Worship Arts April May June 2022

in that community. Eventually, a few of them will try worship, and if you’re already doing some multi-cultural elements, they just might stick around and tell a few of their friends. If you want to become multi-cultural, you must get involved. Doing multi-cultural worship should naturally follow reaching out to multi-cultural communities.” Last year Kathy participated in the Jamaican Consulate’s In dependence Celebration. This August they will celebrate 50 years of independence and she plans on attending. The South Florida Caribbean Chorale comes to her church every Christmas to do a concert. Kathy shares, “Someone in the Jamaican community who is looking for a church might remem ber the church and visit.” What vegetables and fruit are in the salad bowl called your com munity? How will you celebrate the wonderful colors, shapes, textures, and flavors that God created? Each faith community has to listen, to share, and to discern together how they will allow the Spirit to work within and around them to cel ebrate each unique gift from all of God’s people. Thanks be to God for the opportunity to be in ministry with each other! NOTE 1 For current information go to census.gov and be prepared to dig. What’s in your salad bowl?

cover there are mission and service opportunities that will be deepened by serving together. After a discernment/listening time with the worship leaders of First United Methodist Church of Flushing, NY, it was decided to cel ebrate communion with the Kore an host community by incorporat ing the tradition of Bojagi as a part of the fall 2011 Missionary Com missioning Service of the General Board of Global Ministries. Bojagi (Bo-Jah-ki), traditional Korean wrapping cloths, were once used in formal ceremonies as well as daily activities in Korea. They were cre ated from leftover pieces of cloth or paper and then beautifully embroi dered together. The form and size of the Bojagi was determined by the planned use of the cloths and the result was a beautiful work of art. Bojagi protected and decorated items and gifts wrapped inside them – a wonderful tradition that preceded our cry today to “go green.” The cloths held precious objects, everyday items (clothes, bedding) and covered food in the home. For the commissioning service, the chalices and patens were wrapped in the cloths prior to the service. The bread was wrapped in a white cloth, placed on a paten,

and then covered within the folds of the Bojagi. The chalices were wrapped empty and filled after they were unwrapped in the chancel. Each missionary brought one of them in, placed it on the commu nion table, and unwrapped it in place so that the cloth of the Boja gis also became a part of the visuals for worship (see photo above). Get involved and reach out! K athy Nolesco, member of The Fellowship’s Multicul tural Committee and pastor of a multi-cultural church shares, “If you want to reach out to those of another culture, you have to go where they are. You can’t just do awesome multi-cultural worship and expect people from other cultures to come in the doors. What cultural groups live in the community around your church? Is there a group, organization, or event for that cultural group? IF so, GET INVOLVED! Does that group need ESOL classes? Do they need help with school supplies? REACH OUT! Partici pate in those communities beyond the church, meet the needs of those communities, and your church presence will begin to be known

REV. DEBRA TYREE (Debi) is an ordained deacon in The United Methodist Church. She is now

Minister of Worship and Mission at Bellevue United Methodist Church in Nashville, TN, and serves The Fellowship as Financial/Personnel Coordinator.

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