Sit, Stand, Kneel, and Listen

It is late in the morning and the sun is shining bright and the sky is clear. As I near the building, I hear the church bell rings. I hurry into the building and find a seat near the back. There is chatter among the people filling in almost all of the pews. Some are kneeling in prayer as the service nears the start.

Two children, looking to be young teenagers, start down the aisle heading toward the front of the sanctuary. One boy and one girl, they wear long white gowns that reach the floor with a brown rope tied around the waist. As they proceed down the aisle, they carry tall poles with crosses on the top of them. Once they reach the sanctuary, they priest greets them and they take a seat to the right of the stage.

Everyone stands and bows their heads in prayer, then join in song. The worship group plays a very upbeat song that everyone sings and claps along to called, “Asi Se Alaba A Dios”, or in translation, “So God is Praised”. Following, another prayer is said and everyone crosses themselves. The singing continues as everyone remains standing. Afterwards, another prayer is said and we are asked to be seated.

I noticed that the age group varies greatly. There are people from very age group, from infants to elders.  Also, within the first twenty minutes of my study, I found that there is a pattern of stand and sing, kneel and pray, and sit and listen. The pastor sits in a seat the represents something like a throne. He also, like the alter children, wore a long gown at about floor length, except for his was black with a gold rope wrapping around him at the waist. When singing the song “Aleluya”, or “Hallelujah”, the worship leader walks across the stage, back and forth, holding a bible up high in the air. Then he stands behind the podium for the rest of the song still with the bible in the air.

There are padded bars beneath me to kneel on, and we are asked to kneel and repeat after the pastor. This prayer is called “Prefesion de Fe” which is a confession prayer for everyone to come clean of their sins. Then, the pastor begins his sermon. His words are powerful and he really uses his voice to move the people.

A group of people come to the front of the sanctuary with woven baskets. It was time for offering. The music plays as the baskets are passed around from one pew to another. To my surprise, the offering basket didn't come around just once, and not even twice, but three time. During offering “Como Cusca la Cierra” is playing in the background as the pastor prays as well as the people.

The alter children then each pick up a candel stick and walk from the sanctuary to the end of the aisle, nearing the doors, then back up to the sanctuary.

Leading up to communion, the pastor reads inserts from the bible and the crowd says back to him with a written response that is projected up on the screen. It is as if they are having a scripted conversation. Then, the pastor holds the wine and bread in the air while a prayer is said. Everyone kneels and prays, then stands and sings. Although some are strangers, we all come together as one. We join and hands and raise them in the air. Following, we are asked to greet and bless our neighbors.

Once communion comes, everyone stands. The pastor stands at the front of the sanctuary and the people spill into the alter to receive their daily bread. I also went up for communion. As I reached the Pastor, he placed the bread on my tongue, held out the chalice to my mouth and I took a small sip. Another surprise, the communion consisted of the drinking of real wine.