To all who may be leading the worship services in churches anywhere.

This note is my personal reaction and feelings as I continue to shop for the place to call home after I step down from the podium of leadership in the church services. I bound myself to as far from the City of Kampala where I have worked for the last 35 years to a Mpunga village in Wakiso District to start new life which my wife and I are enjoying very much. The challenge has been finding the church which we can call home.

We are Anglicans and therefore the first place to search was in the Anglican churches near us. We tried St. Johanan (not the real name) and the first thing to strike us was the size of the congregation as the service started. A few young people trying to lead the singing the leader of the service were trying to get the worship going. The keyboard player was playing in his own key while the singers were singing in their own key. By the end of the service, there was great sense that it would take a lot of work to come to the same church and hammer out what one would call worship.

Then we tried out St. Margaret (Once again not real name) a big church for the size of the village churches. The service could not start because there were very few people in the pews. Then without warning the leader of music came into the church put his earphone on and started playing pre-recorded music of hymns and the last was “Stand, stand up for Jesus”. Then on the same loud speaker system the leader of the service announced that we stand and sing “Stand, stand up for Jesus” letting us know the number in the song book and the page and then proceeded to start it in a different key.

Where does one go for church service where the attention is on worshiping God and not on the on the visiting unknown clergyman with his wife? The next was the trying at a Cathedral in town. Fantastic set up and great musical instruments but the sound let this place down. We could hardly hear the music and the words of the lead singer and participation was very difficult especially when he would invite us to join him in what he was singing. Next time we visit we shall try another space probably we can hear. It was the leader of the service that sent us wondering whether he was not bored by what he was doing. However the preacher brought us from the depth we had sank and sent us home rejoicing and thanking God we came.

To us who normally sit at the front of the church at them services looking towards the people of God who probably have come seeking to be led in the worship of God, to the ordained and the non-ordained; do we ever think about the things I have experience since I sat in the pew looking at the back of the head of the person in front of me? Now I understand better why for some people the style of the hair is very important before they come to the church service. Other people will be at the back and you do not know what they will say about the part of your body they fellowship with most – the back of your head.

My I propose something here to all who lead he services and it does not matter which church we belong to? Think about the people who are coming to your church for the services of worship. Not only for the preaching you will do for Uganda is a preaching country and that will be expected. But also ask this question; what in the service programme will appeal to the people who come today to come next Sunday? Think of a restaurant where you have ever had a good meal and also where you had the worst meal and think of where you want to take your visitor. It is true form the worship services also. Nothing can substitute adequate preparation and those who come will know are will be blest.