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 The
following is a reflection on the theme of the 10th Assembly 'Witness
the glory of God' and was written by Rev.
Dr. Dean Drayton specifically
for the 2003 Mission Prayer Handbook.
Witness
the glory of God
It is possible to suddenly discover the Cosmos
is God's - the gift of a God who is found in our world, addresses
even us, and brings glory.
The glory - sometimes experienced in the brightness
of a light that encompasses with warmth.
The glory - sometimes sensed
in the darkness at the bottom of an abyss.
God there in spine tingling majesty and beauty -
God there in gut wrenching tears of sorrow and compassion.
And then there is the silence, the deep, deep slience of eternity.
In the midst of pain and confusion, we can hear the still small voice
of the one who suffered a cross to become God's glory of us.
The Spirit opens our eyes, and ears, frees our tongues, and touch,
to the wonder of life, life made new, starting with hope again;
The glory of God pushing us out into the midst of life,
drawing us to where God is found.
The first cry of a baby just born, the hopes and hurts of society, the last
sigh of a life just lived.
A world touched with cross and resurrection.
And in the web of all human life, the peace that passes human understanding.
We are among those who have witnessed the glory
of God,
lived to tell the tale, tossed into a world that is no longer our own.
Our very fallibility a sign of the graciousness of the One of Glory.
As the people of God, we point to the one who is experienced in the mystery
of bread and wine, and the water that washes entirely.
With singing and shouting and story and joy we witness the glory of God who
calls to all.
With lamentation and shouting and story and grief we witness what has been
done to the glory of God.
But, in worship, witness and service, there is now the profoundest hope.
"The earth shall be filled with glory of God as the waters cover the sea."
Dean Drayton
Isaiah 6 : 1-3; Proverbs 8 : 30, 31; John 11 :
40; Habukuk 2 : 14; 2 Corinthians 4 : 6
Rev. Dr. Dean Drayton's Biography
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