Over 200 Presbyterian commissioners, staff and guests joined the ministers, choir and musicians of Vaughan Community Church (VCC) for a service of worship and communion that was a joyful beginning to the 151st General Assembly. Warm words of welcome were shared by the Rev. Young Min Koh, Senior Minister of Vaughan Community Church. He spoke of the joy of gathering together and shared the Korean word “jeong” – which speaks of deep affection, mutual care and a deep sense of belonging. He welcomed those gathered in the spirit of jeong.
The VCC Praise Team and Toronto Vaughan Korean Church Choir raised their voices to God as they shared their musical gifts with those gathered. Following communion, the Rev. Jeffrey Murray, Moderator of the 150th General Assembly, preached on Matthew 3:13 – 4:11. He contrasted the misuse and exploitation of power over the ages with Christ’s Messiahship– a power given in love and received with humility. This new kind of power, the power of God at work in the world, represented how the church should choose one form of power over another –“not that, but this”. The church should use its power to reach out in love to those who are excluded, hungry, cold and lost. Jeff shared, “This past year has been a blessing because, against the backdrop of the world, I had the chance to experience the power of God’s spirit alighting upon people and upon communities bearing witness to God’s love and to the ways of God’s peaceable kingdom.” He spoke of his travel in Palestine and Israel, his visits with Indigenous ministries in Canada, and his visits with Presbyteries and congregations. In these places, he saw the love of Christ lived out. Jeff ended his sermon with words of encouragement: “The church of Jesus Christ is sent out because of God’s love. As a church empowered by the Spirit we are sent out to bear the fruits of that love.” Opening worship concluded with a rousing rendition of “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.”
The first sederunt began with the Rev. Jeffrey Murray installing the Rev. Lara Scholey into the high office of Moderator of the 2026 General Assembly of the PCC. After expressing her thanks, Lara recognized past moderators and other guests, including international visitors. She then shared a prayer with the commissioners, that over the next few days they would find “wisdom and discernment, courage of spirit, integrity of purpose, clarity of speech, kindness in interactions and openness to God’s grace.” The first sederunt concluded with matters of business.