Celebrating Diversity in Worship: Lessons from Nigerian Friends

Sara Traficante - Ministry Forum inter, Master of Psychospiritual Studies student at Knox College, and Youth Leader at Central Presbyterian Church, Hamilton - recently wrote a reflection for our weekly email, and we thought we’d share it here!

I have always been interested in community experiences, fostered by my life in church and in music.

What is church without music?
What are church and music without community?

One of my psychospiritual areas of interest is listening to people’s stories. I am drawn to narrative therapy and narrative community work.

Whose stories do we amplify?
Whose stories are not heard?

How are we telling other people’s stories?
Are people telling their own stories?
How can we rewrite the narrative to chart a new path forward together?

I am extremely blessed to be part of a church that values music and diversity. One area of growth is in our Nigerian membership. About four times a year, we shift the worship to an intergenerational experience. On Sunday November 17, the worship was shaped around the gifts and stories from our Nigerian friends.

How did we put this together? Initially, a group met to discuss ideas. We listened to stories of what presbyterian worship looks like in Nigeria. Liturgical style with the Call to Worship, Prayers, Scripture, Sermon.... no big surprises so far. However, the service is many hours long! Lots of praise in singing and dancing animated by the Spirit. Both tithing time AND a separate offering time. Sharing personal testimonies.

Since music is so important for my church, we decided to plan the worship around three songs suggested by our Nigerian friends: “As the Deer” for the Introit; “Ancient Words” for the Offertory; and as a special feature, choir member Seke took the lead on “Narekele mo”, sung in Igbo and English. The children learned the song on three Sunday mornings leading up to the worship and joined in the refrains with the choir.

We heard testimony from Chidinma who spoke about the importance of prayer in her life and the daily morning prayer practice with her children. She shared her experience of church in Nigeria and the supports the church provides by always having an open door: to pray, to meet for study, and to receive pastoral care from the ministers living in the manse. These friendships and supports remain although she and her children are now settled in Canada.

What has this experience taught me? That we can listen to and honour the stories of our diverse church membership. Uplift individual and cultural gifts with respect and authenticity. Share in leadership to plan and embark in new worship styles, while stretching the congregation to experience something new. Explore with generosity. My hope is that we will build from here to encourage more integrative experiences that are inclusive of our diverse membership.