Opening worship service at the 221st General Assembly
DETROIT, MICH. — Following the Gospel reading from Luke 24:28-51, the Rev. Neal Presa shared his sermon — Pilgrims’ Pitstop — with more than 2,000 commissioners, observers and guests at the opening worship of the 221st General Assembly.
The Scripture recounts the risen Jesus meeting two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Unrecognized by His followers, Jesus walked with the two, and then broke bread with them. It was then they recognized the Lord.
This scene unfolded with “terrified disciples, anxious people, bewildered companions,” said Presa. Once they arrive in Emmaus, Jesus walks ahead, but the disciples asked Him, “Stay with us,” and in that act of feasting, Presa said “their hearts were opened up and their minds were opened up.”
“The man who taught them was Jesus and these same Scriptures were about Him,” said Presa. Continuing he said, “The crucified, the son of God the risen One was right before them … He is the way, follow Him. He is the truth, seek Him in the kingdom of anxiety, He is the life, love Him in the Word.”
Referring to the Emmaus experience, Presa said, “Jesus breaks the bread to break open their hearts to the heart of God….He gives His disciples what they need, a recalibration of the heart and mind of God.”
Preparing to serve communion.
“Whenever we receive the Scripture, the bread and the cup, when we lift up our voices in prayer and praise, we are being reset like a broken bone to live and breathe for Jesus,” he said. “As we gather together as a biennial council as the 221st General Assembly this is just one pit stop in the journey of our faith and witness.”
“Come {June] 21, we will adjourn and go home … Like the disciples our eyes and hearts are opened to the self revelation of God’s help.”
He then made quite a list, including,
• whether young or old,
• whether GA Junkie or newbie
• whether Republican or Democrat
• whether a ruling elder or teaching elder
• whether belong to a small, medium or big church
• whether remaining in the PCUSA or going to the EPC, ECO or nondenominational or not sure
• whether rich or poor
• whether heterosexual or gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender
• whether you are for traditional marriage or same sex marriage…
“You and I need to continually hear the Gospel for there is no other good news of the Gospel other than Jesus Christ.”
“We have broken God’s heart,” he said. “We sought our own way choosing to live lives on our own, on our terms .. seeking to be free from the Lord and King. … There’s no money that could buy us better choices, no overtures or votes that can make our lives right. Only God can make our lives right. He came as human flesh because e care about us … He loves you … Jesus spoke the truth for He is the truth, the true way and the true life.”
“Jesus was sentenced to die to set us free. He died on the cross, ridiculed, mocked, left to die on the tree,” said Presa, but “death did not have the final answer. The Holy Spirit raised Jesus from death. He was resurrected from the tomb. He has set us free. ”
Presa continued by saying that “God sets us free so that we continually live lives of holiness and love … We are free to delight in the heart of God, and while we struggle….let us testify of God’s great and comprehensive love.”
That, said Presa, is the Gospel. “That is the good news we have been set free and anytime and every time two or three gather in God’s name we are being reset … to be sent and gathered again, and to be sent and gathered again.”
“221st General Assembly and PCUSA, abound in hope for you see what God has done. Abound in hope for you see what God is doing. Abound in hope for you see what God is doing in all of our days.”
Presa concluded his service as the Moderator of the 220th General Assembly later in the day when his successor, Heath Rada, was elected by the commissioners of the 221st General Assembly meeting in Detroit, Mich. through June 21.