Peace Be With You
Image: Bishop Amy Current and Maria at the assembly
Peace was definitely something I felt when first walking through the doors of the Synod Assembly. I was in absolute awe of the number of people who came to this assembly and who wanted their congregations and future generations to grow. It gave me perspective that we are all one, and that we have each other for support and growth.
When we were looking for a place to sit, everyone was sitting arm to arm with one another. I happened to look over and see a familiar face. There was Pastor Carl sitting in the back, so we sat with him. Looking out at all the people in front of me was amazing. These people were here not only to elect or re-elect a bishop, but also to hear the treasurer’s report, the secretary’s report, many different speakers in between, and finally the bishop’s report.
Before the assembly began, Dona Noble and I sat down and talked for a while. Then Bishop Amy Current came over to introduce herself. We told her how much we appreciated the questions she asked, and I shared that I especially appreciated them since I was new and often found myself thinking, “What does that mean?”
One of my favorite moments, among many others, was the worship service on Friday night. Once again, I was in absolute awe and even a little emotional because of the singing, music, and the service itself. I could truly feel God’s presence with us, and it was an amazing way to end the night by re-electing the bishop and meeting so many new people.
On Saturday, we continued with more elections for the Synod Council, and one of our own members, Wendy Essary, was elected to be part of the council. We also participated in a Bible study, which was very memorable. We broke into pairs to discuss the topics we were reading about: Fear, Peace, Rejoice, and Sent.
At the end of the assembly, we heard the bishop’s report. One message that stood out to me was that we have to tell God’s story and speak about our faith. If we remain silent and only show up on Sundays, then the Word of God is not reaching others. The Word of God is what will transform the world.
Maria Guerrero