While hearing of power outages and damage from the storms that hit OH, WV and VA, the 220th General Assembly opened with worship as its very first thing to do. (Prayers were offered for all those impacted by the storms, including First Presbyterian, Cambridge, OH which was destroyed in a tornado.)
With orchestra, mass choir, a jazz quartet and interpretive dancers, a procession was led with our very own Presbytery of West Virginia banner, carried in by our Young Adult Advisory Delegate, Tory Parker (Village Chapel Presbyterian).
Cindy Bolbach, Moderator of the 219th General Assembly was present! Having endured surgery, recovery and chemotherapy in her battle against cancer, the participants welcomed her with applause. Moderator Bolbach recognized the many who prayed for her and supported her in her quest for health. Her sermon was based on the scripture of Jesus healing the paralytic. For a while, she felt like the church and herself were like the paralytic, in that we were paralyzed -- and then reflected on what she saw and experienced in her travels throughout the denomination, witnessing a church in mission, making a difference in the lives of many. She called the church to be that faithful witness and to go and serve in this world.
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Our presbytery was very evident this day -- with the arrival of the bus, with members singing in the mass choir, with the presence of our banner, with people from the presbytery volunteering to help host this General Assembly..and our commissioners and our YAAD all present and participating in the beginning of this Assembly.
Forrest
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