Desperate

So... this morning I attended an English Divine Liturgy at a Greek Church. I was worried about getting there five minutes late, but surprisingly about half of the worshippers who came got there 10 to 20 minutes late! There were copies of the Divine Liturgy of St. John in the pews, so I was able to follow along throughout the service.

The offering was collected two different times (once toward the beginning and then toward the end). Is one offering for the maintenance of the parish and the other an offering for the poor? Which is which?

One of the priests changed his vestments 1 or 2 times behind the iconostasis? What is the significance of this?

At the end of the service the antidoron was distributed at the exit. Is it also distributed beginning/during the communing of the faithful? I saw some parishioners go up to receive the body and blood of Christ while others went up to get some bread.

What does the priest or deacon say when he distributes the blessed bread? What am I supposed to say back?

I must say I did enjoy the entire liturgy. The 90 minutes went by fast and at the end I wondered why it was over so soon. Unlike the sermons I have heard in my evangelical "bible" church, the priest's homily was short, to the point, and not said with the intention of making us feel good about ourselves. The homily was based on the parable of the five talents and how we are to use the abilities given to us. His point was that our abilities aren't given to us for our own good and well-being, but those of others.

My only negative impression is though the people were somewhat friendly they seemed dry. But I'm guessing if I keep going I'll get to know them and be accepted. I just realized there is coffee hour after the liturgy which I'll definitely have to go to. Orthros was starting right after the liturgy so I didn't have a chance to speak with a priest. I'll call one of them this week...

I'm happy.

Aria said:

Welcome to the Orthodox Church .. and I will pray that you will persevere in your new found faith.

Orthros was started right after the Divine Liturgy?

I know some churches which have the prayers after communion or Paraclesis (Office of Supplication) immediately following the Divine Liturgy, or they might have a churching or a Baptism, but usually Orthros (Matins) is sung immediately before the Divine Liturgy.

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This church has an English liturgy at 8am on most sundays. Then there is orthros at 9:30 (Greek / English) and then a liturgy primarily in Greek at 10:30.

gzt said:

It doesn't take much to get in and once you're in, you're in. But just showing up probably isn't enough. That's the way life works. Frankly, it's better than being fawned over every time you show up at a new place.

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That makes sense.