Robert Trca - Church Visit #1

1.  I attended several services with my sister in Chicago earlier this semester.  While my immediate family is not Catholic, some Aunts and Uncles are and so I have been to mass on different occasions, and so this mass was not so different.  I have been attending an Anglican church of late, and so again, the differences are there but subtle.  Like at my “home” church I enjoyed the corporate prayer, knowledge that Christians all over the world were doing just as I was right then, is an amazing experience.  Unlike my “home” church I did not partake in the Eucharist at mass, it was slightly awkward, sitting there, while everyone around me went and participated.  I did not feel left out though, and instead I could use that time to pray, and reflect on the Eucharist.  The worship style was similar to my home church.
2. The hierarchy was visible, beginning with positioning, from the cross and priest, and us.  As a congregation though we were united through corporate prayer, worship, and reading.  Although I attend an Anglican church, even more importance and respect was given to the Eucharist, not just as a time to “eat of Christ”, but also a time of prayer.  Also, I noticed the little things, the standing, kneeling, sitting, when people crossed themselves when they entered the sanctuary, but also when they entered and left the pew.  This tradition that for some was monotonous, to me was beautiful, in these small ways, people reminded themselves of the Trinity, as well as other things.  Another small thing that I noticed was the way people were dressed, while it wasn’t all dress suits and ties (although there were plenty) you could tell that most of the congregation had made an attempt to look good, business casual as they call it in the professional world.
3. I loved how scripture was what we read, and sang, and prayed together.  In some protestant churches, sometimes it can seem like you come to church to hear the pastor explain to you the intricacies of the Word, to bring forth the meaning.  But in this service, all that was needed was for us to read and pray it together.  The Word, and the theology contained within it suddenly took on a much more personal meaning.  Another piece was with all of the crossing people were doing, it reminded me to be thinking about worship not just as thanking the Son, or the Father, but the Spirit as well, something many protestants are guilty of from time to time.