Liturgy, language and hospitality : Magandzelelo Ekerekeni of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in South Africa

Abstract

The aim of this article is to develop a liturgical theory for praxis that will enable the EPCSA to recognise and accommodate non-Tsonga speaking worshippers found within the church. There are young Africans in South Africa that cannot read nor write in their mother tongue, for example Xitsonga, also in the EPCSA. The findings of this research will help these Africans that are members of the EPCSA to participate in the Sunday liturgy in a more meaningful way. The Sunday liturgy of the EPCSA, known as Magandzelelo Ekerekeni is exclusively in Tsonga. It consists of five (5) Sunday orders of service for each Sunday of the month and was also the focus of this research. Research of this liturgy and those participating and leading in this liturgy was done in the seven (7) presbyteries found within the EPCSA, and the focus of this research was the people and their language within the context of the liturgy. The principle aim was to promote the Biblical notion of hospitality in the communities of the EPCSA via the liturgy by developing a more inclusive theory for praxis for the EPCSA.