If our congregation was Ghanaian American, we would do the dance of life accompanied by drums and other rhythm instruments at least twice each and every Sunday. The choir would lead, out of the pews up to the front forming a circle then back down the aisle, followed by one side of the congregation and then the other. This would happen again as people would dance down the aisle to put their tithes in a special box and their offerings in a large wooden bowl, singing and dancing the whole way. Sounds like a great work out!
If we were a Japanese American church, each Sunday we would likely say a special memorial prayer for everyone from the congregation who had died that week in years past. Each Sunday, we would remember the dead.
If LUCC was a Hispanic congregation, every month or so we would hold Vigilias from about 7 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday, singing, praying, preaching, and making testimonies as well as eating together all through the night.
If we were a Fijian American congregation, the parents of a child to be baptized would bring special fine mats and brown tapas cloths to be put in a pile for the pastor to stand on when the child is baptized. The mats then become a gift for the pastor.
If we were a Filipino American congregation, you would be calling on me to bless your homes, pets, cars, and other material items to honor that every part of life is considered holy. That could keep me really busy!
If this was a Korean American congregation, I would slip off my shoes and put my feet in special slippers before going up the steps to the chancel to get the offering plates or bless the elements for communion.
If we were a Pakistani American congregation, during Holy Week, we would have services each night of the week in someone’s home, sitting on the floor on large white sheets, shoes left at the door.
In a Native American Indian church, the service starts not according to chronological time, but when all who need to be there have gathered and are ready to begin. That could prove very interesting with our congregation!
And in a Native American Indian congregation, we might begin by praying to the four directions, north, south, east and west.
In Psalm 107 we are told of the four directions:
Let the redeemed of God say so,
those God redeemed from trouble
and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.
In the Bible, we are told that people from all corners of the earth gather to worship and praise God. In every country and culture, people are led to express their devotion and delight to God.
When people of faith gather, from the east and west, north and south, the ways to praise God are prolific and diverse. There is an infusion of culture and tradition that is rich. The predominantly Euro American Christian church in the US is also steeped in tradition and culture. Our ways have grown out of our experience, our language, our climate, our lifestyle. Our worship is just as culturally determined as churches of other countries.
If we were Christians from another part of the world coming to the US and going to church, we might say, “My, in the US the service was only an hour long. The people did not move around at all, but just stood and sat at their seats. And there was only one offering. Can you imagine? How can you glorify God and support the church with only one offering? And the pastor left her shoes on for the whole service, even in the chancel. It seemed so disrespectful, but I guess that’s how they do it.” We can imagine comments like that coming from those of other cultural expressions of Christianity.
A time traveler from New Testament times would have no idea what we were doing in church. Those Christians met together in homes to eat, drink, sing, pray, read scripture, plan help for the needy, and discuss the teachings of Jesus. No robes, choirs, pastors, pews, pianos, organs, stained glass, bulletins, and certainly no cross displayed. All that was to come much later!
As we gather each week, let’s be open to the Spirit, coming from the east and west, north and south, past and future, inviting our vital worship in new and varied ways. There are endless possibilities when it comes to ways to praise!
Prayer
We are grateful for the opportunity and freedom to gather for worship. We are grateful for the resources that are devoted to that glorious celebration! May what we do in worship shape our faith and our lives in ways that delight God. Amen.
Note: Much of the material from this reflection came from Worship Across Cultures: A Handbook by Kathy Black
Lakewood United Church of Christ 