When we left off, load shedding had just begun – and so had the service!
Rev. Rachel preached in Xhosa, with a scattering of English for the visitors (bless her!). She is really amazing, fluent in at least 3 languages. We need to work on that as we continue our work here.
After her sermon, Rev. Rachel calls up one of the visitors – Sindiwe Magona – to share her story. At 23, as a single mom with 3 kids, she decided that she didn’t want her daughters to be cleaning women nor her son to be a gardener. So, she got her teaching credentials and made sure her children got their education. She is a teacher, civil servant, novelist, poet, playwright, and women’s activist. She was awarded the Order of Ikhamanga in Bronze for her literary and humanitarian contributions and for using her pen as a weapon for women’s issues, the plight of children, and the fight against apartheid and racism. And at the tender age of 76, she is now studying for a doctorate. Wow.
As the offertory is sung, people get up and make their way to the front to put their offerings in a bowl held by one of the red-cassocked children and overseen by one of the purple-vested men. More singing ensues.
Now it’s time for Holy Communion. If you know the Anglican service, you know the general structure – The Great Thanksgiving, the blessing over the bread and wine, and calling forth the Holy Spirit. And there was the incense – lots of it (apparently the Holy Spirit descends in a very dense cloud!). At one point, the smoke was so thick clouds were rolling out the door and we could barely see the priests or the altar – and we were in the middle of the church! Ten-year old boys take their jobs very seriously.
After Communion (and more singing), it’s time to introduce more visitors – although it’s hard to top Ms. Magona! We are called forward (and the congregation broke into song) to share about our experiences about our visits to the Western Cape. Our carpool group came forward to present a check for R40,000 (about $2600) to the church building fund. They related how another church had helped them with a donation of R100,000 when they were rebuilding – the donors had encouraged them to pay it forward when they were able. In 2019, they gave Eluvukweni the first installment of R60,000. And then they encouraged Eluvukweni to pay it forward in the future. More singing ensued.
Then it was time for individuals to give their thanks for the week. Six people came forward to share their stories, in Xhosa, including one woman from the Mothers’ Union who grabbed Ms. Magona and brought her up front – it turns out that Ms. Magona had been her teacher in primary school – talk about a legacy! Each thankful one made a thank-offering to the church. And we sang.
Next the Church Warden (at least we think he was the Church Warden) came forward to announce the funds received in the collection and from the thank-offerings and to talk about upcoming meetings and services. And the lights come on – the 2-hour load shedding is over and we’re not done yet! And yes, there was more (and more) singing.
The recessional hymn is announced – it’s to the tune used for Guide me O Thou Great Jehovah (Cwm Rhondda for those who know hymn tunes) – now we know the notes that go with the Xhosa words! It was a fitting ending to our smoky experience.
And yes, we will be going back there in 2021! I might even learn a few words of Xhosa by then!
Authors: Jeanne and Randy spend some of their time in South Africa helping the Anglican and Methodist churches with their work on ECD centers, youth programs, and other priority projects for church staff.
