Sunday

I actually went to the Anglican Cathedral for the English service this morning. I must admit that I normally do "church" at our Sunday evening Fellowship group, rather than going to the Cathedral. I usually find that the services at the cathedral are just, well, slightly painful rather than uplifting and encouraging. The benches are SO uncomfortable, you're squashed in with an over-capacity crowd, it's hot, the synthesizer music doesn't match the singing of the congregation, the liturgy is poorly read, the sermon is more of a political speech than a word from the Lord... must I go on?

And yet there's definitely something to be said for participating in "church" and meeting together with the body of Christ. It's quite something in the English service, as well, because you have such a variety of people from all sorts of countries - people from all over Africa, as well as a smattering of white folks like me. And even though the priest usually races through the liturgy, even skipping lines and pages, and doesn't give any time for anyone to actually think about the words on the page, I do feel somewhat refreshed and encouraged after going through the pages of the prayer book.

Plus, the women who come to church wear some of the most amazing outfits I've ever seen!

This morning, actually, the Arch Bishop of this country was in attendance and delivered the "sermon". Apparently he was quoted quite extensively on BBC last month as he was at the conference which was discussing the blessing of same-sex marriages within the Anglican communion. Anyways, in place of a sermon, we heard a report of that conference, as well as report of a car-jacking which happened to one of the bishops up in the capital city North of here.

I also got quite a kick out of the fact that he was up in front of the church sitting in his little "throne" (I'm sure there is some kind of spiritual name for that big chair that only the Arch Bishop can sit in!) and taking photos of the congregation with his digital camera :)

Anyways, one of the other priests sort of wrapped up the Arch Bishop's reports with a good message and tied it all into the reading from Romans 7, which was good. That chapter of Romans where it talks about the good I want to do, this I don't do ... man, that chapter always kind of hits me. I can so relate to Paul in his struggle, and I give thanks to the Lord for his grace and mercy when my sin nature takes over and I just can't help myself from doing those things that I know I shouldn't do!

Following the service, my house-mate and I went over to one of the hotels and sat on the verandah there, drinking Coke, eating french fries and watching the Olympics for a little while. It was a most pleasant way to while away a Sunday afternoon, while digesting the message of Romans!