Sunday Morning at the Temple

As each of the nine doors of the Mother Temple of Africa opens, the friends gathered outside quietly and reverently enter inside. No need for a “call to prayer,” the opening of the doors signals that now is the time for worship. Sitting in quiet meditation, a cool breeze wafts through the temple, the singing of the birds outside in the gardens abounds. To begin, the sweet voices of the children offering their prayers bring smiles and a joyful heart to those listening. No more than four or five years of age, they sing the Unity Prayer, or the Healing Prayer, or perhaps the children’s prayer “O God, Guide Me, Protect Me, make of me a shining lamp and a brilliant star. That art the Mighty and the Powerful.”  After the children finish the choir director gets the attention of his singers and softly blows the starting note. The voices rise and “Ai Katonda onkulemebere, Onkuume, Koleeza ettala y’omutima gwange” reverberates throughout the Temple. This is the same children’s prayer “O God Guide Me, Protect Me” sung in the local dialect of Lugandan.

Interspersed with the songs are readings and prayers in French, English, Arabic, and Lugandan. Prayers are sung, recited, or chanted. New songs are sung by the choir, some in English, “O my God, O my God, Unite the hearts of thy servants…” With every song the choir offers it seems as though the birds outside sing even more and louder, as though in response to this call to worship.

Meanwhile, heads are bowed in reverence – gathered in unity and in joint worship - Ugandan, Eritrean and Persian, American, Irish and British. Visitors who have been attracted to the Temple from the Kampala guide books, or as one couple told me, because it was there, may be left in wonder of this sacred spot they’ve found themselves in – not quite sure what to make of this service, but perhaps contemplating their own search for truth.

When devotions are ended some quietly rise and move outdoors to spend a few minutes time visiting with each other. For many this once a week gathering may be their only chance to visit with friends. Other friends remain quietly on the wooden benches in the Temple, in quiet contemplation and to recite their personal prayers – it’s difficult to tear yourself away from this spot. Others may wander down to the Hazira’tul Quds where a library and bookstore offer more information for inquirers or another opportunity to sit and chat.

This is our Sunday morning…it lasts no more than an hour for the actual program, and then another half hour or hour in visits with friends. Some study circles or children’s classes may go for another hour or two, then the friends make their way home, by car, on foot, or by boda, refreshed by the physical and spiritual breeze that wafted over them while in prayer and meditation, and ready to begin yet another week.

Photos - from top: 1) The approach to the House of Worship; 2) some of the friends gathered, waiting to enter for devotions; 3) The view through one of the open doors during the service; 4) more of the friends visiting after the service. Below: 1) Wes Baker and Darragh. Darragh is from Northern Ireland and had spent 6 weeks offering volunteer service at the National Centre. This was his last day before moving on to new adventures; 2) "Mr James" - one of the groundskeepers; 3) Godfrey and another young man (don't know his name) who serve as year of service volunteers.