Jena O’Brien is a junior at Bluffton (Ohio) University. 

After a busy opening to the 2017 Mennonite Church USA Convention in Orlando Tuesday night, convention attendees took time Wednesday afternoon to come together as a group to sing new and old hymns.

This was a time for both adult and youth members to take a moment to worship God together while reflecting individually. Participants stood closely together, forming a circle for the simple and intimate worship session with a piano for accompaniment.

Classic hymns known by many from their previous worship experience were sung throughout the session while there was also time for introducing new songs to those in attendance.

Embracing the diversity of both the Mennonite faith and the backgrounds of the members attending the convention, hymns with verses in Spanish were also included.

Those in attendance could feel the shift in the room as the Valencia Room was filled with the beautiful and passionate sound of a group of individuals from different districts and conferences coming together as one to share this eminent experience on the second day of convention.