In a lyrical soprano filling the coliseum, Lisa Edwards-Burrs sang a cappella, “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian,” to a hushed congregation. Then with great stateliness 12-year-old Rachel Parks, dressed in traditional Korean dress, carried in the large pulpit Bible. Behind her came liturgists carrying the communion cup, flagon and plate, crafted in England circa 1760-70, graciously loaned by Augusta Presbyterian Church in Virginia. Rachel Parks’ clear voice called the Assembly to worship, “Among the poor, among the proud, among the persecuted, among the privileged, Christ is coming to make all things new.”
“Abundance — life in all its fullness” was the theme of the sermon on John10: 1-15, delivered by Susan Andrews, out-going moderator. Abundance is not the accumulation of material goods but the “beauty and blessing that spills out of the heart of our generous Creator.” Biblical images of God’s abundance were listed rapidly as were vital Christian ministries that offer inclusion, healing and hope from Colombia in South America to California. Stepping to the baptismal font, first dipping a single hand into the water and then using both hands to joyously slash the water out of the font, she said, “God does not sprinkle us with grace but drenches us with grace.” She noted the theological tensions in our denomination several times but emphasized that the future of the church does not belong to us. It is the good shepherd, Jesus Christ, who decides who is in and who is out of the flock. We are called to “worship as the life beat of life together” and to “mission madness” in which we are to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, the recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free (Luke 4: 16-19).
The service was graced with a variety of music, languages, images and voices. Liturgical dancers elegantly interpreted Psalm 90. Psalm 23 was sung in Hebrew and English by Sunny Schnitzer, spiritual leader of the Bethesda Jewish Congregation; a worshiping congregation that shares sacred space with Bradley Hills church, Bethesda, Md.
Four hundred and thirty adult, youth and children’s voices sang the commissioned anthem, “O Blessed Church.” The composer, internationally known Helen Kemp, conducted. Fakhri Yacoub, pastor of the Arabic Christian Fellowship, prayed in Arabic after communion. Military chaplains and retiring mission personnel were recognized and new young adults serving in mission in the United States and mission co-workers committed themselves to service in Christ’s name in the world.
The offering was designated for educational institutions in Ethiopia, The Bethel Evangelical Secondary School and the Gidada Bible College, ministries of the Western Wollega Bethel Synod, and to the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW). The CIW, a group of farm workers, fights against the abuses of poor housing, slave and sex trafficking, and low wages in the migrant labor industry. $42,000 was raised. 
