|
View all the images from Wednesday, August 19, 2009
|
|
click on the image to enlarge
|
![[ ]](/~/media/Images/Common%20Images/1x1BackgroundGrey.gif) |
Each morning, Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson calls the assembly to prayer by striking a large, upturned bell. As the deep mellow tones make their way through the assembly hall, voting members settle into a reflective mood. Prayer is a central element to the work and life of the assembly and is not constrained only to worship. From calling upon the Holy Spirit to come amongst them for guidance or to lift up prayers of thanksgiving, not a minute of the assembly is there not a prayer being whispered or said somewhere. |
|
|
|
click on the image to enlarge
|
|
Every day, voting members are treated to unique musical performances. On Wednesday, a group of singers from Alaska Synod opened worship with traditional hymns in Inupiak, the native language from the Seward Peninsula. The Alaska Synod is comprised of 31 congregations, over 50,000 baptized members, and yet only 31 ordained clergy -- all within an area of 586,412 square miles! |
|
|
|
click on the image to enlarge
|
|
Nicolette Faison, Lutheran Youth Organization President, greeted the assembly. Ms. Faison supports the The Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) goal of "uniting the youth and making sure our voice is heard in the church" and would like to see youth increase in their leadership skills and use those skills in the ELCA. The LYO is an organization of high-school age young people who are members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. There are nearly 100,000 ELCA youth across the United States and the Caribbean. |
|
|
|
click on the image to enlarge
|
|
Bishop Susan Johnson of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada (ELCIC), our closest church body neighbor, greeted the 2009 Churchwide Assembly. The ELCA and the ELCIC engage in joint projects and shared mission, including the development of Evangelical Lutheran Worship, the Book of Faith Initiative, and global missions. |
|
|
|
click on the image to enlarge
|
|
Commander Harry Griffith, U.S. Navy, Chaplain Corps, greeted the assembly on behalf of all federal chaplains. Commander Griffith has served both his country and his church all around the world, including Al Anbar Province, Iraq, and is currently assigned as Division Chaplain at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In honor of all military chaplains, the assembly sang the Navy Hymn, Eternal Father, Strong to Save. |
|
|
|
click on the image to enlarge
|
|
Tour de Revs. As they say of themselves: 3 Guys, 1 Bike, 100 Days, 13,000 miles, 65 cities and a Mission to Fight World Hunger. Tour de Revs is three ELCA rostered clergy: the Rev. Dr. Fred A. Soltow, Jr., Rev. David A. Twedt, and the Rev. Ron Schlak, whose goal is to raise support for ELCA World Hunger activities. And did we mention that their bicycle is made of bamboo?! Learn more about Tour de Revs and how to get involved on their Web site. |
|
|
|
View all the images from Wednesday, August 19, 2009 |