Have you ever worshiped in a foreign country?
Several years ago, I vacationed in Tahiti. Tahiti is such a beautiful country! I loved the nice clear blue water of the South Pacific. I also enjoyed swimming and feeding the sting rays! Those stingrays slurped the chopped-up raw dead fish right out of my hand. It was awesome! The pretty beaches and scenery was so amazing!
During my trip, by the time Sunday rolled around, I was more than ready to attend church. I asked the American travel guide at the hotel where I could go to church. She told me where to go, down the street, literally. So, off I went on foot, wearing my Sunday clothes. I was anxious to see a Tahitian church, and to worship with them. When I arrived, I saw a few groups standing outside the crude church, talking. I saw that the Tahitians dressed up for church. They didn’t wear beach attire and the women didn’t wear pareos (a pareo is an informal Tahitian dress or skirt).
I went inside the church. The church was open. When I say open, we were in a building but, the “windows” were merely open holes in the building. The wind from the ocean drifted into the church. The service started with greetings in English. They then said greetings in their native language.
The service was in their native tongue. Even though I couldn’t understand the service, I still loved it. I loved the breeze blowing through the windowless openings in their church. I really enjoyed it when a dog, yes a dog, came strolling through the open door and he went down the aisles. I even petted him as he strolled by. Sometime after the sermon, they passed the collection plate and they prayed. I closed my eyes and sniffed, felt the breeze blowing through the windows. It felt fresh, good and clean. I really enjoyed worshiping in that church. It was all about Jesus – a perfect ending to my Tahitian vacation.
Afterwards, a nice lady asked me questions in broken English as to where I was from.
So, have you ever worshiped in a foreign country? What was it like? In which country did you worship?
Cecelia Dowdy has been an avid reader since she learned to string letters together to form words. While pursuing a business degree in college one of her professors tried to convince her to get an English degree since he felt she was a great writer. Years later, after receiving her BS in Finance, she took her former teacher's advice, and started pursuing her literary career. She loves to read, write, and bake delicious desserts during her spare time. She also loves visiting new places and listening to old tunes with her husband. Currently she resides with her spouse and pre-teen son in Maryland.
Two countries. I have attended Church in Hawaii. I actually went to the same church on two different times. It too was a lovely service. I also attended one in Washington state with my friend.
I also attended church in Canada. First time was with a friend and a different service than I was use to. It was lovely but they do things differently. A time of singing, greeting others and bible readings etc, then they have a cuppa and the sermon. Then on the in the Toronto area I attended church with my other friend, It was a lovely church and service also. The only thing different from them all to my own is I am use to having communion every week.
Hi Cecelia, Tahiti sounds beautiful. We enjoyed worshipping while we were in Fji- it sounds very similar to your experience in Tahiti actually. Beautiful, friendly people with a heart for God. Imagine Heaven with the vast array of cultures and ways of worshipping- all with Christ at the centre:)
Blessings:)
Lovely to hear your experience! I have never had the opportunity to worship in another country, thank you for sharing!
Hi Cecelia! Thanks for sharing your worship experience. I have worshipped in two foreign countries. As a college student I attend a church conference in Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada). I have also worshipped in several German churches (1984, 2002, & 2009), where services were similar to the German Baptist churches I attended in the Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The service that was the most moving was a Wednesday night service at the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church in Berlin in 2009. The Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church is a landmark and memorial against war and destruction. (I was born in Berlin and my family was divided by the outcomes of WW2.) The Kaiser Wilhelm is composed of the ruins of the church that was destroyed in war, as well as a modern church building. It is a memorial for peace and reconciliation, commemorates Berliners’ determination to rebuild after the war, and is a place of contemplation on Berlin’s busiest boulevards The Kurfuerstendamm. The first time I saw the church was in 1984, when Berlin was divided by the Berlin Wall and I could not visit my relatives that lived in East Berlin. So attending a service in 2009 was special. Reminded me of when my mom took me to church in Berlin as a preschooler. Best wishes. We finally have warmer temperatures in the Midwest.
Beautiful picture. I can’t say I’ve worshipped in a foreign country because I’ve lived in Jamaica ?? then moved to the US. The experience for both is very similar in the way they worship.
I haven’t had an opportunity to worship in a foreign country. I enjoyed reading about yours.
We were in Mexico on a mission trip and we attended church. It was beautiful and spirit-filled. I remember the girls having tambourines and dancing and singing. We loved it!
Hi, Jenny! A cuppa? Are you saying they have a break (maybe tea time) before the sermon? At my current church, communion is once a month, but, I have heard of churches that have communion weekly.
Hi, Wemble! I agree with your view of Heaven! Sounds lovely!
You’re welcome, Paula Marie!
Hi, Renate! Thanks so much for sharing that. A memorial church for peace and reconciliation sounds like that’s exactly what was needed in Germany. So much pain and strife from the war broke so many hearts and so many lives lost. Thx again for sharing.
Hi, Colleen. I’ve visited Jamaica but have never attended a church service over there. Thx for commenting!
Thx Kimberly!
Hi, Lindi!
Tambourines? Dancing and singing? Sounds like my kind of church service! How beautiful!
I’ve attended Anglican services a few times over the years when in London on vacation. While some things are very different, it was still very neat to realize while I’ve always heard the Lutheran liturgy I’ve grown up with comes from the historic (common) Christian liturgy…that it really is true, and similar moments and phrases could be found in the matins service at St. Paul’s or Westminster.
I’ve been to church in Guatemala, Japan, and Korea. Such fun!
Having lived in Asia for over 20 years, I’ve had the opportunity to worship in many foreign countries. Even when I didn’t know the local language, the fellowship with fellow believers was always special.
Hi, Amy
That’s so neat that you were able to find similarities between our services and theirs.
Hi MJSH! That’s so neat that you’ve worshiped all of those places!
That’s awesome, Margaret!
I’ve never been to a foreign country. Though I have attended church and they say it’s like a whole different country :)
A cuppa is a cup of coffee or tea. (Aussies shorten everything). They got up and helped themselves to a drink and then drank it while listening to the sermon. So yes it was in the middle of the service. Our church has morning tea (a cup of tea, coffee or water and some cookies) after our service in the hall where people can get to know each other more and visitors can be welcomed also.
We have weekly communion.
I have been to several church services in other countries. I visited friends who live in Ontario, Canada. It was Remembrance Day and they had a big celebration. Unfortunately, I was at the walk in clinic due to being sick.
Another time, I was in Alberta, Canada, visiting friends and their church service was lovely. I felt like I was back in my home church. Afterwards, we had tea, coffee, and finger foods.
This last time I was visiting friends who lived in Hong Kong. Their service was very different from ours. They served Communion using wine and bread. We use crackers and grape juice. They had a moment of silence, about 30 min. so that we could pray, songs were sung, some of which I never heard, and everyone sat on the floor. Due to my back condition I sat on a chair. They were all different but the same in that we serve the one true God the world over.
We lived on tropical Guam, which is a US protectorate. We had all the usual denominations. But our church was very similar to the open windows of your experience. Since Guam is only 10 miles by 20 miles and had many military bases at the time(in the early 70’s) , we sometimes had to compete with loud airplanes.