This is the third and final installment in a series of reports on the vibrant church
life in Liberia (West Africa) written by my godson, Benjamin Swanson, who is
wrapping up a two year term with the Peace Corps there teaching math in a
remote village while his wife teaches English.
Read their blog and see their pictures at http://kingswan.wordpress.com. He wrote two posts “Clap for Jesus” and “Wave
for Jesus” in February 2014 which I have re-printed as three articles in May,
June, and July with his permission. –Pastor Halverson
[after
the sermon is completed] This leads us
to the offering, which, according to some pastors, is “the most important part
of the service.” In Liberia, the opportunities to give money to the church are
numerous, and they are far from subtle. Your opportunities for giving start the
moment you walk into the sanctuary. Ushers often greet you at the door and pin
a ribbon to your lapel. In exchange for the ribbon is a small, compulsory
offering. The worshipper then sits down and the service commences. Before the
official offertory, there are several points during the service where
collection baskets are placed on the altar. If any churchgoer feels so moved,
he or she can walk to the front of the church at any time and give an offering.
This may be in response to an exceptionally good song, moving prayer, or rousing
sermon.
The
official offertory involves a musical procession that brings each person to the
front of the church. The pews are dismissed one by one and the congregation
marches or dances around the aisles to the altar. There, one or more baskets
await their offering. Each person’s offering is dropped into the basket in full
view of the church. Everyone in attendance – including elders, choir members,
and pastors – passes by the altar. When the last person has passed, the baskets
are consolidated. Then, the procession is repeated, sometimes twice. The
occasion is lively and people enjoy it. Offering is a dance party, resembling a
Congo line. It’s a festive time; the only thing missing is high-fives. It is
especially entertaining to watch the whole congregation parading by in their
Sunday Best.
This
is how the offering works on a typical church day. There are, however, numerous
other special days during the church year. There are days recognizing
Mother/Father/Child of the Year, Women’s Day, Men’s’ Day, Youth Day, church
conferences, and all the standard Christian holidays. Rally Sundays can pit men
against women in fundraising challenges. Figures are tallied, called out, and
multiple rounds held. When gifts dry up, well-to-do members can be called upon
by name: “Mrs. Kollie, I know you are the head of the local Market Women’s
Union, would you please come show your support (again)?” Occasionally, other
fundraising tactics are employed. Small trees hung with bags of popcorn and
juice are brought out. After two hours in a pew, the treats are enticing and
definitely worth the small offering.
We
have visited about ten different churches during our time here. We have been
with the Lutherans, Pentecostals, Seventh-Day Adventists, Baptists, Methodists,
and various other Christian groups. Regardless of the specific denomination,
things operate pretty much the same. Liberians have created a rich and animated
tradition that they love. Everyone leaves the church with a smile on their
face. Angie and I usually leave the church feeling a tad bit thirsty, somewhat
exhausted, and looking for any quiet place. But we feel energized knowing that
we have once again participated in Liberia’s vibrant, faithful culture.
Now in the middle of summer
many of us here in Minnesota are visiting other churches as we travel and
vacation. Sometimes we are quite
confortable, welcomed, or spiritually moved.
Other times it is difficult to worship in an unfamiliar setting in an
unfamiliar style. But it is good to
worship with others and experience other ways to praise God from whom all
blessings flow.
A
Liberian worship service is quite different from a Minnesota worship service
and would take me quite a while to adjust. For me it is easiest to move into worship
where the service is preceded by quiet prayer with organ music.
I am fully committed to the Lutheran liturgy every Sunday morning. And yet there are things to appreciate in
these Liberian services as described by my godson, I am very impressed with the
deep commitment and full participation of the people, the length of the worship
(I’ll bet there are no clocks on the wall), and the way the service is the
whole focus of the day of worship. I
would not advocate adopting their syle in total, but we could learn from
Liberia.