A few more notes about yesterday’s service at Highfield Reformed church, Harare, Zimbabwe.
Being part of the service and not having watched the video makes it harder to get the sort of detail I’m used to writing in past reports of this nature.
The congregation was larger than usual, due to the addition of a few hundred ladies attending a weekend conference.
They don’t usually wear the uniforms, I believe. The additional knitted woolen shawls and coats that some wore gave lie to a temperature already climbing above 25 degrees Celsius.
Most of the congregation sat out in the sun on the church forms and chairs from the hall. We sat along a table set up under a marquee, with the choir to the left of us, the church council behind us and the ladies who had organized the conference to the right.
A large table held the PA system and a piano style keyboard. A man and two ladies provided the vocal lead for the singing.
The council met before the Service to conduct some formalities and pray for the preacher.
We were told we would start an hour early to account for the ladies needing to travel home, but there were some delays and we actually got started sometime about ten, after all.
The worship contained many familiar elements, expressed in unfamiliar ways. Our hymns were in Shona language, I recognized Blessed Assurance and one other, there were a couple of anthems from the choir.
After prayer and a reading of Ezekiel 37: 1-14 I preached about the valley of dry bones and God’s promise of life and restoration for His people.
Ralios Chiodze translated the sermon, a special pleasure for both of us, I think.
Though most understood English, and many commented later that they had found me easy to understand and comprehend, it was felt a Shona translation would help all to understand.
After the sermon there were two offerings, the second of which is for a bus they wish to purchase to go on evangelistic trips. (more about that another time)
There was music, singing and some dancing during this time. (you will believe a pastor can dance)
Jeroen prayed God’s blessing on the offering.
A lady gave a very animated and entertaining expression of thanks to the Highfield leadership for the conference.
After a final hymn I had the privilege of pronouncing the benediction.
There followed another short meeting of the church council at which all our hands were shaken, then we all shared lunch and quite some time of fellowship with everyone.
Many folk have children studying or living abroad, Australia was mentioned often.
Later, after a short rest we went to the airport to bid Lydia, Anesu, Vimbesu and baby Mukudzeshe farewell on their return flight to Australia.
Ralios remains behind, still intent on visiting what seems to be every person in Zimbabwe, as well as joining us as often as possible.
I feel that even next Monday we will have to drag him on the plane instead of letting him go for one last visit.
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