Service Combines Hip-hop and Holy Praise

Delegates to Synod 2009 gathered at Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church on Sunday afternoon for a service of prayer and praise that included rousing praise songs, a sermon on unity in the church, and a video that told the story of Christianity through rap and hip-hop music.

The Synodical Service of Prayer and Praise, held every year at the start of Synod, drew about 650 participants.

Gathered in the spacious, state-of-the-art sanctuary of Elmhurst’s new church that sits along a freeway south of Chicago, the delegates and officers of Synod 2009 participated in a service that combined a wide range of modern and traditional elements and a sermon that was applicable to the issues they will discuss in coming days.

“Is it happening?” asked Rev. Bert DeJong during his sermon. “Are there more people today who believe in Jesus through our message? How are we doing? Our church is one of the delivery systems for the gospel message of Jesus Christ.”

All of the business that Synod 2009 conducts ought to be done with this mission in mind, he said. “It wouldn’t be right if we don’t begin our week looking at who comes to our churches and why,” said DeJong whose church is serving as the convening congregation for Synod 2009.

The main theme of his message was the need for Christians to seek unity, and how hard it can be to accomplish that. “Even in our small denomination there are obstacles, things we have to set aside,” he said.

Think about it, he said, unity arises out of how well people live their lives in the sight of God. If there is bickering, what impression does that give others? Who would want to go to church if they felt that they were coming in “to attend a family feud.”

Synod 2009 is meeting on the campus of Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill., through the week. Delegates from all over North America will be discussing, among other thing, how the church sees itself and how it wants to do outreach.

Rev. Jerry Dykstra, executive director of the CRCNA, offered the opening prayer and Cal Walstra, a member of Elmhurst and delegate to this year’s Synod, gave a welcome at the service.

Part of the service included selections from the church’s praise band. The church’s choir led in singing more traditional songs and hymns.

An intriguing part of the service was presentation on a big screen of a video titled “Fast Forward” from the Willow Creek Association.

Through hip-hop and rap music, along with stunning historical backgrounds, three performers told the story of the Christian church, starting with Christ’s prayer for the church, moving through the era of the Crusades and monasteries, stopping to sketch the events of the Reformation and bringing it through the turbulent ‘60s and up until today. Its theme also was unity.

Rev. William T. Koopmans, president of this year’s Synod, and Rev. Shelia Holmes, vice president of Synod and the first African American woman to hold that position, officiated over the celebration of Communion.

“With joy we praise you, gracious God, for you have created heaven and earth, made for us in your image,” Koopmans said over the communion elements of bread and wine.

After the service, synodical delegates ate dinner prepared for them by members of the church.

Synod 2009 was to resume with a short plenary session Monday morning, after which delegates again go into their assigned committees to sort through the issues to come before Synod,