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Published: September 29th 2011
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No sleeping out: gospel on the agenda!
There is a Spanish supermarket around the corner of Mary's house, our local supermarket for the coming week. After grabbing a sandwich and some turkey slices, we headed towards the subway eating 'pistolets uit het vuistje'.
I googled the internet for some gospel churches, but we ended up in another church. In Harlem we approached a couple walking on the street with a bible, and - coincidence - they were on their way to a service. So we joined them to their church: First Corinthian Baptist Church. Outside the church tourists had to wait in line to get in, church members have priority to seat. Because we were ‘friends’ of the couple we just met, we could also go in (although the church organization tried to stop us several times to send us to the tourist line). We made it to the third front row (! *slik * maybe a bit too close to god and the whole happening, but anyway). The church was packed with people (downstairs and on the balcony). Apparently it was a special service that would be broadcasted on television. There were 2 big screens on which they showed
the stage or the lyrics from a song (indeed, like on a music festival 😊.
It is totally different than a church service in Belgium. First difference: it is not quite and serene! People are talking (loudly), laughing, joking, hugging. Before and during the service. During the service crying, praying, yelling and dancing can be added to that list.
The service started with the choir (normally dressed – not the gospel dresses like in Sister Act 😉 singing some (very lengthy) songs.
Afterwards a play by some church members on “take off your mask”. Then the priest (?) was doing his talk. He referred to some lines from the bible. Some people had a real bible with them, but most of them were reading the lines from … their iPhone, iPad, Blackberry etc!!!! You cannot imagine happening that in Belgium .. I think (I just ask my grandmother since I’m not a frequent visitor).
During the whole service people walked up to the stage to do a kneeled-pray on the stairs. When they kneeled down, the ‘helpers’ put a blanket on their behind. We don’t really know the reason, but I think it was to minimize the view
of the audience on their ‘behind’?
The talk of the priest was rather interesting and until some point I was with him, until he involved God into his story. And when the recruitment of new souls for their commune started and the service turned into a commercial show, they totally lost me.
It was a nice to experience it and fascinating to see how these people really believe into all what was said and the god stuff (I tried to ‘feel it’ during the service but I didn’t. Guess I am too realistic for that). Btw, the guideline for donations to the church community is 10%!o(MISSING)f your wage (!), jawadde!
When we came out of the church (after 2.5h) the Harlem parade had started. A yearly parade where local organizations make floats and walk on the street. Amongst them also the NYPD 😊.
And! The sun was also there! Changing my shoes for slippers … mmmmm!
We had the choice .. workshops Lindy Hop in DanceManhattan or wander around in the sun in Harlem. We choose for the DanceManhattan workshop, we had 1h to get there to catch the start of the workshop. We
didn’t make it :s. Subway took longer than expected and – off course – we walked in the wrong direction to find the place :P. So we did the last part of the workshop and the small last one. Was quite expensive and not really value for money (but apparently that are the normal prices in NY). But we can say now: we danced in DanceManhattan 😊.
At the workshop we’ve met Elisabeth, apparently she studied a few months in Belgium when she was young (in Neerpelt of all places!). We went for dinner together in a very good Spanish restaurant. Was nice meeting her! She is also going to the New Orleans festival.
To ‘close’ the day, we took a walk on Time Square where it’s never boring: a proposal, girl doing gymnastic at a traffic light and us on the Forever21 webcam 😊.
Goodnight!
Oh yes, for the ones who go to the US, the USA is apparently not a Maestro country. So get your bancontact enabled otherwise it will not work! Like I found out 😊.
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