From 27 June to 2 July, the meeting of the Council of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) took place in Geneva. Its theme was “Freely you have received, freely give” (Mt 10:8).
“Our energy… comes from the gifts that we have received freely”A warm and joyful worship service with Holy Communion marked the opening of the 2018 Council meeting of the Lutheran World Federation. Forty-eight Council representatives from LWF member churches, advisers, consultants and ecumenical guests took part in the meeting, whose theme this year was “Freely you have received, freely give” (Mt 10:8).
The opening worship service was led by Council member Cheryl Phillip of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Rev. Jonas Yigezu Dibisa of the Evangelical Lutheran Church Mekane Yesus in Ethiopia, who preached from the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 10, verses 2–8. Rev. Carla Steilmann of the Evangelical Church of the River Plate in Argentina led the Holy Communion part.
The gathering of the Council took place at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, and its opening worship service was held in the centre’s chapel.
The opening worship service was a joyful event with participants from LWF churches in seven regions.
Rev. Jonas Yigezu Dibisa of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ethiopia preaches at the opening worship service of the 2018 Council.
In his sermon on the theme “Freely you have received, freely give” (Mt 10:8), Rev. Jonas Yigezu Dibisa of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ethiopia said that the text sets out what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ and what significance the church has.
He told the Council that the servants of the kingdom of God are sent into a broken world. “It is into this very world that the church is sent. To the very same challenges the Council itself is tasked to work.”
“Our motivation, our energy and our dedication come from the realization that we have received gifts freely and in abundance,” said Yigezu Dibisa.
Those present give one another the sign of peace at the opening worship service of the 2018 LWF Council.
Rev. Carla Steilmann of the Evangelical Church of the River Plate in Argentina consecrates Holy Communion.
Geneva, Switzerland, 28/6/2018
The LWF Council is convened every year and is the highest institution of the LWF in the period between Assemblies. The Council is made up of the President, the chair of the Finance Committee and 48 representatives from LWF member churches in seven regions.
Source: Lutheran World Federation news