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“Isn’t that just like a child to share?” Bishop Harold Usgaard asked. “They dared to share because they knew some is there to provide.” With these graceful but challenging words Bishop Usgaard connected the story of The Feeding of the Five Thousand in John 6 with this year’s assembly theme, “A Synod at Table with the Hungry.” Bishop Usgaard’s words came as the voting members gathered for opening worship in Presentation Hall of the Rochester Civic Center. Using elements from “Sundays and Seasons” along with liturgical elements crafted by AIM Robert Tewes, all supporting the synod’s focus on issues related to hunger and poverty, not only in the world but also in our communities. “Don’t we have enough?” Bishop Usgaard asked. “Don’t we have enough,” he added, to meet not only the resolution goal of the 2007 Assembly to raise $.5 million, but also his challenge goal of $1 million? “That’s only $8 per person in this synod.” “’Where are we to buy food for these to eat. Jesus said this to test them.’ Oh, that we could learn from this test as well,” the bishop echoed. “Today we are a synod at table with the hungry. All can be satisfied.” With these words, the assembly participants ate at God’s table to strengthen them for their work ahead, not only at the assembly but also in the year ahead. |
