Pastor: The peace of Christ be with you!
People: And also with you!
Pastor: La paz del Senor se Contigo.
People: Y contigo tambien.
Pastor: Gue-Lee-Sau-Dou-i Pyung-Hwaa-Gaa Ham-Kkeh Haal-Hee-Uh-Daa
People Daang-Shin-Sh-Keh-Doh
Pastor: Que la paix et la grace de Dieu soit avec vous tous.
People: Et avec votre esprit.
Followed by the "Call to Celebrate"
Pastor: We are all one family.
People: We are all one family, made in the image of God.
Pastor: somos todo una familia. (Spanish)
People: We are all one family, all over the world.
Pastor: Woo-Lee-Neun Mooh-Doo Haan Gaa-Johk-Ip-Nee-Daa (Korean)
People: We are all one family, brothers and sisters.
Pastor: Nou tout se yon sed fammy. (French)
People: We are all one family, given gifts and talents to share.
Pastor: We come to the table as one family, united in love, united in peace, united in Christ our Lord. Amen
For our call to Prayer we sang "Alleluia" in English, Spanish and French.
Eglise Enagelique Haitienne church members sang "Great is Thy Faithfulness" (French)
The Scripture reading, Galatians 3:28 "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Then to tie in Reconciliation with the Communion Sunday, 2nd Corinthians 5:17-20 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God , who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." I want to note here, the word 'new' in this context. From Strong's, 'new' is unused, fresh, novel; new in regard to form or quality, rather than new in reference to time.
There wasn't a sermon, but a dialogue amongst the pastors, our pastors asking the others about their history, countries, faith, and how they come to use our church as a meeting place for theirs. The most heart aching story was from the Haitian pastor. She had started her church at another campus, and she said the negative reaction to her skin color was stronger than any sense of the brotherhood and sisterhood of Christ. She said when she met our pastors, she knew these were truly different people from what she had experienced. She and her congregation have felt so comfortable and supported by us, that she was grateful beyond words. It breaks my heart to hear that such racism is still so acceptable to so many, and at the same time happy and proud that my church works so hard, from the heart, to bring love and comfort to all people.
After the sermon/dialogue, Communion was served. There was a long table with breads from all over the world, and along the back of the table were creches from many countries. Communion is not only the high point of any service for me (our church serves communion every Sunday), but the high point of every week. I feel so full of the Spirit when I partake, feel so much that my prayers are being answered, that I know all I practice and believe is so very true and real. This was especially true today.
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