It would be foolish to expect the Rev. CeCe Armstrong to take to the stage without making some noise, and she made it clear that she didn’t want participants in the Presbyterian Youth Triennium to be shrinking violets, either.
“Are you ready to change the world?” Armstrong asked as she returned to the stage for benediction on the first day of the event. “Go in peace and make some noise!”
Armstrong, the Co-Moderator of the 226th General Assembly (2024), preached during the opening night of worship at Triennium, a youth gathering that took place at the Kentucky International Convention Center in downtown Louisville.
For young people, Triennium was a revival and a chance to experience a reawakening, she said.
The worship service included an appearance by fellow Co-Moderator the Rev. Tony Larson who, early on, joined with Armstrong to bring light-hearted greetings to the crowd. There also was plenty of uplifting singing from the Nettletons and others, including Armstrong, as well as prayer, a procession, and imagery and props to connect with scriptural and thematic references.
A group known as the Energizers got worship off to a fun start by teaching the crowd a series of dance moves for them to follow along with before the service moved into more traditional worship.
Armstrong gave an encouraging and motivational sermon based on Psalm 126 (A Harvest of Joy), and Acts 2:1–21, which focuses on the day of Pentecost. She also incorporated the Triennium theme, “As if We Were Dreaming.”
As Armstrong began the sermon, she noted that Triennium audiences have been told in the past that there is work to do, and today, “there is even more work to be done.”
But there is also the need to dream.
“We were born to dream and to do work to change the world,” she said. “Now, you might dream alone, or you might do some collective dreaming. You may even face nightmares, but at the end of the day, you ought to wake up and dream.”
Delving into the psalm, Armstrong pointed out its multiple references to “shouts of joy.”
She then laid out three distinct times when shouts of joy are warranted: Restoration, renewal and resurrection.
“When one feels renewed by work that God has done, it is as if there is a new heaven and a new earth and the old has passed away,” she said before querying the crowd.
“Are y’all tired of doing something the way you’ve always done it?” she asked, receiving plenty of affirmations.
In life, it’s important to move out of God’s way, she noted, and to “let go of what was and make room for the new.”
She also talked about the resurrection of Jesus, adding that “the future is safe and sound because we have a God who can do all things but fail.”
Later, Armstrong turned to the biblical account of the day of Pentecost and the transformative power of the Holy Spirit.
“Because the Holy Spirit had come, these scared and terrified disciples were renewed and restored,” Armstrong said, noting that the Holy Spirit makes room for growth, development and the expanding of potential.
When the Holy Spirit arrived it was a noisy process, with a loud rushing of wind, Armstrong said, before asking the crowd to contemplate what kind of “noise” or difference they’re making in the world.
“What kind of noise are you making or are you making any noise back home?” she said. “Can anyone even hear you? ... Are you making yourself available for others to know you exist? If you're not, then there must be a change in your behavior. ... You must be present in the community to let them know you are here. Be loud so people can experience the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, and the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit.”
She added, “You are responsible for making noise and once that is done, you will see a new thing. You will recognize that you were born to dream.”
Videographer Alex Simon contributed to this story.
Darla Carter, Communications Strategist (Click here to read original PNS Story)
Let us join in prayer for:
Brianne Merten, Operations Associate, Operations, The Presbyterian Foundation
John Merten, Data Entry, Funds Development, Operations, Administrative Services Group
Let us pray:
Gracious God, you have faithfully walked with us through all these years. As we look toward the challenges ahead, lead us in the ways that you would have us walk. Amen.
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