Day 5-Sunday Services
Today we got to experience Sunday services with our host church Bethany Baptist. It was also a special day because members were being baptized. Our team got to participate in the service with leading some of the songs and Pastor Scott Moon preaching. Kiana and Anna shared their testimonies. In Romania services last 2-3 hours and they meet in the morning and again in the evening for 2 services each Sunday.
After the service we had lunch with those who were baptized and their families. We were serenaded by a church member who played the accordion for us. Everyday we are given lunch by the church we are serving at. We have leaned that they always have 2 courses- a soup first and then a meat and vegetable after. Everything has been so good! No one is coming home hungry. Our two team members who are intolerant to gluten in the states can eat the bread here so bring on the carbs!
Our team also got to attend a Roma service. This people group is also known as “gypsy.” Romania is unique in that it has many different ethnic groups living in one country and each race has their own style of worship. Some things that were different about this service was the use of different instruments like an accordion and saxophone. Also children were involved. The format of the service was the same as the one in the morning but the music was more modern and louder. Amber and Chris shared their testimony with this church.
Then we attended the eventing service where we were able to partake in communion. We lined up outside the church after this last service and received handshakes from the church as they left. When Christians greet each other in Romania they say Pache which means peace. It is a greeting and a farewell. They only use this word with other believers because it is what Christ said to the disciples when he appeared to them after his resurrection.
Some of the things our team loved about the church services is joy that is felt after communion. There is a love of music in the church but the singing after the sacrament fills the space; a true sense of celebration is in the air. We also loved how people in the church feel a freedom to get involved. They have time for prayer requests as a whole group, small group prayer with one another, and the sound of Amen that is heartfelt during the prayers. At one point, a member started singing and soon others joined in. There seems to be a freedom within the structure and no one is in a rush to get to the next part of the service.
Pache from us in Romania to you at home!
After the service we had lunch with those who were baptized and their families. We were serenaded by a church member who played the accordion for us. Everyday we are given lunch by the church we are serving at. We have leaned that they always have 2 courses- a soup first and then a meat and vegetable after. Everything has been so good! No one is coming home hungry. Our two team members who are intolerant to gluten in the states can eat the bread here so bring on the carbs!
Our team also got to attend a Roma service. This people group is also known as “gypsy.” Romania is unique in that it has many different ethnic groups living in one country and each race has their own style of worship. Some things that were different about this service was the use of different instruments like an accordion and saxophone. Also children were involved. The format of the service was the same as the one in the morning but the music was more modern and louder. Amber and Chris shared their testimony with this church.
Then we attended the eventing service where we were able to partake in communion. We lined up outside the church after this last service and received handshakes from the church as they left. When Christians greet each other in Romania they say Pache which means peace. It is a greeting and a farewell. They only use this word with other believers because it is what Christ said to the disciples when he appeared to them after his resurrection.
Some of the things our team loved about the church services is joy that is felt after communion. There is a love of music in the church but the singing after the sacrament fills the space; a true sense of celebration is in the air. We also loved how people in the church feel a freedom to get involved. They have time for prayer requests as a whole group, small group prayer with one another, and the sound of Amen that is heartfelt during the prayers. At one point, a member started singing and soon others joined in. There seems to be a freedom within the structure and no one is in a rush to get to the next part of the service.
Pache from us in Romania to you at home!
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