The church is part of a much larger building, with a front of very carefully carved stone, with heavy, old fashioned doors. It looks like a castle. Inside: white walls and dark wood seats.
When I enter, a woman hands me a program booklet. She also shakes my hand and tells me that I am welcome, and to sit wherever I like.
The room is set up like a lecture hall, with the seats or benches all facing the same way. There is an area set apart at the ‘front’ of the room, with a long table and a Christian cross set up on it and a piano to one side.
A man comes to the piano and plays a quiet piece of music. A woman comes to the center of the front of the room and speaks forcefully, asking everyone to stand up and listen to her pray. Then everyone prays together. They sing a song together. They recite a prayer together. The woman asks the kids to come forward, and speaks to them directly for a few minutes. Then the children leave by a back door. There is another song.
Then the woman who is leading the service reads from a big book. She stands at a lectern and explains what she has read. She asks everyone if there is anything they would like to pray about. People stand up and talk about partners, children, parents, and neighbors who are sick, and current events. Several people stand up and pass around a basket. Everyone puts money, checks, or envelopes in it. There is more singing, and the woman holds up her hand and tells everyone to go in peace.
The people go out the back door and into another room that is set up with coffee, tea, lemonade, and a table full of snacks. They stand around talking, and the kids run or crawl around. Some sit at a table and draw with crayons. After a while, people begin to clean up the snacks and drinks, and everyone leaves.