It is always interesting to see the various ways that Christians celebrate, be it the liturgy, or holy days. For us at UCU, we have what I call Ashless Wednesday. In general in Uganda, big baptism days are Innocents’ Day (December 26), and Easter Monday. Good Friday and Easter Monday are public holidays here, which I seem to remember being the case in the US when I was in elementary school.
All through Holy Week, we have had morning services and meditations for the University, and Maundy Thursday evening we had a more traditional (to me) service with Eucharist and foot washing.
The chaplaincy had solicited help from the students who are clergy to facilitate the foot washing, which was wise. Honestly, I don’t recall whether we had these services when I was a student, or whether I just opted not to partake; I think it has a lot to do with the proximity of Easter to exams, which this year is one week apart.
We had about 10 people serving on Maundy Thursday (8 of whom were there to wash feet), and the chaplain announced that we would only be washing the feet of the first three or four people who came forward. At first, I found this odd, but realized she was thinking practically: we were kneeling, and my quads and hamstrings are still a tad sore.
For UCU, attendance at this service was fairly scarce: it was mostly the theologians who attended. I was somewhat surprised: usually all you have to do is announce a service and people come. For us washing, it was good news.
We had had quite a heavy rain in the morning, and I had joked to one of the students that we would *need* to wash our feet that evening. And so it was. The chaplain announced the time for washing feet, we removed our stoles (because the floor in Nkoyoyo is dirty), and carried a small kneeler to a chair to await the people.
I think I washed four or five people’s feet; I don’t remember. One was a student whom I had struggled with when I was a student, and struggled with as the chapel tutor on duty. But God is gracious, and gave me a real joy to be able to wash her feet.
I was pondering that as she put on her shoes to go, and looked up to see who was next, and it was another theology student who lives here in the Honours College. I indicated that he should sit, and he sort of shook his head, and said, “Oh Reverend, I am humbled.”
No, my friend, it is me who is humbled. I’ve participated in foot washings for years, and am grateful for the experience of knowing the joy and humility that comes with both giving and receiving in that service. For me, it has always been more humbling to have my feet washed than to wash; for me, to wash is joy.
And since this is Africa, there was a photographer. Well, one official photographer, and another. So imagine a line of eight chairs, basins, and priests kneeling, then imagine a photographer craning around the second station to get a close-up of the action. Then imagine someone very close to the last station with a Flip video camera, also leaning in for close ups. Kinda removes some of the solemnity, doesn’t it?
We had a Good Friday service in the morning, and in the afternoon was Easter carols. I have no idea what Easter carols are, and while it seems out of place for me, that’s apparently how we roll here. Mary Jane Dennison, another SAMS missionary and head of the Sunday School for UCU, led the children in a Stations of the Cross, which is so very cool. I hope it becomes a tradition.
As I type this it’s the afternoon before the resurrection: soon we will be able to say, “Alleluia! The Lord is risen indeed!”
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