wfn.org | COB - Saturday service is first Conference worship to be broadcast worldwide

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

> 224th Annual Conference
> of the Church of the Brethren

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania -- July 3, 2010

Saturday service is first Conference worship to be broadcast worldwide

It may not have been as momentous as the very first phone call, 
("Come here, Watson, I need you!"), the stringing of cable for Morse Code from

The worship table, with candle and theme

"Taking Jesus Seriously" is the theme for the worship services, shown 
here behind the worship center with lit candle, open Bible, bread and 
cup. Photo by Glenn Riegel

Moderator Shawn Flory Replogle preaching for Saturday's service
The opening sermon of the 2010 Annual Conference was brought by 
Annual Conference moderator Shawn Flory Replogle. Photo by Glenn Riegel

Moderator elect Robert Alley

Moderator-elect Robert Alley was worship leader for the service. 
Photo by Glenn Riegel

The worship band for Annual Conference

The worship team for the service included instrumentalists and 
singers, and was led by Leah Hileman at the piano. Photo by Glenn Riegel

the east to the west coasts ("What hath God wrought?"), or the 
persistent message from Sputnik that signaled the beginning of the 
Space Age ("Beep, beep, beep!").

But in a moment that will have a lasting impact across the 
denomination, the Saturday evening worship service at the 2010 Annual 
Conference in Pittsburgh was webcast across the Internet.

Suddenly thousands more Brethren were "Taking Jesus Seriously," and 
worshiping together. The place where the Brethren sang, "Here in this 
place," now stretched across thousands of miles as the zeros and ones 
of electronic communication traveled at the speed of light. No sooner 
did the Tapestry of Praise Dance Troupe of Johnstown, Pa., embody the 
offertory but it was seen on computer screens across the fellowship.

With moderator-elect Robert Earl Alley as worship leader, the 
assembled called to mind biblical and Brethren luminaries as all 
prayed with the ancient mystic Teresa of Avila to become the mind, 
the eyes, the ears, and the heart of Christ.

Dennis and Ann Sayler of West Green Tree Church of the Brethren 
kicked off the personal testimonies that will be featured in each 
worship service of the Conference, to demonstrate different ways of 
taking Jesus seriously. They looked back as foster parents of 22 
years, and the 50 children whose lives they have shared and to whom 
they have taught the ways of Jesus. Reflecting on the number of the 
lost and the need to reach out, Dennis recalled how they had shared 
Jesus with all the children, including the very young. At their 
parting more than one child asked, "Do we have to say goodbye to 
Jesus?" Dennis smiled. "No, you take him with you wherever you go."

Based on the story of the Transfiguration found in Matthew 17:1-9, 
Annual Conference moderator Shawn Flory Replogle preached on the 
moments "When Heaven and Earth Touch." There was laughter as he 
admitted that some had tried to interpret the colors of the various 
vests he has worn during his year as moderator as political 
statements following the widespread wearing of rainbow scarves at the 
2009 Annual Conference--but he admitted the truth was he wore vests 
and collarless shirts because he doesn't like ties.

The assumptions made about his dress, he suggested, are indicative of 
the way Brethren have adopted the contentious ways of the world. "Is 
this the best we can do when Jesus says 'Love one another as I have 
loved you?'" he asked. "Then God have mercy on us all."

Stating that "It is time to move beyond the easy characterizations of 
each other and do the hard business of being with each other," he 
took off his vest, rolled up his sleeves, and invited everyone to do 
the same, in order to do the difficult business of taking Jesus seriously.

Despite many unsettling cultural trends the Brethren, he said, have 
never been more relevant than now.

Worship also included a dedication and blessing for those heading to 
National Youth Conference in two weeks, including a laying on of 
hands for all leaders, adult advisors, and youth present who would be 
traveling to Fort Collins, Colo.

Prior to the service, videographer David Sollenberger looked forward 
to the coming webcast with anticipation, satisfied that it was 
happening at last. Afterwards Enten Eller, who conducted the webcast, 
said that there were 120 live feeds during worship, and that some 
called in to say that by and large the reception was excellent.

Sollenberger and Eller were already talking immediately after the 
event about ways of coordinating their work in the future.

A recording of the webcast is expected to be available at 
www.bethanyseminary.edu/webcasts/AC2010 , although the hosting 
website is currently experiencing difficulties.

--Frank Ramirez is pastor of Everett (Pa.) Church of the Brethren

--------------------------------------------------

The News Team for the 2010 Annual Conference includes writers Karen 
Garrett, Frank Ramirez, Frances Townsend; photographers Kay Guyer, 
Justin Hollenberg, Keith Hollenberg, Glenn Riegel; website staff Amy 
Heckert and Jan Fischer Bachman; and news director and editor Cheryl 
Brumbaugh-Cayford. Contact cobnews@brethren.org .

Go to www.brethren.org/Newsline to subscribe to the Church of the 
Brethren Newsline free e-mail news service and receive church news 
every other week.