Melodie Yu - Church Visit #1

Church name: St. Mary Coptic Orthodox Church of Chicago
Church address: 2100 W Frontage Road, Palatine, IL 60067
Date attended: 11 October 2015
Church category: Coptic Orthodox

Describe the worship service you attended. How as it similar to or different from your regular context?
As I walked in, I noticed that women were wearing head coverings, I saw incense being burned, men with white robes on stage, and as I walked to the left side of the sanctuary to grab a seat, a man pointed me in the opposite direction. I realized that the men and women did not sit together. As service went on, more people walked in. There was no "start" to service, just a gradual transition from Orthros to Divine Liturgy. Most of the service required standing. I found it striking that the readings and preparation for communion were all done by men. This is vastly different from my regular context. I've always gone to contemporary churches; you sit where you want, there's a worship band, and almost no liturgy. On top of that, my church back home is egalitarian so I'm used to seeing women involved in services. It was not a bad service, just one that I'm not used to.

How did the worship service illuminate for you the history and contours of global Christianity?
As I sat through the service, I thought to myself how we serve the same God, and how we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. The further the service went, the more I saw that we really do believe in the same God. We just worship differently. I also was seeing many things we learned in class. Such as, there was a reading that specified the Council of Nicene with Arius and Athanasius, along with the other councils, as well at mention of key terms like Theotokos. It illuminated for me Augustine's ecclesiology, that the catholic church crosses all times and places. I liked knowing that other Orthodox churches were having similar services across the globe and before my time. We were united as a body in that way. Global Christianity differs in many ways but it does not diminish the fact that we are all worshipping the same God, in the past, present, and future.

How did the worship service illuminate for you your personal identity as a Christian?
The worship service made me think deeper about how I fit into the universal body of the church (across times and places). It showed me that I only think of those at Wheaton and my own church as my family in Christ. By being involved in liturgy and corporate worship, I am able to connect with those who have recited those same words years ago and those across the world. It also illuminated the emotional side to worship. I am typically drawn by my emotion and show that by raising of hands or movement. It was interesting how different it is at an Orthodox church. There was a lot more respect and reverence shown to God with bowing and praying. It reminded me that emotions do not define our status with God and that I do need to show respect.