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.
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