Sunday service and burial

So, I arrived at the Cathedral on Sunday for the first service (first and third services in Luganda), only to be reminded that I’d be “bored silly,” and therefore they only want me to attend the English service.  On the one hand, this is a slight relief, but on the other, one service?  Really?  I don’t feel like I’m doing anything.

But wait.  Rev. Joseph, my supervising priest, asked me to lead intercessions (Prayers of the People), which are not written.  So I composed something hastily, but I would have loved to have seen how they did things first.  So I got through it, but wasn’t terribly enthusiastic about how it went.  Then it turns out that my supervisor, the Dean, was there.  Sigh. 

Rev. Joseph asked if I had ever seen an African burial (no), so he asked if I wanted to attend one that afternoon.  It was in a village nearby (I need clarification on the definition of a village, because this just seemed to be a part of Mukono to me).  Everything was in Luganda, so as far as I could tell, there were oodles of speeches (which happens at ANY function), some Scripture readings, some liturgy, then going to the graveside for interrment.

I was sitting with the clergy (which included former Archbishop Nkoyoyo), and most of the village was there.  Rev. Joseph said we needed to hurry to try to get in front of the casket.  It was so, SO crowded, so we failed in that endeavor, but made it to the graveside before most of the throngs.  That was good, because he said it would get crowded.  That was an understatement.  Think of Metro at rush hour, and add about 100 people.  That’s crowded.  And they’re all shoving, with no place to go.  Wow. 

Then we had lunch (at 4; the masses were eating when we arrived), and I was served the biggest plate of food I have ever seen.  I warned Rev. Joseph that I probably couldn’t eat that much.  I felt much better when Rev. Enos (the vicar; Rev. Joseph is the assistant vicar) didn’t finish his plate.  I did my level best, which Rev. Joseph recognized.  🙂

One of the clergy wasn’t feeling well, and took Rev. Enos’ car.  They were concerned about getting me back to campus in time for our Eucharist service, which was nice.  Rev. Enos has noted that I keep time (rather proudly, it seemed), so I think things are getting on well there.

Going to supper (well, towards supper; I had just had lunch at 4), some of my friends were teasing me that I was the vicar of the Cathedral.  Not funny.