Loading...Imagine yourself standing with people your age. Now imagine yourself in a crowd of over 700 of them. All of them are Episcopalians. All of them are singing. And dancing. And praising their LORD with reckless abandon. And you find yourself joining them, dancing for joy at the presence of God in that place.
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I experienced this feeling for the first time at the worship service at EYE.
I first walked into the Great Hall, and I sat with the rest of the youth in the diocese. We were all hyped up, after meeting so many awesome people from all over the world. Then, to my surprise, the praise band started playing ‘Umbrella’ a top 10 hit by pop artist Rhianna. Of all the artists in the world, Rhianna was the last thing I would expect, and it wasn’t the last time the unexpected happened. After a few of my favorite worship songs, a teen my own age walked to the podium, and started the service.
It was EYE-opening to see so many teens worshiping in the same place, with the same service I had grown up on for years and years, the same, but enhanced with beautiful diversities. While most of us recited the LORD’s prayer in English, Indian teens from Minnesota sang it in Hmung, their native language. We learned and sang songs in Spanish and African as well as English, and we opened with Native American drumming calling us to prayer.
The presiding bishop Katharine was the Celebrant and preacher, and she also inspired me. Her points about us all being connected, a theme that I have experienced on a personal level throughout this entire trip, and her mission to heal the world which I firmly support, both spoke to me as I sat in the auditorium seats, watching her on the giant screen and in person.
Now imagine that every single person in that auditorium is a friend, an amazing person with a story, each with a unique reason for being there. And they are all swaying to the music, filled with the peace and love of the LORD, enjoying the company of those around them. And in every single one of those people, there you will find the face of GOD.
