By Alice Kinyua, NZCMS Intercultural Communities Enabler
Often, our Sunday services look and sound the same. We consciously or unconsciously follow similar liturgies or patterns of events in our services. We sing similar kinds of songs; the genres could vary, but often the range is usually not that massive. We read the same kind of Bible versions and make the same kind of prayers. We even make the same kind of coffee. Whatever the worship style, we tend to stick to our ways.
Pentecost Sunday is one of those Sundays in the church calendar that gives us an opportunity to shake things up a little bit. And why not? We have people from all walks of life. There is a degree of cultural diversity that is undeniable even though it is often ignored. On Pentecost Sunday, with open and expectant hearts, we worship with the hope that Holy Spirit is miraculously bringing oneness out of our celebrated cultural differences.
“Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled.” — Acts 2:3–4
Here are some simple ideas that churches can easily adapt and make this Pentecost Sunday a space of intercultural worship.
PASSIVE PARTICIPATION
Prayer
There are people in your congregation for whom English is not their first language. Invite them to pray in a different language. You could choose to have them translate their prayer or do it in my all-time favourite way — let it be. Enjoy the spiritual connectedness that comes with a shared experience that transcends language. Let the fact that God knows be enough for you.
Scripture reading
How about allowing different people to publicly read the passage of the day in a different language.
Visual props
Purchase or print the flags of the different countries represented in your congregation. Take a moment to celebrate that the word of God is preached in those countries.
Ideas that require Active participation
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
Corporate Prayer
As a congregation, learn a common prayer in a different language (e.g Te Reo Māori) and keep praying it that way.
Singing
Teach the congregation a common song or hymn in a different language and allow this to become part of your regular Sunday selection.
Joint services
A number of our church buildings are used by people of different communities to host unique services. E.g. Chinese, or Tongan or Chin etc. With a little planning, one can have a beautiful combined service, and I’m sure both congregations will come away blessed and more connected to each other.
Shared Kai
This is a good time to organise a community ‘bring and share’ for any international people that you have made contact with and have a relationship. Let members of the congregation invite their friends.
May the Holy Spirit truly come as we fellowship together.
Come, Holy Spirit. Vien, le Saint Esprit. Karibu Roho mtakatifu, Haere mai te Wairua Tapu.
Lovely reflection. Within the global church, every congregation would be so enriched when it realises that God is at work in all tongues, regions, communities; in the life of each believer. Yet though we are many and from different backgrounds, we are deeply one in Christ. I can just see how my semi-rural ‑or semi-urban church could be shaken a little out of its comfort zone of regular and predictable Sunday services be they the English, Swahili or the main Kikuyu service. Lovel! God bless…