WCC Assembly - November 8, 2013

Morning Prayer this morning touched me, my heart, and my spirit. Language has not proven not to be a barrier in worship. We have the text of the service and prayers before us while pieces of the service are daily said in different languages. What happens in the space is that we speak prayer… no matter the language, age, or gender.

Anglican Church of Canada delegates ready for
Closing Prayer

And we sing… Together the prayers of our songs are lifted up to God. In song too we sing in multiple languages as a way of gathering together our voices. 

Today was different. Today in the service the act of foot washing was celebrated... As a gathered body of Christian churches from around the world we currently cannot gather together at the Holy Table in celebration of the Holy Eucharist because of our different understandings around Eucharist. For me (with my background of one where the Eucharist is central to my life) this morning foot washing became that gathering together as Jesus taught us. Only a small group of people took part but we all felt part of the act itself. We were all humbled to our knees in service to one another. It's where we came together... Different denominations, genders, ages, cultures, languages, backgrounds… we were one sharing together in the actions of Jesus.

Foot Washing - WCC Photos

It was the image of the elderly man kneeling before a middle-aged woman who washed her feet... It was the moment where their hands met in an embrace and she supported him in rising from his knees. It was seeing the General Secretary wash the feet of a young person… It was the deep care and love for one another… it was the gathering of us all together in the midst of this humble action. This is what brought my eyes to tears; this is where I truly saw unity in God’s church… within God’s beloved family.

After worship we had two very long Business Plenary sessions where lots got done (more details on some of the statements past to come), we said lots of thank-yous to staff, volunteers, stewards, the host committee, etc… And then we gathered together for our Closing Prayer time.

Melissa, Nick, Father Michael, Emily

Closing Prayer was good, we heard a very powerful sermon from Father Michael Lapsley, (You can read his sermon here) and gathered our voices together in song and prayer one last time. Unfortuenly during our time of Intercessory Prayers the unexpected happened and we were reminded that not all Christians want the ecumenical WCC movement to succeed (let alone to be in Korea). I've talked about the protesters that have been around in a previous post but today was different... today didn't feel like a peaceful protest. One of the protesters rushed onto the stage while the intercessions were being prayed and as quickly as that happened he was briskly swept off the stage by some men who were dressed in plainclothes but who I imagine were police officers or other security who had been very present during the whole Assembly. It was unexpected and it definitely shook a number of us up. 

Back to where I began... the beach on my last night

This evening was spent on the beach and then with some of the delegates for dinner. I've also spent significant time packing this evening (my goodness I've been away for a long time!). I reach the end of this Assembly feeling excited, tired, full, hopeful, grateful and challenged. I have half written blog entries everywhere so I imagine that I'll keep reflecting for a long time. 

I leave tomorrow (Saturday) at 10am on a shuttle bus for my 2pm flight and begin the long journey home. As much as I am truly ready to be home I also feel like I've only just started. 

At the end of Father Michael's sermon he concluded with this prayer which I will hold with me as I journey:

May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth boldly and love deep within your heart.

May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.

May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all they cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.

May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really CAN make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.

- Benedictine Sister Ruth Fox, 1985