Gathering All Nations: A Multicultural Worship Service and International Dinner

By Jane Esterline

Attendees participate in worship.


View more photos from the event

On World Communion Sunday, October 5, 2008, 480 people from across the Presbytery of Chicago filled the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church of Evanston and joined in worship and fellowship. This gathering celebrated the good news of our common ministry in a multicultural Church. The service began with a procession representing 20 countries continued with many cultural expressions for witnessing to the expansive love of God. Multicultural worship is at ease in incorporating symbols, music and worship patterns from around the world and around the block.

South Asian Fellowship, a New Church Development in Wheeling with over more than 100 members, offered a liturgical dance piece full of color, grace, gentleness and praise. Leaders Bonita Gilchrist, the Rev. Eddie Knox Jr. and the Rev. Samuel Akhtar shared scriptures highlighting the movement from Abraham’s covenant to be a blessing to the nations, to Isaiah’s vision of God’s community coming from the east, west, north and south and the message from Ephesians that we are one in Christ across multiple boundaries, no longer strangers or aliens.

The afternoon worship service was organized in a partnership between the Multicultural Church Ministry Team of the Presbytery of Chicago’s Advance Justice Mission Priority Leadership Team and First Presbyterian Church of Evanston. The vision for the service was to see the face of Jesus in every sister and brother and to warm hearts to reach out and embrace difference with hands willing to work for God’s beloved shalom.

The Rev. Raafat Girgis, Associate for Multicultural Ministries, PC(USA).

God’s shalom was felt as The Voices of Pullman and the Instruments of Peace liturgical Dance Group from Pullman Presbyterian Church sang and danced their way into our hearts. The congregation responded by standing, clapping and singing with the choir led by Glenn Safford. Korean Drummers were invited to embody Psalm 150: Praise God with clanging cymbals; praise God with loud clashing cymbals! Everyone assembled gave exuberant praise and thanksgiving to God.

The Rev. Raafat Girgis, Associate for PC(USA)’s Office of Multicultural Ministries, offered the message for the evening. Continuing the journey through scripture, the Rev. Girgis returned to Abraham and moved to the example of Ruth who devoted herself to the family and faith of Naomi, the many nations involved in the formation of the people of God, including the woman from Samaria who overcame social and cultural limitations to accept Jesus’ living water and become the first disciple to proclaim the good news.

First Evanston has hosted World Communion multicultural services in the past and invited the Multicultural Church Ministry Team (MCMT) to partner in their efforts this year. MCMT has hosted previous multicultural services and will continue to promote integrated worship as an ongoing witness to the glory of God working among the nations and here at home.

A Celebration of God’s Inclusive Love

By Verna Todd

“. . . my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”    Isaiah 56:7

The October 5 celebration at First Presbyterian Church of Evanston provided a banquet of performances and foods from many traditions.  Representatives of 30 cultures, wearing traditional dress and led by a mariachi band, processed down the aisles of the sanctuary which was decorated with the flags of many nations. People from eight congregations offered praise to God in the languages of their ethnicity. 

They danced in vibrant-hued saris, perched on the floor and beat Korean drums, clapped and sang spirituals and read passages from scripture that portrayed the diversity God created and the role of the foreigner.  African-American children and adults demonstrated in dance the hunger of all people for God, who is "our daily bread."

Following the service all were invited to commune in a bountiful feast organized by First Presbyterian Church of Evanston. The food overflowing the buffet tables was free of charge, prepared by families in the participating congregations or donated by local restaurants.  Kim chee, pad thai, cellophane noodles, rice pulau, naan, jerk chicken and American cookies from a package — all eaten in company with new friends of many ethnicities — made the communion of saints at God's table a tangible reality.