Destiny Malatai, right, performs as part of a White Sunday chorus group at St Luke's Church in Masterton on Sunday. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK
Destiny Malatai, right, performs as part of a White Sunday chorus group at St Luke's Church in Masterton on Sunday. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK
GOD Bless White Sunday.
That's the cry after every performance at the front of the church, by youngsters celebrating the traditional Samoan holiday. This Sunday it was held at St Luke's Union Church in Masterton. I was lucky enough to be invited to take photographs, which feature on page 10.
I'm not unfamiliar with the concept of White Sunday, having reported for the Porirua News some years ago, but I wonder how many of the Palagi congregation were with the series of prayers and entertainment performed by the Sunday School children, and the church's Samoan youngsters. I suspect the regulars are familiar with it - and thoroughly entertained by it. I doubt you get as much bang for your buck on standard Sundays. It does nicely make for an engaging two hours, although someone afterwards remarked there wasn't much worship involved.
I would argue that a joyous gathering, with laughter, and the obvious engagement of children, is a profoundly refreshing form of spiritual connection and rejuvenation. The children engaged in storytelling, performances and song, all devoutly revolving around the Christian God and Jesus. Reading the Bible is part of passing a story on, and prayer is a performance of sorts.
The Samoan community choose to break out the guitars and sing their worship in tune. They choose to move, rather than sit. They march down the aisle, and face the audience with confidence. Hopefully they face life the same way.
I'm sure there isn't a parent in New Zealand who doesn't feel blessed when they see their child stepping beyond themselves to perform on stage. Most of us wait until the term 3 school production to see it, but in Samoan communities performance is a regular aspect of church, which is why they sing so flawlessly.
I hope the St Luke's congregation felt blessed by what was shared with them, because it strikes me that it would be pretty hard to feel blessed in a church service without a smile or two. We go to church to connect with our spirituality and come closer to God. But I would say we do that every day when we get a chance to connect with those who make us laugh.
