Called to Order
Well, it’s official. The 200th General Synod of the Reformed Church in America was officially called to order this evening following five verses and preceding one of The Church’s One Foundation inspiringly accompanied (or shall I say “led”) by an admirable organist (whose name I don’t know).
The service was held at the historic First Reformed Church of Pella, which is celebrating it’s 150th year of ministry (supposedly, the oldest RCA church west of the Mississippi to have an uninterrupted ministry.) (Also, incidentally, a church attended by my wife’s Aunt Ruby and Uncle Roland and ministered to by Ray Tilstra who was the minister of my home church growing up.)
Two things stick out as particularly enjoyable:
1) I thoroughly enjoy large groups of people singing with a powerful organ.
Dunningville is a church of singers, for which I am eternally thankful. Yet, there’s something about a large pipe organ leading a multi-hundred person congregation (especially with a well-known hymn)!
2) I also thoroughly enjoy the fact that Synod, every year, is called to order in the midst of worship.
This may be an odd thing to like, but I think it’s excellent theology. The church’s assemblies should view their business as part-and-parcel with their worship. That’s not to say that all of our business is worship, but it is to say that our business ought to arise out of worship, be informed by worship, lead to worship and, frankly, be done worshipfully.
Two things also stick out as particularly concerning:
1) I don’t know the numbers, but it seems there are less women at synod this year.
2) The field house, where plenary sessions are to be held, is not air conditioned and it’s been quite warm the past couple of days. (For Phia and me, that’s not a big deal - we can leave whenever we desire, but for the delegates…hoofta!)
Also worth noting:
-Synod has a newly carved processional cross (I don’t know who carved it, but will ask Paul and try to get a good picture.)
-Ron & Carolyn, after visiting Navoo, IL and taking a tour of SW Iowa, made it safely and timely to Synod.
-Tom also made it safely here and is busily taking part in the “Call Waiting” program which seeks to involve more youth in synod and teach them the ins and outs of the denomination.
Well, that’s all for now.
Grace and Peace,
`tim
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