[Worship Bulletin]

Photo by Regina Roberts A band led music for worship, with members Joseph Helfrich, Brian Kruschwitz, Brett Clark, and Andrew Wright.

Photo by Regina Roberts A drama by young adults highlighted issues raised by the Iraq War: (from left) Cassidy McFadden and Nick Kauffman.

Photo by Regina Roberts Preacher Jeff Carter is pastor of Manassas (Va.) Church of the Brethren.

Photo by Regina Roberts Carter preached for worship in the Public Auditorium of the Cleveland Convention Center.

Some Assembly Required
Ephesians 4:1-6
Preacher: Jeff Carter

Together we become church
Everyone has a different image for the church--tall spires, stained glass windows, simple meeting houses, wooden pews--but for Jeff Carter, pastor of Manassas (Va.) Church of the Brethren, the image that warms his heart, among other things, is the heat register at Westminster (Md.) Church of the Brethren.

That’s because he sat on that register every Sunday before worship while waiting for a church family to invite him to sit with them in their pew. It was 1977, and his mother, single and divorced, was welcomed by church members who might themselves disapprove of divorce but whose unity had nothing to do with their theological disagreements. A place was made for her in the church choir and a spot with a family was made for Carter every Sunday.

Carter reminded all that we don’t all share the image of “heat register” when we think of the church, but it is by combining the differing images, memories, and experiences that we become the church.

Just as he did in last year’s National Youth Conference, Carter was given the chance to preach at the opening worship service when many are exhausted from travel and getting settled in strange surroundings. As before, his vibrant delivery, filled with depth and humor, inspired the congregation even as he challenged Brethren to seek unity in their service to Jesus.

Preaching from Ephesians 4:1-6, with the title “Some Assembly Required,” he insisted that only when we are assembled with our differing viewpoints into one body that we become the church. Just as Peter and Paul gathered in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, and the intrepid eight Brethren met 300 years ago, in both instances to discuss what it meant to be the church, so “We Brethren,” he said, must ask, “what is our mission, our purpose, our voice? Will you speak out, for the church needs you?”

Brethren are to be known, he reminded us, “by the manner of their living.” He concluded by demonstrating with a set of nesting dolls, which his daughters often leave around the house, how we may each give the little dolls a different name but when you nestle them all together one inside the other, we are finally the church.

--Frank Ramirez

Photo by Glenn Riegel Moderator Belita Mitchell carried in the light of Christ.	Photo by Regina Roberts A choir from a local Cleveland congregation sang for the opening worship.
	Photo by Regina Roberts Chrissy Sollenberger was the young adult worship leader.

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