UCC - General Synod opening worship shines a light in the darkness

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

General Synod opening worship shines a light in the darkness

> Written by Micki Carter
> July 1, 201

Dancers set the stage during opening worship at the United Church of 
Christ's General Synod 28 in Tampa, Fla.

Imagine what's possible when the cavernous arena of the Tampa 
Convention Center is lit by cell phones to create a twinkling image 
of the universe.

Congregants at the first worship of GS28 Friday evening were invited 
to "light a candle in the darkness" and turn their cells phones on, 
find a candle app or "just let it emit some kind of light and God 
will understand." In that cosmic glow, members of the international 
community brought the message of "imagine" in their own languages.

Testimony from three pastors provided a litany of imaging God's new 
possibilities

The Rev. Susan K Smith, the pastor of 

<http://www.adventucc.org/>Advent UCC in Columbus, Ohio, recalled the 
children's story of "The Little Engine that Could" as told by her 
mother to tell the story of the little church that could.

When she was called to Advent (and then uncalled!), she went any way 
and was less than impressed with the tiny congregation of fewer than 
10. But as a former member of Trinity UCC in Chicago, she asked 
Trinity's pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright, to lead her installation service.

"He told us, "Do not look at what you are. Look at what you shall 
become.' And I remembered my mother chanting, "I knew I could.' "

Within a couple of months, Advent UCC was resurrecting its building. 
"Walking and singing, we dedicated that building to God.nbsp; We had 
the good sense to let God know that this was God's work and we were 
just vessels," Smith said.

"We had God and that's all that we needed. Now our seven members have 
grown to about 300.nbsp; You can't stop someone who believes like God 
believes."

The Rev. Marilyn Pagan-Banks, director of 

<http://www.ajustharvest.org/>A Just Harvest, brought witness to the 
combination of justice with mercy that has transformed a middle-class 
church in Skokie, Ill.

"When I give bread to the poor, they call me a saint," she said. "But 
when I ask why people are poor, they call me a Communist.

"We are agitated by the presence of hunger and poverty in a major 
city in the richest country in the world. But mercy with justice is a 
shift in relationship. God not only wants our all but will use our 
all to do all that God is calling us to do."

"<http://www.stpeteruccskokie.org>St. Peter's UCC in Skokie is 
demanding changes in the community circumstances, eliminating the 
chasm between justice and mercy," she said. "I urge you to risk it 
all through Jesus Christ.

The transformation of a church that accepts the unacceptable was the 
testimony of the Rev. Josh Longbottom, associate pastor at 
<http://www.plymouthlawrence.com/>Plymouth Congregational UCC in Lawrence, Kan.

He began with a call to "Facebook us. What new thing God is doing in 
your home church. From the glow on your faces, I know you can text 
and listen to a witness at the same time. So post to 
Facebook.com/unitedchurchofchrist."

Music was the catalyst of change at Plymouth. "Our contemporary 
service, and our Beatles Easter Service started it. We're working on 
a James Brown or Beach Boys Christmas service. Young people come for 
the music and have been caught in the grip of hospitality.

"I believe we're the first anywhere in Kansas to host a gay prom."

"Dare to imagine and learn to accept whomever comes through your 
doors," said Longbottom. "Give preference to the weirdos, to the ugly 
and the stinky and you will begin to see the face of God in your own 
sanctuary."