Sunday was the high-mark of the trip--so far. After having our picture taken next to the gate to the House of Moses, we got into the van to attend worship at Garden Presbyterian Church in Lusaka. We arrived at the church at 9:15 and there were a handful of people who welcomed us warmly--in normal Zambian style. A few of our group found seats in the pews, but the pastor of the church, Jane Nyrionga came up and insisted that we all come into the sacristy at the front of the church. Waiting for us were all the elders of their session. We signed a sheet of paper so when the clerk of session read the announcements during the service, he could introduce each of us to the congregation. Normally Garden Church has two services, but because we were there they combined them into one. After we were seated--Joe B. and the Clerk of Session were seated on big chairs in the chancel and the rest of us on pews, the service started at 9:50. The first part of the service was bi-lingual: English and Nyanja. There were no surprises: the congregation sang hymns, the call to worship, and the prayer of confession. Jodi Martin read the Old Testament lesson: the first eleven verses of the 40th Psalm and it was translated into Nyanja. At this time the church was about half full. Then the youth choir sang and another hymn was sung. The Clerk of Session read the announcements. As there was no bulletin, there was not abridged version--he read them all. Suddenly the church was full to over flowing. After were were introduced, they did the Exchanging of the Peace and the congregation lined up to shake hands with us. Another choir sang and then Joe B. was introduced and he read the Gospel lesson: John 19 starting with the 25th verse.
Joe B.'s sermon was translated sentence-by-sentence by a 23-year-old university student. He had never done simultaneous translation before, but they started off OK. Then Joe B. put his hand on his shoulder and asked, "How old are you?" For a moment he did not realize he was not to translate the question, but answer it. Joe B. continued with a sermon illustration about when he was about the age of the translator and working in construction while he was off for the summer while he going to college. We could feel the congregation suddenly start to get into the message of the sermon. There were heads nodding and several "amens" while he spoke. The translator got into the spirit of the message and started gesturing like Joe B. did. It was a beautiful and meaningful sermon that the translation did not detract from in the least.
After the sermon, Pastor Jane had a message for the congregation. We were treated to two more the singing of to more choirs and the morning offering was taken. When the benediction was given, the congregation remained seated until our team exited the church with Pastor Jane, Joe B., the Clerk of Session, the translator, and our team. At 12:10, we all lined up and the entire congregation filed out and shook hands with each of us.
Then it was back into the sacristy for a cup of tea and cookies with Pastor Jane. The hot water was in thermos bottles and warm water in the tea kettle for us to wash our hands.
We came back to the House of Moses to change our clothes and then proceeded to mall where an open-air bazaar like the one we went to yesterday was available to those who need to shop. We had lunch at the Food Fayre restaurant that serves an eclectic menu from Greek, to Indian, to Chinese, to Italian, to English, to Southern-fried chicken--something for everyone. Pastor Jane and her daughter Rachel joined us for lunch. Jane and Joe B. took the opportunity to talk shop.
Christine fixed barbecued ribs for our supper last night--outstanding.
Sunday morning ready for Garden Presbyterian Church
Jane Nyrionga, minister of Garden Presbyterian, and Joe B
Jodi. Jane, Clerk of Session of Garden Presbyterian and Joe B
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