Just a Normal Sunday

This past Sunday I was invited to the Ndirande congregation to present 120 Chichewa Bibles that were purchased by a Sunday school class of Westminster Church in Pittsburgh Presbytery.  The class had raised the money and sent it to Malawi for the Bibles. But Malawian culture means that the gift needs to be presented officially and formally. As PC(USA)’s representative here, I was asked to do that on behalf of the congregation in Pittsburgh and I willingly agreed. After I had made the arrangements with the session clerk, the pastor called to invite me to preach, since I would be there. This is Malawian hospitality. I agreed. Then he told me that there would be communion and asked if I would assist. Of course. Then he mentioned baptisms. I was getting the idea that this would be a long service, but that is to be expected here.

The congregation usually has 3 services, but because of the communion, they had combined the services and so there would be one, to begin at 6 a.m. I arrived at 5:45 and was greeted by the elders, who escorted me to the manse to meet with the pastor. We organized the service and then proceeded to the vestry to meet with the rest of the elders. At 6:05 the service began. The service was fuller than I had imagined. We followed the standard format, but managed to fold into the program 8 choirs, the presentation and dedication of the Bibles and of new mvano choir uniforms, baptism of 36 infants and baptism and confirmation of 72 adults, preaching and special prayers for the upcoming Synod elections and finally communion. I pronounced the benediction at 11:45. The service had been 5 hours and 40 minutes long. The sanctuary was full to overflowing the entire time. In fact, groups moved in and out as their time to participate in the service came and went. This was to allow space for everyone and everything that needed to be done. Those who moved out found seating outside the church, where the PA system allowed them to participate in worship even though not in the sanctuary. When it came time for communion, those outside crowded in to participate fully. Extra benches were moved in and people sat on the floor in the front and back of the sanctuary.

 I couldn’t imagine what would have happened in a church in the States in the same situation. But then it would not have been the same. We would not have had that number of events in one service or that numbers of participants for baptism and confirmation. There would not have been 8 choirs to sing. Certainly the congregation would not have moved about to make room for those who were participating and certainly not have sat on the floor. But this is the joy of worship in Malawi. It is full participation with no reservation. The bigger the event, the greater the delight.  Welcome to normal Sunday worship in Malawi.