Stately Service Impresses WCRC Delegates

By Chris Meehan, UGC News Editor

Several African delegates to the newly constituted World Communion of Reformed Churches worshipped Sunday morning inside the stately sanctuary of Central Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the upper Midwest of the United States.

A full-bodied organ prelude, accompanied by a powerfully played trumpet finale, greeted the guests as they sat in pews in the front of the historic Reformed church.

Delegates from Sri Lanka, the United Kingdom, Zambia, Indonesia, Switzerland and Malawi were at the service. Other WCRC delegates, observers and visitors attended services in a range of churches across the area, mainly to get an idea of how the Reformed faith is practised and celebrated in this part of the United States.

As the music faded at Central Reformed Church, bells chimed and a procession of pastors and others in robes slowly made their way up the central aisle of the church. One of the men carried a larger banner. Another a cross. Others bore candles. They were greeted in the front by Daniel Meeter, a former pastor of Central Reformed Church who now serves a congregation in Brooklyn, New York, which is part of New York City in the United States.

Once everyone was settled, Meeter gave the Call to Worship. The liturgy included hymns, the Prayer of Confession and Assurance of Pardon, as well as readings from the Bible and a sermon by Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches. Tveit is attending the meeting of the WCRC.

Preaching from Galatians 3:23-29, the WCC official said the passage is sometimes referred to as the "Magna Carta of the Bible, the declaration of freedom." In the passage the Apostle Paul writes: "For freedom in Christ has set us free, stand fast therefore, and do not submit to the yoke of slavery."

The words of this passage always open the doors of his heart. In fact, they have changed him, making him much more aware of the need for freedom for all people in the world.

"For me, there are almost no more powerful words than we have just heard from Galatians," said Tveit, a pastor of the Lutheran Church of Norway.

"They convey freedom to all people, freedom to people to be themselves. Freedom to be something very different than others have supposed them to be; different also from what others have forced them to be."

Also in his sermon, he said: "Nobody can save herself or himself. Nobody can fulfill what the good law of God requires. We are all alike in our relation to God. We are free, free to serve one another as we are, as you are, as I am."

After a hymn and the benediction, people filed out of their pews as trumpet music filled the spacious sanctuary.

"It was a great experience," said Chatha Msangaambe, pastor of a congregation that belongs to the Church of Central Africa Presbyterian in Malawi "There are so many different ways for Reformed people to worship. It was exciting to see. This was a more classic service É in Africa, the service would be more expressive."

Delegates and members of the church mingled in the atrium outside the sanctuary following the service. They sipped drinks and ate desserts.

"We're delighted to have people attend our church. We are modest, but very proud of this church which has been here for 50 years," said Ken Vanderkolk, a retired physician.