Convention Opening Service Highlights Youth Choir from Across the Synod

Convention Opening Service features youth from across the Synod

PHOENIX — “Had Christ, who once was slain, Not burst His three-day prison, Our faith had been in vain: But now has Christ arisen, arisen, arisen; But now has Christ arisen!”

These words rang out loudly from an assembly of thousands gathered in the Phoenix Convention Center yesterday evening, Saturday, July 18. They were echoed by a highly skilled youth choir and accompanied by a jubilant band of brass instruments.

This hymn, “This Joyful Eastertide” (Lutheran Service Book 482), began the Opening Divine Service of the 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), which is being held July 18–23 at the Phoenix Convention Center. The readings, hymns, vestments, choral pieces and instrumentals were all that of an Easter service — perhaps an unexpected choice on a hot July evening, but a fitting one to begin a convention held under the theme “Christ Is Risen Indeed,” based on 1 Corinthians 15:20–22.

It was also a fitting reminder of the central tenet of the faith — not only for the more than 1,300 convention delegates and representatives preparing to commence five days of churchly deliberation, discussion and decision-making, but for the many around the world who watched the service livestream.

As LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison wrote in his report in the first issue of Today’s Business, “The theme of this convention is ‘Christ Is Risen Indeed.’ Let this not be a slogan we sing … and then leave behind when we enter the committee rooms. Resolutions are confessions. When we adopt a resolution on church planting, we confess that the risen Christ still saves sinners. When we adopt a resolution on the Lord’s Supper, we confess that He is truly, bodily and graciously present in that Meal. When we adopt a resolution that bears witness to the inerrant Word, we confess that His Word is living, active and trustworthy. Let our resolutions sound like the Gospel they confess, as they are clear in doctrine, charitable in spirit and hopeful in expectation.”

Earlier on Saturday, the LCMS convention’s floor committees, responsible for drafting the resolutions that the Synod will consider in the coming days, met to hear final feedback on these drafted resolutions from the church body. The deliberation and voting on these resolutions begins today. A Saturday evening Divine Service traditionally precedes the opening of business for the LCMS convention.

“It is wonderful to have the opportunity to get together with fellow members of the Body of Christ and those that we share a confession with. … It is a wonderful chance to see a picture of the bigger chu

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Source: Read the original report