Easter is a celebration and time of worship. In Tanzania we spend most of the weekend celebrating. Choirs prepare special songs and skits. They memorize passages of Scripture and quote it before everyone. We had two services today. We are praising the Lord for clear weather. Our congregation is outgrowing it’s building, so being outside we were able worship with more people.
The morning service had a kids skit and another skit by the women’s group. We had to laugh as the older women decided they would be the guards at the tomb!
The afternoon service was set aside for communion. Logistics of how to have a large group take communion when there are only cups for half of them. Often they leave the group outside with choirs singing, groups of 40-50 enter the church and take communion together. When they finish, they head outside to sing and listen to choirs and the next group enters the church while the elders and pastors start all over again with them. It takes some time as the deaconesses clean the cups and refill them and set it up for each group. Today we tried another style. The pastor and elders took communion and then they washed peoples hands as they filed up front one by one and took the elements. There were some deaconess there cleaning cups right then and refilling them. In the length of 3-4 hymns we were able to all take part. It took much less time than the old system. It was special for all of us.
This was the first time this young pastor had led communion. I was able to encourage him throughout the week as he planned it all. We helped cook the bread (tortillas) at my house and mix the juice up in preparation for the celebration.
They will sing and dance and worship all day long. No matter how hot they are!
A highlight of the day was helping a pastor’s wife lead a dozen kids to the Lord after the last service.
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