Bring a Song to Share

Did we mention women and men sit on different sides?

After attending 5-6 different churches here, I thought I'd give a taste of what the typical service is like.  It is opened by a choir processing/dancing in (usually only youth choir).  Then there are some greetings, a prayer and maybe scripture reading all done by an elder.  Next there is usually close to an hour of time for singing songs.  It seems that the first part of the period is a time when anyone can come up front to offer a song they’ve prepared, so often a few youth will sing a song and maybe a woman or man by themselves (with the congregation joining in as they feel moved), and then the women’s fellowship group will get up and sing a song, then the men’s fellowship group, then the youth group, and then maybe the organized youth choir who sit in a sort of choir loft will do a few songs and the organized women’s choir who might sit in a special section of pews and be equipped with a row of hand drummers and other percussionists.  In some churches the songs are only accompanied by drums, but in others there are a few more musicians, mostly keyboard and maybe guitar or bass that will try to pick up whatever tune is being sung.  The singers (or leader of the group) will introduce the song by humming the melody of the first couple lines so that everyone can follow.  The musicians often spend the first couple lines figuring out what key and tempo the singers are using.  

The children offering a song

Next there will be some announcements, greeting of anyone there for the first time (we've never been the only ones), a report from the church secretary, from the church treasurer, and some more congregational singing.  Then some more prayer (prayer may begin or end any of these sections and often a member from the congregation is called on to stand up and offer a prayer), and at least one time of offering which is often accompanied by other special offerings for things that people can get up and put some money in a basket if they feel moved.  Then the main scripture of the day is read (which is also often read by whatever congregation member finds it first and volunteers to stand up and read).  Then the pastor gives a sermon (these haven’t seemed more than 20-30 mins), and this is sometimes followed by the Lord’s Prayer.  Then elder who offered the initial greetings gets up to give a small blessing/sending, and everyone else gets up to greet each other and go outside to fellowship.  The average worship time is around 3 hours.