VIDEO - WE ARE MARCHING

I met these amazing students from Kitibaga Secondary School in Iringa Tanzania and was compelled to teach them the Chicken Dance.

Yes, the wedding dance.  Yes, the polka. Why? I asked why as well, but yet here I am to tell you the story of how the Chicken Dance made its way to these students.

A week before meeting the Kitibaga students, as a fun little celebration, we taught this dance to our friend Pastor Kaini.  He loved it. To say he loved it is an understatement. He lit up with joy as he flapped his wings learning this dance. He wanted me to teach that dance everywhere we went.  So I did. I taught the chicken dance in Tanzania. A sentence I never imagined writing. I taught the chicken dance with all my heart. I may now be known as the chicken dance pastor.

VIDEO - CHICKEN DANCE 

Once I realized just how often Pastor Kaini was going to have us dance like chickens, I decided we needed to dance as a celebration of God’s love.  Each time we danced, we read from Luke, where Jesus likens God’s love for us to a mother hen who gathers her chicks under her wings for protection. Even without the actual polka music to back us up, it was a celebration, we had fun!   When it was over, we spread our wings (arms!) around our neighbors to pray and give thanks that God’s love comes to us so abundantly in the care of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

How often would I have
gathered your children together,
like the hen gathers her nest
under her wings!  

Luke 13:34

PHOTO: PRAYER AT KITIBAGA

This was just last month, but it feels like a year ago, since we wrapped our arms around each other in prayer.  Today, it's an image I hold closely.  

May you feel the love of God’s wing of protection today.

Pastor Sara Spohr

Pray these words from ELW Hymn 613 Thy Holy Wings:

Thy holy wings, O Savior,
spread gently over me;
And let me rest securely,
through good and ill in thee.
O be my strength and portion,
my rock and hiding place,
And let my every moment,
be lived within thy grace. 
Amen.

Text: Carolina Sandell Berg, tr. Gracia Grindal
(c) 1983 Selah Publishing
Used with Permission OneLicense.net A-725379