Hat and Rehat
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,444
- Location
- Denver
Good marching story. I was probably soured on liturgy in my Lutheran upbringing when I basically recited it by rote and the content didn't sink in, lest I might not have gone down the atheist path. In movies I sometimes see the elegant cathedrals and robed choirs, so I understand the draw. I understand Orthoxy also focuses very much on the community of the body , something difficult to do these days when a congregation might be spread from suburbs at every point of the compass. Inserting modern choruses into Hymns set my teeth on edge. I usually just grumbled about it in my heart. I blame it on the rise of the Christian pop music industry and the idea held by many that it's more Chistian to listen to that, even when it's often contentless and vapid, or even bad, than secular music. I refuse to listen to those stations and also like a Hymnal in my hands instead of seeing a screen between the waving hands of the people in front of me ;-).On the marching front....I live in Canada with a wife of Ukrainian descent (born in Canada). A few years back she joined the Ulster Marching Accordian Band . They were a big hit hereabouts in the local MayDay parades etc. So here I was a son of Ulster watching my Ukrainian heritage wife march in what should have been my band....except I could not play the accordian. No they did not wear bowlers but damn they looked good in their powder blue and red uniforms. I always envied the guy that got to whack the huge Lambeg drum.
What appeals to me (and I am very surprised by this) about Orthodoxy is that it is 98% liturgy based. Our priest gives a very short homily during the service but blink and you miss it. It is the same liturgy as delivered back in the 4thCentury. So it appeals to my conservative nature....you can't get much more conservative than going back 1600+ years. They do recognize Mary but do not venerate her as do the RC's.
There is much ritual. The choir is a huge part of the service and in our cathedral they sound like angels. The call and response from priest and choir often sends chills down my spine. It truly is heavenly.
I was a fan of the Rev Ian Paisley and he represented a more dour, severe strain of Ulster Presbyterianism but the dude had a style....and I am a sucker for the Ulster accent. I do miss the singing of the old time hymns but in my last milder non credal Protestant light church they changed the lyrics. It drove my wife nuts when I would belt out the original lyrics refusing to change to suit the kinder and gentler times. I still consider myself a 'wretch' and would sing it extra loud instead of the more politically correct 'soul'. Tis' a journey and at this point in it Orthodoxy fits well.....it just seems right and I don't bother my rational mind in the attempt to figure it out. I accept it as a fit and enjoy it all.
PM me if you'd like to continue this discussion sometime. I find it interesting
We better give the thread back to people with hat questions.