Just a quick poll

[InnerPhyre]

A very Merry Christmas to each of you! May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you and your families richly as we all gather to glorify Him in His nativity! This poll might seem kind of random, but it's just something for my own personal knowledge. I'm wondering how many of you have attended an Orthodox Divine Liturgy.

Please let's not turn this into why I'm right and you're wrong, etc. I'm just curious as to whether or not any of you have attended, as I attended a few Baptist services last year and found them interesting.

[arunma]

A very Merry Christmas to each of you! May our Lord Jesus Christ bless you and your families richly as we all gather to glorify Him in His nativity! This poll might seem kind of random, but it's just something for my own personal knowledge. I'm wondering how many of you have attended an Orthodox Divine Liturgy.

Please let's not turn this into why I'm right and you're wrong, etc. I'm just curious as to whether or not any of you have attended, as I attended a few Baptist services last year and found them interesting.

I've never been to an Orthodox service. But I always love attending the services of other denominations (except for those of heretics, such as Jehovah's Witnesses). I've been to a non-denominational church, an Episcopal church, and a Catholic church. I wasn't too fond of the non-denominational and Catholic services, but I absolutely loved the Episcopal service. If the Orthodox church conducts worship anything like them, then I'm sure that I won't be disappointed.

To be honest, I'm rather interested in Orthodoxy. I have no interest in actually becoming Orthodox (though I did at one point), but from what I've read about the Orthodox Church's theology, they seem to be somewhat closer to us Baptists than the Roman Catholics. I especially like your view of episcopal leadership in the church, as opposed to the views of Catholicism. I certainly hope that God would bless me with the opportunity to visit an Orthodox church, in the near future.

By the way, I'm still having trouble getting used to the fact that you're not Catholic anymore.

[California Dreamin']

No, never have.

[Maeyken]

Nope never have. Where I grew up, I don't think there were any orthodox churches around... at least none that I was aware of.

Now, it's hard enough to make it to church on a regular basis (I work as a nurse, so it's fairly frequent weekend shifts).

I'm not against going to other churches, it's just hard to do that when even trying my best I only make it maybe 3 out of 5 Sundays. I think it'd be a very different experience for me to attend an orthodox service, and I think I'd find it interesting, but I haven't done so yet. Maybe someday?

[newbeliever02072005]

No, I have never been to one. Not even sure I know what its all about.


Merry Christmas to you ! :)

[Flynmonkie]

Hi! Blessed Christmas to you! :wave:
Ok, Beat me ---> I have no idea what this is? Not that I have any aversion to visiting other Churches -- I don't. But I don't know what this is?

[MatthewPoole]

Never Have, Never Will. NEXT!

[MrJim]

Looking to go within the next few weeks-wanted to wait until the "holidays" were done.

[mesue]

I voted "No But I would like to", not because I'm searching, but because I will always try something new at least once. I have a feeling there will be simularities with a lot of the other sacramental churches. But I would never know until I've seen for myself.

[aReformedPatriot]

No, but I would like to.

I would like to watch how it all takes place. I enjoy Roman Catholic services for the most part and am open to seeing the Orthodox in action.

[ZiSunka]

I have attended many times, but I find it too ritualized for me, and it makes two separate classes of people, those who stand in front and do all the action, and those who sit in the pews doing only what is expected of them, quietly and without connection or involvement with what is going on in front.

It's just not for me. I like active worship, participation in services and activities, and a direct connection between the people and the Lord.

[53Isaiah]

I've found were I've been called.

[InnerPhyre]

Interesting responses, everyone. Thanks!

[Lenora56]

My life in Christ is full, and the presence of the Lord is in my church. I'm not saying that I would never go to the service of which you speak. I simply don't have a yearning. Perhaps some day I will attend.

[InnerPhyre]

sit in the pews doing only what is expected of them, quietly


Pews? In Orthodox church? Is outrage!:liturgy:


Seriously though, the parishoners were quiet during the liturgy you went to? Must have been a strange service...or a very uninvolved group, since the DL is comprised almost entirely of singing and there is rarely a block of time other than the sermon when the congregation itself isn't praying in chant out loud.

[Joykins]

I haven't but I would like to. I like much of what I've read about Orthodoxy, but there is nothing like experiencing it in person to really know what things are all about :)

[arunma]

I have attended many times, but I find it too ritualized for me, and it makes two separate classes of people, those who stand in front and do all the action, and those who sit in the pews doing only what is expected of them, quietly and without connection or involvement with what is going on in front.

It's just not for me. I like active worship, participation in services and activities, and a direct connection between the people and the Lord.

I can see why one might say that. Personally, I actually like the liturgy a bit more than evangelical worship. If there was one thing that I liked at the Episcopal service I went to, it was certainly their liturgical style of worship.

Of course, this alone is not enough to actually make me switch denominations. Overall, I love the Baptist church that I attend, and I prefer it far more than any other denomination. But all denominations have their strengths and weaknesses, and I personally think that worship is something that the liturgical Christians happen to have done better than us (at least as per my personal preference).

[StMatthew2429]

sorry...wrong thread!:thumbsup:

[Joykins]

http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/anti1.htm

I liked this..kinda creepy

I would appreciate a warning if I click on a link and it will immediately try to download software to my computer! :eek:

[Ragamuffins]

http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/anti1.htm

I liked this..kinda creepy
Very creepy indeed.

But it has nothing to do with the Orthodox church, but the church of Rome instead... A faulty view of Rome but it is still of Rome.

As for the OP:
I went & I didn't like it at first but it is slowly growing on me. It can be very ethnic (depending on the parish) and if you have no idea what is going on you can get lost very easy. I had to go to three churches before I was ready to settle in. Now I am here and it still takes bit of getting used to, but i do like it better than the hymns I used to sing.

[ZiSunka]

Pews? In Orthodox church? Is outrage!:liturgy:


Seriously though, the parishoners were quiet during the liturgy you went to? Must have been a strange service...or a very uninvolved group, since the DL is comprised almost entirely of singing and there is rarely a block of time other than the sermon when the congregation itself isn't praying in chant out loud.

Russian Orthodox. Most of the time, the priest and the cantor do most of the chanting, and the congregation sits and responds only when the book tells them to. There is constant chanting, no singing, but the congregation doesn't do much of it.

[ZiSunka]

I can see why one might say that. Personally, I actually like the liturgy a bit more than evangelical worship. If there was one thing that I liked at the Episcopal service I went to, it was certainly their liturgical style of worship.

Of course, this alone is not enough to actually make me switch denominations. Overall, I love the Baptist church that I attend, and I prefer it far more than any other denomination. But all denominations have their strengths and weaknesses, and I personally think that worship is something that the liturgical Christians happen to have done better than us (at least as per my personal preference).

See, I don't even think of that as worship. Worship is expressing love and appreciation to God. It's hard to worship when you are only repeating what you read in a booklet. You have to pretend that those are your words, your sentiments toward God. I like a more active worship of singing, reading the Bible outloud, taking prayer requests and praying for them in detail immediately, conversing with the pastor as he delivers his sermon. For me, church has to be very interactive, I can't just sit there and read a pre-formatted service. Feels too much like going to a movie, watching what's going on, but not really invovled in it.

[InnerPhyre]

http://www.jesus-is-lord.com/anti1.htm

I liked this..kinda creepy


What does this have to do with the Orthodox Church?

[InnerPhyre]

.

[arunma]

See, I don't even think of that as worship. Worship is expressing love and appreciation to God. It's hard to worship when you are only repeating what you read in a booklet. You have to pretend that those are your words, your sentiments toward God. I like a more active worship of singing, reading the Bible outloud, taking prayer requests and praying for them in detail immediately, conversing with the pastor as he delivers his sermon. For me, church has to be very interactive, I can't just sit there and read a pre-formatted service. Feels too much like going to a movie, watching what's going on, but not really invovled in it.

Well, it may just be due to the fact that I like movies. Personally, I have no problem with reading the words in a book. If you understand what the words of the liturgy mean, and you believe them, then doing so certainly is a form of worship. The only disadvantage I see to the liturgy is that small children might be taught to believe that they can be saved by reading out of a hymnal (that is, by works rather than faith). But to someone who has truly been saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, the liturgy can have meaning.

But again, all I'm trying to say is that my personal preferences incline me towards liturgical worship. It surely isn't for everyone. And I am also not trying to say that I dislike evangelical worship. I feel that I gain a good deal of spiritual benefit by worshiping in my church. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that my ideal church would be a Baptist church dressed up as a liturgical church. But hey, nothing is ideal, and I have no problem with that reality.

By the way, at the Episcopal and Catholic churches that I attended, the worship included a good deal of singing. Are you saying that there were no hymns at the Orthodox church that you visited?

[InnerPhyre]

Well, it may just be due to the fact that I like movies. Personally, I have no problem with reading the words in a book. If you understand what the words of the liturgy mean, and you believe them, then doing so certainly is a form of worship. The only disadvantage I see to the liturgy is that small children might be taught to believe that they can be saved by reading out of a hymnal (that is, by works rather than faith). But to someone who has truly been saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, the liturgy can have meaning.

But again, all I'm trying to say is that my personal preferences incline me towards liturgical worship. It surely isn't for everyone. And I am also not trying to say that I dislike evangelical worship. I feel that I gain a good deal of spiritual benefit by worshiping in my church. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that my ideal church would be a Baptist church dressed up as a liturgical church. But hey, nothing is ideal, and I have no problem with that reality.

By the way, at the Episcopal and Catholic churches that I attended, the worship included a good deal of singing. Are you saying that there were no hymns at the Orthodox church that you visited?


All Orthodox liturgies include hymns. The entire liturgy itself is sung though, and our hymns, since they are Eastern, do not follow the general western form of verse, refrain, verse, refrain, verse, etc.

[arunma]

All Orthodox liturgies include hymns. The entire liturgy itself is sung though, and our hymns, since they are Eastern, do not follow the general western form of verse, refrain, verse, refrain, verse, etc.

Heh, "our hymns." Sorry, but I'm still getting used to the idea that you aren't Roman Catholic anymore. You have to understand that in my mind, you used to embody the very notion of the CF Roman Catholic.

[InnerPhyre]

Heh, "our hymns." Sorry, but I'm still getting used to the idea that you aren't Roman Catholic anymore. You have to understand that in my mind, you used to embody the very notion of the CF Roman Catholic.


I know. Tough transition for everyone to swallow I think :) Best move I ever made tho.

[ZiSunka]

Well, it may just be due to the fact that I like movies. Personally, I have no problem with reading the words in a book. If you understand what the words of the liturgy mean, and you believe them, then doing so certainly is a form of worship. The only disadvantage I see to the liturgy is that small children might be taught to believe that they can be saved by reading out of a hymnal (that is, by works rather than faith). But to someone who has truly been saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, the liturgy can have meaning.

But again, all I'm trying to say is that my personal preferences incline me towards liturgical worship. It surely isn't for everyone. And I am also not trying to say that I dislike evangelical worship. I feel that I gain a good deal of spiritual benefit by worshiping in my church. I suppose what I'm trying to say is that my ideal church would be a Baptist church dressed up as a liturgical church. But hey, nothing is ideal, and I have no problem with that reality.

By the way, at the Episcopal and Catholic churches that I attended, the worship included a good deal of singing. Are you saying that there were no hymns at the Orthodox church that you visited?

I understand. I personally don't care for movies. I want to be up and doing, living my life, not watching someone else live theirs. I haven't been to a movie since Spy Kids 3D came out, and I only went to that because I wanted to see a 3D movie.

But to each his own. I like personal involvement, you like liturgy, it doesn't matter to the Lord at all. He just wants our sincere love and gratitude--that is real worship no matter how it is formatted or packaged!

[Diane_Windsor]

Yes! And I thought it stunk!

I mean that literally-they used way too much incense for such a tiny room. I had to sit down and cover my face several times during the service. I will never become Greek Orthodox for that very reason, nor do I have a keen interest in attending another service.

DIANE
:wave:

[arunma]

I understand. I personally don't care for movies. I want to be up and doing, living my life, not watching someone else live theirs. I haven't been to a movie since Spy Kids 3D came out, and I only went to that because I wanted to see a 3D movie.

But to each his own. I like personal involvement, you like liturgy, it doesn't matter to the Lord at all. He just wants our sincere love and gratitude--that is real worship no matter how it is formatted or packaged!

I agree completely. Of course, it doesn't practically matter to me in the end, since I like my Baptist church too much to look elsewhere.

[JPPT1974]

I understand. I personally don't care for movies. I want to be up and doing, living my life, not watching someone else live theirs. I haven't been to a movie since Spy Kids 3D came out, and I only went to that because I wanted to see a 3D movie.

But to each his own. I like personal involvement, you like liturgy, it doesn't matter to the Lord at all. He just wants our sincere love and gratitude--that is real worship no matter how it is formatted or packaged!

I guess all people are different
And that I love movies
And you don't.
We are all made differently my friend.
God wants us trust as well as faith in Him.

[Happy to be His]

never heard of that church......sorry

[welshcoolchristian]

What is an Orthodox Divine Liturgy?

[arunma]

What is an Orthodox Divine Liturgy?

It's vaguely like a Catholic mass, from what I've heard. The Divine Liturgy is the name of the Eastern Orthodox church service.

[InnerPhyre]

What is an Orthodox Divine Liturgy?


It is the church service for the Orthodox Church. It's full title is the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. It was put into its current form in the 300's AD, and is a shortened version of the first century liturgy of St. James. Very beautiful, if I may say so....but I'm a tad biased ;).

[JPPT1974]

It is the church service for the Orthodox Church. It's full title is the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. It was put into its current form in the 300's AD, and is a shortened version of the first century liturgy of St. James. Very beautiful, if I may say so....but I'm a tad biased ;).

Thanks for explaining
It is ok to see that you are a tad biased.