I don't know how to describe it . . .

Went to St. Nicholas again today despite Quincy's protestations that he doesn't like to go there because he has to be quiet. My curiosity regarding the Orthodox faith aside, there is something about this parish that I have been trying to describe in my head for some time now, and just can't seem to figure it out. Every Sunday that I go there, I leave with this feeling of a big internal sigh. Like, "aahhhhhhh, that was a nice time". My first inclination is to say that it's easy. (Yeah, like a Sunday mornin'.) But then I think more and realize that it's really not. Even if you're not Orthodox and wrangling two small children, it is impossible to disengage during the service. As Erik has said before, you can not forget for a moment where you are. Orthodoxy also requires much of you outside of the Divine Liturgy on Sundays. The Orthodox observe various fasts, confession, and the daily office (among other things, I'm sure). Perhaps, though, what feels so easy to me is that I have learned these things by observation rather than being told all of the rules and regs. The atmosphere has been so warm and inviting from the very first day we walked in. The people have been nothing but gracious and accepting. We are "protestants", we attend randomly, we arrive late and stay in the back. We volunteer for nothing. Yet, we are accepted. And without greeters or assimilation pastors, I might add.

I think another thing about it is that they tend to approach things rather simply. There is a council and they do have meetings. There is a choir and they do practice. There are vesper services twice a week. But for some reason, things just don't seem as busy as most churches of which I have been a part and that feels nice. In our culture of 'doing' rather than 'being', it's almost as if churches today feel the need to call attention to their ministries and programs to demonstrate how they are serving God in addition to just getting people to participate. I know that's not necessarily the intent, but it just feels so busy, and St. Nicholas, while they do have a few different "ministries" and opportunities for service, it never comes across as something for which you are being recruited. For example, for Pascha (which is another post entirely unto itself) there is a giNORmous feast. The only solicitation for folks to bring something was a giant white board in the parish hall with the various categories -- bread, main course, cheese, dessert, drinks, etc. (My favorite was seeing that Deacon Kevin would be bringing beer.) That was it. People didn't have to be reminded by announcements, emails, or bulletins. This happens every year. Everyone knows how it works.

I'm still not really capturing what I want to express. It's something that goes beyond the logistics. The people there just don't come across as your typical busy urban Americans and I don't know if that is just that this parish draws in a particular type or if it's the Orthodox expression of the faith that helps nurture that.

I'll have to keep processing . . . . .