What are the signs of a new Pentecost in your parish?

What has proven to be the most successful medium in getting the message of the Gospel out?

What is it about your temple and/or liturgy that burns in people's minds and hearts the Face of God?

What aspects of your parish community makes people feel invited to return after their first visit to worship?

What counter- or contra-cultural features of your parish sets it apart and makes it desirable to preserve?

Joe Thur

Hi everybody,

I have a lot of thoughts about Joe's questions. As a recent "intro" into the Byzantine liturgical life I have a lot to learn, boatloads in fact. I was not going to respond to this being a newbie.

But then I thought, maybe I can say something that still sticks in my head, since it's so fresh in my mind.

I was a real sojourner, I visited a few parishes and the only ones I really liked were the ones that a parishioner walked up to me and said "hello". These weren't people assigned for that chore, theres a difference and you can tell right away.

The parish I joined I loved because it was so different, the whole parish had a voice, the cantoring was done well and the whole congregation sang along. It was like a wall of sound, pretty cool.

At the entrances the whole crew processed with a cross, glittering ripedia's, candles. Man, what a sight!

When liturgy was over I just wanted to talk to someone, anyone! As the congregation filed out I felt ignored, I didn't know all the talking was done in the Narthex not the Nave! It looked like all those people out there were just kind-of clique-ish, I didn't know! Feeling a little put out I was about to leave when a fellow (we'll call him Jack) walked up to me. He said "Hi, my name is Jack, first time here?" and "Will I see you next week?"

Those words were golden, every parish needs a Jack.

Coalesco,

I have always said that I came first to the Byzantine Church 'cause that's where the Holy Spirit dragged me (kicking and screaming) but I stayed because somebody said "hello."

Some of us consider it a holy obligation to make sure that no stranger goes ungreeted if'n it's at all possible.

Sharon

Slava Isusu Kristu,

From what some recent "traditional Catholic" visitors have said, it is our great reverence for the Holy Mysteries that keeps them comeing back. We have also seen a small increase in some lapsed Catholics. I continue to believe that it is in our preservation of orthopraxis that attracts people. I often think God would have allowed our Faith to die out if it didn't serve His purpose.
Ours has stood the test of time.

Dmitri

What definitely got me coming back was the outright friendliness and sincere happiness in seeing a new face. Within the first few weeks of going to my parish, I had at least five of the older parishoners come up and introduce themselves and found out one of them used to live in the next town over from my hometown. His sister now lives in my hometown. Small world.

But nothing had me coming back more than after receiving Holy Communion at my first Eastern Pascha, when, on the way back to my pew, a man in the back stuck his hand out and said with the most exuberant grin on his face, "Christos voskrese!". Never have I ever encountered such sheer joy at the Resurrection of our Lord in any of the churches I had visited up to that point (and believe you me, I've been to alot of Roman Catholic churches in my time)! The feeling of community, without the touchy feely sensation one gets out of today's "community", and the sense of family, of truly being brothers and sisters in Christ, is what got me back the next week and the week after and after and after.

What got me coming back was the spirituality of the Liturge and a great Priest who loves the Liturgy ,and it shows,he doesn't do the Liturgy just because it's one of his Priestly duties'he loves and feels it and this comes across to all of us out in the congragation.I myself also love the Liturgy and the feeling of not just sitting in the church but being a part of the Liturgy'Thats this sinners opinion.Greg

I keep reading this and the thought comes that one of the signs of a new spring time is the ordiation of so many deacons in the Eastern Rites. Vocations of the priesthood are increasing every where, God has heard the cries of His people. However, it is a lot quicker to get the deacon ordained while He is preparing the new priest. The deacons can give some much need assistance to our priests and let them have a breath of fresh air also.

Rose