beautiful service!

[kamikat]

At the last minute this morning, I decided to try the local Episcopal church. I say last minute, because I've been attending a couple different churches for the last 6 months or so, a Catholic church, a Greek Orthodx church and an OCA church. I had recently discovered Western Rite Orthodox church that I had been considering. I ended up at the Epsicopal church mainly because I wasted so much time thinking about it that it was after 10am and the Episcopal service was at 11. Everyone else had services at 10. It was beautiful. They happened to be celebrating the 250th birthday of Mozart, so there was LOTS of beautiful music. The sermon was very meaningful to me and it felt very good to receive communion after having been barred from Catholic communion for nearly 10 years. I did make a faux pas at communion, having said "amen" after "body of Christ", instead of waiting for "bread of life" (is that what he said?), because in the RCC communion, they don't say anything after "body of Christ". I was surpised at the beauty of the church. It looked much more like a church than the Catholic church I haad been attending and I was surprised to see icon-style artwork for the Stations of the Cross. The congregation must be quite small, since the priest introduced himself to me, on my way out the door and welcomed me to come back next week for a newcomer coffee. I'm not sure if I'll go back next week. I have "issues" to work out. I'm sure anyone who has left the RCC understands what I'm talking about.

[IowaLutheran]

I did make a faux pas at communion, having said "amen" after "body of Christ", instead of waiting for "bread of life" (is that what he said?), because in the RCC communion, they don't say anything after "body of Christ".

At the Episcopal weekday service I attend its "Body of Christ, the bread of heaven" and "Blood of Christ, the cup of salvation".

Sounds like you found Episcopalians as welcoming as I found them to be 3 /2 years ago when I started going to one on weekdays. They take their ad campaign (The Episcopal Church Welcomes You) seriously!

[Wiffey]

Hi Kamikat...I can relate. I was RC (and divorced), then converted to EO before remarrying (Greek husband).:wave:

Tried really hard to be a good Greek Orthodox...fasted, attended church like mad and even learned to speak, read & write Greek to follow the liturgy better. I have a lot of respect for Orthodoxy, but, in the end it was not a comfortable place for me or my child. We went to visit an Episcopal church one Sunday and have been there ever since.

For me, it was so wonderful to be so warmly received and invited to partake in Holy Communion. I loved the sense of bridge building and Christian brotherhood, the bond of our common Baptism.

I wish you all the best in your search...it can be grueling to be unsure of where "home" is.:hug:

[TomUK]

I'm really thrilled you enjoyed it! :clap:

If you have any questions about anything to do with Anglicanism then here is the place to ask them.

What the Priest may have said is 'the body of life, keep in you in eternal life.'

[SeenAndUnseen]

I have "issues" to work out. I'm sure anyone who has left the RCC understands what I'm talking about.

I understand it. I thought I had worked through all of my RC "issues", but lately they are resurfacing. While the Episcopal Church does have a beautiful, reverent liturgy -- and many of its church buildings are far more elegantly appointed than the modern RC ones-- today at my parish I overheard a little of something that rather upset my stomach. Someone had brought in a flyer for some atrocity called a "HipHop Mass" and was encouraging the youth to attend one when it comes to somewhere in our dicocese later this year. One of the youth spoke up with concerns about the validity of a consecration spoken in street language, like "Yo, the body of Christ y'all" and the general absolution as "it's all good!" and so on...and was criticized with words such as "Just because you don't like hiphop doesn't mean it's any less fun for other people. Thinking of sacraments like that is too Roman Catholic." (How his objection was even remotely about hiphop is beyond me, but worse still is that this was even an issue.)
Things like that are hard for me to cope with, and it's hard for me to accept that a church like the Episcopal with such a lovely liturgy and aesthetically pleasing architechture and generally traditional and sacred music can be so flipside of the coin at the same time and have such utter disrespect for the Eucharist.

And yes, I do realize this kind of thing takes place in other churches too. I'm just still in shock from hearing it spoken of seriously in my own church. :o

[Wiffey]

I'll take choral Evensong over "hip-hop mass" anyday!

[Albion]

I'll take choral Evensong over "hip-hop mass" anyday!

i agree with you all...which only makes the currect state of the church sadder. The beauty and dignity generally survives, and only the commitment to the faith has been put aside.

[gitlance]

I'm getting sick of the outward expressions with no inward belief and committment.

[Wiffey]

I think there is a great deal of belief out there...just that there have been several challenges to face recently. Growing pains, if you will...not unlike the period of adjustment among RC's following Vatican II. On the bright side, sometimes periods of challenge and turmoil can bring about a deeper faith. Just like human beings may cling to God when facing crises, etc.

Anyways, I do believe that challenges present an opportunity to trust God more fully and to grow spiritually. The modern age with its rapid social change and pluralism presents unique issues. When you look at the past 100 years...the rapidity of transformation: technology, science, medicine, information, travel. Complete societal transformation. The world is moving so fast...and keeps on gaining speed. I truly think our generation has witnessed unparalleled change. Such experiences can shake one's equilibrium and faith...what to believe when everything keeps shifting, etc. Yet we need faith more than ever...or we risk losing sight of the eternal and transcendant.

Upholding eternal truths in a modern world is no easy feat. Stumbling may occur along the way. All we can do is face the challenges, pray for guidance and trust in God's patience as we seek to make our way. Do humans err? Always. Hopefully with prayerful discernment we will regain our equilibrium and face our challenges with grace and find our faith strengthened rather than diminished.

[Fish and Bread]

I'm glad you decided to give us a try. :) I'm a former Roman Catholic myself, so I know exactly what you mean about needing to work through some things.

As far as the priest introducing himself, I've visited a lot of Episcopalian parishes due to traveling and such and the priest has introduced himself/herself personally every single time and made himself/herself available to shake hands with everyone on their way out at the end of the service. At the parish closest to my new temporary place of residence, the priest actually said hi to me on both my way in and my way out and even remembered my full name and mentioned me during the announcements.

It's a big difference from what I grew up with as a Roman Catholic. The priests definitely comport themselves a little bit differently. I don't think it's that Episcopalian priests are friendlier or anything, because I've met some very friendly Roman Catholic priests. It seems like a culture thing more than anything else. Different expectations from the parishioners, maybe?

[kamikat]

It's a big difference from what I grew up with as a Roman Catholic. The priests definitely comport themselves a little bit differently. I don't think it's that Episcopalian priests are friendlier or anything, because I've met some very friendly Roman Catholic priests. It seems like a culture thing more than anything else. Different expectations from the parishioners, maybe?

Well, in this case, I think it's the size of the parish. In my RC church, we have 2 Saturday night Vigil Masses, then 6 on Sunday, each one is packed full, standing room only. The typical 7am Sunday Mass would have 500-1,000 people. The Episcopal service I attended this morning had maybe 150.

kamikat

[TomUK]

What service did you eventually attend? high, low etc. I'm guessing because of your RC background you went Anglo-Catholic/High

[ChasingADream]

At the last minute this morning, I decided to try the local Episcopal church. I say last minute, because I've been attending a couple different churches for the last 6 months or so, a Catholic church, a Greek Orthodx church and an OCA church. I had recently discovered Western Rite Orthodox church that I had been considering. I ended up at the Epsicopal church mainly because I wasted so much time thinking about it that it was after 10am and the Episcopal service was at 11. Everyone else had services at 10. It was beautiful. They happened to be celebrating the 250th birthday of Mozart, so there was LOTS of beautiful music. The sermon was very meaningful to me and it felt very good to receive communion after having been barred from Catholic communion for nearly 10 years. I did make a faux pas at communion, having said "amen" after "body of Christ", instead of waiting for "bread of life" (is that what he said?), because in the RCC communion, they don't say anything after "body of Christ". I was surpised at the beauty of the church. It looked much more like a church than the Catholic church I haad been attending and I was surprised to see icon-style artwork for the Stations of the Cross. The congregation must be quite small, since the priest introduced himself to me, on my way out the door and welcomed me to come back next week for a newcomer coffee. I'm not sure if I'll go back next week. I have "issues" to work out. I'm sure anyone who has left the RCC understands what I'm talking about.

Oh, I'm so glad that you enjoyed yourself. I go to an Anglican church myself and agree that the service and the Church is beautiful. (That's my church in my avatar). The clergy welcomes everyone at the door before every service, shaking everyone's hand and does the same at the end of each service on the way out. I like that because it shows that they appreciate each person that came. Good luck in your search for the right Church for you. :groupray:

[kamikat]

What service did you eventually attend? high, low etc. I'm guessing because of your RC background you went Anglo-Catholic/High

Well, the low service is at 8am. Saturday night is always either family movie night or all night games of "uno" with the kids. We can never get up for an 8am service:blush: I suggested that the boyus come with me to the family service at 9am, high and with the children's choir, but when they heard it was "another new church" they didn't want to go. I kept going back and forth between wanting to go back to the Orthodox Church of America church, the Latin Mass with Mom and this church, that time ran out. This church had an 11am high service. I was quite happy with it. I need to pray this week because while I felt comfortable at that service and experienced the Presence of God in that little church, I have also felt God's Presence in both Catholic Mass and Orthodox Divine Liturgy. I'm still waiting for my bolt of lightening moment that tells me where I'm supposed to be.

kamikat

[TomUK]

All I can say is that make sure you don't focus on the lightening bolt so much that you miss the storm going on around you.

(That's my attempt at profundity, by the way!)

(PS: I initially wrote profanity there before realising i got a bit mixed up :D )

[karen freeinchristman]

All I can say is that make sure you don't focus on the lightening bolt so much that you miss the storm going on around you.

:thumbsup: