Worship at GC

So what is worship like here? Unlike anything you've seen, unless you've been to General Convention. Imagine LOTS of people. Two or three thousand, I think. (Not sure about that -- I'll try to get a number.) Anyway, people sit at round tables. In each liturgy, there is a time for the table to discuss the scriptures. The service looks a little like regular church (candles, an altar, sometimes a choir) and a little like a sports event (giant crowd with bad convention center lighting). The hymn singing is glorious.

As an aside, the organ for Convention is borrowed from Trinity Church, Wall Street, NYC. Their pipe organ was ruined on September 11, 2001. Since that time, they've been using an electronic organ. They have two identical consoles, so one of them was shipped off to Columbus for the daily Eucharists. Considering there are no pipes and we're in a lousy acoustic, it sounds pretty good.

Anyway, here are some photos. There is holy water (RISEN readers will know this as a "stoup") just inside the door.













Lots of people at lots of tables. The art on the screens to the sides of the altar changes regularly. It was donated/loaned (in digital form) by people from all around the Episcopal Church.













There are a few kids at Convention. They get tables and activities during the services.














The view from the back.













Communion is distributed. Lots of stations. There is also diversity here in ways that it's hard to imagine -- race, theological perspective, country of origin, sexual orientation, age, and religious vocation. In addition to the usual range of lay/bishop/priest/deacon, there are lots of people here in religious orders. Not a common experience for most Episcopalians.















Did I mention diversity? Even in the bread that is offered...