Synod 2022: Worship Moments

Worship services and devotions were held throughout the Synod program. All devotion times followed both the synod theme and a contemplative style.

During the opening worship, Bishop Mark reminded attendees that this is a place of prayer and that God has called us here and is here to guide us – surrendering our own agendas to make decisions together. 

The parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-9) was read during the opening devotion on Saturday morning, encouraging delegates and visitors to contemplate the Synod theme “Let us hear”.

The Sunday morning worship service was held at St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Toowoomba, celebrating Holy Trinity Sunday. With a divine operatic solo from Melinda Janetzki (accompanied by organist Andrew Doecke), the glorious sunshine streaming through St Paul’s symbolic windows, and the wonder of many voices singing to God in one accord, we soon felt as though we were in the presence of the angels. Bishop Mark preached from Matthew 13:1-13 (The Parable of the Sower) and reminded us that our hearts are made up of all those different types of soils. There are parts in our hearts that are hard and rocky, shallow and thorny. But praise be to God there’s also good soil that Christ has cleared, turned and cultivated. God scatters His love, His grace, His mercy, extravagantly upon us all so that we may come to the table in all our woundedness, gathering together to be fed and filled.  

The 2022 Convention of Synod Offering was directed to Queensland Lutheran Giving for flood and drought relief.