Max Boyd - Church Visit #1

Church Name: St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church
Church address: 1855 E. Fifth Avenue, Aurora, IL 60504
Date attended: February 28, 2016
Church category: Greek Orthodox

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context? 

I think it is safe to say the orthos service I attended at St. Athanasios was extremely different from my regular context as an Assemblies of God member. The very first thing one is struck with is the pure iconography within the church. The beauty and aesthetic of the church was in the intricate and deliberate icons throughout the church depicting Biblical and church heroes throughout the centuries. It was magnificent, and the space was prepared for worship, much unlike my church which lies as just a building in which the aesthetic lies in modern architecture and soft lighting. The very next thing I did was introduce myself to a man there, and he introduced himself as Lou. To what I saw, Lou was just a faithful member of the church, a leader, and a part of the choir. He might have been on staff, but what hit me was how much he knew about his own tradition and his own church. He took me on a tour of the church, explaining parts of the church as well as parts of the service. He addressed why they hold so tightly to tradition, and why they have services in Greek, why St Athanasius was an intricate part of their tradition, and many other of my questions before the service began.

I could list out a thousand different differences, from the inclusion of the Greek text to the incense that was shaken at members, from the singsongy reading of the Scriptures to the stoic stances of the members. However, with all of this being true, one thing that I happily held tightly to is the same God that was worshipped as I was in the place. Although the service was so different, I felt that although St Athanasios and my home church might be drastically different, God hears and honors the prayers and worship that go on in both circles, and what a beautiful experience to understand that.

How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity? 

The service definitely illuminated the understanding of historicity of the church. In a more Protestant and Evangelical tradition, you can very easily lose sight of the history of the church and where you stand inside of it. In this church, it was well-illuminated from the iconography to the tradition to the language that what we are participating in is a whole host of believers as Hebrews talks about. Not only does that encourage courage as a believer, but also it enlightens who you are as a Christ follower. On top of that, the service encourages an understanding of how we are worshipping in a Christian context in America. Not often is one reminded of how the gospel has moved to get to a point of where one is in the church. I think that this is holistically something that needs to be re-assimilated into Protestant churches.

How did the worship service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?

As I have stated before, I think that for me, the pure tradition of the Orthodox church called me deeper into the understanding of my own faith and the history it comes from. The entire service I was extremely grateful for the opportunity to study Bible and Theology at Wheaton and be able to take classes like this one. And while being thankful for that, it also brought a point of sadness in understanding that only a very few go to study such things, but who are also inside of the church. And for me, it made me long for a better marrying of traditions within denominations. To hold too tightly to one's own tradition is admirable, but to a certain extent, I feel as though you miss parts that other traditions have largely held up and preserved as a vital part of relating to God. This was shown also in Lou, who knew so much about his church, his tradition, and why he believed these things. I seriously took into consideration if members at my church could do this, and was saddened by the answer to my own question in my mind. Again, I was made glad by the understanding that God intercedes far more than we think he does. In our shortfalls, He is glorified, and I believe that far extends beyond our petty personal sin. I think it is also attributed by our understanding in the imperfections of the church, but the constant grace of God in each tradition, in each belief, in each person. Which was such a beautiful idea as I exited the church and headed to my home church, where I volunteer as a leader. How great a God we serve.

Matthew Stanley: Orthodox Church Visit

Matthew Stanley - Church Visit #1

Church Name: St. Joseph Orthodox Church
Church Address: 412 Crescent St Wheaton, Illinois 60187 (I'm sorry, I don't have a car)
Date attended: 2/28/16
Church category: Eastern Orthodox Church

(1) Describe the worship service you attended. How's it similar to or different from your regular context?
I attended the 9:30 service in English. I was greeted warmly by the priest, who actually remembered my name from when I visited a year ago (however, I accidentally went to the slavonic service instead, and so I decided to come back another time when I could attend the english service). I'm very glad I did. The inside of the sanctuary is beautifully adorned with many icons. The art style reflected the eastern style of iconography. I was given a book containing the liturgy that would be observed that morning. When the service started, the priest entered, opened the doors separating the congregation from the altar, and said, "Christ is among us." Then the people responded, "Yes, now and always." The liturgy itself was almost 35 pages of songs and responsive readings. It was like a marathon. I was standing and singing for an hour and a half without a single break. As the priest prayed, we sang 'Lord, have mercy' after each of his petitions. We sang through many songs, all the while, the priest and the deacons ran through their routine of lighting various candles and, I assume, consecrating the altar. Once this was done, we had arrived at the Eucharistic portion of the service. I, of course, was not allowed to partake of the Eucharist in an Orthodox Church.

The service was like and unlike my own. Coming from a Reformed and Presbyterian background, I certainly would not describe myself as low Church. We sit, stand, sing, recite creeds, have an order of worship, celebrate the Eucharist (at least in my church back home) every single week. However, this was even more high church than that. Reformed churches do not have icons, and we certainly would not kiss them (as many at this Eastern Orthodox church were doing). The priests and deacons wore elaborate robes. The liturgy was even more involved, with constant singing, response to the deacons and priest, and just more elaborate structure. Something interested me was (1) the sporadic interaction between the priest and congregation. It was as though the priest had his own job, and he would occasionally speak to the congregation, but he went about his task. Similar with the bishops, but they did more interaction. This is unlike a Protestant Church where the minister is up front and the service is primarily something that is lead by the minister and the focus is on him. (2) The interesting relationship they had with the Bible. They read from the Bible only twice. In fact, it wasn't until the service was over that a priest gave a 5 minute homily. The service makes the Eucharist, not the ministry of the Word, the center of the service. What is interesting though is just how suffused with Scripture the liturgy is though. The liturgy was largely composed of language and phrases from the Psalms and the Gospels. This means that you were singing texts and phrases of Scripture often, even if Scripture was not explicitly being read and exposited.

(2)How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity?

Drawing upon what I said earlier about the liturgy and the text of Scripture, I found it refreshing to be speaking language that has been shared and spoken by Christians for centuries. Rather than re-inventing the wheel (which Protestantism has a habit of doing), it was inhabiting the rhythms of Christians for ages. The liturgy that we sang was arranged by St. John Chrysosthom himself (with only slight modifications). Further, their prayers really struck me by the nature of their universal language. They prayed for the whole Church (and specifically for Tikhon, the orthodox leader in the US and Canada, and the bishop of the Midwest, Paul). but they also prayed for all those who were sick and traveling. There was a real sense of interceding on behalf of the whole world. What they were doing there really mattered 'for the life of the world.' There was a great sense of reverence and awe. There was not a sense of entertainment. It was God's people gathering to petition Him for mercy, praise Him for His great works of redemption, and celebrate that by taking the Eucharist.

(3)How did the service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?
Being a part of that service made me more aware of my connection with the past. As I participated in the liturgy, sang these ancient songs, and saw the proceedings of these ancient rites, I felt a greater sense of "God is at work and God has always been at work." His people intercede on behalf of the world. They praise God. But they also entreat His mercy. No phrase was repeated more in the service than 'Lord, have mercy.' This is a phrase that does not seem central to the Protestant consciousness. We think of God as merciful, and so instinctually we do not entreat Him for that mercy. We take it for granted. I love that Protestantism emphasizes the boldness with which we are allowed to approach the Lord's throne. I'm fascinated by, and challenged by, the Orthodox emphasis on petitioning the Lord.

Payden Carter- Church Visit #1

Church name: St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Church address: 300 E Army Trail Rd, Bloomingdale, IL 60108
Date attended: February 7, 2016
Church Category: Orthodox

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from you regular context?
The service was focused on being liturgical as most of the service included the reading of the Ukrainian Bible. The readings were primarily lead by the priest at the front of the sanctuary. Throughout the service the congregation was standing and actively responding to the call to worship as work. In regards to my regular worship context the Orthodox Church was very different primarily due to the heavy emphasis on the reading of scripture. Also the awe of the congregation was unlike any worship ceremony that I have been apart of. The emphasis of Biblical text throughout the service, and the ability of the congregation to respond to the reading in reverence was admirable. The congregation at the Orthodox Church entered the sanctuary with a mindset that was evidently focused on being for something other than this world. My Church does a lot of things well in terms of having a sound Biblical theology of worship. However, it was nice viewing worship through the lens of another form of Christianity.

How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity?
The worship service at St. Andrew Church was able to illuminate the nature of global Christianity for me in multiple ways. Initially, when entering the building there is a large mosaic of the trinity surrounded by the saints. Also inside the Church, at the front of the sanctuary there is a painting of Jesus with six disciples on each side of Him. From these depictions I was able to feel humbled by the fact that there have been a lot of influential people in Christianity besides Jesus. Through the emphasis that St. Andrew Church placed on the role of Saints and apostles, I felt like I was more equipped to understand the contours of global Christianity. Also by participating in a worship service that was different than mine, and still being able to identify with those around me as brothers and sisters in Christ, I was able to more fully understand that the power of Christ to establish unity throughout the globe is me powerful than I previously knew.

How did the worship service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?
Personally, the service at St. Andrew Church was able to directly reveal that the worship background that I come from is not very diverse. It was a privilege to be able to worship with a group of people as they sought to give the triune God glory in a style that was not natural to my worship style. My personal identity as a Christian was illuminated through this experience because as I worshiped with the Ukrainian people I felt included in their congregation, and I realized that as I Christian I am called to embrace my vocation as a disciple of Jesus to help others see that they also can be included in the body of Christ. The most important aspect of my life is that I am a Christian, and that should be core of my identity. Even in the midst of diversity people who have the same core identity as established by Christ, are strengthened to come together in unity.

Tyler Martawibawa - Church Visit #1

Church name: St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church

Church address: 1855 5th Ave, Aurora, IL 60504

Date attended: February 28, 2016

Church category: Orthodox

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

I attended an orthros ("matins" in Latin) service at St. Athanasios Greek Orthodox Church. The church had a guest priest lead the service as the regular priest was not present this weekend. The service was led in both Byzantine Greek and in English, because as Lou explained, "it is hard to be spiritual in a language you don't understand." The Byzantine Greek is so different from Greek that Lou, despite being able to speak and understand Greek, told us that he could only pick up on every third or fifth word of Byzantine Greek. The prayers were recited and sung in both Greek and English with the priest leading it from a table at the front of the church and the deacons standing off to the side against the wall behind some sort of pulpit.

As members arrived before the Divine Liturgy service, some would approach icons along the walls, pray to them, and kiss the corners of the icon. The walls of the church were covered with icons and a set of screens at the front of the church with eight icons including saints, archangels, and Jesus. Lou informed us that certain icons were specifically prayed to for certain purposes. For example, St. Nicholas was the saint known for healing, so members of the church would pray to his icon for healing. There were also icons on the ceiling, Sistine Chapel style with prophets such as Amos, Isaiah, and Elijah. In my regular context, there are never any icons in church, as I assume that the idea of any images and icons other than of Jesus usually denotes some sort of idolatry.

After the priest read from what I believe was a gold colored, metal covered Bible, he proceeded down the middle of the church as attendees of the service shuffled toward the center aisle to kiss the cover of the Bible. Not long after several more prayers, the priest came down the aisle again and swung the censer towards each row, praying as he did so. As the service neared the end, the priest walked down the aisle one more time to greet and shake hands with each individual. After shaking the priest's hand, the members would kiss the back of the hand before sitting back down in their seats. In my regular context, once the service begins, the pastor does not come down from the front. The priest seems to have a lot more flexibility in terms of movement as throughout the service he would always be moving about.

Lou also mentioned that prayers in the Orthodox church were commonly repeated every week, as they believe that repetition is a healthy practice when praying to the Lord. In my regular context, prayers are never the same each week. It was interesting listening to the priest and deacon recite and sing. When speaking, they read and spoke fast, in a monotone that resembled a bad PowerPoint presentation. In my regular context, we pray to the Lord with emotion and vigor. This contrast, however, begged the question if we, as contemporary Christians, rely too heavily on our feelings to fuel our faith?

How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity?

For me, this service illuminated the vast range of history that different churches lean on. While this Greek Orthodox church relied primarily on a church framework from the time of the apostles, contemporary churches appear to have abandoned their roots and adapted the church service to suit a modern audience. One prominent difference I noticed during the service was the lack of a time devoted to corporate praise. Instead, they sung their prayers to the Lord throughout the service without the need of a single instrument. Having attended churches in several different countries such as China, Indonesia, and Australia, all the services had a time of corporate praise led by instruments. I felt that this element further pointed out how the design of the church service has evolved and developed throughout history and across the world. Overall, this service highlighted that there are many different ways to worship the same God, and that my way isn't the only way God is worshiped throughout the world. 

How did the worship service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?

This worship service illuminated how strange I thought it was to see images of anything or anyone other than Jesus in a church. The myriad of colors and icons that hit me as I walked into the main sanctuary was overwhelming. I saw these paintings as pieces of art, yet the church saw each one as an icon that told a narrative and a different saint that could answer prayers. I had always seen the division between the Protestant and Roman Catholic church, but I had no idea of the difference the Protestant church had with another Christian church that held similar, if not identical, doctrines.

Ultimately, I found that my personal identity as a Christian is and should be rooted in Christ's death and resurrection. Despite all these differences and disparities between the Protestant, Orthodox, and Roman Catholic churches, we all acknowledge Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. I wouldn't endorse universalism, but I think it's always healthy to be open-minded and patient with other brothers and sisters in Christ who I might not always agree with.

Andrew Grorud - Church Visit #1

Church name: Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Christian Church

Church address: 28W770 Warrenville Road, Warrenville, IL 60555

Date attended: February 28, 2016

Church category: Orthodox

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

I attended the Divine Liturgy service at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Christian Church. The first thing I noticed when I walked into the sanctuary was the massive amount of icons on the walls and in the front of the church. Nearly every surface was covered with some sort of icon. Immediately I was hit with the strong scent of incense, which continued to be used throughout the service. The service followed a set liturgy that was approximately 140 pages long. Nearly everything that occurred was sung and the congregation was standing for nearly all of it. Having the background of an Anglican church, much of the liturgy was familiar, such as the Trisagion and the greeting of others in the congregation, however, nearly every piece of the liturgy was slightly different than what I am used to. This came from the unaccompanied singing by the small choir or the priests, or from constant veneration of the Virgin Mary, and even in the set formula for greeting one another, "Christ is in our midst" and the response "He is and ever shall be!", or especially the praying to the saints, and the veneration of the icons, through kissing the images. The biggest difference however was in the communion liturgy. The words surrounding the transubstantiation were different than what I am used to, and the method of distributing communion was also very different. Each person walked up to the front and was fed a piece of bread soaked in wine on a spoon by the priest. They also held a towel underneath the bread and wine so that none would fall to the floor which showed the great veneration that they have for the elements of communion, since they believe it is truly the body and blood of Christ.

How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity?

I think that this worship service helped me to identify the great diversity that exists within the body of Christ. This service was very different than what I am used to or have attended and so it was interesting to see the different ways that Christ is worshipped. I also think it showed me the deep history of the orthodox church. Intermingled within the liturgy were texts written by John Chrysostom and Basil the Great, this appeal to the great figures in the history of the church I thought was especially interesting since many protestant churches that I have attended spend very little time focusing on the texts of these great figures. I think that this reminds us of the great people whose shoulders we are standing on when we worship Christ today and the value in reading their writings. The link to the historical church is more clear to me in the Orthodox church then in any other church I have previously attended. Also, I think that being in a different environment helps me to be more conscious of global Christianity. Even though this was a small taste of the wide range of Christian churches that exist around the world, I think being reminded that something so different exists so close to home, helps me to remember how much of a world there is beyond the pews that I sit in on Sunday morning.

How did the worship service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?

I think that this service has helped me to confirm the Protestant identity I already have. There were things within this service that made me very uncomfortable, from the veneration and prayers directed to Mary, to the kissing and bowing to icons, to even the way that communion was distributed and it being so formal that it felt inaccessible. I understand better why I am a protestant and why the things I believe are important to me. On the other hand, however I think that the discomfort that I experienced also made me realize that I need to broaden my view of what is acceptable within the church. As we have talked and learned about the practices of the church both in this class and others, I have often been surprised that things such as the veneration of icons was a disputed issue. It seemed to me that clearly these people knew not to worship the icons and that they were simply there to remind us of these great figures. However, actually experiencing this type of worship, the dispute seemed very real in a new way. There were times where I felt like the icons were being worshipped and not God. However, knowing that this practice has not been deemed heretical by the church but is allowed and then actually experience it, will help to me to better appreciate the history of the church and understand why these issues were so important. It also has helped to start me on a path towards wider acceptance of practices of the church that I am not always challenged by while at Wheaton. Attending the Orthodox church was certainly an experience that I will not soon forget.

Matthew Prechter--Church Visit #1

Church Name: St. Peter & St. Paul Orthodox Church

Church Address: 6980 County Line Road, Burr Ridge, Illinois 60527

Date attended: February 14, 2016

Church Category: Orthodox

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar or different from your regular context?

I attended an early morning Matins on the Sunday of Zacchaeus and upon entering the sanctuary, I was overwhelmed by colors, elaborate designs, incense and a sense of holiness. I sat down in silence, reverence and awe. I listened as the entire service was sung by a deacon and a young girl. Sometimes the two priests, who spread incense in the inner sanctuary, would also sing as they went about their work. During Matins, one priest emerged from the royal doors and walked the perimeter of the sanctuary singing in answer to the deacon while spreading incense. He concluded his walk at the icon of Zacchaeus placed at the bottom of the steps before the royal doors. When members of the Church arrived, they would approach this icon and kiss it sometimes bowing to the floor. After venerating the icon, they found a place in the pews but remained standing. Much of the service was spent standing. The deacon, the young girl, and the priests all sang Psalms of praise to God followed by singing the Lord's prayer. When the prayer was finished, they sang a song of confession pleading for mercy on behalf of the congregation.

There were almost no moments of familiarity for me in Matins. I attend College Church where our theology is sung in the form of old hymns, but the singing at the Orthodox church was not hymns based off Scripture, but Scripture itself. Furthermore, at College Church, the congregation engages in confession, but not in the form of song. Matins was a new experience for me to say the least.

How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity?

Before Matins, a group of us met with one of the wives of the deacons who explained that historically, the Catholic Church split off from the Orthodox Church, the original Christian Church. She traces the history of the Orthodox Church back to Christ and his Apostles. When I asked what was the source of authority for the Orthodox Church, she replied "scripture and tradition." Indeed, the Orthodox Church (according to some pamphlets I read at the church) is proud of its "undiminished and unaltered faith and practice." It's "apostolic doctrine, worship and structure [has] remain[ed] intact" since Christ founded the Church. In Matins, I witnessed this deeply rooted practice which felt foreign and removed from me, yet I also worshiped God in the midst of these foreign practices, making the environment feel ineffably familiar and near--these foreign and familiar feelings describe how I feel in the presence of God. I realized the many diverse expressions of worship of God in the world, and this humbled me. Of further intrigue was the Orthodox emphasis on mystery and experience. This emphasis is also deeply rooted in tradition, and I benefited greatly from standing in awe and silence before God, rather than attentiveness before a preacher. 

How did the worship service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?

The worship service illuminated my deep Protestant convictions. I come from a Presbyterian background and in my home and church the sovereignty of God was a big emphasis. In light of this background, I felt uncomfortable in the presence of icons in the sanctuary. Of particular shock was that the cross was in the corner of the Church. I am accustomed to either zero symbols in the Church sanctuary, or a central cross. This is to remind us that Christ is Lord in all areas of life. When I saw the icons, I immediately thought "idols...those are all idols..."--this was my natural reaction. Even so, what I found particularly intriguing was my sense of God's presence in St. Peter & St. Paul Orthodox Church. I felt certain that God was accepting their worship. What I called an idol, was not understood as one from the congregation's perspective. Also, my quickness to judge was forced back on me in the form of a challenge: to what degree do I neglect the holiness and mystery of God? How have I made idols out of my theological convictions? How can I learn from the Orthodox Church?

The service was a memorable experience, and one which caused me to examine many of my deeply rooted presuppositions. Lately, I have been wondering, what is the Church? Maybe the Church is a messy mixture of Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants (with their many denominations) all of whom think they have the right theology and practice and all of whom have one crucial similarity--the confession that Jesus Christ is Lord. The Orthodox Church service illuminated my personal identity as being a Christian first and foremost. I can learn to appreciate the different worship services of Christians while recognizing the common faith between us all.