PVC 1991 Delegation – Part Four: Resurrection Lutheran

The following notes have been edited to correct errors and to add explanations and updates. Parenthetical notes and remarks from the original are enclosed in parentheses. Present day [2022] updates are italicized and enclosed in square brackets.

Sunday, 13 October 1991 - Morning Worship

After the talk [Saturday evening] we have an orientation meeting to go over the schedule and house rules, then to bed around 9:00 PM, which is 11:00 PM according to our not-yet-readjusted body clocks. I sleep fairly well, but am up several times. Finally up for good, showered and dressed around 6:00 AM. Breakfast had been scheduled for 8:00, but we are all up and around well before that time, so we eat around 7:15, then hold a short meeting and walk to church, accompanied by Felicita's two younger children.

Because of the international conference just ending, there are quite a few visiting ministers and bishops in the congregation. The service begins almost on time – about 9:40 AM. As usual, Medardo forms the procession out on the sidewalk in front of the church, brilliant and vulnerable in his red chasuble. Linda has brought her service book, so we are able to follow the liturgy. The processional hymn is Ein' Feste Burg [A Mighty Fortress], with a Latin rhythm. Unfortunately, the Spanish words are not in the service book, so all we can do is hum along.

PVC 1990 Delegation – Part Sixteen: Resurrection Lutheran Church

The following notes have been edited to correct errors and to add explanations and updates. Parenthetical notes and remarks from the original are enclosed in parentheses. Present day [2022] updates are italicized and enclosed in square brackets.

8 October 1990 - 8:00 AM - Resurrection Lutheran Church

Chris had the time of the service wrong, so we are sitting in an office of the Lutheran Church waiting for the students to end their 7:30 worship. The one that we will attend doesn't begin until 8:30. This church is an amazing shade of green - green for the Resurrection. We entered through a lovely enclosed and shaded courtyard. The room in which we are waiting has a beautifully painted Salvadoran cross, about 21" high, hanging on a wall against an excruciatingly tacky floral-patterned wall paper. Two-thirds of the adjoining wall, which is the first thing one sees upon entering, features a floor to ceiling photo mural of a fall scene in the U.S. or Canadian northwest. Cyril opines that it depicts the Cascades rather than the Rockies. The incongruity of such a scene here in tropical El Salvador is startling.

I learned this morning that most of the group was awake a good bit of last night. Helicopters were flying low overhead, and there were explosions in the distance and brilliant flashes lighting the sky. We heard several explanations of what was going on, but finally learned that a cadre of FMLN had attacked Mariona prison in an unsuccessful attempt to liberate some of the political prisoners.