Sunday: Lord's Day in New York too

Actually, it was difficult to find the church. It was a building without much show on the outside, but really luxurious inside. An ancient theatre hall shelters nowadays the Brooklyn Tabernacle.

A chorus of around 200 people after the altar accompanied the pastor who, holding the microphone as if he were a pop star, moved to and fro addressing parishioners.

The theatre, as big as Bilbao's Euskalduna, was crowded. Around 2,000 people holding a Bible, applauding with all their might and singing their hearts out.

And for those of us who followed the mass from the second floor, a huge screen above the altar not to miss any details of the show.

"God is love," "Jesus, you are our life" and many other songs between sermon and sermon. As a difference to the churches we know, in this one each one lives God in his own way. People applaud spontaneously, shout, open their arms and look at heaven… the way they live mass is really shocking.

Parishioners of all ages wear their best clothes for the celebration of Lord's Day, as they say.

A band similar to those in weddings, a mixing table many DJs would love to have and a screen as big as to broadcast the Champions League are part of the scenery in this atypical church.

But if something catches your eye it's the devotion to live the two-hour celebration. People cry during the sermon, sing as if their soul depended on that and move their arms as if they were to grab the longed-for Jesus.

It's curious, because gospel mass is understood as something humble, without pretensions… and what a surprise as I saw all those there take out their big notes, checkbooks and cards to write their bank account numbers and their donation.

Clap, pray, sing an all that on a hot Sunday morning. Many New York churches get dressed up for the occasion and literally hit the ceiling.

This show is a must if you are in New York. Don't you forget that if you ever visit New York.

In fact, even if Harlem is the area par excellence of Gospel masses, all districts have a temple in which you can attend a mass typical of Whoopi Goldberg's films.