A Baptist Minister Visits an Orthodox Church - Pt 2

Dear Parish Faithful,

If you recall, I forwarded an article written by a Baptist minister last Wednesday. It was a very lively description of his first visit to an Orthodox parish for the Liturgy. (For those who didn't see or read it, you can find it below). This prompted two very interesting responses from two of our own "converts" to the Orthodox Church, Frances Fowler-Collins and Terry Morgan. With their permission, I am going to forward these two responses, beginnng with Frances' today and Terry's possibly by tomorrow.

It is very important that we pay close attention to how a non-Orthodox Christian reacts to his/her first encounter with the Orthodox Church. This will assist us in how we meet, encourage and hopefully integrate these seekers into the life of the Church, and more specifically, our parishes.

Fr. Steven

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Dear Fr. Steven,

As a recent convert, I found this article very interesting although my first (well, second) experience of Orthodox worship was quite different. Let me first describe my very first experience. It was on Christmas Eve at St. Alexander Nevsky in Paris many years ago. The service was entirely in Russian; the church was filled before we arrived; we had to stand in the narthex the whole time; there were no liturgy books, greeters, etc. Needless to say, this was not an ideal introduction to Orthodox worship.!

My second experience was at St. Anne's in Oak Ridge, Tennessee and the difference between the two suggests several things that St. Anthony the Great could do better. At St. Anne's there was no greeter at the door, but obviously certain people had been designated as "stealth" greeters or had taken this ministry upon themselves. Before I had been there five minutes, a woman about my age came up, introduced herself, and asked if I had ever attended an Orthodox service. When I told her about my past experience, she went and got a liturgy booklet (which was pretty close to what was actually done at St. Anne's, too), brought me the flyer with the toparia and kontakia on it, and stood by me throughout the service, helping me when I was lost. She also brought me a piece of the antidoron after she took communion. At the end of the service, she invited me to stay for the coffee hour after church. My reaction to t he service was that it was absolutely beautiful and that I would love to come back.

Let me say that my first visit to Christ the Savior five years ago fell somewhere in between. I was greeted almost at once by a woman about my age who also invited me to the Adult Forum and coffee hour. When I realized that there was a bulletin with the troparia on it and went back to the candle table to get one, they were all gone, and a young man standing there gave me his. However, this was before we had the new service books and I found the old ones very difficult to follow. No one offered me antidoron and no one came up to me as the service was ending to go with me to the coffee hour.

In conclusion, I would say that we certainly should not "water down" our liturgy or practices to become more "seeker friendly," but as Orthodox Christians we do need to find ways to make the transition into Orthodox worship easier for people like the Baptist pastor and his family.

Frances

A Baptist Minister Visits an Orthodox Church - Pt 1

Dear Parish Faithful,

The following was sent to me by Dan Georgescu, and is quite interesting. You may wince more than once as I did over some of the descriptions, reactions, etc., but it is an honest appraisal of the challenges posed to a "western," non-liturgical, non-sacramental Christian who may walk through the doors of an Orthodox Church on any given Sunday. But it also reminds us of the challenges posed to us by such persons. We must remain traditional, but do our best not to be esoteric. That is why a non-English Liturgy in today's North American religious climate is bordering on the absurd (to use one example). It is clear that we have "something" for Christians looking for serious Christianity. I liked his line about "raw chunks of theology" being thrown out to the congregation. He also understood that worship is demanding, and not something to make us feel comfortable with.

However, he also made note of a tension that I have now encountered more than a few times: one family member being very attracted to the Church while others were not. That poses a real dilemma for everyone concerned; and one without an easy solution.

Please feel free to share any responses that you may have.

Fr Steven

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The article below was written by Gordon Atkinson, the Baptist minister of the "Covenant Baptist" parish in San Antonio, Texas. His visit was to St. Anthony the Great Orthodox Church in San Antonio, Texas. St. Anthony's is a parish of the OCA--the Orthodox Church in America. "Gorgeous Byzantine art, commissioned from a famous artist in Bulgaria." It was quite fascinating to see the reaction of someone who had never been to an Orthodox service before, and I hope you enjoyed reading it. May God guide and keep you!

In Christ's love, Dean

Not for Lightweights

By rlp
Created 06/01/2009 - 16:48

Last Sunday was the 4th of 13 in my sabbatical time. Each of them is precious to me. Each week I am choosing a place and a way to worship. I’m not a church tourist, hoping to see new things. I’m seeking spiritual experiences. I want to worship. Saturday night Jeanene and I still hadn’t decided where to go. I experienced something common to our culture but new to me. The “Where do you want to go to church - I don’t know where do YOU want to go to church” conversation. I found the Saint Anthony the Great website.. It's an Orthodox church that has beautiful Byzantine art in the sanctuary. We decided to go there.

Shelby and Lillian went with us. On the way we warned them that this was going to be different. “They might not have changed their worship service much in a thousand years or so,” I told the girls.

That was an understatement.

Saint Anthony the Great isn't just old school. It's "styli and wax tablets" old school. We arrived ten minutes early for worship and the room was already filled with people lighting candles and praying. There was one greeter. I said, “We don’t know what to do.” She handed me a liturgy book and waved us inside.

Pews? We don’t need no stinking pews! Providing seats for worshipers is SO 14th century. Gorgeous Byzantine art, commissioned from a famous artist in Bulgaria. Fully robed priests with censors (those swinging incense thingies). Long, complex readings and chants that went on and on and on. And every one of them packed full of complex, theological ideas. It was like they were ripping raw chunks of theology out of ancient creeds and throwing them by the handfuls into the congregation. And just to make sure it wasn't too easy for us, everything was read in a monotone voice and at the speed of an auctioneer.

I heard words and phrases I had not heard since seminary. Theotokos, begotten not made, Cherubim and Seraphim borne on their pinions, supplications and oblations. It was an ADD kids nightmare. Robes, scary art, smoking incense, secret doors in the Iconostas popping open and little robed boys coming out with golden candlesticks, chants and singing from a small choir that rolled across the curved ceiling and emerged from the other side of the room where no one was singing. The acoustics were wild. No matter who was speaking, the sound came out of everywhere. There was so much going on I couldn't keep up with all the things I couldn't pay attention to.

Lillian was the first to go down. After half an hour of standing, she was done. Jeanene took her over to a pew on the side wall. She slumped against Jeanene’s shoulder and stared at me with this stunned, rather betrayed look on her face. “How could you have brought us to this insane place?”

Shelby tried to tough it out. We were following along in the 40 page liturgy book that was only an abbreviation of the service were were experiencing. I got lost no less than 10 times. After 50 minutes Shelby leaned over and asked how much longer the service would be. I was trying to keep from locking my knees because my thighs had gotten numb. I showed her the book. We were on page 15. I flipped through the remaining 25 pages to show her how much more there was. Her mouth fell open.

“Are you serious?”

“Yeah. And I think there's supposed to be a sermon in here somewhere.”

“They haven’t done the SERMON yet? What was that guy doing who said all that stuff about…all that stuff?”

“I don’t know?” I said.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” she said. I looked around and saw the door at the back of the sanctuary swinging shut. And then there was one.

I made it through the entire 1 hour and 50 minutes of worship without sitting down, but my back was sore. Shelby came back toward the end. When it came time for communion I suggested that we not participate because I didn't know what kind of rules they have for that. We stayed politely at the back. A woman noticed and brought some of the bread to us, bowing respectfully as she offered it. Her gesture of kindness to newcomers who were clearly struggling to understand everything was touching to me.

Okay, so I started crying a little. So what? You would have too, I bet.

After it was over another woman came to speak with us. She said, “I noticed the girls were really struggling with having to stand..”

“Yeah,” I said. “This worship is not for lightweights.”

She laughed and said, "yes," not the least bit ashamed or apologetic.

So what did I think about my experience at Saint Anthony the Great Orthodox Church? I LOVED IT. Loved it loved it loved it loved it loved it. In a day when user-friendly is the byword of everything from churches to software, here was worship that asked something of me. No, DEMANDED something of me. “You don’t know what Theotokos means? Get a book and read about it. You have a hard time standing for 2 hours? Do some sit ups and get yourself into worship shape. It is the Lord our God we worship here, mortal. What made you think you could worship the Eternal One without pain?"

See, I get that. That makes sense to me. I had a hard time following the words of the chants and liturgy, but even my lack of understanding had something to teach me.

“There is so much for you to learn. There is more here than a person could master in a lifetime. THIS IS BIGGER THAN YOU ARE. Your understanding is not central here. These are ancient rites of the church. Stand with us, brother, and you will learn in time. Or go and find your way to an easier place if you must. God bless you on that journey. We understand, but this is the way we do church.”

I’m going back again on Sunday. I started to write, “I’m looking forward to it.” But that’s not right. I’m feeling right about it.

And feeling right is what I'm looking for.

Update: This was actually written on May 26 or 27. I went back to Saint Anthony the Great on Sunday. I found I was following along a little better. I'm REALLY getting a lot out of Orthodox worship. Shelby and Lillian declined to go with me this time.

On Questioning our Faith

Dear Parish Faithful,

I received some interesting responses to Thursday's Theological Thoughts dealing with a new DVD that is anti-Christian in inspiration. Thought to share a couple of them, beginning with this one from Jennifer Haynes.

Fr Steven

Father,

Isn't it true that many Christians do not develop a healthy form of questioning their faith? Some were raised in the faith and perhaps the thought of questioning their faith creates a sense of unhealthy guilt?

What I mean by this Father, is for instance:

In my first philosophy class the absolute first topic we discussed and studied was the existence of God. We read apologists as well as critics (those who took the opposite view). Our teacher asked these questions to get a debate going: Does God exist? What about the problem of evil in the world? What are God's attributes? Would an all-loving and all-knowing God allow evil to take place?

A 1/4 of the class were raised with very strong Christian beliefs and absolutely refused to question their faith. The answer was "of course God exists. The Bible tells us so." The other 1/4 class disagreed. The other 1/4 remained open to asking ourselves these questions & listen. And of course - the other 1/4 was just not interested.

Have a wonderful weekend Father Steve & we will see you on Sunday,

Jennifer

Is Anyone Aware? Orthodoxy and the New Rise of Islam

Dear Parish Faithful,


I just received the following from our good friend, Archbishop Lazar Puhalo. Though he is certainly not an alarmist, what he briefly writes is quite alarming! I will let you read the following on your own, and perhaps add a few comments of my own sometime next week.

Fr. Steven


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As some of you know, a groups of us were recently in Damascus and attended a conference at the Islamic Institute. David Goa, Fr Philip Erickson, a small group of other people and I were there. While I had to leave early, before the last series at the conference, in order to participate in a number of conferences in Romania, the Islamisation of Europe was discussed during conferences in Romania.

Since returning home, I have continued researching the matter in order to make it the subject for some of my presentations in the autumn at a number of universities and Orthodox parishes down East in America. There are three salient facts that are abundantly clear, and that we should be aware of. Hopefully they might change some of our attitudes about what we are doing in the Orthodox Church, and especially in the OCA:

1. Within 20 years, Europe will be a collection of Islamic states.
2. Within 10-15 years, active Moslems are likely to outnumber active Christians in Canada.
3. Islam is preparing for a serious-minded and well financed missionary activity in the West.

The demographics are radically on the side of Islam. They do not have to convert even one person in order to be able to dominate Europe. People in Western cultures are reproducing at a rate below 1.5; Moslems living in the West are reproducing at a rate of 4-6, even 8. Christians have abortions, Moslems do not. Christians have small families: on average, 1 or 2 children; Moslems have large families, on average 6 to 8 children. Moslems maintain their traditions, most Christians do not. Commitment and attendance at Mosques outstrips that of Christian commitment and attendance in Church.

Meanwhile, Orthodox Christians exhaust a great deal of energy in petty infighting; many hierarchs, particularly in Eastern Europe, have almost no personal contact with their flocks. Many hierarchs and clergy are arrogant and condescending toward the faithful. No one in the Islamic world is talking about abolishing or shortening Ramadan, but many in the Orthodox world are talking about abolishing some fasting periods, shortening others. Moslems maintain the appearance of their faith, while many Orthodox clergy are embarrassed or ashamed to be seen in public looking like Orthodox clergy. Moslems maintain the tradition of stopping to pray at the given times several times a day, while Orthodox Christians are seeking to reduce the already scant time we spend in the Divine Services. One could go on with such comparisons, but the point has to do with commitment, discipline and self-control.

Faith can only be challenge by faith; commitment can only be faced with commitment. We, as Orthodox Christians cannot offer anything that will counter a committed Islamic missionary effort while we are occupied with petty self-interest, with "defending MY turf" against other Orthodox clergy. On the international level, the efforts of some to re-create a shadowy form of the Byzantine Empire is quite destructive. The divided state of the Orthodox Church today, world-wide, and the internecine power struggles undermine and weaken the Orthodox Christian witness. Self-interested fear of each other on the local level can only make the problems we face more systemic and pervasive. Moreover, they are a betrayal of the Gospel and of the faith.

I simply ask that all make themselves more aware of this challenge and that we struggle, primarily with our own selves, to overcome our own pettiness and find a greater unity of spirit and purpose. Instead of having a delusion of "competition," we should be sharing the resources that each has to offer, and strengthening the commitment of our selves and the faithful. Everyone has some ability to offer, and we need to be willing to share our "self" with all for the sake of the Gospel and in order to face, with a unity of love for Christ, the challenges that are so rapidly arising before us.


In Christ, Archbishop Lazar.

The Decline of Christianity in the Holy Land: A Response

Dear Parish Faithful,

Here is a strong elaboration from Ralph Sidway to a short article I sent out yesterday about the diminishing presence of Christians in the Middle East.

Fr. Steven

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Dear Father Steven,

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen!

I am very glad to see your meditation today, especially your closing reminder exhorting us to have unwavering faith in the providence of God which allows the persecution of Christians in the world. Our Lord told us that we would be persecuted if we followed Him (MK 10:29-31, JN 15:20), and that the time was coming when those who killed us would do so out of a belief that they were following God's will. (JN 16:2) It was true two thousand years ago, and it is just as true now, especially in Islamic countries.

In addition to what you have written, I would like to offer some corrections to the New York Times article, and a survey of muslim persecution against Christians not only in the Middle East, but worldwide, consisting of both an article by author and Islam expert Robert Spencer and a brief (6 min 29 sec) video on this topic by the David Horowitz Freedom Center. (See below also for link.)

Ethan Bronner, in his NY Times article, states that "Christians were attacked for working with Americans." As news reports show, greatly heightened persecution against Christians in Iraq and in other muslim countries can be traced to the late 1990s and into 2002, well before the US-led invasion of Iraq, and as a direct result of the jihad proclaimed by Osama bin Laden in 1998 and signaled by the attacks of 9/11/01. While the war in Iraq no doubt sparked further attacks on Christians suspected of working with the Americans, the essence of all persecution of Christians in all muslim-dominated countries in the Middle East and elsewhere is religious in nature, and is a manifestation of the Islamic resurgence we see worldwide.

Bronner also conflates and parses the causes of the Christian exodus, confusing several key issues in the process. In listing the forces behind Christian emigration from the Holy Land, he cites "political violence, lack of economic opportunity, and the rise of radical Islam." Instead, we must realize that what Bronner labels as "political violence" is actually violent religious persecution against Christians by muslims. Churches burned and destroyed, Christians threatened with death if they do not convert to Islam, and attacks on individual Christians are all part of a pattern here. "Lack of economic opportunity" is more accurately understood as economic discrimination against Christians by muslims; Christians under muslim rule have an exceedingly difficult if not impossible time of finding good jobs, running a successful business, and even keeping their own income. Christians under muslim rule are forced to pay a jizya (the poll tax mandated in Koran 9:29 that "people of the book" — Christians and Jews — must pay for the privilege of living in an Islamic state) so large that they cannot sustain their lives. Thus, what Bonner lists last as "the rise of radical Islam" is actually the cause of all the Christians' woes and persecution, some of it institutionalized, some of it at the hands of the growing mobs of zealous muslims, who are merely living out the true tenets of their religion.

As Islam continues its resurgence, we will see greater and ever more horrifying persecution of the last remaining Christians. They literally have no hope, in an earthly sense. Under Islam, Christians must submit (i.e. convert to Islam and renounce Jesus Christ), or pay the jizya (to have "protected" status), or flee, if they are able. Otherwise, they are likely to be harassed, persecuted and killed. Those Christians who do pay the jizya are relegated to dhimmi status, and are treated as inferior to muslims, second-class citizens. They cannot practice their faith in public, they cannot wear crosses in public, they cannot build new churches, they cannot even repair old churches falling into disrepair; they certainly cannot evangelize. While a muslim man may marry a Christian woman (indeed, several if he desires), a Christian man who tries to marry a muslim woman is subject to death, as several recent harrowing news stories from Pakistan and Afghanistan have borne out. The list of dhimmi limitations and discriminatory practices against Christians pervades virtually every dimension of life. The dangers are real: any muslim who converts to Christianity is subject to death. So is any Christian who tries to convert a muslim. Recent news stories about the atrocities committed by muslims against Coptic Christians in Egypt illustrate all these points and more. These are not aberrations from the so-called "Religion of Peace." Rather, these are truths about Islamic law (sharia law) which have been put into practice at all times and in every place that Islam has become dominant over the past thirteen hundred years. We must acknowledge these facts about Islam. Denial and obfuscation do not help us in understanding the enormity of the calamity and its importance for our times.

As recent events have demonstrated (seizing of church property by muslim authorities, etc.), the Ecumenical Patriarchate suffers these trials in a perhaps more demeaning way than other Christian bodies under Islamic domination. Perhaps it is time at last for His All Holiness to cede Constantinople to the muslim Turks, pack his bags, and leave the Phanar ghetto behind for the relatively safe (for now) United States.

Here is the link to Mr Spencer's article; the video is embedded in it:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/026126.php

Here is a link to the otherwise excellent full article by Ethan Bronner in the NYT:
http://www.jihadwatch.org/archives/026108.php

I would be glad to provide further articles and sources upon request.

Please feel free to forward this to the parish if you see fit.

in Christ,
Ralph

Essential, Real-Life Ministries

Dear Parish Faithful,

Christ is Risen!


Last Sunday evening, Presvytera Deborah and I were invited to the Warren Correctional Institute by Terry Morgan and Dan Georgescu, to attend a graduation ceremony for the Kairos Weekend Program, also known as a short course in "Practical Christian Living." This was an intense course that lasted from Thursday - Sunday on the grounds of the WCI. Many prisoners may know of Christian teaching, but this program is meant to assist them in taking a much deeper look at the Gospel, to embrace Christ and to seek the forgiveness and grace of God. We heard from some of those who did so at the graduation ceremony on Sunday evening. Articulate or inarticulate, their personal witnesses were all moving. We also heard a good solid talk by the prison warden, Wanda Jackson. While there, we noticed at least one of our posters prepared by our Church School students. This one had recognizable Orthodox crosses and the Jesus Prayer written on it.

Terry's role through the weekend was that of "table clergy," and Dan was a "table servant." Nicholas Georgescu volunteered to be a cook and his contribution was greatly appreciated. Also with us were Bernice Morgan and Cristiana Georgescu. Just this briefest of encounters with the atmosphere of the WCI impressed upon us the great challenges and difficulties of a prison ministry.

We deeply appreciate the efforts of both Terry and Dan in taking on this most difficult of ministries as they represent authentic Orthodox Christianity and our parish at the WCI. May God continue to bless their ongoing work. Let us all keep them in our prayers. Coincidentally, if you go to www.scoba.us you will find an encyclical statement from the Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in America (SCOBA) on Prison Ministry Awareness Sunday, designated for this coming Sunday, May 24.
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Our appeal for sponsorship of the senoritas at the Hogar in Guatemala received a tremendous response already, and thirteen of the fourteen senoritas are now covered for receiving a special gift from our parish faithful! We deeply appreciate the commitment and concern - together with the generosity - of our sponsors. May God bless your efforts. I am hoping that someone will agree to sponsor one last senorita. Please get back with me if you choose to do so.

We will continue to receive monetary donations for the Hogar on the next two Sundays with a basket by the Cross. There is also a list of other items requested by the Hogar in case someone would like to make a donation from that list. That list has been sent out, but please let me know if you would like to see it again.

These developing, expanding and essential ministries to prisoners (MATT. 25:31-46) and to "abandoned, abused and orphaned children" (DEUT. 24:17, 21; JM. 1:27) are a deeply encouraging sign of spiritual maturity within the parish. It is the application of Gospel principles to real-life situations and needs. I hope our parish circle of participants will continue to grow. And may the Lord continue to bless and strengthen our endeavors.

Fr. Steven

The Holy Fire in Jerusalem

Dear Parish Faithful,

Below is a very interesting link to information and testimony concerning the miracle of the "Holy Fire" in Jerusalem. It is both accepted and denied by Orthodox Christians. (And obviously denied strongly by the non-Orthodox). Please read for yourselves and acquaint yourselves with the phenomenon and the claims made around it, so you can form your own opinion. Perhaps we will hear something from Dinara once she returns from her pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Fr. Steven

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Subject: Fwd: The Orthodox Miracle of the Holy Fire


I hope you are enlightened by this video. It really impressed me.

The Orthodox experience the Miracle of Holy Fire every year on Holy Saturday after 12:00 noon. "It happens in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the holiest place on earth, where Christ was crucified, entombed, and where He finally rose from the dead." The Orthodox Patriarch walks into the tomb after it has been searched by officials who declare there is nothing in it that would start a fire. The Patriarch also removes his vestments. As he says prayers, miraculously, the Holy Fire begins burning.The Patriarch lights his candles with the Holy Fire, and comes out of the tomb to the waiting parishioners with some of their candles miraculously lit. This miracle only occurs with the Orthodox Patriarch. Three other times, non-Orthodox have attempted to experience this miracle, but failed. Since the fourth century this miracle has taken place every year. It is possible this occurred even before the fourth century. Below is more information about the Holy Fire:

http://www.holyfire.org/eng/

Below is a link to an actual video experiencing the Holy Fire. I had
to watch it twice; once to read the captions, and the second time to
watch the miracle. It helps to hit the pause button during the flashes
of light. A couple of times, you can actually stop the video and see a
perfectly round circle of fire.


http://oode.wordpress.com/2009/04/14/miracleofholylight/

This video is amazing!