Intimacy or Marketing–What Do You Want In Your Church?

This morning I read an article in the June 13th edition of The Wall Street Journal entitled: Inspired By Starbucks by Alexandra Alter.  The content of the article talked about how the pastors of Mega churches are now using satellites, DVDs, and franchise marketing to promote their churches all over the world. 

The idea came from the marketing stategies of Starbucks.   Evidently Starbucks  opens four new franchises a day.  The mega churches feel like they should have a similar plan.  The marketing strategies of the mega churches are working.  People are attracted to the more modern approach to going to church.  They seem to like the coffee house atmosphere of worship. 

I am aghast to such an approach.  I don’t go to church to have fun.  I go to church to worship God.  In the Holy Orthodox Church–we worship God through our Divine Liturgy. Our priest chants the  prayers and we follow with our “Lord have mercy” or our “Grant this o Lord.”  We affirm our faith by reciting the Nicene Creed. We say the Lord’s Prayer.  We make sure our hearts are clean by saying pre- communion prayers.  Lastly, we take the Holy Eucharist –which is the true body and blood of Christ.  This is our medicine for daily living.  In closing our service–we sing songs of thanksgiving for having partaken of the Holy Eucharist and the Priest closes by giving veneration to the saints who have gone on before us.

My point is that the Holy Orthodox faith is full of intimacy.  Nothing could be more intimate than having one’s priest spoon the Holy Eucharist into one’s mouth.  And when we finish our service– we line up again to kiss the cross which our priest is holding.  We also kiss the priest’s hand.  We have two very direct face to face encounters with a our priest.  And if one attends the Holy Matins service prior to the Divine Liturgy–then one gets another encounter with a priest by lining up to kiss the Holy Gospels and the pries’ts hand.  That make three wonderful face to face encounters with a priest.

It is a tradition in the Holy Orthodox Faith to enjoy eating a small meal with each other before going to our homes.  We have coffee, juices, tea and snacks or sometimes a full meal.  It is a wonderful time to get to know each other better.  I know I used to feel so empty just walking out of church in my protestant days.  In the Holy Orthodox Faith- one does not have to leave the church feeling alone.  This intimacy of sharing a meal has bonded our hearts further with our fellow parishioners and our priest. It is a beautiful tradition.

These mega churches that are marketing their faith rely on dvds, literature, or satellites.  The new franchises are full of people who have no flesh and blood priest or pastor.  So what do they do when a crisis hits?  Do they listen to a dvd on how to deal with death ,  a financial loss or marital stress?  Or does a slick brochure sooth the wounds?   What about weddings, funerals or baptisms?  How can they be truly special?  I know when Jim was near death almost three years agao–we wouldn’t have made it without the intimacy of the Orthodox faith.  A priest came up to the hospital twice to pray with us.  On the last visit–the priest annointed Jim with Holy Oil.  Likewise, when I found out I has breast cancer–I couldn’t have made it without the support of our priest.  We had quite a few talks prior to my surgery.  I also had two confessions because I didn’t want to face surgery with any dark clouds in my heart.  And finally, when I had my surgery during Christmas week of 2007- – my very special Fr. Peter from Ft. Campbell came and prayed with me.  My own priest from Murfreesboro was not able to come 100 miles because he had a house full of company.  Fr. Peter not only prayed for me –but on the final leg of my journey– when I was just about to be put under anesthesia–he came and talked to me once again.  He stayed with my family and talked with them.  It was such an intimate time for all of us. 

In the Holy Orhtodox Faith–we have confession with our priests.  Our priest get to know the strengths and weaknesses of each parishoner.  Our weddings are second to none.  They are very ornate and detailed and last a long time.  Then the receptions are usually full of whatever tradition a particular parish follows.  I know the Greeks enjoy having a great deal of dancing at their weddings.  Our baptisms are long and detailed with great celebrations afterwards. And for converts who are chrismated –the service is very special and intimate.  We have sponsors.  The sponsors provide our candles, icons and baptismal crosses.  The sponsors make a commitment to be a part of the lives of the newly chrismated.  This is another beautiful example of intimacy.

Thus,  I choose the more intimate path for my faith.  I want to first and foremost worship our Lord.  I have a Trinitarian faith.  That is why we make the sign of the cross.  That is why we pray The Trisagion Prayers. 

The Trisagion Prayers are a set of ancient prayers that begin each service of the Daily Cycle. They are also commonly used to begin one’s private prayers. (http://orthodoxwiki.org/Trisagion) (the + means to make the sign of the cross)

+Glory to Thee, our God, Glory to Thee.

O Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, the Treasury of good things and Giver of life: Come, and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.

+Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal: have mercy on us. (3 times)

+Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

All-Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our iniquities. Holy God, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. (3 times)

+Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, of the +Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

So what do you choose?  I personally want a deep intimate faith with my Lord.  I also want to know my priest in a personal way.  I want to participate in each step of the Divine Liturgy of our faith.  I don’t want a dvd or a booklet in place of a priest.  I don’t want to be bribed to attend a service by being offered tickets to the movies or a a free cup of coffee.  That is my personal choice.  What is yours?

God bless each  of you!

For Those Who Suffer With Cancer

My heart is heavy today for those who are battling with terminal cancer.  My daughter, Sandy, has enjoyed her elderly neighbors–who live behind her for years now.  Mr. B is one who loves to grow a garden–especially tomato plants.  I remember talking to him on the summer evenings that I would visit my grandsons when they were young.  His wife, Mrs. B, was operated on Mother’s day weekend.  She had been suffering with pain for a long time but didn’t go to the doctor.  When the operation was performed–she was found to have a stomach full of cancer.  She died this past weekend.  Her husband of 61 years was devastated.  He suffererd a stroke and is now in the hospital as the funeral proceedings are taking place.

I took care of my grandsons yesterday.  Sandy came by to pick them up early so that they could go to the funeral home.  Their regular caretaker was taking the other children to the funeral home.  Mr. B came to see the children each day.  He really loves all of them so much.  It is only right for the children to share in his sorrow.  John and Alex have had a great deal of experience with funerals.  They have had so many loved ones die on their father’s side of the family.  They have actually had more experience with funeral homes and funerals that I have.  So they were not afraid. They thought it was the natural and right thing to go with their mother to the funeral home.

My sister-in-law , who lives in Iowa is a terminal cancer patient.  She has been battling stage 4 cancer for quite some time.  In September of 2007–she was given only 3 to 6 months to live.  She is still with us.  She is a trememdous fighter.  She has so much to fight for.  She and her husband are helping to raise their grandchildren.  Their daughter is due to have another baby any day.  They all live together in one household.  Children , I think, help us to fight a little harder.  The joy of the children is tonic to this family.  I pray each day that my sister-in-law can continue to fight this battle with her cancer.

And finally, my friend Shadowlands , www.shadowlands.wordpress.com  is writing a series of articles of how difficult her journey is lately– with the  taking care of  her terminally ill husband.  She manages to squeeze in a few moments here and there to share with us her travail.  And it is exhausting and dark.  Please visit her site and give her some encouraging words.  She needs our love and prayers more than ever.

Each of these families are battling great darkness.  Take some time today to pray for them.  And pray for those in your life who are suffering.  Each one of us needs to reach outward and give to the world.  I wasn’t at my church this past Sunday but Jim and Vera told me that our priest gave a homily which stated that when we do evil it affects the entire cosmos(world). Likewise, when we do good and speak kindly –the entire cosmos is affected .  So may our kindness and love affect the cosmos today!

God bless each of You!

Baby Abigail Has Passed

Around 7:00 a.m. Central standard time–Abigail passed away.  She was attacked by some kind of virus.  Her last days were filled with love and affection.  Abigail was able to giggle in her own way and pull the hair of her parents and siblings.  She kicked her little arms and legs with such delight.  She smiled a great deal.  I’m so grateful that her family had this time with her that was positive.  Please keep this dear family in your prayers.

God Bless Each of You!