Worship Weblog
Monday, August 08, 2005
REC Update 13
Report from last month’s quadrennial assembly of the Reformed Ecumenical Council (more updates...)
This morning (Monday) we concluded our Bible study lessons. In the study we reflected together about our time together over the past two weeks. One common theme that each of us shared was our appreciation for hearing the perspectives and experiences of each member in the group related to the Bible passage for the day. Our group was made of delegates from Zambia, Nigeria, the Netherlands, Botswana, S. Africa, Australia, the US, Phillipines, Sri Lanka, and India, and we all had a unique contribution, helping us to see the passage in a large, global context. For example, on Friday we meditated on John 14:1-14. Our conversation focused on vv 2-3, “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” One member of our group from South Central Africa emphasized the word “place” in these verses. “My people,” he said, “find assurance in knowing that we will have place, especially since many are not able to have a place of their own today.” Another member from the Phillipines added, “We find relationships important. I am assured to know that Jesus is the one who is providing the place. We can trust him.” In the West, many of us have a place of our own already. One of our members from the Netherlands was very interested in knowing what kind of place it would be that Jesus is preparing.
Reading the Bible together has given us a deeper appreciation for each other and has convinced us that we need each other in order to read the Bible. Praise God for his Spirit that makes us all one and speaks through us to give us guidance and shows us the will of God.
- Paul Ryan