As hundreds gathered together to worship Christ in the Egyptian wilderness, they sang “I Surrender All” before receiving Holy Communion. The wilderness of Egypt is where, for centuries, Christian ascetics wandered in the Spirit of Moses and the Israelites to struggle against their passions, unite their spirits with the Spirit of God, and form monastic communities dedicated to prayer, service, and the crucifixion of their flesh. They fought to surrender all, to face the demons of the arid places, and to carry their crosses. The land of Egypt, and particularly the city of Alexandria, is also the land of martyrs, consecrated virgins, evangelists, theologians, and church fathers who who gave themselves to the cause of Christ and his Gospel.
Now, as the GSFA gathers and sings “I Surrender All,” the question remains whether those in leadership will walk out this song in their own life and in the life of the GSFA. Will we gather together to truly surrender all—to surrender our hearts, our bodies, our minds to the Lord?
Read it all.GSFA Assembly 2024 begins with worship! pic.twitter.com/o8edEdGMaV
— American Anglican (@AnglicanCouncil) June 11, 2024