Email from Maggie Land:
I suspect that Dan will write in the morning, but did want to share some thoughts about the service tonite-firstly,
it started right on time, with the leaders of the singing belting out some Siswati/Zulu hymn right away- received
ashes from Fr. Chas Kunene at the altar, and the bowl was a glass cereal type, with a large crack in it, which
made it pretty special to me- he had put some liquid in the ashes, and Dan had it running into his eyes, but my
experience at the altar with this, and with communion, was special as a woman in an orange sweater, -- with one
knee down and the other stuck out, could not get up, so with another woman leading the launch, I aided at both
"rail" visits, and it was a thrill for me to have her let me help ---she clearly knew the Siswati singing
as the Anglican hymns were not her "stuff"-it was another warm experience for me, as the entire congregation
wanders all over with the "peace"-little kids and old folks like the two of us --- we have been blessed
with good voices behind us, who help with unknown tunes --- by the way, we are on a mission to get a Siswati prayer
book/hymnal, as everyone seems to have their own.
The service had fewer folks than Sunday service, and the singing would fall off here and there, and someone, usually
one of the older women, would pull everyone back up-all a cappella, of course-the deacon, Pat Wright, (female)--
British, I think -(may have been the head of the Salvation Armyhere, but not sure) gave the sermon, -- about abstinence,
giving alms, and prayer during Lent-brief, personal, bringing in her experience as a child about "mite boxes"
---took me back a bit myself ---we will meet with Charles tomorrow and know it will be a good experience for us.
You will surely hear from Dan about this as well.
Thanks again for all of your prayers-love,
maggie