The practice of Easter morning service and its theological implication into Christian faith: In North-Eastern diocese of Lutheran Church of Tanzania

Abstract

In theological studies we find many African theologians talking about ancestors and their relationship to the living human beings. And Africans are seen time to time visiting grave sites of their departed relatives to talk with them. As Felix Chukwudi Nwaeke mentioned in his thesis that, “These practices have been there in the African religions and have psychological significance in that people they are in harmony with their ancestors”1. What is a problem with Easter morning service is a misconception among Christians. Some of them feel like worshiping ancestors and doubt spiritual validity of the service and its role to their faith,.Others feel it as a right place for them to visit their relatives and as a matter of maintaining good relationship, communication, and venerating. Thus the main question this study intends to address is what is the significance of Easter morning service held at graveyards? Other questions that lead to answer the main question of the research are as follows: What is the practical understanding of people about the service? What should be the contextual meaning of Easter morning service and its relationship with the ancestral worship? What is the importance of the service, and why do we practice this as the church? Where does this service originate from? And what are the stands of the Lutheran Church in Tanzania and particularly North-Eastern Diocese(NED)2 concerning the issue?