diversity" that "points us toward our innate (though
sometimes neglected) potential for peaceful coexistence."

	One participant, the Rev. George Wilkes, executive presbyter of Foothills
Presbytery in South Carolina, said he was moved to tears several times in
the service, which he called one of "authentic praise."

	Resolution was a good theme for an estimated 9,000 worshipers, who lifted
their voices in a full Convention Center Arena through the two-hour service,
uninterrupted by peaceful Soulforce demonstrators being arrested outside. 
(See article.... ) For several years, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has
sought resolution of the divisive issue of this era, how the church should
relate to homosexuals.

	"For Such a Time as This" was the title of the sermon preached by Freda
Gardner, moderator of the 211th General Assembly (1999), on Jesus' words
found in Luke 19: 37-44, in which he  warns the people not to miss the hour
of their visitation by God.

	"Perhaps we have been born for such a time as this," Gardner said. "Surely
we do not want to miss the time of our visitation. It could be the time when
our sons and daughters are prophesying, and old women and men are dreaming
dreams and young men and women are seeing visions.  Such has been promised."

	"Where in such a time as this will we be found by God and find God? Where
are we?" she asked.  "We are the ones who climb the tree to hide among the
branches, branches that are the positions, degrees, power, wealth in which
we try to hide but to whom the invitation is still given, ‘come down, I will
abide with you this day.' We are the woman who, speaking for herself and her
sisters, badgers the judge claiming their right to the promise of life. 
Jesus said, ‘will God not grant justice to those who cry day and night?'"

	Gardner asked, "Where is God in such a time as this?  At one end of a
stretcher carrying yet another young person lost to the tragedy of lonely,
ugly streets.  Leading a chain of pre-schoolers to safety from gunfire.
Standing next to the one writing a check for disaster relief.  Among the
children climbing a mountain of garbage to search for something that will
sustain life for one more day.

	"Applauding for those who made great sacrifices 60 and 80 years ago and who
are willing to make one more to allow worship to welcome younger
generations.  Weeping for children and teenagers who tried but failed to
kill themselves.  Listening to the one who prays, ‘nevertheless, thy will be
done.' Strengthening a session to live by grace and not by law. Upholding
those who know the fact that the practices of citizenship are forms of
discipleship.

	"Saddened as we pick up stones to hurl at each other because we have
excused ourselves from the list of those who sinned and do all manner of
evil even in Christ's name.  Mourning as yet another child's mind shuts down
in the absence of attention, respect and encouragement.  Speaking through
the cloud of witnesses that surround us, witnesses who sometimes say, ‘we
were wrong.'  Rejoicing with us when we shake off the gloom and doom
prophets and sing as we minister in Christ's name, ‘Our God our help for
ages past, our hope for years to come.'"

	"Where is the good news?" Gardner asked.  "We are not clones of each other.
 We were created by God for such a time as this, surrounded by those who ran
the race before us, those who saw the new thing God was doing in their time,
and those who did not.  Those who did justice, loved mercy, and walked
loyally with their God.  Those who cast their lot on the side of race and
those who did not.

	"In every time, there are those who see early and those who see late, those
who ignore the new life God has made possible for us and those who forget
that the shape of that life in Christ is cruciform-- cross shaped-- and that
it is in that life that our forgiving and gracious God has promised to
provide all things needful and to be with us always in this time and in all
times."

	As usual for the opening worship at the Assembly, missionary personnel were
honored and commissioned.  Two retiring missionaries -- Ellenor Ann Frelick
and the Rev. John Paul Frelick -- were especially honored.  A long list of
global partners, mission personnel appointments, adult and young adult
international and national volunteers, young adult interns, and others were
commissioned.

	Moderator Gardner and Vice-Moderator Floyd Rhodes led the sacrament of the
Lord's Supper.  An offering was taken to go to six mission programs.  A
special hymn was commissioned for the service, "For All are One in Christ,"
written by Mary Jackson Cathey of Silver Spring, Md.

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