Slideshow image

What an incredible privilege it was to spend time with other ministry leaders at the Worship Symposium. We listened to  scholars in the anthropology of worship, justice, African-American music history and other topics.  Musicians shared newly written songs and creeds and Scripture readings were meaningfully memorized and artistically presented.

It was such a joy to worship a holy, mysterious, majestic God together with the Princeton seminary choir, with the beautiful Urban Doxology band, with the tabla, a Pakistani percussion instrument, with the pipe organ, and with the Grand Rapids youth orchestra.  Worship took place also through the prayers of God’s people, through God’s Word delivered by gifted speakers, and through the wonderful art works displayed throughout Calvin’s campus.

The diversity of God’s people was evident in the worship services and seminars. We went to the Symposium as a team of 4 – Wendy H., Ed G., Josh dG. and myself – but we rarely   attended the same session.  Services and seminars touched on themes of justice and reconciliation, faith formation and liturgy, intergenerational and multicultural worship, and discipleship.

More than 30 countries were represented, including Egypt, Ghana, Peru, Pakistan and Sweden and we engaged in meaningful conversation with our Christian brothers and sisters across the globe.

The Worship Symposium is a time for learning, engaging, sharing, refreshing and worshipping. Each of us is grateful for the opportunity to have attended this year.