After a five hour drive across the scenic Alberta and Saskatchewan flatlands we made it in time for the Opening Worship service. As is usually the case these days, worship and convention business are being held in the same space, a long narrow convention hall.
In an effort to give everyone a chance to see what is going on, there are four large screens across the front of the hall. While I can appreciate the sentiment behind this, what it felt like (at least from my corner in the back where the media is seated) was that I was watching a service that could have been taking place miles away instead of a few feet. I imagine others had a similar sense as many were facing the screens rather than the altar, located in the middle of room. Then there was the projecting of various images while the choir sang Psalm 84 from a Bach requiem. Images of European cathedrals, nature scenes etc. - just reminded me of where else one might want to be rather than in a large windowless room in July (keeping in mind summer in Canada is short enough as is).
The altar is unique. Constructed especially for this event, it is built of wood from a grain elevator that had been torn down. For those not from the prairie, grain elevators were huge wooden structures where farmers would take grain, where it would be stored before being loaded on trains and shipped to market. Every town and village had at least one if not several. However most have been torn down in the last 15 years.
The service itself was…. well there was good, bad and in-between. On the good side the music was very well done and the choir was wonderful. Liturgy from ELW—a helpful reminder for me why my congregation continues to use the LBW. How is it that one can get through and entire communion service and it isn't until the order for opening the convention that the name of God i.e. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is used? Instead we have Triune God, God of this, God of that, various titles describing what God does etc. to reference God. Theological issues aside, if someone introduced themselves to you and gave you their name, isn't it proper to use it? So why not give God the same courtesy.
National Bishop Susan Johnson's sermon was more of a public relations message than a proclamation of the Word of God. She reviewed her initiative to encourage "spirited discipleship" in the ELCIC, noting that many people know they need the "spiritual milk" talked about in 1 Peter, they think it is as palatable as beets. She encouraged the gathered to: pray, read, worship, study, serve, give and tell (the various aspects of "spirited discipleship"). It wasn't "bad" but it wasn't a sermon.
So opening worship wasn't aggravating, it wasn't uplifting, it just was—unfortunately worship should be more.
