Worship in Kilolo

Before coming to Tanzania, those who know told me that a highlight of the trip would be worshipping in the villages throughout the Iringa Diocese. On my first Sunday here, I got to ride along with Al Klinefelter as he visited the companion congregation for his home church, King of Kings Lutheran in Woodbury. Pastor Gary Langness drove. Pastor Israel came along as an interpreter and I observed. It was a full day.

We left Iringa at 8:00 for what we thought would be a one and a half hour drive. Roads were better than expected so it only took an hour. We arrived before they expected us, but were warmly greeted. Pastor Kingonga invited us into his office to "sign the book," a ritual every visitor must do. After visiting about a half hour, we were invited into his home, next to the church, for something to eat. There we were joined by elders and evangelists for the Kilolo parish. Church was to begin at 10.

Somewhere around 10:30 the church bell rang the choir sang us into the sanctuary for worship. All distinguished guests sat in the front of the church facing the congregation. That was us! Both Gary and I were asked to bring greetings, using the interpreter. Since this was Al's companion parish, he preached. Five choir anthems, two offerings, four or five speeches, one sermon, introductions of congregational leaders, the liturgy, hymns, scripture and prayer filled the two hour service.

During the singing of one of the choir anthems, I heard a chicken clucking loudly. I thought there must be a chicken pen just outside the open window. When the offering was taken, I realized that someone brought the chicken to church to give in the offering. The chicken, along with the rest of the offering, was brought to the altar and placed beside those of us seated there. It was well behaved. After the service, all non-cash gifts given during the offering were auctioned off in the sanctuary. Not only was the chicken well behaved, but must have been very good, because it fetched $3.50. We were told later that the one auctioned in the Cathedral in Iringa only went for $1.00.

After the service, there were handshakes all around and more conversation. We were then invited back into the pastor's house to eat lunch. We were again joined by a group of about 18 people and had a feast of two kinds of chicken, rice, beans and Pepsi. As we left, the handshakes and well wishes were long and generous. I'm invited back any time.

I observed several interesting things:

Men sat on one side and women on the other, for the most part.
Liturgical dance is alive and well in Kilolo - there was dancing during every choir anthem.
God can sing louder, even than a great African choir. Even though it thundered and rained on the metal roof repeatedly during the worship, the the pastor just went on, without the aid of a microphone.
Time was suspended for one day. All that mattered was that the people were together worshipping God.
I have yet to see anyone using a cell phone while driving a car.
I've only seen about five people smoking cigarettes any time during this first week.
It would be impossible to be on a low carb diet here.

After filling the car with people needing a ride home or back to Iringa, we stopped to view two of the preaching points for the Kilolo parish, drove back to Iringa and arrived home by 4:30.

I now feel like I've been in the middle of the real Tanzania. The roads, the people, the worship, the food, the generous smiles, the celebration of people being together, the joy of making new friends - all combined to make a festive and interesting day.

I took a lot of pictures, but am still not on my own computer, so I won't be adding them yet. Soon, very soon.