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There
is a conscious effort to involve all the senses in worship—there
is the pungent aroma of air fragrant with incense; shimmering
crosses and icons (pictures of the saints and of Christ); and sounds
of music, of the chanted liturgy, and of the tiny bells on the
incensor. There is the physical movement of worshippers crossing
themselves and reverently bowing before the Scriptures and altar and
a procession of the Gospels around the sanctuary with venerating the
cross by gently kissing it to complete the worship service. All of
these experiences transport the worshipper away from the profane to
the profound.
The
worship and community of Holy Resurrection Church are rooted in
historic Orthodox traditions. According to Bishop Bill Blythe, one
of the founding leaders of the congregation, Holy Resurrection seeks
to live out what has been believed and practiced "everywhere,
always and by all" Christians. The spiritual purpose of Holy
Resurrection is very clear. When asked about the role of the church
Lisa Woods stated firmly and succinctly, "The church is for
worship." She noted that entire families worship together on
Sunday mornings and at vesper services weekday afternoons at 5:30
p.m. There are no Sunday school classes or junior worship services
for young people. Several members noted that in some churches these
classes and activities often move far afield from the true worship
of God.
[Holy Resurrection Church located at 207 Pekin Street
in Lincoln]
Indeed,
it was striking to observe during services I attended on March 26
that the entire worship time was directed toward God and Christ. The
Divine Liturgy, which provides the framework for the service, is a
classic synthesis of prayer and praise interwoven with credal
statements reaffirming orthodox doctrines. Special praise and honor
are offered to the Virgin Mary and to the saints. Father Keith
Wilkerson, assisted by Father Dave Klug, chanted the liturgy with
responses by the congregation. It was clear that the heart of the
worship service was the celebration the Eucharist.
According
to longtime member Bob Woods, unlike many churches, the sermon or
homily is not the main focus of worship, it is the Eucharist.
Everything that is done and said points to the Eucharist, which
according to the liturgy, is an active reminder of what God has done
through the sacrifice of Christ and His resurrection. Holy
Resurrection Church observes member's Eucharist for those who are in
both spiritual and doctrinal agreement with the congregation. In
both worship and lifestyle, members of Holy Resurrection seek to
emulate and learn from such early church Fathers as John Chrysostom
and Saint Athanasius.
Bob
Wood explained the heroic saints of the faith are worthy of honor
and reflection because "they have run the good race," and
"I know they have fought the good fight, " for the Gospel.
Members take very literally the idea of Hebrews 12:1f. which states
that Christians are surrounded and supported by a "great cloud
of witnesses," by the heroic men and women who in ages past
have lived their faith, and in many cases, died for it. Member Darla
Franklin said she believes the saints are "alive but not
visible" and that they "care for the believers and will
pray for them."
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One
of the most distinctive practices of Holy Resurrection Church is the
veneration of the Scriptures, of icons and of the cross. Bishop
Blythe and others carefully noted that these physical objects are
not worshipped—they are venerated or honored within one’s
earthly experience. Only the Holy Trinity of God, His Son Jesus, and
His Holy Spirit are given adoration and worship. Regarding the
veneration of icons, Franklin explained that the pictures of the
saints or the Virgin Mary or Christ are not worshipped any more than
a parent would worship the picture of her child. "Is that
picture a real person? No!" she said. "Does that picture
remind you of one you love? Yes!" she stated. "Might you
gently kiss the picture that reminds you of one you love? Yes!"
This, she affirmed, is the response of Orthodox Christians to these
physical reminders of faith.
The
Holy Resurrection congregation originated as a prayer group begun in
1975, according to Bishop Blythe and Father Wilkerson, one of the
original members and one of the four priests in the church. Other
priests include Father Gil Gandenberger, Father Klug, and Father
Todd Brown. The present church is the outgrowth of that original
prayer group, which became a Bible study, then a fellowship and then
organized as a congregation. Most of the original members and
present leadership were students at Lincoln Christian College and
had personal and spiritual roots in the Restoration Movement.
According
to Bishop Blythe, the church is a very "organic," growing
body. Holy Resurrection has evolved and grown as the church has
undertaken its "spiritual trek." The signpost marking the
way for their spiritual pilgrimage is taken from I Thessalonians
4:11-12a, which says, "This should be your ambition: to live a
quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands,
just as we commanded you before. As a result people who are not
Christians will respect the way you live."
[Holy Resurrection Church leaders, Father Wilkerson,
Bishop Blythe, Father Brown and Father Klug]
Holy
Resurrection does not use loud, flashy programs or materials to
share the Gospel or to tell about their faith said Bishop Blythe.
Instead, they seek to win others to Christ through "quiet
lives" of holiness, hard work and helping others. Several
members noted the extraordinary care and concern shown by their
church family when someone was in need. As Franklin put it, these
are people committed "to the Lord, to the church, and to each
other."
Many
Christians, not familiar with the Orthodox faith tradition, may find
it foreign or somewhat dated but there has been substantial, growing
interest in Orthodoxy by mainstream Evangelicals. Some notable
evangelicals, including Francis Schaeffer's son Franky, have come to
embrace Orthodoxy. According to Harold O.J. Brown, professor of
theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, "The Orthodox
have a tremendous sense of the continuity of the people of
God," and "they have a deep respect for Scripture."
Several other notable evangelical scholars note the attraction of
the restorative reverence and mystery of Orthodoxy to Protestants
tired of the rootless fad and fashion of much modern teaching and
worship. To read more about this rediscovery of classic
Christianity, check several Web articles at http://www.christianityonline.com/
christianhistory/54H/54H044.html.
[John
Welter]
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