Experiences from the YAAD

My name is Krista and I am the Young Adult Advisory Delegate, so I am going to share some reflections from my first 3 days of being here at General Assembly.

From YAAD Orientation (My second day in Minneapolis)
Where to begin? This day has been full of activities and excitement. Continuing to meet new people and make connections that are far reaching.
I guess I will just list a few of the things that happened today

-We had worship not once, not twice, but three times today.
-I got to lead the call to confession in the last service.
-We had a bunch of woman from the office of Christian Vocation come and speak with us.
-We had a presentation on Parliamentary Procedures (so exciting :D)
-Dinner was sponsored by the seminaries, got lots of info and free stuff from them (plus I rocked at seminary trivia).
-We met all of the candidates for moderator/vice moderator.
-We also met the outgoing moderator and his vice moderator.

One of the things I heard echoed by many today, is something I have been saying for the last year and it's that the church has to realize that we as the young people are not the future of the church. We are the church now, in this time, doing the work of Christ in the world around us. TOGETHER we ALL are the future of the church and we have to be willing to listen with open minds and hearts with one another in order to move the church in new directions to follow where God is leading.

The scriptural theme for GA219 is from John 7:38 "Out of the believers heart shall flow rivers of living water." We have all come from many places around this nation and around the world, to gather as the body of Christ to discern where God is leading us as the Church, and as we come, we bring many gifts, many talents, many voices, many concerns, many lifestyles, and many struggles. But we all come on the common ground of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:2) and we all come discerning, seeking the will of God, and listening to that still small voice in the midst of sometimes loud commotion around us.

This morning in quiet time I was reading some Bonhoeffer and he said this, "Prayer does not mean simply to pour out one's heart. It means rather to find the way to God and to speak with him, whether the heart is full or empty. No man can do that by himself. For that he needs Jesus Christ."

There will be times in the week ahead where I may feel empty, and times like now where I feel really full, but no matter what I know that I have to seek God and speak to God. This is where the rivers of living water will flow from, the outcome of our time spent discerning the will of God will flow for years to come. The rivers will cut through many lives leaving lasting impressions and flowing into other rivers and streams, forming new stronger currents that will lead the church in the years to come. It all starts here, it all starts with the voice of God, the love of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit within us to get the spring started so the rivers can flow, so lives can be changed, and so the Church can move forward in unity.

My prayer in the days to come is for patience, for strength, and for a discerning heart and mind.

From GA Day 1 (My 3rd Day in Minneapolis)

So it is now 1:11am on Sunday morning. I am just getting back to my room after the first official day of business here at the General Assembly. Where to begin on the day?

For the first time today I walked into the plenary hall and found my seat as a Young Adult Advisory Delegate and it is a moment I will never forget. Most people who know me know that I am pretty enthusiastic about the church. I love the Presbyterian church, I love the reformed faith, the ability of the body to agree to disagree and yet come together on the common ground of Christ. A little more about that later...

Walking into the plenary hall, I saw chairs sitting out and realized just how big this is. I realized that I along with a little over 200 other people are here so the Church can hear our voice and engage with us in discerning where God is moving in the Church. I realized that together the commissioners and delegates are making decisions that will leave a lasting impact on the church in years to come. And I realized just how awesome our God is, to give us grace and mercy, patience, love, and kindness when we are cranky, when technology is posing problems, and when we just want to go to bed.

Tonight we elected a new moderator. It was exciting, not because the candidate I wanted to win won, but because we saw the body of Christ, divided in a vote come together even after the new moderator was announced and join in welcoming her as our chosen moderator. Unity, it is something we as humans often have a problem with. And after a few votes, a few technical difficulties, a few unhappy moments, the decision was final and we stood on the common ground that in the end Christ is head of the church and we work for the common good of all people around the world.

That is exciting, that is encouraging, that is what makes me proud to be a part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). It was barely a month ago that I found out I would be coming to the 219th General Assembly, and while I was excited I was also nervous. I have prayed, discerned, prepared, and listened in the last month. I have opened myself up to the Holy Spirit and to the people around me (especially in the last two days) and I have fallen deeper in love with the Church I have loved for years.

Before I left for GA my Grandmother told me that I am a 5th Generation Presbyterian (that she knows of) coming down from my Grandfathers side of the family. Why she decided to tell me, I may never know, but what I do know is that I am thankful for a rich Presbyterian tradition within my family. I am thankful for the opportunity to grow up in a church that encourages education, community, and social justice. I am thankful for the opportunity to serve this church in many ways over the last few years. But more importantly I am thankful for Jesus Christ who calls us, who leads us, and who breaks down barriers so that we can listen to one another and together discern what is God's will for our future.

My prayer is that as we move into the business of our committees we continue to listen for the voice of God from within scripture, from our confessions, from within ourselves, and from those around us. This is my prayer so that together all of us, from all ethnic backgrounds, from all ages, from all areas of the world, from males and females alike, and from all social and economic classes can together be Christ's church in this 21st century. So that we can rise up to the challenges of the world around us, to accept one another as God's beloved children, as brothers and sisters in Christ, and as equal heirs to the God's grace that is found in Christ. May we work for unity, for reconciliation, and for the hope a bright future in the Presbyterian Church. Thanks be to God for this General Assembly, for calling us as we are in this time and in this place to diligently and faithfully carry out the duties set before us. The road ahead seems long, but we do not travel it alone. Thanks be to God, Amen.

Peace,
KP