Day 7

Today was vespers of  Holy Unction at the church I work at.  So many people came out for the 4pm service, and they had another one at 7pm. Holy Unction - the way I understand it, which is limited, is basically about healing.  I watched online a Holy Unction service, which helped me understand it more.  Here's the link - if you're interested. :)

I am amazed at how the Holy Spirit moves me when watching Greek Orthodox services.  I can't say that I'd ever to convert, but they have some good things and so much scripture.  Friday, they have the "Decent of Christ" service, which I'm going to attend.  I haven't attended any services yet.  This will be my first.  I don't feel comfortable attending a Divine Liturgy because I'm not Orthodox so I would not be able to take communion.  I wasn't married in the church, so I would have to be baptized in an Orthodox church and married in an Orthodox church to be able to take communion.  Since that's not going to happen, I will probably never attend their Divine Liturgies.  But - I'm really looking forward to the scripture readings and the process of "taking Christ down off the cross".  A friend of mine who is Orthodox told me today that this service is always intense for her and one year when she attended there was a storm and it kept getting darker and darker in the church and then right when they went to remove Christ, lightening struck and thunder sounded.

Working for the orthodox church has really helped me see how God works across differing beliefs.  Yes, some are vastly different than ours, but some aren't and I find it comforting that the ones that are different, I can still find scripture to help me understand why they "see it" that way.  In knowing these people, you see the ones who have a true heart after God and are seeking to fulfill His will and some who are going through the motions, but I've been around enough to see that everywhere.  Ultimately, "Do you believe Christ is the Son of God and the only way to get to Heaven" - yes.  Do you believe he came to "save all" and interpret that differently than I've been raised?  - ok, I can live with that.  They really are all about reminding us of heaven while we are here on earth.  They spend a lot of time making that a part of their services.  I kind of wish we'd spend a little less time trying to be so much like society. I'm not against modern technology and I certainly liked it when I attended a church that had the sermon notes and Bible verses available via youversion.  :)  But there's something to be said about taking time to recognize beauty around us and God's creation too.