Ordination

On Sunday the 27th of January we attended an ordination in the beautiful country side of Image Lutheran Church. We left Iringa at 8:00 am for the 75 minute ride to Image.  We were treated to  breakfast served in the pastor's home and cooked by the church ladies.

 Church ladies preparing food, breakfast and dinner.

  Imagine hundreds of people arriving for the ordination.  There were at least three church choirs, many clergy, and friends and family of the seven candidates being ordained and many children.  We arrived at 9:15 and the official procession in to the church began at 11 am.  The choirs processed first with the  accompaniment of singing and drums; the clergy and others followed.

After the first few candidate said their vows the band played a verse of "Day by Day Your Mercies Lord Attend Me."  By 1:35 all the vows had been said and each of the new pastor was presented individually with his/her family members coming forward with garlands of flowers and hugs.  Such a happy occasion!  At 1:35, some children were invited forward to sit in front of the church to hear the sermon given by the Bishop.  At 2:40 there was communion and by 4:00 the recessional started. Dinner was served for the hundreds attending, each group was told where to go, some to the pastor's home, some to a covered area beside the church, and some to another building close by.  It was done very efficiently.

Notice the lovely countryside and view of the covered addition to the church which covered some as an occasional shower passed by.  

Blessing of the clergy, done for each of the candidates separately.  Note Lyn is taking pictures from right rear.

Seven new pastors serving the people of the Iringa Diocese and celebrating their special day.  

We were so happy to have been a part of this special day.