Saturday, June 29

Moderator Paul Grout raises a handmade, wooden cross at Saturday's opening worship.

WEATHER: Partly cloudy, warm and muggy, high near 90.

KEY EVENTS: Meetings of Standing Committee, General Board, Council of District Executives, and other groups; opening of exhibit hall; orientation for first-time Annual Conference attendees; Association of Brethren Caregivers recognition dinner; international visitors dinner; opening worship; hearings on unfinished business items; welcoming and greeting of new church fellowships and pastors; initial age-group activities and Bible studies.

TODAY'S QUOTE: "The church is being destroyed by those who assume they hold the spiritual and moral high ground. Christ in the North American church is being crucified daily." — Annual Conference moderator Paul Grout

WORSHIP: Moderator Paul Grout gave the address, titled "New Sight," in a powerful opening worship service Saturday evening. Grout began by assembling a huge, handmade wooden cross with a figure of Jesus hanging upon it, saying that even though he's done it

Kathy Fry-Miller of Fort Wayne, Ind., sprinkles ashes on her head during an invitation to repentance.

many times it still makes him nervous. "I understand still that I am crucifying Jesus in my life," he said. He then challenged the present-day, North American church in many areas, bemoaning its focus on issues, its tendency toward isolationism, its tendency to be stuck in the past, its arrogance, and its desperate need for repentance. "The North American church is in trouble, make no mistake. The kingdom of God is not," Grout said. He concluded by inviting anyone who felt led to come forward and take ash and sackcloth as a sign of repentance. Some also knelt before the cross in prayer. Other highlights included a recognition of international guests, welcoming new church fellowships in the denomination; and a variety of moving music. Moderator-elect Harriety Finney served as worship leader.

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS: Ekklesiyar Yan'uwa a Nigeria (Church of the Brethren in Nigeria) president Toma Ragnjiya and his wife, Kwanye; Brazil national coordinator Marcos Inhauser; and Dominican Republic Brethren moderator Felix Arias Mateo are all in attendance this week. . . . New church fellowships welcomed were Rios de Agua Viva Fellowship of Winter Park, Fla.; Iglesia de Cristo Genesis,

Bev Anspaugh of Mount Joy, Pa., browses the selections in the Brethren Press bookstore.

meeting in the Imperial Heights congregation's building in Lennox, Calif.; and River Valley Fellowship of Moorefield, W.Va.

BITS FROM THE CONFERENCE JOURNAL AND ELSEWHERE: This is the third time that Louisville has hosted Annual Conference. The previous times were in 1966 and 1969. . . . Prior to Saturday's worship, Western Pennsylvania District executive Ron Beachley shared reflections and offered prayer for Standing Committee member Karen Jones of Champion, Pa., who was struck and killed while crossing a Louisville street on Thursday. . . . Andrew Wright, pastor of the New Carlisle (Ohio) Church of the Brethren, was a late substitute as music coordinator after Tony Leach had to withdraw due to a conflict. . . . Long registration lines had formed by late Saturday afternoon and evening, and nearly all seats in the main hall were filled for worship. . . . Two hotels were already offering ice cream sundae bars Saturday evening.