An investigation into the phenomena and practices of spiritual ...

services are conducted. However, the vibrant characteristics of the people in the COGICand the more sedate characteristics of the people in the URC are reflected in thedecorations and layout of the physical healing environment.The congregation which I observed is almost all black with one or two white personsoccasionally attending the services for a particular purpose such as giving informationabout local community issues on the invitation of the minister. The membership is about150 adults and young people. (Aged 9-100+). Membership will only be granted to peopleover the age of about nine years when they are deemed capable of making a decision to bebaptized and be received into membership.On one typical Sunday when I observed the morning service there were at the beginning 20children, 12 elderly ladies and 4 men in the choir, 9 young people, (7 female and 2 male).People continued to come in throughout the majority service. At the end of the servicethere were 38 adults over (25 years) and 14 young people (under 25 years excludingbabies) a total of 52 people of Black (African and Caribbean origin). The praise andworship team consist of four „young people‟, one male and three femaleHollenweger (1973) pointed out that Pentecostalism offers people with an oral traditionsuch as Black people of African origins the same opportunity to take part in worship andthe Christian faith as those with a literary tradition. This is evidenced in the absence of awritten framework for the order of service, yet there is an unwritten one which is followedby all who moderate the services under the guidance of the Pastor.123