service types?

I feel somewhat attracted to the Anglican/Episcopal church, and I've been twice to one. I want to like it but I am more used to, and prefer, a rather "high church" service. The service I've been to is referred to as a "choral mass" - and it has all kinds of things I find strange, an organ, a choir and flutes. I find it distracting and irreverent. They have another service before that which isn't "choral" and I'm think it might be more to my liking, I'm curious if it is normal for Episcopal churches to have a more formal service and a "choral" one? I am going to ask someone at the church but can't immediately.

I actually like the Orthodox divine liturgy, I feel it is the best kind of church service for me - and in addition to the mass at a Benedictine church I've been to, the only kind I can really stand. But I have some problems with Orthodoxy in addition to the nearest Orthodox churches being rather far away... so I'm hoping that I can find a reverent Episcopal/Anglican church.

I know, some people will say I should just 'get over' the externals, but to me it is important. So many church services have forgotten that a liturgy or mass is supposed to reflect an objective reality, the divine worship that takes place in heaven, and try to make it into a production or act of self expression when it seems like it's supposed to be the exact opposite.

In my experience, the anglican churches do usually offer a spoken and sung worship. My current church has three services - a spoken eucharist, a sung eucharist and a kind of modern worship service which involves a band and terrible praise songs and all kinds of low-churchyness.

You might get on better with a spoken or "solemn" eucharist, which does invole some organ, but usually no hymns. Or you might want to look for a more formal sung service, which usually just involves an organ and the congregation singing.

__________________
The sixth day he told the head doctor,
“I am the light in the void;
I am who I am.’
The seventh day he was lobotomised;
The brain of God was cut in half.

- From "The Maori Jesus", by James K. Baxter

Thanks.

Is a spoken eucharist more low-church or high-church? I tried looking up info online but the descriptions I find are confusing.

I read about things that were considered "high church" back when such things might be controversial, such as vestments and six candles on the altar, etc, and the church I've been to has these things. It seems "middle church" during the choral-eucharist, I guess.

I guess I have to just go and see.

If you like high-church, then that includes organ and singing. It goes hand-in-hand.

If you like traditional low-church, then that too includes such things.

Choir and organ is a mainstay in the Anglican church. The only times such is not provided is usually for the first liturgy of the day, but only because the choir and organist usually don't attend more than one service.

__________________
President of the WACCAV
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
For You are the Lord Most High, of great compassion, long-suffering, and very merciful, and You relent at human suffering. O Lord, according to Your great goodness You have promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against You, and in the multitude of Your mercies You have appointed repentance for sinners so that they may be saved.

-Prayer of Manasseh verse 7 (NRSV)
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I don't have a problem with singing*, just flutes and wonky stuff that makes what is supposed to be worship and reflect heaven into "personal expression" or show-and-tell or a performance... or I don't know what to call it. I like flutes, I like organs, I like all kinds of things, just most of the experiences in church seem to be about people wanting an excuse to perform or something.


*Or well,I should qualify that: I have no problem with singing as long as it isn't incredibly banal or "Jesus is my boyfriend" kind of stuff..

Originally Posted by Aesjn

I don't have a problem with singing*, just flutes and wonky stuff that makes what is supposed to be worship and reflect heaven into "personal expression" or show-and-tell or a performance... or I don't know what to call it. I like flutes, I like organs, I like all kinds of things, just most of the experiences in church seem to be about people wanting an excuse to perform or something.

You're taking it the wrong way then. That isn't why they are there; they are there for the beautification of worship. They wouldn't be there if the rector didn't give permission.

My rector's two sons play trumpet and trombone and they play especially for the Pascha liturgies. Everyone looks forward to it.

__________________
President of the WACCAV
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
For You are the Lord Most High, of great compassion, long-suffering, and very merciful, and You relent at human suffering. O Lord, according to Your great goodness You have promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against You, and in the multitude of Your mercies You have appointed repentance for sinners so that they may be saved.

-Prayer of Manasseh verse 7 (NRSV)
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

I just read through this thread. I don't really have anything to add as PV seems to have covered it, but wanted to say that for me nothing beats a sung mass with an organ.

__________________

Totally with you there. The "praise band" at the modern service at my church annoys the heck out of me.

__________________
The sixth day he told the head doctor,
“I am the light in the void;
I am who I am.’
The seventh day he was lobotomised;
The brain of God was cut in half.

- From "The Maori Jesus", by James K. Baxter

the flute's and the other "wonky" stuff Im sure is probably that particular Church Specific. See if there is another Anglican/Episcopalian church in your area and see how they do their service.

But I know what you mean, some church's are dipping their toes into the "contemporary" style of service and I like you find it all too distracting.

But yeah check around for another Epsicopalian Church in the area.