Presented by Mark Finley
24 August 2012, Rogaška Slatina, Slovenia [Victor Hulbert tedNEWS] Friday night is always very special at an event like this. 1,200 ministers and their spouses, 22 countries, many languages, but all in communion together. This was worship at its best. Multi-media, music and the spoken word skillfully crafted together.
A male trio rendition of ‘How Deep the Father’s love for us’ helped set the mood as the congregation meditated on ‘Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection’.
There was nevertheless humour. The drama team modernized the story of the prodigal son with two sons graduating from Newbold College but going in different directions. Facebook rapidly traced the journey and decline of the younger son until a text message from dad invited him back. The surprise twist in the skit was when Pastor Mark Finley came to the park bench, comforted the lost son, then, moving into sermon mode, shared the meaning of the Biblical narrative in Luke chapter 15.
In story telling mode, Finley shared how great the love of the Father was for the son who always had a special place in His heart – as equally He has a special place in His heart for each one of us. He then showed how communion brings us together in the same reconciliation as that which took place between the Father and his prodigal son. Using an example from Leviticus 5 and then of a young, argumentative teacher, he said: “Our confession enables us to receive the love in the Father heart. Not to make him love us more.”
“There is something about confession that lifts a burden, that opens us to God’s grace.” The prodigal son found that. In our modern lives, even brought up within the church, we may face the same issues. Challenging our lives, our motives, our thoughts, Finley asked the ministers whether there is anything in their lives that needed confession. It was a private yet public confession.
Encouraged to write ‘that thing’ on a piece of paper, as the ministerial family came forward to participate in communion they had the opportunity to crush that piece of paper and leave it at the foot of the cross.
Introduced with a moving solo, this actual moment of communion was a ‘still, small voice’ experience. To the words of “All to Jesus I surrender” participants took the bread and the wine, filed back to their seats and pondered on confession, forgiveness and the love of a Heavenly Father.
Why was this so special for ministers? It was a chance for them to be ministered to rather than to minister; to receive, rather than to lead in communion. For Jurrien den Hollander, to be with such a large crowd was a hint of the Apostle Paul’s promise, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love him.”
Jurrien, from Holland, added, “We are group people, we are social people. We are always on the watch to see how others behave. But communion puts us together on a higher plane. We no longer look at each other, we look at the cross.”
Scottish Mission President, Pastor Bernie Holford enthused, “The way our leadership modelled how to do church was inspiring to me.” That was also true for Guisele Berkel-Larmonie: “Tonight was not about us being ministers, but about being sinners in need of grace. Tonight we were not pastors, simply children of God.” [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Miroslav Pujic, director; Deana Stojkovic, editor; Dragana Selakovic-Duval; Frederic Duval & Tor Tjeransen, photographers
119 St Peter’s Street, St Albans, Herts, AL1 3EY, England
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.ted-adventist.org
tedNEWS is an information bulletin issued by the communication department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Trans-European Division.
You are free to re-print any portion of the bulletin without need for special permission. However, we kindly request that you identify tedNEWS whenever you publish these materials.
