Drums in Church?!

Just as the First Samoan Congregational Christian UCC has shown us a new way to sing God's song through their ministry of drumming, song and dance, new member Adwoa Kudoto has begun to teach us about a new way of keeping time with God's rhythm of abundance.

 

In Ghana, where Adwoa  comes from, drums are used in every aspect of life: births, deaths, marriages, celebrations and rituals of every sort are marked by music and dance punctuated and set apart by the rhythms of the different drums. Drums are central to West African cultures just as our music is central to our western culture. As the organ has occupied a central place in the church music of Europe for centuries, so the drum in the West African cultures. All this is to say, we have much to learn. So, we have begun to add some drumming to our 10:30 am worship service. For me it has been particularly meaningful to hear the scripture "read" with the talking drum. Those who know the "language" of the talking drum can understand the scripture as it is played, or better, spoken through the drum. The first time I heard scripture thus presented, inexplicably (at least to my western mind), it brought tears to my eyes. I am amazed that God has brought Adwoa  to us. We have so much to learn from them and their Ghanaian culture. Adwoa  will present a concert on November 7th, beginning at 8 pm, in our church's sanctuary.

 

Drumming Lessons: 5 pm on Fridays -- this is a beginning class.

 

Drumming Concert: Friday, November 7th, 8 pm