With a focus on the council theme, "That all may have life in fullness", the worship committee for the 24th general council (Accra, 2004) met at the John Knox International Reformed Centre in Geneva, Switzerland, at the beginning of May. Kathy Reeves reports.

The committee is excited about the prospect of designing worship which will maintain the integrity of ecumenical worship, reflect the joy and celebration of Christian worship in Africa and create an environment of worship to surround the whole work of the general council.

Worship in Debrecen

As we remembered the central role that worship played in the life of the 23rd general council (Debrecen 1997), we were charged with preparing worship which would be equally if not more important for the participants in Accra.

Always reminded of the things which prevent all God's people from living life in fullness, daily worship will reflect the business being dealt with in the general council.

Ester Pudo Widiasih, Indonesia

During the first week of the meeting, each region of the world will be invited to lift up those issues related to justice in the economy and the earth which are of greatest concern to that region within the context of worship. In the second week, worship will focus on community, and will include a covenanting service in which delegates will be invited to dedicate themselves to stand in solidarity with Africa.

Plans are to have the worship resources available well in advance of the meeting, so that congregations in WARC member churches will be able to worship along with those who will gather in Accra, both before and during the event.

Members of the worship committee are: Walter K Bledge (Ghana); Sabine Dressler-Kromminga (Germany); Kathy Galloway (Scotland); Marcos Gianelli (Brazil); RE Oppong (Ghana); Park Seong-won (Korea); Kathy Reeves (USA); Elikosi Viliamu (Samoa); and Ester Pudjo Widiasih (Indonesia). Barbara Robra (Germany) is an invited consultant and Païvi Jussila (Finland) represents the Lutheran World Federation on the committee.

Members of the worship committee in Geneva