Singing Praises--from Jake Pinkston on teaching mission in Honduras

I have always loved how every Episcopal congregation celebrates Sunday Eucharist in their own distinct way. You would think that with one of the most organized and documented liturgies in among the Christian sects, the venerable Book of Common Prayer, there would be a cookie cutter effect across the Anglican Communion. Yet every chapel, church, and cathedral has found the loopholes to create their own proprietary brand of Anglican worship. And of course, these Sunday faithful will passionately inform you, if you dare to broach the subject that their way is without question, the best.

I have been attending weekly worship service at Holy Trinity every Sunday since I arrived and would like to share some of my observations and experiences at the services.

The church is a small, square cinderblock and concrete, one room building that is on the corner of the school property. There are maybe 10 rows of pews made of termite resistant wood that don’t quite match stylistically as you move from back to front. The book rests on the back are a little short so when you sit down, it is advisable to check behind you first. The windows are of the Venetian blind style that is very popular in Honduras. The church is adorned only with paintings marking the Stations of the Cross and a simple gold cross on the altar. Neri, the rector, makes beautiful bouquets of tropical flowers from her garden for the front of the altar every Sunday.

The congregation is for the most part student families and faculty members of the school. There are usually between 20 and 30 attendants on any given week plus the children who spend the middle part of the service in Sunday school. I usually sit with Mike and Betty so that between the three of us, one will catch the page number we are supposed to be on.

The biggest change by far has following the service in Spanish. I have heard the Rite II service so many times in English that I seldom use the BCP at home. While my Spanish is pretty good, I find that I have to read along in the book in order to follow the service. The act of reading and translating the liturgy, even though it is very familiar, has been a neat experience. It has forced me to think about every word that I would normally buzz right by and made me a more active participant in the service.

If there is anything that Hondurans excel at, it is prayer. There is no such thing as a short prayer in Honduras. It doesn’t matter if it is in the Pre-Sermon, Post-Sermon, Pre-Peace, Post-Communion, or Dismissal. Once those eyes close, out comes the divinity thesis, complete with several Bible passages, a rhetorical flourish or two, and enough adjectives and titles for Jesus Christ to make any Gospel writer jealous. Today’s service time: 2 hours, 8 minutes. There is only one word to describe it: epic.

By far the most distinctive part of the service at Trinity is the music. The only way to describe it would be late 80’s synth-rock. Nobody reads music so most of the songs people already know or pick up by ear. The organist, Nelson, wears a black collared shirt with “Rock Star” written across the back and has a faux hawk. He rocks a keyboard and a PA system that is turned up to eleven (Spinal Tap, anyone?). Every song begins with a with programmable drum beat intro and the only person you can here sing in the whole church is Nelson, and occasionally his two back-up singers if they get close to his mic. I don’t think their mics actually work. The songs are pop-style tunes and we will usually sing them two, three, even four timea through. It is all up to Nelson. He likes to play quietly (sort of) behind Reverend Neri while she is giving her extended prayers, just to add effect. Most of the tunes I have never heard but Bob Dylan’s, “Blowing in the Wind” has made an appearance along with “The Sound of Silence” accompanying The Lord’s Prayer. Everyone in the church has a great time, clapping along, not necessarily in time. It is a powerful experience to be a part of because it is so passionate and organic. I love it.

A man was baptized today in church with a few members of his family and his fiancé looking on. When it was over, there was almost water left in the baptismal font. That is Trinity church life in a nut shell. The church is small, the congregation is small, but the experience is huge.

“O my strength, I will sing praises to you,
For you, O God, are my fortress, the God who shows me steadfast love.”
Psalm 61:17