Newest Members
Cavaradossi, Roman Interloper, ftbond, NitaMacdonald1930, SOL, etomaria, Kostyantyn, Benny, Ivanov325, DocH, andria, Joe Smith, CanuckK8, AJG80, gzt
4464 Registered Users
Who's Online
20 registered (StuartK, Forest Dweller, seraphion, Scotty, Thomas the Seeker, Peter J, Otsheylnik, Apotheoun, Fr. Deacon Lance, Carson Daniel, John Doucette, jvenner, Penthaetria, Etnick, theophan, Athanasius The L, akemner, 3 invisible), 187 Guests and 2 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Latest Photos
Pascha Dublin 2012
Centennial of the Eparchy of Hajdudorog
Hierarchial Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Cathedral OCA SF
OLF: What a difference a day makes...
Easter Sunday - Pascha - Velik Den- St. Michael's, Binghamton,NY
Forum Stats
4464 Members
26 Forums
30145 Topics
373634 Posts

Max Online: 1087 @ 07/16/07 01:09 PM
Topic Options
#203563 - 09/06/06 02:34 AM A tale of two houses
Pani Rose Offline
Member

Registered: 11/06/01
Posts: 10157
Loc: Irondale,AL
I found this on another forum...

A tale of two houses

On the way to my house there are two churches within a few hundred feet of each other. One is a beautiful brick Catholic church with a still-in-use bell tower and wonderful stained glass windows. The other is a very classical New England Protestant church (UCC I believe, but it's not emminently clear) with its own wonderful steeple and beautiful pillared entrance. It is aside from their individual physical beauty is where the two houses of worship begin to diverge.

The Catholic church has been twinned with another parish a few miles away, itself a beautiful stone building with magnificent stained glass windows and a bell tower that dominates the entire skyline of that part of the city. There is one Mass on Sunday and an anticipatory Mass on Saturday evening; other than that I'm not even sure when the physical building is open.

The Protestant church by comparison has seemingly constant activity with concerts, youth fairs, guest speakers and more. Just the other day as I drove by there was a worker atop a very tall ladder re-painting the columns at the front of the church. They also have a sign by the road that is updated normally at least once a week with different Bible verses and thoughtful sayings. One currently finds a quotation from Matthew 11:28:

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

con't

Top
#203564 - 09/06/06 05:27 PM Re: A tale of two houses
Pani Rose Offline
Member

Registered: 11/06/01
Posts: 10157
Loc: Irondale,AL
And this, I realized, is where the two churches truly diverge. The Protestant church is busy with all sorts of activities and speaks to us of the sayings of Christ. But where is the He that speaks the "Come to me"? He is not here but only replays of His words and retelling of His deeds. But the Catholic church, in all its quiet and seeming inactivity, has the answer none other can give. He is here. Fully. Completely. His Body is over there, in the tabernacle. He calls to us, in silence. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Top




The Byzantine Forum provides message boards for discussions focusing on Eastern Christianity (though discussions of other topics are welcome). The views expressed herein are those of the participants and may or may not reflect the teachings of the Byzantine Catholic or any other Church. The Byzantine Forum and the www.byzcath.org site exist to help build up the Church but are unofficial, have no connection with any Church entity, and should not be looked to as a source for official information for any Church. Contents copyright - 1996-2012. All rights reserved.