Sammie Oh - Church Visit #2

Sammie Oh - Church Visit #2

St. Michaels Catholic Church

1748 South Blanchard Street

23 March 2014

More Liturgical Church

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

From when I walked, had I not known it was a Catholic Church, I would still have known that it would be more liturgical from the architectural design and art of the building. One of the major differences from mass and the protestant churches I have attended is how time is structure and settled. The service felt shorter because everything was scheduled out. I’d been to a couple very liturgical services while visiting England but church was not as formal. Many people were dressed in varying levels of ‘Sunday best’ so I probably would have been comfortable in anything neat.

What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?

The brevity of the service is definitely appealing. The way they plan out the service and have a bulletin that tells you what is going on is generally helpful. I think for that day though, because it was lent, it was a little different from the usual. The message was short and sweet, to the point. Besides the beautiful design of the building’s interior with its painted pillars, stained glass windows, and pipe organ, I loved the choir’s singing. The church I attend has a little choir but they do not sing very often, usually for special events or holidays. I really appreciate the times when the congregation is simply expected to listen and enjoy and meditate with a special song.

What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?

As much as I enjoyed the reserved structure of the service and singing hymns I could foresee myself really missing the more physically active kind of praise and worship I am used to, if I had for some reason started only worshipping in this particular churches style. Other than that, it was not a very disorienting experience. We did have to recite the Nicene Creed and although I knew parts of it from our class, I was major stumbling over the words. There was also a sculpted figure of Jesus Christ on the cross right at the front of the church. This is not the first church I’ve seen to have this, but for some reason, that crucified Jesus right in the middle felt oddly placed. The idea of focusing so much and potentially idolizing the dead Christ figure crossed my mind. Of course that is not the intent and Christ’s sacrifice and our salvation is what is being represented, hopefully leading to our repentance and gratitude.

What aspects of Scripture or theology did the worship service illuminate for you that you had not perceived as clearly in your regular context?

In the back there was a baptism pool for people to symbolically rededicate their lives to God. From one perspective it could be seen as ritualistic but the outward motions of a symbolic gesture can be a powerful tool to redirect us to God. Sometimes I forget about the meditative power of beautiful architecture, sacred icons, and elaborate artistry. At the same time I wonder at the costs of making these beautiful objects. On one hand there is no denying it as a way of glorifying God. On the other hand, it is not hard to see the inhibitions people may have for pouring in the resources for the aesthetic qualities of the church building and leaders robes.