GENERAL ASSEMBLY - Day 2

It was a privileged and rare moment. Thousands of Presbyterians gathered together in worship in two different locations about six blocks apart. The two services were simulcast, allowing those present at one location to see and hear what was happening at the other. The retiring moderator of the General Assembly, Rev. Joan Gray, preached from John 15 reminding us of Christ's command to, "Love one another." But we are not just commanded to love those whom we find easy to love but to those we may find very difficult to love.

During this worship service we commissioned many who were going to the mission field, including Des Moines Presbytery's own Denise England. We also celebrated the ministries of many retiring missionaries. Dozens of ecumenical partners were also present to worship with us. An offering of over $34,000 was received for new church development.

Starting this evening and running through Tuesday evening the work of General Assembly will be in committees. There are 16 separate committees. Voting commissioners will work on these committees who will later bring their recommendations to the plenary session of the General Assembly later in the week. Your commissioners from Des Moines are serving on the committees of Board of Pensions, Worship and Spiritual Renewal, Review of GA Permanent Committees, Theological Issues and Institutions, and Church Growth and Christian Education. Please keep us in your prayers as we work through much of the "nitty-gritty" work of the General Assembly over the next couple of days.

The days are long, the chairs can become hard after so many hours, the issues are often complex and on some issues there is little consensus. And I wouldn't miss it for the world! Thank you for allowing me to come.

David Endriss