aixia
13th February 2006, 01:40 PM
So yesterday I went to my first Episcopal service. It wasn't quite what I was expecting, but it wasn't all that different from what I expected either.
Figuring out all those books really is a challenge! I wish I would have marked off the songs or something so I could find everything. I felt hopelessly slow, but luckily we had a very kind couple sitting behind us who were quite helpful in figuring out where we were supposed to be.
The service was a Rite I, which I have to say I wasn't expecting at all. I had read the Rite II beforehand and was relatively prepared for that one, but Rite I was beautiful just the same. I guess I figured the later service would be filled with more students (I'm in a college town since I work for a university) and would be a little more "relaxed", but it was really only a few young people and mostly older and was a very formal service. I want to try the 9 AM Rite II another week to see the difference. Of course, that means no sleeping in!
The choir was so wonderful! I knew not a one of the songs, which I figured would be the case. (No Catholic post-Vatican II folk music here!) Again, the choir and the fabulous couple behind us who knew every note and had gorgeous voices were a huge help. Very beautiful music choices, and a great organist too. Lots of songs!
I was so pleased to see in the wording at the Consecration that there was no way you could mistake the belief for anything but the Real Presence. That's a very big deal for me theologically, and reading those words and hearing the priest's emotion in his voice it really proved to me that the belief is in the Real Presence, and if you're actually going along with Rite I at least, you HAVE to affirm the Real Presence or you're just fooling yourself.
I was somewhat disappointed in the one priest, a woman. There were two priests celebrating together, and the woman did the sermon and the man did the consecration. The woman priest had this weird cadence to her voice though, and while I agreed with the things she was saying in the sermon, and liked the points she was making, she was kind of grating to listen to for so long. I'm curious as to how the male priest is as a speaker.
And the kneelers were awful, just awful! Ever since I was a kid I've been very picky about kneelers, since kneeling for a long time on yucky kneelers makes me faint. Well, sure enough, I was *this close* to blacking out. And boy did this parish like to kneel! I think the thing that surprised me was doing the petitions kneeling instead of standing like a Catholic Mass. Every time the BCP said (especially _____) they'd throw in 15 names! This parish was one that tended to do the "half-kneel" where your knees are on the kneeler but your rear end is on the pew. At least I didn't feel too guilty when I had to do that after nearly passing out from kneeling straight!
I did like Communion kneeling. It was very reverent that way. Not that taking Communion standing like Catholics do isn't reverent, but kneeling just seems very much like showing God that you know you aren't worthy of him, but you're coming to him anyway in hopes of mercy. I wasn't brave enough to actually take Communion this time, but maybe soon.
I did have a few moments of "Wow, everyone in the church knows I'm a Catholic now!" after doing responses by heart and saying way different words than everyone else. Better read along closer next time.
I'll probably go back in two weeks. (We'll be out of town this weekend and will likely go to church with the in-laws.) I'm thinking of doing the same kind of deal I did with myself when I reverted to Catholicism not too long ago, go to this church throughout Lent, and make a decision after Easter. Of course, last time I did that the whole chain of events that got me really ticked off with the Catholic Church happened shortly after Easter! I guess we'll see.
Thanks everyone for your support and prayers as I work through this spiritual journey. :crossrc:
Figuring out all those books really is a challenge! I wish I would have marked off the songs or something so I could find everything. I felt hopelessly slow, but luckily we had a very kind couple sitting behind us who were quite helpful in figuring out where we were supposed to be.
The service was a Rite I, which I have to say I wasn't expecting at all. I had read the Rite II beforehand and was relatively prepared for that one, but Rite I was beautiful just the same. I guess I figured the later service would be filled with more students (I'm in a college town since I work for a university) and would be a little more "relaxed", but it was really only a few young people and mostly older and was a very formal service. I want to try the 9 AM Rite II another week to see the difference. Of course, that means no sleeping in!
The choir was so wonderful! I knew not a one of the songs, which I figured would be the case. (No Catholic post-Vatican II folk music here!) Again, the choir and the fabulous couple behind us who knew every note and had gorgeous voices were a huge help. Very beautiful music choices, and a great organist too. Lots of songs!
I was so pleased to see in the wording at the Consecration that there was no way you could mistake the belief for anything but the Real Presence. That's a very big deal for me theologically, and reading those words and hearing the priest's emotion in his voice it really proved to me that the belief is in the Real Presence, and if you're actually going along with Rite I at least, you HAVE to affirm the Real Presence or you're just fooling yourself.
I was somewhat disappointed in the one priest, a woman. There were two priests celebrating together, and the woman did the sermon and the man did the consecration. The woman priest had this weird cadence to her voice though, and while I agreed with the things she was saying in the sermon, and liked the points she was making, she was kind of grating to listen to for so long. I'm curious as to how the male priest is as a speaker.
And the kneelers were awful, just awful! Ever since I was a kid I've been very picky about kneelers, since kneeling for a long time on yucky kneelers makes me faint. Well, sure enough, I was *this close* to blacking out. And boy did this parish like to kneel! I think the thing that surprised me was doing the petitions kneeling instead of standing like a Catholic Mass. Every time the BCP said (especially _____) they'd throw in 15 names! This parish was one that tended to do the "half-kneel" where your knees are on the kneeler but your rear end is on the pew. At least I didn't feel too guilty when I had to do that after nearly passing out from kneeling straight!
I did like Communion kneeling. It was very reverent that way. Not that taking Communion standing like Catholics do isn't reverent, but kneeling just seems very much like showing God that you know you aren't worthy of him, but you're coming to him anyway in hopes of mercy. I wasn't brave enough to actually take Communion this time, but maybe soon.
I did have a few moments of "Wow, everyone in the church knows I'm a Catholic now!" after doing responses by heart and saying way different words than everyone else. Better read along closer next time.
I'll probably go back in two weeks. (We'll be out of town this weekend and will likely go to church with the in-laws.) I'm thinking of doing the same kind of deal I did with myself when I reverted to Catholicism not too long ago, go to this church throughout Lent, and make a decision after Easter. Of course, last time I did that the whole chain of events that got me really ticked off with the Catholic Church happened shortly after Easter! I guess we'll see.
Thanks everyone for your support and prayers as I work through this spiritual journey. :crossrc: