Every tribe and every tongue...

Yesterday in Pastocalle (a town 3500 metres above sea-level), after having received a very moving and warm welcome, Michaela's liturgy workshop was very well received. It stimulated many questions from brothers and sisters gathered there from the local Methodist Church, El Sembrador (The Sower), as well as from a local evangelical church that works in partnership with the Methodist School. Many of the school's teachers are from other local evangelical churches and have a very good relationship with this Methodist school and the local Methodist Minister.

  Some of the questions asked included whether we also find it hard to encourage our congregations to give their tithes and offerings, especially as in this particular local church, the congregation come from poor backgrounds. Michaela explained that money is not something we like to talk about in the Church! We are often embarrassed to do so. Others questions revolved around our liturgy, the lectionary, and there was much interest in hearing about how Michaela and the Ministers overseeing ethnically diverse congregations in London plan services so that there is diversity and inclusion, as this is very much the context of local churches in Pastocalle.

  After the workshop, as Michaela mentioned in her post, we felt quite giddy and light-headed! But were were blessed to be able to wind down with a few songs of praise lead by the Church's worship leader, a young, charismatic man, who lead us in singing 'How Great Thou Art' in Spanish, and then a beautiful song sung in the style of the local indigenous people. It was truly moving to be able to worship the living God in this way.

  Sandra

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