Saint Joseph Catholic Church

This morning we continued our "Faith Walk-About" at the Catholic Church. Growing up Lutheran, the Catholic Church felt like we were (almost) home.

I was glad to get to experience the Catholic Church on Pentacost, since yesterday we got to celebrate the receipt of the Torah (Shavu'ot) at the Jewish Synagogue. Today we celebrated the birthday of the Christian Church. Yesterday we celebrated the birthday of the Jewish Covenant with God.

Since this formal service is so familiar to me, I tried very hard to place myself as a first-time visitor, like we were yesterday. It was an interesting point of view.

The altar was in the front, and the choir was in the very back behind us. So whenever they sang, it almost sounded like the voices were coming from above. The choir was situated around the large pipe organ that was the only instrument used throughout the service.

We were greeted warmly and found a seat, with hymnals and worship books situated in racks on the backs of the pews in front of us. Kneelers stowed neatly away under each pew.

Especially after the service we had seen the day before, I was struck by the amount of heritage, symbolism and tradition are also in the Catholic church. Visually, the robes and vestments worn by the acolytes and priests, the large crucifix hanging from the wall over the altar, and many other symbolic images flooded the senses.

The service was, much like the Jewish service the day before, one that had been said so many times that many parishioners had no need of a book to remind them what came next. They were accustomed to symbols and traditions, which an outsider might find strange: bowing to the altar/crucifix upon entering or leaving a pew; making the sign of the cross across one's chest; kneeling during prayer; responsive singing and/or prayer from the congregation, and many others.

The pinnacle of the Catholic Mass is in the distribution of the bread and wine (the Host), which through prayer and blessing is miraculously transformed into the body and blood of Jesus Christ. All Catholics who have been through classes to better understand this concept are welcome to come and partake. As a non-Catholic, we went forward, but received a blessing.

The parishioners have that time to make eye contact, one-on-one with the priest. Though it is a very formal setting, it feels quite intimate for the moment. It is though the priest, in a very Fatherly way, welcomes the parishioner and blesses them.

It also has been said, and I really saw for the first time, that Christian denominations have different focuses: Baptists put their emphasis on salvation through baptism; Catholics emphasize the gift of acceptance and forgiveness through the bread and the wine. But, at the end of the day, both are right. And both are concerned with being the best person you can be while on earth, out of love and respect for God and Jesus Christ. And, that through acceptance of Christ, we will join Him in Heaven.

As we finished up the Catholic service, I also tried to imagine what the service would have been like if it had all been in Latin, as it was prior to Martin Luther. I imagine, other than the fact that I would recognize the generalities of the service because of my lifetime of exposure to it, I would feel as lost as I had the day prior as the service was in Hebrew.

I understood even more the importance of having a worship service that was not only done on

behalf of the congregation, but with the congregation, all with one voice praising God. I recognized how imperative it was to have the bible in the people's language, so they could tuck God's Word into their hearts. And I realized how much we as people crave that divine experience of communing with God and each other.

The children didn't have a lot to say about this service, simply because it was so close to what they have experienced in our home congregation every Sunday since their birth. But they did say how much they liked understanding what was going on, and feeling like they were a part of it, instead of watching it go on around them. They were also taken aback by the large crucifix of a dying Christ behind the altar. They didn't like this picture of Christ, seeing Him suffer. I guess we all prefer to think of the Risen Christ, though, don't we?

I am grateful for both experiences this weekend. I think seeing them back-to-back as we did gave us a perspective and an insight we otherwise could not have had.

~Amen

St. Joseph Catholic Church is located at

1225 Gallatin Pike South, Madison, TN 37115

(615) 865-1071

www.stjosephnashville.org

West End Synagogue

Chag Sameach!

This morning we got up early for us for a Saturday. We got dressed and drove to Nashville and were actually so early that we got there before the Rabbi. (Does this qualify as a miracle?)

We went in to the Synagogue entrance, which had commemorative plaques on the walls to name the donors of various religious symbolic items. The members and Rabbi were all very welcoming and made sure we knew where to go for the worship service.

Before entering, we were each given head coverings to wear: black satin fashioned skull caps for the boys; lace circles with a bobby pin to hold it in place for the girls. We were also given a bible (with only the Old Testament, of course), another book that had the worship service(s) in it, written in both Hebrew and English, a booklet that gave some explanation of the service and how to use the books and a newsletter to tell of the goings on in their synagogue. Both the bible and worship service books read from right to left, but the page numbers read left to right. The children's eyes were as big as saucers as they tried to comprehend how to follow the books.

As we settled ourselves, I reminded the children that this was much like how Jesus would have worshiped when He was on earth. And that He was possibly even called upon to talk, as our guest speaker would be later in the service.

And, we were in for a treat: we came on the day they were celebrating the receiving of the Torah (Shavu'ot). We not only got to worship with them; We got to participate in a celebration with them.

It was fairly obvious we were visitors: All the members had very unique head coverings and prayer shawls. Some looked quite expensive; Others were simple. One gentleman's head covering was a soft pink, and matched his shirt. Several ladies' coverings were more like a circular piece of jewelry held in place by an attached hair comb.

It was explained to us that this Synagogue had both men and women participate in readings and such in the service. Therefore, both the men and the women were asked to wear the head coverings as a sign of respect. In fact, they pointed out that while the bible does instruct the men in doing most of the religious tasks and pilgrimages, it was probably mostly due to the fact that pregnant women and young children would be unable to meet the physical demands of pilgrimages.

The sanctuary was set up "in the round." The altar was in the middle of the room, and the seating was all around it. Stained glass windows were along all the walls with plaques of explanation and memorandum next to each pane.

At the back of the room, where one would expect to find the baptismal font in some churches, or the home for the Host in others, there was a sheer veil across an opening in the wall. Above, was the explanation that this was where the "Word of God" was held.

There were no musical instruments anywhere. But the Rabbi, when singing or chanting, would sway to a rhythm and keep time by patting his hand on the altar.

They began by greeting the congregation, which was still quite sparse at that time. Then they began with prayers. For the rest of the service, 99% of everything spoken or sung was in Hebrew. The books had English and Hebrew, but since we couldn't read the language, it was somewhat difficult to keep up. And there was no way to sing/chant along. We simply listened to the melodic chanting as the Rabbi, the Cantor or one of the congregants uttered the words that had been spoken for as long as there has been Judaism.

Though there was no musical instruments, the entire service was sung or chanted. Even congregants selected to come and read out of the Torah sang the words. It was like being enveloped in God's song.

Since it was the celebration of the receipt of the Torah, at a special point in the service, several congregants went to the veil in the back of the room and lifted it. They brought out their representation of the ancient scrolls and brought them out among the rest of the congregation. Many leaned close to touch them in reverence.

A gentleman was invited to speak on this festival, instead of having the Rabbi deliver the message. This gentleman was a recent convert to Judaism. He spoke (in English) of the importance of God giving the Torah to the Israelites. He reminded the congregation how they were indeed special and chosen, for God had offered the Torah to other nations, but none would take on the burden and responsibility that went along with the covenant.

As a Christian, it reminded me of how many don't want to accept Christ because they want to continue doing things their own way. I suppose all such grand gestures and blessings can be considered a curse if you are unwilling to put down your will.

The mood of the Synagogue was very casual, yet joyful. The Rabbi came around and visited a little with each member. People reached across the aisle to give hugs and whisper words of greeting. There was a constant movement of people coming in and out of the Sanctuary. But the prayers and songs and traditions kept going up at the altar.

Much of the chanting was very rapid, which we were unaccustomed to, since most of our hymns, prayers and readings are infused with pauses and silences, in order for us to really think about the moment. In comparison, their prayers and readings sounded more like a somewhat staccato version of when we say the Lord's Prayer. There was no less reverence. It was simply that they had heard and sung the words so many times, they were practically written on their hearts. The service served as a reminder and a time for them to worship together.

The service lasted two hours. By the end, the Sanctuary was completely filled.

There was another service immediately following the one we were in. That service was to remember those who had died. The Rabbi made mention (in English) that some of the congregants were more accustomed to celebrating this in private. He encouraged those who wished to stay, to do so, but gave permission for those who wished to go to leave.

As we left, a woman sitting behind us stopped me. She said, "Your children are so well behaved. It was a pleasure sitting behind you." Of course I beamed like the proud momma I was, and thanked her.

Afterwards, the children commented on how hard it was for them to understand. I reminded them that if they had grown up in the faith and its traditions, it would seem as common-place to them as our own church does to us now.

We also discovered that we found things in the Old Testament we never realized were there. As we had listened to them chant in Hebrew, we read along in English. I don't believe any of us had paid that much attention to Deuteronomy prior to that service.

What a rich heritage. What an honor to worship side-by-side with the Chosen People of God! What a blessing to share such a wonderful celebration with them!

Shabboat Shalom


West End Synagogue
is located at 3810 West End Ave., Nashville, TN 37205
615) 269-4592 Tollfree (888) 335-8993
http://www.westendsyn.org/

Long Hollow Baptist Church

Our first visit was to Long Hollow Baptist Church. This was not the first time we had gotten to enjoy this energetic, spiritually charged church family. We have several wonderful friends who belong to this church, and we were fortunate enough to have some of them roll out the red carpet for us on this visit.

The facilities are mega-everything: mega-big, mega-beautiful, mega-technological, mega-family friendly, and mega-faith-ful. Each of the three young children's chapels could have held our one sanctuary. The main worship room was enough to hold at least six of our sanctuaries, plus some.

Their main worship room is set up more like a lecture hall, where worshipers are invited to sit/stand/sway/raise their hands and voices in praise and worship. The band that plays songs (with the words shown on large screens for the ultimate convenience) rivals any recording/performing band I've seen. I didn't recognize their faces, but their voices could have been the same ones I hear on The Fish or The Way FM.

Their guest minister even wowed my son. David Nasser, from Alabama, injected humor, facts, and faith into a spirit-filled message that had our whole family talking over lunch. My son's comment was: "He got to the point and made it so I could understand it." (High praise from my pre-teen, by the way!)

The girls went to worship services, each with students their own age. They said they enjoyed the songs and the message. The younger daughter watched a puppet show, while the older got to experience Christian Drama.

The whole family agreed this was a wonderful place to experience God- not only through their worship, but especially through the people. Our reception was warm and welcoming, but not pushy or pressured. It was a really wonderful experience over-all.

There were, of course, differences from their service from our traditional Lutheran service. First of all, our services tend to be much, much more structured. We are more accustomed to a formal ritual of confession and forgiveness of sins, then specific bible verses read, in accordance with the Church calendar. We have formal prayers, and we have Communion every worship service.

Our ministers wear robes, and we have acolytes who light candles on an altar prior to the beginning of the service. We have an organ, as opposed to a band. And we are a pretty quiet group, unless it is scripted somewhere for us to speak/sing/pray.

Our conclusion was, we did miss some of the aspects of our Lutheran service: Communion for one thing (although my son said he was okay without it). However, we really enjoyed the more contemporary music and easy-going, come-as-you-are feeling we got from the minister and the musicians.

What a wonderful day it was! And what wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ are at Long Hollow Baptist Church. Praise be to God!

~Amen

Long Hollow Baptist Church is located at

3031 Long Hollow Pike, Hendersonville, TN 37075

Phone: Main615.824.4006Fax: 615.824.4506

www.longhollow.com

Faith Walk-About

We have three beautiful children, who are smart, curious and happy. And they have been raised in our church to be Christians, who happen to be Lutheran.

Our oldest son is getting ready to start confirmation this fall. As he is preparing for this time where he will assume the vows we took for him at his Baptism, as well as be considered an adult member of the congregation, we felt it was important for him to understand his religion's heritage, as well as how it was like/different others.

We proposed that our family would join him on a "Faith Walk-About." We are going to other churches of other religions and/or faiths to worship alongside of their congregation to praise and honor God.

We are selecting a different church each weekend. We are trying to experience as many different types of worship as possible.

When possible, we go along with friends who are members of the church we are visiting. If we know no one, we contact some elder/minister/leader of the church beforehand to ask if we may come. We want to make sure we are respectful of each congregation's preferences, whether it be how we dress, or when/if we join them for communion, or any other special circumstances/rituals of which we should be aware.

After each service, our family has a meal together. Here we discuss what we liked about the church we visited. We talk about their similarities/differences, and how we feel about them. Inevitably we end up discussing doctrine, beliefs, opinions and matters of faith. That is the root of the "Faith Walk-About:" to allow ourselves the time and space to question so that we may strengthen our walk with our Lord.

We anticipate that, yes, we will do this again with each of the girls at this time of their lives, as well. We understand that it is an entire family commitment, and that we make sacrifices to make this happen. Overnight sleepovers prior to church have all but ended in deference to picking out appropriate clothing and getting enough rest. The family has suspended responsibilities in our home church that would possibly interfere with our "Walk-About."

Ultimately, we feel this will be a wonderful learning experience for us all, and a fabulous bonding opportunity for our family. We look forward to seeing all of the ways people worship our Lord, and joining them in their praise of Him.