Worship Weblog
Monday, August 14, 2006
Report from Asia Trip ‘06
Report from CICW’s Asia trip by Kent Hendricks:
... We arrived at our condo-tel, as they are called. I am staying with Anne and Jon in a three bedroom, two bathroom suite. We are on the 38th floor of a tall building, and from our balcony we can see city lights to the horizon and watch planes line up to land at the airport, which is also not far. Immediately across the street is a mecca of America - a Burger King, McDonald’s, Starbucks, Chile’s, and an entire mall filled with franchises and pop music identical to the ones I’ve been used to my whole life. I have a feeling that I won’t be spending as much time in eclectic cafes as I’d hope.
Tomorrow morning we’re meeting with the rest of our group - Jay and Michelle, Bert and Bette, and Emily - at the Union Church of Manila, which will be our geographical locus for the next several days. We’ll spend tomorrow morning at the church and have lunch with the pastoral staff. Tomorrow afternoon we’ll be at the Asian Institute of Liturgy and Music. All three groups - UCM, AILM, and CICW - are collaborating together to proliferate acronymn use. And have a worship symposium on Friday and Saturday, which is the real reason I’m in Manila. In addition to all of that, we’re meeting with Rev. Tomas Maddela, who is the Dean of St. Andrew’s Seminary. ...