Day 3 opening worship
17th Assembly members explore the rich and diverse human tapestry through which God’s love is woven in all of us
July 13, 2024
The rich and diverse human tapestry through which God’s love and the Holy Spirit is woven in all of us, was a focus of the opening worship on Day 3 of the 17th Assembly.
“Whom has the spirit sent? And who is invited to ‘go with them without hesitation’?”
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Rev Sophia Lizares read Acts 10:9-38, telling the story of Peter’s vision, and how his trance taught him the non-discriminating movement of the Holy Spirit and the importance of embracing and empowering its presence within all people.
“Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean.”
Presenting the teaching for today, Joy Han from the Vic/Tas Synod led the Assembly in viewing the text through a decolonising lens, which strengthens the interculturality of the Church.
“Peter concludes that God plays no impartiality to nations, a notion the author draws on as he integrates different cultures in the telling of the story,” Joy said.
“Luke’s rendering of Peter’s vision and experience in this slow and multilayered manner points to Peter’s final awakening. Already he is drawing upon cultures other than Peter’s own Jewish tradition in order to explore different ways of giving significance to dreams.”
“In the end, it was not the law that was illegitimate, but rather Peter’s hesitation, arising from his narrow reading of it. So this is a reminder that the tradition of the law and the prophets already is suggestive of its own ambiguities and openness.”
Joy then asked members to engage in a Talanoa, to reflect and discuss the question – “Whom has the spirit sent? And who is invited to ‘go with them without hesitation’ (v.20b)?”
Members were then invited to scribe on orange ribbons the word “beloved” in their respective languages and tie these ribbons together and thread them through a wheel at the front of the room to represent the complex and interconnected network of the Church.
The opening worship also featured Rev’s Ellie Elia, Pablo Nunez and Hee Won Chang leading members in song and an Acknowledgement of Country delivered by Alison Xamon. See the great collection of photos below!
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