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Dec 29th, 2019
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Joined: May 2004
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Francis,
I'm glad you mentioned the Melkite church in McLean. I'll be sure to visit them . I believe I've visited the other church you mention (if it is also near Md.) and I had the same experience. The church has been there for years. I grew up in the neighborhood and as far as I remember no effort to reach out to the neighborhood was ever made. The neighborhood did not flock to their festivals because, though not unfriendly, they seemed self-absorbed. Because many of their ethnic group abound in the area they're in no danger of closing soon and in fact, have acutally had to expand the church. Yet and still, it would only help if there were an effort made to welcome others. I write this not to bash but in the hopes that one of their younger more open minded parishioners might see these posts and pull their coattails.
Do ER churches perform charity work? As mentioned earlier,The Roman Catholic and some Protestant c hurches are so well known for charity that not a few converts and members have been drawn to them as a result. A fine balance is necessary to avoid becoming a social service agency , but perhaps more needs to be made of ER charitable efforts. A sign asking for volunteers would be sure to bring in fresh blood. College campuses have community service organizations and would probably welcome a service bulletin
Even in advertising cultural activities why not include an invitation to worship as a way to understand the spirituality that influences the culture? In fact, why not issue the invitation to worship before mentioning the festival? After all, most communuties would not last long without their spiritual base; why not let folks know about it first and food, clothing, etc. last?
Peace,
Indigo
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Originally posted by indigo:
Francis,
I'm glad you mentioned the Melkite church in McLean. I'll be sure to visit them . I believe I've visited the other church you mention (if it is also near Md.) and I had the same experience. The church has been there for years. I grew up in the neighborhood and as far as I remember no effort to reach out to the neighborhood was ever made. The neighborhood did not flock to their festivals because, though not unfriendly, they seemed self-absorbed. Because many of their ethnic group abound in the area they're in no danger of closing soon and in fact, have acutally had to expand the church. Yet and still, it would only help if there were an effort made to welcome others. I write this not to bash but in the hopes that one of their younger more open minded parishioners might see these posts and pull their coattails.
Do ER churches perform charity work? As mentioned earlier,The Roman Catholic and some Protestant c hurches are so well known for charity that not a few converts and members have been drawn to them as a result. A fine balance is necessary to avoid becoming a social service agency , but perhaps more needs to be made of ER charitable efforts. A sign asking for volunteers would be sure to bring in fresh blood. College campuses have community service organizations and would probably welcome a service bulletin
Even in advertising cultural activities why not include an invitation to worship as a way to understand the spirituality that influences the culture? In fact, why not issue the invitation to worship before mentioning the festival? After all, most communuties would not last long without their spiritual base; why not let folks know about it first and food, clothing, etc. last?
Peace,
Indigo you raise some good points. yes, it is important that we reach out to the needy, needs spiritual and physical. however, the idea that ministering to the material needs of nonparishioners should be that it is a witness of the love of Christ. if converts come because odf this, great, but it is not a sure fire way to get converts. as one who has been a volunteer with the Union Gospel Mission in Chattanooga for several years, can assure you that not everyone the Mission helps makes a decision to come to Christ, but we do so anyway because, again, of the love of Christ in our lives.that s what we are about, not playing number games. perhaps you have heard the expression "rice Christians". it refers to a phenomemon that existed in the Far East when Christian missionaries would provide rice, etc.to needy converts. so what happened is, is that people would convert to Christianity for the rice. kind of shallow, but at the same time, it was a means of survival for needy people. all things in perspective and balance, my friend another poster mentioned St. Michael's Russian Catholic in New York. look at the website. the church is growing out of their facilities, they are trying to raise funds for both a church building of their own, and to minister to the parish. check the website, and if you can send a little money to them, great. Much Love, Jonn http://www.stmichaelruscath.org
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Joined: May 2004
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Jonn,
I appreciate your reply;you raised some good points. Though not everyone who helps out with volunteer efforts will join we certainly don't want "rice Christians".
I also checked out St. Michael's website, and they are doing something right both as far as helping others and deepening the faith. It is good to see that. I will see what I can do in the way of a donation. Thanks.
It would be interesting to see what are the thriving Byzantine churches doing to, well, thrive and evangelize and how could their practices be adapted to faltering parishes.
Earlier someone mentioned St. Elias in (I believe)Toronto. Some friends were there during Pascha and took pictures. They've visited many Eastern Rite churches both in the States and Canada,and said that they had never experienced such a powerful liturgical experience as they did at St. Elias. If anyone is interested in the photos (they went to several churches in Michigan and Canada)I'll be glad to get my friends' permission to post them here.
Peace,
Cynthia
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