Temporarily Lutheran.


Well when visiting my folks this last Christmas I became Lutheran for a day. Basically to spend time with my brothers, nephew and niece.


And unlike the testimony on this thread.

"Coptic to Lutheran"
http://www.orthodoxchristianity.net/forum/index.php?topic=4579.0


The Coptic church isn't in any danger of having another defector to that denomination.


The service wasn't bad. The candel light Christmas ones were actually the few ones I liked growing up. But being gone, and going Orthodox, boy do you really notice things.


1) Like the way organ music blares, and drowns out singing. And the very faint singing you hear just doesn't have the gusto of an Orthodox parish, where singing is thee main form of music. We Copts use the hand cymbals and triangle. But we are just about accepelo.


2) A relaxed atmosphere to the point of being sedate. Actually "Sedentary" the related word comes to mind. I think we actually sat through the entire service! I don't remember rising for any of the readings or hymns.

And you really noticed the difference on Bible readings. No crossing yourself before you read. Or making some grand introductory flourish like "The Gospel according to St. John the Evangelist... May his blessings be with us all Amen!" It was just straight announcement of the book, chapter and verses, and then reading it. Nothing done to really hieghten the importance. No announcement of "Wisdom! Stand and Attend!".


I would also characterize the sermon as "Reader's Digest'y" (basically very folksy, lots of contemporary pop culture refernces)


I would say some positive things. To balance out the negative connotations. The people were exceedingly friendly to their guests. The preaching has also come along way. Some of the old time pastors were about as boring as sawdust. While the newer ones, do have more going on. But I think there can be a real lack of depth even in the best sermons and ministers. I also think among a large range of Evangelicals there is kind of an attitude "It's good to be Spiritually minded but you shouldn't break a sweat over it." Outside of some Charismatics and Pentecostals who feel the opposite of that. I think that previous statement is very true and the norm, and I believe it's a big hidden impediment to peoples developement in that area.