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ZorbaTHut  2yr ago (text post)   5437 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for September 11, 2022

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Is there a Christian denomination that straddles the line between the structured and sacred (for lack of a better term - I’m talking chanting and incense) liturgies seen in Catholicism and Orthodoxy and the “fun,” hip, lively, rock concert-esque services seen in the “young” evangelical churches? I find that there’s a lot of extremes, and I wonder if there is a middle ground.

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Below, someone mentioned American Episcopalians, but I'd add there are Methodists and American Anglican (split from American Episcopal to be more conservative mostly within the past 20 years). A larger American Anglican church or Methodist or Episcopal might have a more formal morning service and casual evening service that hits the middle you're looking for. If you find a particularly liberal Methodist or Episcopal church, liturgy usage might decline though.

Not exactly "hip" or "rock concert-esque", but when I was believer I liked going to Latin Catholic mass. The advantage was that instead of old grannies singing hymns in their broken voices they employed local choir with organ, so the musical parts were more tasteful in my eyes. Latin rites also captured the original feeling, and it is not as if I did not know all of them by the rote anyway. The readings and preaching was in local language for convenience. Overall I think this was the best balance for me, but I like choirs so there is that. But it was definitely more solemn and not lively.

Innovation begets innovation.

If you want solid liturgy, the order of the service and the saying of creeds, and can leave the incense and rock concerts, the Reformed denominations generally have very solid services if minimalist and you'll find enough engineers at an OPC to feel at home.

If you can solidify your differences between liturgy and what traditions you seek, we might be able to get closer (and probably point you to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.)

Thanks for the replies and feedback everyone!

It’s extremely tough, as I’ve found that in Protestantism, the more traditional the musical worship is, the more, uh, progressive and creative the theology gets.

If you can part with musical instruments, the Church of Christ denomination (not the United Church of Christ) sings hymns in parts, voices only. They’re strict on this. It’s still pretty “low church,” but taking away the drumset goes very far in mellowing the worship vibe.

I used to go to an evangelical church, and I dreaded going because the lyrics to the songs were empty and repetitive, and the rock band would drown out the congregation’s voices. I’d stand with my hands in my pockets kind of just doing my best to not be annoyed.

I’ve since found a Southern Baptist church that has a very traditional service (with singing from real hymnals!), and I don’t know how I could ever find another church home if we move away.

In the US, the Episcopalian (Anglican) Church does a good job of this. It probably depends on the particular church though.

I think you are going to have a hard time finding this. I have a fairly high amount of experience with different denominations in my country, mostly Protestant, but also a bit of Catholic and even a little bit of Orthodox and I've never really seen both elements in the same service. Typically people who like chanting and incense abhor rock concert-esque church services, and the people who enjoy rock concert-esque services think traditional liturgical elements make the church weird and boring and that it will scare away the youth.

I have encountered churches that have these two types of services, but as separate services. For example, I know about an Anglican church that has fairly traditional liturgies in the morning (they have a priest with some Anglo-Catholic leanings), and a 'youth service' in the evening which has more of a rock concert-esque vibe going on. But I've never seen both things happen in the same service.

Some of the Lutheran churches might fit the bill, but they range all over the spectrum, so you may have to try a few different ones.

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