(Nashville, Tenn. -7/9/2011) – The 2011 General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the United States and Canada opened with a rousing worship highlighting the denomination’s commitment to building wholeness in a fragmented world.
Diversity was demonstrated even before it was proclaimed as the welcome (or gathering) time included a capella and accompanied music from the Kentucky Men’s Chorus, country music’s Gabe Dixon, Bill Thomas playing the piano, Michael Morgan on flute and an organist.
A beautiful candle lighter and a liturgical dancer led the gathering into worship, which opened with a litany contrasting where the church once limited its diversity with how the church is now striving to welcome all.
Holly McKissick, pastor of St. Andrew Christian Church and the evening preacher, encouraged worshippers to tell their faith stories in personal ways.
“In survey after survey, what people say they want is this,” she said, gesturing to the audience. “It’s us.”
According to McKissick, unchurched people are not interested in churches that “are all hung up on gays or straight, black or white,” but rather churches that celebrate the range of God’s creation and help each other through the difficult complexities of life. Many unchurched say, “If I could find a church that isn’t trying to own Jesus, but just follow him, I would go.”
“What if we decided right now, before we meet again in two years, that we are going to tell it? We’d have to get a bigger space,” insisted McKissick.
The point of telling faith stories is not only so the denomination will grow. “It wasn’t about this denomination for our founders and it sure shouldn’t be for us,” reminded McKissick.
It is, rather, about helping the homeless and hungry just outside this Convention Center and Disciple congregations.
The end of the story is the lame walking and blind seeing and thirsty drinking.
“And how will they know it unless we tell?”
Following the message, musicians from Allisonville Christian Church, Indianapolis, provided excellent special music, “Thank You for Giving to the Lord,” while the Pension Fund collected the 13th check offering, which goes to support retired clergy and families, particularly those from smaller congregations and the mission field, whose pensions may be inadequate to provide for a reasonable standard of living.
Per Disciples tradition, the celebration of The Great Thanksgiving provided the core of worship.
Led by guitarists of many ages, worshippers left singing “Go tell it on the mountain.”
By: Nathan Day Wilson
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