Charleston-Atlantic, Foothills, New Harmony, Providence and Trinity
On Saturday, May 21, 2022, the five South Carolina Presbyteries gathered at Presbyterian College and Thornwell in Clinton, SC for Convocation, Worship, and meetings. The Moderators and Vice Moderators from each of the presbyteries served as liturgist in worship. Their varied voices reminded us that while we have differences, we are united in serving our Lord. The Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, the Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), delivered a message on “God is Doing a New Thing,” based on Isaiah 43: 18-19. We raised voices in song, centered in prayer, and celebrated the Lord’s Supper.
Rev. Terri Price from Providence Church led us in the following Prayers of the People:
God of creation –
the clear blue skies and the tumultuous storm,
the insignificant wildflower and the carefully nurtured rose,
the open prairie and salt-laden seashore and fierce mountain;
we thank you for your love made visible
in the creation in which you have placed us.
God of all human beings –
of the hopeful and despondent,
the peacemaker and the warmonger,
the flourishing and the dying,
the bitter and the joyful;
we thank you for your love made manifest to all of us
in the person of your Son, Jesus.
All-knowing One,
all-powerful One,
all-loving One,
we turn to you this day in praise and protest.
Praise for the world and our life in it;
protest against the loathsome acts around us.
We cry out in sorrow
for citizens in Ukraine, fighting against a more powerful aggressor;
for shoppers in Buffalo, New York, killed by hate;
for worshipers in Geneva Presbyterian Church
and their sister congregation, Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian,
who watched as their fellowship disintegrated into fear.
Reassure us in our doubt;
comfort us in our sorrow;
restore to us the joy of our salvation.
God of the sparrow and child,
God of the thriving and elder,
remind us of your nearness when we fear you are far off,
and console us with your love when we fear we are forgotten.
Touch the sick in mind and body with your healing;
comfort the mourners with your care;
protect the weak with your strength.
To you, O Holy One, we pray these things,
trusting that you hear us
and love us as did your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
We pray together using the words he taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven;
give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil;
for thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory forever.
Amen.
You can watch the Convocation and Worship service on the Foothills Presbytery YouTube channel
Worship begins at minute 52.
