Sunday in Kpando, Diocese of Ho
A Companion Diocese reflection
By Heather Miller
Our first Sunday in Ghana was spent at St Patrick's in Kpando. We arrived there 45 minutes late but everyone was waiting patiently, robed and ready to go. Service started at ten to ten with a long procession of servers, deacons, priests, two bishops and two choirs
walking in the side door and on up to the altar. As they walked bells jingled, the servers swung incense back and forth and the choir sang with maracas and drums providing the accompaniment. It was a wondrous beginning for our first service in the Diocese of Ho.
Saint Patrick`s is a large building made of cement blocks and a metal roof. It is wired for electricity but there was no power on this Sunday to turn the ceiling fans so we were in for a warm service. Fortunately Sharon, Jasmine and I were seated up front to the left of the altar, somewhat out of sight and best of all, near the door. Not only did we get to see the choirs perform and keep an eye on all the action around the altar, we also benefitted from any breeze that slipped in and the constant cluck of hens and chicks working the grass close by.
The service was conducted in both English and Ewe and was easy to follow. Bishop Miller gave the sermon and when it was translated in Ewe the congregation laughed a lot more than we did at the original. We wondered about that. The service was very "high church" with much waving of incense, sprinkling of holy water and kissing the bishop's ring. We were all formally introduced to the people and Bishop Matthias spoke highly of our relationship with Ho.
The collecting of the offering was probably the most exciting part of the service. An offering box was placed in the center of the aisle in front of the altar and as the drums beat and the choir sang, each person danced up around the box and dropped in an offering . It took a special courage to join in and make our own way around the box. There were three offerings on this Sunday, the regular one, one in memory of Father Joseph's son and another parishioner who had died, and one for the construction of a mission house on the church property. Three times people danced and made their offerings.
The sharing of the Peace was my favourite part of the service. We all got to go down into the congregation and shake each person's hand. What a wonderful feeling to look into each face and be welcomed with a smile and a few words. One person that really touched me was a man that could not see but whose face wore such a beautiful greeting that I did not want to let go of his hand. Everywhere we went it was the same … warm smiles and welcoming words. We felt very special.
The service ended around 12:30 and we posed for pictures outside the church. Bishop Matthias gave us a quick tour of the start of the new mission house and then we drove through town to Father Joseph's mission house [rectory] for more singing and dancing and refreshments. This was fun! We sat outside under a long tent with open sides. Some of the choir and congregation sat across from us, the result was a long strip between us. When the drums and shakers started and the choir began to sing, an older lady led the dancing down one side of the strip and back. The little children joined in following the adults and were soon leading the way. The young boys danced past and wanted us to join the action. Finally Bishop Matthias persuaded us to try and we all got up to swing our hips and shake our bodies.
Later in the afternoon Bishop Matthias wanted to drive us north to see the Volta Lake formed when the Volta River was dammed for a hydro project. The lake was beautiful and the water seemed very clean. Around the lake were many shacks where the displaced people from the flooding lived. The conditions they lived under were heartbreaking but when we met children carrying huge basins of water from the lake to their homes they were all smiles and very pleased to have their picture taken.
On the way back to Kpando we stopped at St. Mark's church, part of St. Patrick's parish, that stood alone on a piece of land. Bishop Matthias explained that the roof had blown off the church and it had taken 10 years to get it replaced. There were no doors or window coverings and the church was empty except for a bare table and some old benches. St Mark's has a fairly large congregation but no mission house or school buildings, so there is much work to be done in that area.
We arrived back at Father Joseph's in time for supper. These people are so patient and had stayed the whole day to share a meal with us. We got to try some palm wine. It was little raw and cloudyso we stuck with the Star beer. As the day darkened and people started to leave we thought we would pass out some of the Canada pins and flags we had bought with us. Immediately we were surrounded by hands reaching out for whatever we had to offer. It was a complete change from what we had seen all day and made us realize that there was another side to the people we met. These people have so little they grab for whatever souvenirs we offer as if they were of great value. Perhaps to them they are. If only we could repay the kindness and generosity of their hospitality with an improved life style meeting simple basic needs! I am sure that is the desire of everyone who visits a village in Africa and meets such wonderful people. We are so blessed.
Heather Miller is chair of the Companion Diocese Committee and was a member of the delegation to our Companion Diocese of Ho in Ghana last November.
Diocesan Communications
26 January 2010
