Worshiping in Pietermaritzburg

During our first week as a group in Pietermaritzburg, MUD4 was able to go to two church services. Our first Sunday was spent in the chapel at LTI (Lutheran Theological Institution). It wasn’t a huge chapel, not a ton of people and no musical instruments, but it just poured out melody and harmony. Just a normal Sunday church service for these people but I felt like I was listening to the best choir in South Africa. We were able to hear Rev. Brian Konkol speak about how this world today has never been more technologically connect than before, yet the world we live in is so divided.

When the service was over (two and a half hours later) the entire congregation greeted us. After one person would shake hands/greet the pastors, they would join the greeting line to those coming out. Since we were the last ones out of the chapel we really were- literally- greeted by the entire congregation, which formed a welcoming and warm line of “blessed Sunday’s” and “Hello sister’s”.

We attended a service in a Zulu homestead on the second Sunday spend in Pietermaritzburg. The service was a bit bigger and a bit longer. There was a lot going on and a lot of great singing, so the almost four hour service didn’t seem to last that long. Again, we were able to hear Brian preach- this time having to stop every few sentences for the Zulu speaking pastor to translate. We heard about the responsibility that comes along with having the freedom of speech and that just because we have that freedom does not mean that we should speak without wisdom and kindness. Also, with freedom of speech comes the responsibility to listen.

It was a really great experience to worship without really knowing what was going on. A woman next to us shared her hymnal and it was cool being able to sing along in Zulu. One of my favorite parts of the service was the offering. As we sang someone would call out different groups, like mothers, fathers, working people, young adults, and if you were within that group you would get up and dance and sing to the front to place in your offering. It went on for a while and I think I went up about three times. The woman next to us let us know when we fit the group and should go up!

So far it has been pretty awesome experiencing the Lutheran church in South Africa and I enjoy learning new ways of worship and praise. The services here are so different from each other and so different from those I have gone to in the States, yet at the same time how great is it to see and feel that among the differences we are celebrating the same God and the same message.