Election Day at General Convention

by The Rev. Kate Atkinson

When we gather for the Community Eucharist every morning – over 2,000 deputies, bishops, alternates, visitors, volunteers, family members, staff members and musicians – a certain phenomenon never fails to capture my attention.  

Every now and then, a particular group of people will file through the crowd: before the service begins, the children and their carers file in and take their place at the front of the seating area, toddlers holding fast to the hands of the teenage helpers while older children dance to the beat of the drums; during the passing of the Peace Eucharistic ministers, chosen at random as we entered the worship space, earnestly follow instructions to leave their seats and assemble at their assigned distribution point; when the Great Thanksgiving comes to an end, bearers of the elements draw together into perfect formation, mounting the steps on either side of the altar, taking up their baskets of bread or pitchers of wine, then carrying them to the deacons positioned around the edges. 

 Next come the communicants themselves, directed so gracefully by the ushers that the entire distribution seems to take no time at all!

 These glorious, diverse collections of faithful, worshipful children of God seem to be guided by a divine choreography, weaving through the aisles and boundaries of the worship space, celebrating the wonder and beauty of community with every step, every coming together and moving apart.

And today, as the Eucharist came to an end, another group of worshipers rose from their various places throughout the enormous hall, moved to the aisles and filed towards the exit – while the rest of us remained in our seats.  Our bishops, focused on the task ahead of them, on the crucial decision they would make in the coming hours, formed themselves into moving strands of hope, expectancy, and reliance on the God who continues to draw out precious threads of humanity and weaves us into the fabric of the Kingdom.