Viva Panama!

November 5th, 2006 |By Marvia Lawes in: Panama Culture | 1 Comment »

Panama’s Separation From Columbia
Viva Panama! Today, November 5, 2006 marks 103 years since Panama officially separated from Columbia (Nov 5, 1903). It is known as Colon Day as it was Colon that made the last stand to successfully defend being re-captured.

I am still in awe at today’s parade that took place in Colon. I lost count of the more than 30 groups (inclusive of Marching Bands), drawn from every area of the nation’s civic sphere, independent groups and organizations. This included the police, the fire department, nurses, teachers, government ministries, students from the top schools in Colon and its environs, development and environmental groups, and even marching bands from churches.

Panama Churches Participate in the Parade
This last group (bands from churches) was part of my motivation to see this event. Church groups marching in National celebrations? I could not help but make the comparisons with Jamaica. First, I could not imagine all these various groups of public servants and some private companies turning out to march for more than a mile in the SUN and its not Carnival!!

But to have churches marching as part of the National Celebrations, just does not sound to me like anything ‘up the street’ of the churches in Jamaica. Churches marching in the parade has not been the only point of interest. Several churches in Colon suspended worship services in observance of the day!! There are those who felt that they had no choice, since their members are out marching. In addition, since the parade passes during the time of worship, some services would be disrupted anyway.

Nonetheless, even with these obvious challenges, several congregations stuck to their regular time of worship instead of adjusting the time. Since it is not likely that the members were going to choose church and miss the parade, making an adjustment to the time of worship seems like a better option to closing the doors, or sticking with the regular time.

However, I did ask myself the question…Should pastors remain inflexible and tell their members not to attend the parade? Or should they make adjustments since their members will be participating anyway? This is not an easy question to answer for all. So what did I do? At First Isthmian we made an adjustment to the time of worship. Since members wanted to attend church and also wished to be part of the national patriotic celebrations, we found a middle ground.

Cooperation with National Celebrations
Our congregation at First Isthmian Baptist, met for Communion Service 8:00-9:30am. This gave adequate time for persons to attend the parade afterwards. The attendance at church was low for a Communion Sunday. However, all the leaders and most committed members were there. Of a membership of approximately 130 – we had just over 70 members present. 1 visitor whose church was closed attended our service. At least 3 of the members present were marching band members who left after worship to join the Parade.

The church was decorated in Panama’s National Colours, there was the procession of the Flags (including the Panama Flag), and we closed with the National Anthem of Panama. It was indeed one of those rare occasions when everything came together to lead the worshipers into a truly moving experience.

More will be said later, on the relationship between the church and society, Christians and Civic responsibility here in Panama.

Until then,
Marvia

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