St. Stephen's Kitende Tuesday Lunch hour uses Anglican Hymns for Praise and Worship

By Hannington Sebuliba 

 Of recent, Anglican Churches had abandoned their melodious opting for short choruses commonly used in Pentecostal Churches accross the country. St. Stephen's Kitende Church of Uganda has broken the norm by using the very hymns people have been calling funeral songs for Praise and Worship. This Tuesday afternoon, I went to Kitende and was mesmerised to hear Rev. Samuel Muwonge and his worship team singing Tulina Omubeezi waffe and Yesu Mukama wange in a worship mood accompanied by a keyboard. 

His sermon was on the theme: You are not alone

 He started by saying "Am talking about God's presence even as you do your work, God is with you. You are not alone. Whether financial brokenness poverty the assurance is that God is with you. He can't abandon you." He added that  God is going to be with you. That's why David says even though I walk through the valley of death, I will not fear because you are with me. He said that when we call Jesus he will answer our calls. He assured the congregation that once God stamps in your requests, nothing can go wrong.

 He said that even amidst troubles of this world, God cannot abandon his peoplee. He then burst into a song 'awali Yesu byonna biyinzika' loosely translated that Where there's the presence of Jesus, all is possible. He said that during times when you are down, the Lord comes and His presence is manifested and that becomes a testimony so that those who were underlooking you will be shamed. 

 Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. He said that whenever people mudsling you, God comes out at an opportune time to manifest His greatness. 

 Psalm 16:11 "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore". This verse describes a life guided by God, where the highest joy and eternal pleasures are found in His presence. 

 Psalm 9:10 Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken you. 

 Psalm 139:7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence. 

 Psalm 130:5 "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I put my hope". 

This verse expresses a deep, earnest expectation of God, with the phrase "my soul waits" indicating that the waiting is not just a physical act but involves the entire being.

 It signifies putting hope in God's promises and His word during times of difficulty or longing for redemption. Meaning of "wait": The Hebrew word for "wait" (qâwâ) carries a sense of eager expectation and longing, similar to how watchmen wait for the morning. It implies more than passive waiting; it's an active hope. "My whole being waits": The repetition of "my soul waits" or "my whole being waits" emphasizes that this is an intense, whole-person response to God, engaging all aspects of the person's mind and heart. 

 He said whatever rubbish they say about you, it can't block the Lord from blessing you. He gave the example of Joseph who was sold by his brothers and even Pontifa's wife talked ill about him to the extent of imprisoning him but at the end of the day, he became Prime Minister in Egypt. 

 He prayed to the congregation to recieve something that will be testimony to those around them.

You need to take action now: Rev Samuel Muwonge at Kitende Lunch hour

During today's  Lunch Hour fellowship at Kitende, Rev. Muwonge has called upon Christians to always take action if they are to prosper.

2 chronicles 31:21 "In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly.  And so he prospered."

He  thanked Maama Tabitha and Winnie some of the online worshippers who always act by sending him money for data. He hastened to add that some people  just complain that the YouTube is off and just don't act.

He said that in this world, whatever we do, work at it it with your heart for the Lord but not for the men.

He called upon men who are 40 plus to take action and go for Prostate Cancer screening. He also called upon ladies to go for breast cancer screening and cervical cancer screening.

He told the congregation  that people should start praying for themselves before they go to the priest or Lay Reader to pray for him/herself. He told them that the Lord tells us to call upon Him and He will answer.

He advised members to always eat healthy foods instead of junk food.

Taking an Action was the theme of the day. He asked people who have wronged others yo take action and go repent instead of saying mbu nze ninda Yesu ajja kunsonyiwa

He said that what the Lord wants from us is to take action.

Ezra  10:4 Rise up; this matters in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it

He called upon his congregation to  use the rains now and plant some food so that they do not just pray for miracle foods. He said that whoever then who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

He advised that if your want to build a house, you need to take action immediately. 

Bishop Banja confirms 45 Children at St. Anthony Nursery and Primary School

 

Jesus's authority to forgive sins

Bishop Banja at St. Anthony Nursery and Primary School during a confirmation service and also dedication of Primary Seven candidates.

He asked God parents of the 45 pupils that were confirmed to stand and only ten stood up. He said that each candidate was supposed to have three God parents which makes it a total of 143. He was concerned that many people are selected to be God parents but most of them just think it is just for the function.

He challenged God parents to always be there for spiritual guidance in the lives of the children they stood for as God parents during baptism.

Preaching about the day when Jesus healed a paralytic man and the Pharisees and Sadducees asked where he got such authority to forgive sins. He said that when Jesus challenged them, they coiled and went away stealthily.  He said that there's no other name where we can get healing and forgiveness but in the name of Jesua Christ.

He called upon the newly confirmed to take up the challenge to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour.

To the P7 candidates, he asked them to look upon Jesus to who will enable them to pass with flying colours.

He told candidates that the parents had done their part by paying school fees and also given them all requirements, it was now upon them to do what is expected of them.

Kitende Tuesday Lunch hour Service

When you see men and women climbing Kitende hill every Tuesday around midday, their destination is St. Stephen's Kitende Church of Uganda. They come here just for one thing, Lunch Hour service.

This particular Tuesday, Rev. Samuel Muwonge  is preaching on a theme, "I have a Shepherd "

The one hour service starts with a powerful praise and worship led by a very vibrant choir where Maama Olivia Muwonge is a choristers. The reverberating praise songs can even lead to a dormant person dance for the Lord.