After the relaxed, joyful women’s retreat, my Sunday morning at the German Mennonite church was quite a contrast!
Everyone was polite, but the faces were very serious—even when the young band started playing. I thought, Great, some lively music! But nobody sang, clapped or even moved. Two young girls three pews ahead gave a tiny wiggle, then quickly stopped when they realised nobody else was doing it!
The children were then taken off to Sunday school while we listened to a sermon about “packing and unpacking the backpack of life”—letting go of unnecessary worries and burdens and making room for what really matters.
A fascinating contrast between two expressions of faith: one full of outward joy and emotion, the other quiet, disciplined and reserved.
Another little window into a world I’m still learning to understand.
