Brendan Delany - Church Visit #2

Church name: Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church

Church address: 36 North Ellsworth Street, Naperville, IL 60540

Date attended: October 30, 2016

Church category: Catholic Church (Tridentine Mass)

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

This service was quite different from the church that I normally attend.  I noticed a few things right off of the bat.  Not only was the mass performed in Latin, but the Latin was for the most part (if not completely) sung by the priests.  For some reason, I had assumed that even the homily would be in Latin, so I was temporarily caught off guard when the priest began to speak in English.  He spoke very fast, and the sermon only lasted maybe 10 minutes.  This is very different to what I'm used to, since I'm used to the sermon taking up the large majority the service rather than the Eucharist and the other non-homily parts of the mass taking up so much of the service.  Another interesting thing is that the priests faced the altar instead of the congregation for most of the service.  This is even different from what I experienced when I attended Catholic mass as a kid (my dad was raised Catholic, so we went to Catholic mass for most of my childhood), where the homily, though it wasn't as long as it is in most Protestant services (as in probably half an hour or more), definitely felt like a bigger focus of the mass, and the priest also faced the congregation during the service.  One thing that I was conflicted about was whether or not I should take Communion, since I went through the process of First Communion; I ultimately decided not to because I don't think that I'm a "baptized Catholic in the state of grace" - I, after all, have never even been to Confession.

How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity?

This service, even more so than the visit to the Orthodox Church, gave me somewhat of a window into the past.  Although the mass was quite difficult to follow at times (even the booklet with translations that was provided was difficult to follow, since it seemed to jump around a lot), I found that I was able to see what the mass may have been like for hundreds of years prior to Vatican II.  Honestly, even though I was confused at points, the ability to participate in a mass that was like mass had been presumably since the Council of Trent until the 1960s was amazing.  I now understand much more about what we've been learning in class because of it.  The fact that all Catholic masses were performed in this (or at least a similar) way throughout the world not too long ago and for so many years really makes me reflect on the nature of how Christianity really is global - you don't really get that sense so much with most Protestant services, since they're church-specific.

How did the worship service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?

I think that this service for me personally reminded me why I chose not to become a Catholic and get confirmed.  When I was younger (but not too young), I really had a sense that I wasn't too fond of how ritualistic the Catholic mass is.  It seemed like it could get in the way of a person's walk with Christ.  I now have more nuanced and informed reasons for not being a Catholic, but while attending this Tridentine mass I still was reacquainted with my initial reasons for not wanting to be a Catholic in the official sense.  That's not to say that I completely dislike the Catholic Church or Catholicism in general; I actually think that Catholicism, despite its various fallbacks throughout history, has mostly been a church that  and also provides good pushback quite often for Protestants (at the very least, it can spur Protestants to really investigate why they interpret Scripture the way that they do).  I used "they" in the last sentence because, even though I was reinforced in not wanting to be a Catholic, I still don't want to fully throw myself into being a called "Protestant."  Even though I'm probably at least 80% Protestant over the other two major sects of Christianity, I don't necessarily want to corner myself into being called a "Protestant."  I'm first and foremost a Christian - a follower of Christ.  I might also add "evangelical" to that, which would make me an evangelical Christian, but even that's not nearly as important as being called "Christian."  In the end, I want to be known for my allegiance to Christ above all, and this mass helped me to remember that.  However, I also (re-)learned during this mass, just as with the Orthodox service, that I as a Christian need to be in fellowship with non-Protestants.  I highly value unity within the body of Christ, and the lines separating Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox Christians must be crossed (but not necessarily broken, since the differences are certainly very important) in order to pursue that.

Mark Meyers - Church Visit #1

Church Name: St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church

Church Address: 893 Church Road, Elmhurst IL 60126 

Date Attended: 10/31/16

Church category: Greek Orthodox

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context? 

The Church of St. Demetrios was immediately identifiable as we drove up to it, with its large domed roof topped with a cross. As we entered the building to attend the Great Vespers service, a large bell was ringing and smaller bells were clanging. Many other congregants were shuffling in at the last minute as the service began. It was being held in a smaller, side chapel within the church. The chapel itself was completely full as we arrived, so we were forced to sit in the overflow  just outside of the doors of the chapel. Fortunately, this position actually afforded us a better view of the inner workings of the service, as we could see somewhat better behind the iconostasis. As we watched, the priests took up a long, repetitive string of singing, chanting, and praying. This was the pattern of the service for almost an hour. The chapel itself was quite striking, with innumerable brightly colored icons, including a portrait of Christ on the ceiling and picture of Mary and Christ behind the Altar. Their were candles and lamps lit throughout the chapel, and the thick, heavy smell of incense was always present. Twice during the service, one of the priests – and some of the acolytes – would walk slowly around the congregation, ringing bells and burning incense. The congregants would keep their eyes fixed on the priest and cross themselves repeatedly. All of the singing and chanting was in Greek, so we could not understand much, however, a constant refrain was the phrase Kyrie Eleison, "Lord, have mercy." After about an hour, the priests led the entire congregation in a procession out of the chapel and around the interior of the church, chanting and ringing bells all the while. We then gathered around a table with bread, candles, and an icon. There the congregation sang a song, in which the phrase Kyrie Eleison cropped up again and again. After the song, they took the bread and led the procession back into the chapel. As they entered, they bent to kiss and venerate  some relics that the the priests were holding. After some more chanting and some brief speaking, the congregation was dismissed and they exited the chapel with the bread to partake in a meal together following the service. On the whole, this experience, from the bells, to the incense, to the chanting,to the processional, was very different from my experiences at my own local church.

How did the service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity?

This service highlighted for me the unique beauty and mystery of the Orthodox tradition. Particularly interesting, were the emphases on mystery, embodiment, and community. The service demonstrated the heightened sense of awe and mystery with which the Orthodox engage with God. Everything was performed with the utmost reverence. Furthermore, the service engaged all of our senses, capturing our eyes with shimmering golden icons, our ears the clanging of bells and hum of chanting, the nose with the odor of incense, and the mouth with the  taste of bread. All of these pointed to an emphasis on the experiential, in contrast to much of Western Christianity, which tends to emphasize the cognitive. Lastly, their was a deep awareness of community among the congregants. They all greeted each other warmly, kissing and embracing one another. They spoke kindly and familiarly with each other, and shared a meal together after their worship. All of these demonstrated a sense of connectedness between the members that was striking. 

How did the worship service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?

This service particularly helped in kindling in me an attraction to the awe and reverence for the mystery and beauty of God so vibrantly captured in Orthodox liturgy. Though at times, their veneration seemed to descend into superstition, at its best it illuminated a devotion to God that transcended mere cognitive affirmations and propositional truths. This devotion highlighted an experiential knowledge of the mystery of God, the God beyond all comprehension yet knowable in Jesus Christ. Moreover, this service made remember the value of remaining aware of my own embodiment when I worship. It illuminated again for me that I am not merely a receptacle of information, but a whole person, embodied within an experience. This means that my worship must engage all of me – as a whole person – in an act of devotion that sheds light on who God is in all aspects of my life. 

Mark Meyers - Church Visit #2

Church Name: St. John Cantius Church
Church Address: 825 N. Carpenter Street. Chicago, IL 60642.
Date Attended: 11/1/16
Church Category: Tridentine Mass 

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

We entered into a large, dimly lit room with high, vaulted ceilings and elaborate stonework. The light reflected through the stained-glass windows flooded the space with a mystical, time-stilling glow. The space seemed to immediately evoke a sense of awe and reverence. As we entered into the space, their were a number of congregants sitting, kneeling or standing in the pews, some praying and some simply waiting quietly. As the service began, bells rang periodically. The priest stood at the front of the sanctuary with his back to the congregation. This was the first striking point of difference for me between the services that I ordinarily attend and this one. He recited many prayers, invocations, and liturgical readings, all – as far as we could tell – in Latin. This is because the room was very large, and the priest's voice was not amplified, it was difficult to hear at all what wasting said. There was no sermon or homily that we could identify. This is is definitely unlike my ordinary experience. In my own church, preaching from Scripture is one of the central acts within the service. There was only one moment that we discerned any English being spoken: a kind of congregational chant toward the end of the service, where congregants chanted a kind of call and response, in which we heard the words, "Mary, Mother of God, pray for us...". This was another striking point of difference for me. In my own context, no one other than God would be addressed in a prayer or a song of praise. Finally, all of the congregants walked to the front of the sanctuary to receive the Eucharist at the end of the service. They all knelt and formed a line in front of the altar, waiting to receive the sacrament from the hands of the priest. This too is different from my normal experience, where usually the bread and wine are passed throughout the congregation in baskets and the Table is celebrated together. At the end, the bells rang again, and all the congregants filed out. In all the service took up only about 35 minutes.

How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity?

This service highlighted for me a number contrasts within the broader, global church. First, the service demonstrated the difference in understanding the mediation of the Church in salvation between Catholics and Protestants. This service clearly illuminated the idea that salvation is mediated through the Church. The priest's intercessory and representative work, facing the altar with his back to the congregation, and more keenly the administration of the sacraments from the hands of the priest reveal the Catholic church's emphasis on this mediated grace. In contrast, Protestants seem to emphasize an understanding of the Church as the gathering or assembly of those who are themselves a priesthood with direct access to God through the mediation of Christ alone. This subtle contrast illuminates some of the historical divergences in belief and practice within Christianity, specifically since the Reformation.

How did the worship service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?

Ultimately, this service made me grateful for the remarkable access that I now have within my local Church: access to Scripture, access to the Lord's Table, and access to a clear presentation of the Gospel. Though the forms of Catholic liturgy hold a great deal of beauty, I am grateful that, every week, I am able to hear the Word of God read and preached in my own language. I am grateful that I can receive both bread and wine at the Lord's Table, and that I may celebrate this Communion together with the rest of my brothers and sisters in Christ. And I am grateful that, from a very young age, I have had the remarkable privilege of hearing the Gospel spoken into my life day after day. For these, I am deeply thankful for the work of the Reformation. That being said, this service also filled me with a lingering admiration for the beauty and mystery of the Catholic tradition, for its deep historical roots and its heavy sense of connectedness. It made me long for a day when both Protestant and Catholic Christians can gather together in unity, sitting at one Table as one family of believers who are beholden to one Redeemer and Lord, Jesus Christ. 

Samuel Lee - Church Visit #2

Church Name: St. Peter and Paul Catholic School
Church Address: 201 E Franklin Ave, Naperville, IL 60540
Date Attended: 10/30/16
Church Category: Tridentine Mass 

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

The very first thing that I noticed about the church was the art work and the intricacies of the design of the church. The church was quite large and had a lot of people attending the evening service. While the whole service was in Latin, pamphlets were provided with English translations. As long as you were paying attention to what was being said, you could easily follow along. The service was very transitional; things moved smoothly from one thing to the next. Like the Orthodox service, there was a very physical sense to the service. From the bits of holy water splashed across my face, to the pungent smell of incense filling my nose. The sermon given at the service was very formal and different to my regular context in the Presbyterian church. The aspect of kneeling, standing, and sitting at different times in the service was heightened. The genuflections that the priests and the congregation did was also very different from my regular context. 

How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity?

The extent to which the church was connected to the Catholic Church surprised me. Toward the end of the sermon, the priest prayed for the problems of other Parishes and the recent earthquakes in Italy itself. The service showed me the extent to which the Catholic Church had a sense of catholicity and global church unity. The fact that the service, except for the sermon, was in Latin also illuminated the strength of unity. It is surprising to me that the tradition of singing all the liturgy and praying in all Latin as still existed to this day in 2016. I could not help but notice that the priest had a bit of a southern accent in the sermon but was speaking Latin in the service. The service showed me that there are traditions and practices practiced across the world that are practiced in the same exact manner here in America, that is inspiring. 

How did the worship service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?

The service was close to an hour and a half long. Much of the time was spent kneeling and praying. Much like what Dr. Lee spoke about how often physical actions can attribute to the spiritual aspects of worship, I felt the same way. As I was kneeling and following along as the priests said, "Lord, have mercy," I could not help but feel physically feel a great connection to the Lord that renews our mercies every single day. Kneeling with my hands together, I looked forward at the altar and the crosses. I could understand why some people would aspire to this kind of worship, because I really believe that the physical aspect of worship can draw us closer to the presence of the Lord. As a Presbyterian, I feel challenged to incorporate more physical acts into my act of worship.  

Ashley Edwards--Church Visit #2

Church name: St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church
Church address: 36 N Ellsworth St, Naperville, IL 60540
Date attended: October 30
Church category: Tridentine Mass


Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?


The engagement of the five senses was immediately impressive to me, as it was in the Orthodox service I attended. The colors in the church were yellow and blue, which symbolize energy and stability, and cultivated a sense of reassurance in standing with the generally peaceful atmosphere of the service. There were plants around the altar, which to me was calming and representative of the promise of new life. There was a lot of meaningful symbolism. The dome of the church was designed to depict an open sky with heaven shining through, and the structure under it was designed to depict the new Jerusalem. Inside of this was a small temple which represented Mary. The wafers for the Mass were taken from this temple and it’s as if we were taking the incarnate flesh from her open womb.


How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity?


I found a lot of value in experiencing a Catholic service and observing its differences from Orthodoxy and Protestantism. The level of audience participation was less than in the Orthodox service overall. At the Orthodox service, the priests and the congregation all sang songs. At the Catholic service, only the priests sang while the congregation listened. But there were some aspects which were more inclusive. I partook of the Mass and was surprised when the priest fed it to me! That was a first in my experience. There was a blend of formality and informality. The priest made a joke in reference to the Cubs, and I was taken aback by his light mood in the midst of the solemnity of kneeling and reciting. I was most struck in this service by realizing that these people are regular people. I’ve always viewed the Catholic church as doctrinally sound and part of the body of Christ, but distant and serious. At the service, I saw one of my friends from Wheaton and learned that he is Catholic, which I was unaware of. I also attended the service with another Catholic friend from Wheaton, who I did know was Catholic. Seeing him worship within his denomination brought insight into him as a person and brought me greater respect for Catholics and value for the unique ways in which they honor God. It gave me context in which to place the beauty of the Catholic church. They took an offering for the earthquake victims in Italy, which was notable to me especially considering their Roman roots.




How did the worship service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?


I gravitated towards the pictures and paintings on the walls and stained-glass windows. I was drawn to reflection by the events which inspired these images. The use of these images originated in large part due to the fact that many lay people could not read or write Latin, so they were provided with material for pondering through the art in the church, in order that they might participate in the service. I had trouble understanding the songs, so I found myself in the same position. This was an amazing experience because I had the chance to engage in history and encounter what people in the church have experienced for centuries. As I referenced earlier, there was a peaceful sense to the service. My Catholic friend told me that mass is the time in the week where you don’t need to create peace in yourself, but just go and receive peace. I saw where he was coming from. There were many pauses within the service that would have felt awkward in a Protestant service, where we generally rush, that served to foster reflection and meditation. This is something I’m working on incorporating more into my daily life and relationship with God.

Hawken Sawyer - Church Visit #2

Church Name: St. Peter and Paul Catholic School
Church Address: 201 E Franklin Ave, Naperville, IL 60540
Date Attended: 10/30/16
Church Category: Tridentine Mass 

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

The interior of the church was extremely beautiful. I loved watching the stained glass windows change color throughout the service as the sun went down. The church was very large and was actually quite filled for the time of the service. We entered into silence – people were praying or simply waiting for the service to begin. I noticed that many women were wearing head scarves. As soon as the service began, there was almost nonstop singing in Latin. The priest and deacons would do things very slowly and deliberately – like splash holy water on the audience, or fill the whole building with the smell of burning frankincense.  Most of the service was liturgy between the priest and the choir in Latin, but there was about a 10 minute reading of scripture and sermon in English. This is very different from my normal context because usually the whole service is in English!

How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity?

This service made me much more aware of the tradition that exists within the Catholic Church. When I was very young, I visited a church like this with my Nana, but I was unable to appreciate the reverence and awe that they attribute to things like the Eucharist and the liturgy. Also, during the short sermon in English, the priest spoke about problems that other Catholic churches were facing around the world. He asked for us to keep them in our prayers and to consider donating money to help. This touched me because I loved seeing the unity that exists within the global Catholic Church. When one church struggles, the rest know about it and come to their aid. I think this is definitely something that Protestants can learn from our Catholic brothers and sisters. If a protestant church in Italy is struggling monetarily, unfortunately I don’t think that I would ever hear about it. Yet the fact that this priest keeps his congregation aware of the global Catholic body is very encouraging.

How did the worship service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?

During this worship service, I had plenty of time to be alone with the Lord. During the liturgy and the celebration of the Eucharist, I was able to reflect and pray. This worked especially well because I couldn’t understand what was being said in the liturgy. This service provided a great atmosphere, to be centered on the Lord and to reflect on His glory. I smelled the frankincense, I saw people taking communion; I saw the stained glass all around me – along with the other depictions from Jesus’ life which helped me reflect on what all this means for me as a Christian. It felt like we were all spread out in this massive church seeking a holy and perfect God. In Protestant churches, I always hear about how near to my heart God is, but at this church, I am reminded more about who this God really is. 

Anna Erickson - Church Visit #2

Church name: St. Peter and Paul Catholic Church
Church address: 36 N. Ellsworth, Naperville, IL 60540
Date attended: October 30, 2016
Church category: Tridentine Mass 

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

We attended a Sunday night latin mass in Naperville. As we were walking from the parking lot toward the church, I was astonished at the church building's beautiful exterior. I was reminded of this during class on Tuesday as we discussed that we are embodied worshipers; our faith is not simply a product of our brains' engagement with truth and doctrine. In my experience on Sunday, the sense of awe and reverence that this majestic building evoked was one of the reasons this service felt so beautiful, despite my unfamiliarity. This process of recognizing that the building's beauty was so different from the ordinary habits of my day was the moment that my heart was being prepared for worship. It seemed like my experience as a worshiper began in the parking lot, because the exquisitely massive beauty of the building's exterior pointed so clearly to the majesty of God himself. The church I grew up in was equally as large as this church, but I do not remember ever being so struck by its beauty. This may be partially because of familiarity with that church, but I do think the beauty of the building contributed as well. 

How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity?

This service helped me enter into what it would have been like to worship as an early Christian in the West. Experiencing worship in Latin, while still recognizing parts of the liturgy such as the Lord's prayer and the Nicene Creed, allowed me to see the continuity of truth being proclaimed from the time that the Latin mass was most widely used to the present. It was interesting to compare this service to the Orthodox church visit. These two traditions seemed to be similar in the most fundamental ways, but I feel less qualified to notice differences between them than someone who is a member of either of those traditions. This visit further showed me my ignorance of traditions other than Protestantism, and I am hoping to visit again to further understand what was happening and participate more fully as a worshiper, rather than only focusing on noticing obvious differences and dwelling in the aspects of the service that made me uncomfortable.

How did the worship service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?

At this service, I saw a student from Wheaton who is in orchestra with me worshipping there with his family. St. Peter and Paul is his home church, and I would like to talk with him more about his experience as a Catholic Christian at Wheaton. Seeing him there helped me recognize my limited degree of fellowship with Christians who are not Protestants, and attending this service challenged me to think of myself first as a credal Christian, rather than primarily as a member of my denomination. I think I have a lot more to learn from traditions other than my own, and I would like to commune more with the entire body of Christ, not just the Protestant part.