Cathedral Service

Photo by Nicola Swann, a visitor to Uganda

It's 7:45 Sunday morning, and I'm trudging through a downpour with my vestments slung over my back and an umbrella held above my head.  I look down the muddy road and smile; a neighbor  is coming toward me is dressed for church, and holds a huge banana tree leaf over her head for protection.  The rain is so loud we don't even try to speak, but we smile a greeting to each other as we pass, and we're thinking the same thing:  "Mukama Asiimwe!  Asiimwe Munonga!"  (Praise the Lord! Praise him a lot!)

At least, that's what I think was thinking.  It's a common greeting here, especially on a Sunday.  One thing we have learned, however, is that if you think you've got it figured out, think again; you probably don't.  This particular rainy Sunday is a good example.

Rev. Joshua, one of the wonderful Associate Subdeans

As most of you know, I was ordained a priest just this past December 2010 here in Kabale at St. Peter's Cathedral on Rugarama, the hill where we live and where BBUC is located.  Before my ordination, Bishop George Katwesigye wisely and graciously directed me to join the cathedral staff so I could begin learning about ministering in the (Anglican) Church of Uganda.  After December, I took a break from the cathedral as our family began to work out what our life would look like once my teaching began and kids returned to school.  It became evident fairly quickly that it was important for me to continue assisting at the cathedral.  I have much to learn about what it means to be a priest full stop, much less a priest in Uganda!  Also, the connection it provides us with the community and the diocese outside the university community is invaluable.  And it's where the Bishop wants me!

So Sunday mornings I walk three minutes to the cathedral to assist in the English service.  Until the rainy Sunday under discussion, I've mostly just put on my vestments and processed to the front and sat with the other three priests (Subdean Amos, and Associate Subdeans Obed and Joshua). Even though the liturgy is a bit different from what I'm used to, I love being present to its rhythm, joining in the worship with the small congregation of a smattering of students (from primary through university), teachers from the local schools, a few neighbors, and an occasional visitor from the West.
  The cathedral is a large structure, rather dark and very cool in the mornings (I'm grateful for the added warmth of my cassock and surplice) and filled with wooden pews and plastic chairs.  The space doesn't quite succeed in swallowing up the voices, voices which grow in number within the first 40 minutes of the service.  The music is always led by the youth, so it is consistently lively and often a bit long.  We move into reading the Scriptures and prayers, always punctuated by more singing. The welcome follows, then come announcements, then we're on to the creed and intercessions (with more singing along the way).  The sermon comes next (always preceded by a song), usually delivered by a lay person from the Rugarama community.  We then sing the preacher out of the pulpit, then one of the subdeans summarizes the sermon, and leads us into the offertory.  We conclude with a prayer and a blessing, and recess to the vestry to a final hymn.

Back in December I led the service once in a rather bumbling manner, and after that point I've either led the time of intercession, or have given the blessing at the end.  This particular Sunday, however, I slogged into the vestry with 10 minutes left before the service began, and quickly began putting on my vestments.  The subdeans entered with their characteristic energy and joviality, gathered us together to pray, and mentioned almost as an aside that I was the one leading the service!  A quick prayer, and out the door we go, with no more words of direction for me than that.  That's the way the Ugandan ball bounces, my friend.  I had no idea what the readings were, what songs would be sung, who the many visitors that day were, why for the first time ever there was a projector, screen, and computer set up, why a white guy was sitting in the choir with a guitar, who was preaching, who was reading...!

And it was wonderful.

I was free to lead as I felt led. I won't recount the whole service, but I enjoyed the opportunity to weave together the readings, songs, prayers, and the sermon (one of the best, incidentally, that I've heard since coming to Uganda), and to give occasional explanations of the liturgy.  All along the way I had the subdeans behind me, ready with a whispered re-direction, an encouraging nod and smile, and a quick answer to any question I had.  Learning on the job!

The following Monday I dropped by the offices of the subdeans to ask for feedback on how I led the service.  They were surprised and pleased I asked, and mostly gave me encouragement, in addition to critiquing gently my decision to cut two portions of the liturgy for the sake of time.  Their main counsel regarding handling the order of service, however was this: "When you lead, you are the order!"

Georgia, Jesse, Lucy on the way to school

Serving at the cathedral has been and will continue to be a great joy.  Right now it's mainly a place of learning for me, but we also anticipate it becoming our family's main place of worship.  Jesse, Georgia, and Lucy joined me at the most recent service, and I was so proud and happy as I looked out over the congregation and saw the three of them sitting there. They were comfortable and attentive, and all three said they were ready to come back to the cathedral.  This was very encouraging to me, as it is one of the places where I feel most at home, and a time when I remember why we came and whom we serve.