ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the general pattern of church activities, and various aspects of ritual and revelation. In the life of active members the church and its activities takes a very important place. Of primary importance are the Sunday, or Sabbath services, which, apart from their religious character, offer opportunities for social contacts, especially before and after services. The general pattern of church services undoubtedly makes for group cohesion, which adds to the importance of the church group. Besides the social intercourse before and after a service and the setting it often has in the homestead, informality in style and handshaking after the service foster intimate in-group relations. Although preachers often take little trouble to prepare a sermon, the majority speak with great ease and without self-consciousness, seldom lacking words. Often their eloquence is combined with much gesticulation and a dramatic way of speaking, and Pentecostal preachers especially tend to use artificial vocal effects.
