World mission worship, a chicken, and way too much fun!

 

a chicken in church?!

I hope at least some of you had as much fun at worship last weekend as I did. I hope you had even half as much fun as I did.  I had a lot of fun.

Senior choir leads worship with songs and drums

 



Worship was a celebration of our partnership with Tungamalenga Parish.  As soon as you walked into the building, you could see gifts from our partners on display: ebony carvings, colorful kitangas, favorite photos from our travels.

The songs we sang in worship were largely gifts from our partners as well.  Asante sana Yesu, Amejaa Neema, Hosannah, Baba Yetu --all songs we've learned from our partners.  All but one of the hymns in the sanctuary were accompanied by drums that have been given to us by our partners.  The one hymn that we sang with piano accompaniment was a hymn that we have sung together in Tanzania, with words that call us "to act with justice, to love tenderly, to serve one another, to walk humbly with God." Words that mean a lot in this partnership.

The choir leading all the worship singing was wearing Tanzanian clothing. Again, almost every piece was a gift from our partners. And there was still enough colorful cloth to cover every table used for fellowship, coffee and donuts in the narthex.

The children's choir sang a song learned from our partners.  The children wore Maasai necklaces that jingle when you move around or jump.  The Maasai necklaces are also a gift from our partners.

Judy Anderson told about the hospitality she experienced last summer visiting our partners. She invited the congregation to participate in the Tanzanian - style auction that would be held at the end of the morning to raise funds to bring a couple former students to Minnesota next fall to meet their family in Christ on this side of the ocean.

Pastor Chris wove all the songs, texts and world mission themes together with a call to "stand up" and "go against the grain" in our daily faith lives.  He closed his sermon with a story about two of our Tanzanian scholarship students whose mothers, through their own faith community and our partnership, had a a vision of abundant life for their daughters.  Those mothers showed faith and great courage in standing up to prevailing cultural traditions in order to accomplish that vision for their daughters.

Throughout the morning's worship services, you could occasionally hear a "cluck, cluck, cluck" coming from a cage to the side of the altar.  There was a live chicken in worship, yes indeed. (Until it figured out how to escape its' cage twice during the 11 a.m. service.) It was on display at the front of the sanctuary along with other items that would be auctioned off at the end of the morning.

Pastor Chris catches the runaway chicken

A chicken is a typical in-kind offering in our Tanzanian congregations.  Judy told of how she bought one last August for the whopping price of 3000 Tanzanian Shillings, about $1.91 in US dollars.

As soon as the choir started singing the opening song, the chicken started making its own joyful noise.  Throughout the morning, she was pretty quiet during the prayers, respectful during the sermon, and joined in whenever the singing began.  At the end of one of the sermons, she clucked along with Pastor Chris's "Amen."

We are marching in the light of God

The auction that ended the morning was more wild fun. "Extravagant prices for humble offerings" was the theme. People paid $75 for a dozen eggs, a couple hundred dollars for baskets, $500 for a drum.  One of the large, deep baskets sold for $850 and the last two bidders were a husband and wife bidding against each other -- I'm not really sure which one won the final bid.  The chicken was the final item to be sold -- for the grand price of $3,000.  Yes, US dollars!  Add in a few $100 gifts from folks who will be invited to have dinner with our Tanzanian guests, and the auction netted just over $10,000. 

Pastor Randy, auctioneer

 

humble offerings, extravagant bids

 

Pastor Chris and his Maasai spear encourage high auction bids

 

 

Bwana Yesu Asifiwe!!  Praise the Lord Jesus!!

Now it's time for the Asante sanas -- Thank you very much!

Mark Ertl, Senior Choir, Maggi Arndt, Children's Choirs, Brian Bremer, The Table Band -- for your gift of music and for being present at all the worship services this weekend, and for dressing in beautiful Tanzanian clothing

Greg, Alan and facilities staff -- for helping with set up and take down, and cleaning up after the chicken

Trip  & Sheryl -- for creating the buzz leading up to the weekend, for help with photos and bulletins, and for patience as we proofread all the Swahili in the bulletin

Pastors -- for blending the world mission theme with the lectionary's theme of the day and for skillfully leading the congregation through the unfamiliar parts of worship

Judy Anderson -- for sharing your stories and so much more

Jane and Margaret -- for your help decorating and for your gifts of auction items

Auction bidders -- for your generous gifts

Pastor Randy -- for being a joyful, storytelling auctioneer

Sam, Kristen, Beth, Dawn and Welcome Center staff -- for accepting donations throughout the morning and for recording all those designated financial gifts

and last but definitely not least,

children checked out the chicken between services

Amy and Dave Nicolai -- for the loan of your chicken and the donation of a couple dozen fresh eggs.  It wouldn't have been half as much fun without the chicken!

Oh Lord, what a morning!  Asante sana, Tungamalenga Parish, for the gift of your partnership.