Korean American Churches: From generation to generation

"We're starting to put English translations on the screen for main points of the service, especially the sermon. It's more welcoming to visitors and English-speaking spouses," says Hyuk Seonwoo, pastor of Zion Korean United Methodist Church in Warwick, Rhode Island.

Seonwoo spent 18 months preparing his congregation to accept the practice of weekly communion. 

"At first church members felt that weekly communion was less holy." But now, he said, "People keep telling that they have a deep sense of reverence."

The whole church-both children and youth, who worship downstairs in English, and adults, who worship upstairs in Korean-join for weekly Holy Communion. They use both languages for songs and liturgy, and Seonwoo encourages groups of any age and arrangement to provide special music in the language of their choice.

Seonwoo says he's become especially interested in liturgical symbols and actions that speak wordlessly. "Even without words, by celebrating Holy Communion, people can see and experience that we are one body of Christ-across generations, across cultures, across languages," he says.

Read the full article: http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/korean-american-churches-from-generation-to-generation/ (Calvin Institute of Christian Worship)