Distractions particular to our own traditions
Gamma Gamaliel
Shipmate
Rather than point the finger at the way other people's styles and patterns of worship may contain distractions - as well as aspects that don't distract but assist or provide focus - I thought I'd consider those things I find distracting within the worship of my own Tradition.
Others may or may not wish to follow suit in relation to theirs.
Either way, there is always the caveat that all Christian traditions will contain a mixture of both things that attract and things that distract.
Sometimes the same thing can do both.
Anyhow ... in my case the following list applies:
Chant
This works both ways. Sometimes it's easy to nod off, particularly when sets of prayers are repeated. 'Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord ...
In my own personal devotions I find that if I chant the prayers it provides attention and focus. Conversely, if I chant them all the time it can become rote like reciting the two times table. So I vary things.
Intoning the readings
Again, this works both ways. In the Orthodox way of doing things Bible readings tend to be intoned. The idea is that this removes the possibility of histrionics or overly dramatic presentation.
Yes, but it can also make it hard to follow the passage at times. Our Deacon does it well but others less so. I've been told I intone passages well even though I'm not allowed to be in the choir, which is fair enough, I'm not up to scratch.
I tend to read the set passages in advance so I know what's coming.
Those things that are new to me
Sure, this applies anywhere but I'm thinking specifically about service themes and emphases that weren't found in my previous tradition.
So, for instance, when our priest outlines the reasons for accepting extra-biblical traditions such as the Dormition of Our Lady the Blessed Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary I find myself automatically going into Kerygmania mode.
I'll accept and observe it, for all my reservations about it as an historical event, but I still wrestle and that can be distracting.
But in wrestling it does focus attention on why these things may or may not be important.
Anyhow ... that's my two-happ'orth for now.
Anyone got any thoughts about similar or parallel reactions and distractions in their particular tradition or context?
As well as things which focus attention in a less troublesome way?
Others may or may not wish to follow suit in relation to theirs.
Either way, there is always the caveat that all Christian traditions will contain a mixture of both things that attract and things that distract.
Sometimes the same thing can do both.
Anyhow ... in my case the following list applies:
Chant
This works both ways. Sometimes it's easy to nod off, particularly when sets of prayers are repeated. 'Again and again in peace, let us pray to the Lord ...
In my own personal devotions I find that if I chant the prayers it provides attention and focus. Conversely, if I chant them all the time it can become rote like reciting the two times table. So I vary things.
Intoning the readings
Again, this works both ways. In the Orthodox way of doing things Bible readings tend to be intoned. The idea is that this removes the possibility of histrionics or overly dramatic presentation.
Yes, but it can also make it hard to follow the passage at times. Our Deacon does it well but others less so. I've been told I intone passages well even though I'm not allowed to be in the choir, which is fair enough, I'm not up to scratch.
I tend to read the set passages in advance so I know what's coming.
Those things that are new to me
Sure, this applies anywhere but I'm thinking specifically about service themes and emphases that weren't found in my previous tradition.
So, for instance, when our priest outlines the reasons for accepting extra-biblical traditions such as the Dormition of Our Lady the Blessed Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary I find myself automatically going into Kerygmania mode.
I'll accept and observe it, for all my reservations about it as an historical event, but I still wrestle and that can be distracting.
But in wrestling it does focus attention on why these things may or may not be important.
Anyhow ... that's my two-happ'orth for now.
Anyone got any thoughts about similar or parallel reactions and distractions in their particular tradition or context?
As well as things which focus attention in a less troublesome way?
Comments
I quite like some of the late Fr Ephraim Lash's translations of Orthodox prayers but some of them don't feel quite right somehow.
On the sitting-up/sitting-down thing. I've found that a distraction in some Anglican settings and I'd imagine that applies in some RC settings too - as well as Lutheran ones it appears.
If we are able we stand for our services but we can sit during the reading of the Epistle. Few do so in our parish so I'm setting a trend by doing so and notice others are following suit.
Not that I'm a trend-setter.
'Trend? Trend? What is trend? Is outrage!'
The spiritual aerobics of some of the younger faithful can be quite impressive when it comes to the prostrations before particular icons on special occasions. But we aren't supposed to notice ...
There can be positive distractions too, of course. My late wife sometimes used to sing in the choir at a medieval village church north of here. She said there was always something to look at that she'd not noticed before.
In an Orthodox setting people are free to wander around venerating icons and lighting candles etc at most points during the service. It does detract me when people do this at key points such as the prayers of consecration of the Holy Gifts - the 'elements'.
I know I shouldn't notice but it also distracts me when people kiss icons in the wrong place - we are meant to kiss the hands or the robes etc not the faces.
I do find myself wondering who some of the icons depict and always forget to ask.