Well, okay technically this is Day 2 of General Council. We began last night with a very moving opening worship service but today was the first full day of Council and … a full day it was.
The Council is meeting is a large arena on Grenfell Campus, the Corner Brook campus of Memorial University. There are over 60 tables set up with 6 to 8 people at each table, plus extra tables for visitors and staff around the perimeter. There are large screens, two at the front and two at the back, projecting the people and/or action on stage, so no matter where you are sitting you can see what is going on. The symbol for the Council, a stylized fish with waves underneath, is prominently displayed on a banner at the front and there are paper and cloth fish and fish nets hanging all around the arena. Some of the fish are colcouful creations for decoration but most of them are prayer flags that were sent from each congregation across the country, so that, while we make our decisions we are surrounded by the prayers of the people of the UCC.
Today began with a wonderful worship service, it is Sunday you know and we church people gotta do church! The Moderator, the very Reverend Gary Patterson, preached the sermon, and he spoke to the theme of change. Through the day we heard accountability reports from the Moderator, the General Secretary and several of the Committees of the Church.
This evening, after a dinner of moose meat, the General Secretary introduced the 12 people who have been nominated for Moderator. They were each presented with a beautiful hand-made stole. The election will be held on Thursday. The rest of the evening was devoted to celebrating the United Church’s 90th anniversary as a denomination. There was a fun and meaningful play, presented by Commissioners from London Conference, and a slide show marking significant events and activities of the United Church through the decades.
Throughout the day there has been outstanding singing led by a lively band of musicians.
The Local Arrangement Committee has done a wonderful job of making us feel welcome. And the delightful Newfoundland sense of fun is sprinkled through the events of the day.
We are off to a great start. Now the hard work begins. I will keep you posted.
