Stations of the Cross......

[randycmaynard]

Guys, I got busy with other things this week and forgot about this. I know many here attend churches that are more traditional/liturgical (which I prefer myself btw) and over at the website - Internetmonk.com is a wonderful weeks worth of meditations along with appropriate music going through the Stations of the Cross. I know we're in Holy Saturday, the eve of Easter, but if you have a chance take a look or review this past week on the Stations I think you will find it very enjoyable.

Also, the guy who owns/runs the site - Michael Spencer - is in the later stages of a terminal cancer..... he and his family live in se Kentucky were he taught at a christian boarding high school. Phenominal guy, bible teacher etc and there is nearly 10 years of archives of his blog writing and teaching that I think many here would really enjoy. Michael Spencer and his teaching at I-Monk is one of the reasons that I became better aquainted with the liturgical church year along with stretching my boundries of belief, pre-conceived ideas and undoing some not-so-good ingrained stuff from my SBC church background. No slap at the SBC intended, I are one, but there are/were some things we were/still are just wrong about and I appreciate Michael Spencer and his writing/teaching on it - it came at a time in my spiritual life when I really needed some things to change. Besides, when a person comes to Christ it's him your coming to and finding salvation not a denomination..... so there was some ingrained stuff that needed to be delt with and I-Monk was a big help.

A good friend of Michael Spencer, Chaplin Mike, is blogging/posting durning this transition time and this guy is equally good on teaching etc. So, if you have a chance, check it out - Internetmonk.com.

http://www.internetmonk.com

 

[xraytech]

Thanks for posting this, that is a pretty nice website.

With my belinging to a more traditional Catholic Parish we have Stations of the Cross every Friday evening through lent, and Stations are in the early afternoon on Good Friday, this is one of my favorite parts of lent.

here is a pic of the altar prepared for the easter vigil mass

 

[randycmaynard]

Thanks for the photo of the altar Sam.......

Easter is one of my favortie times in the church year. Yes, I thought the meditations for the Stations of the Cross at I-Monk were really neat and he covered a wide range in the music selections as well with the meditations. Everything from Bach to some of really good present day contemporary.

Thanks again for the photo hope it was/is a wonderful service as you celebrate Mass on this most special of all days!

 

[rp2813]

In Catholic school it was every Friday afternoon during Lent that the entire student body was marched over to the church (arm's distance between us as we filed in, of course) for the stations. Little grey pocket-sized books with hymns and prayers were distributed. I recall the lyrics in one referring to the virgin Mary with ". . . She beneath beheld the pangs . . ." which we'd make fun of outside of church--nobody we knew ever had any "pangs". I presume the term was used to rhyme with "hangs" but I'll wager not a single one of us ever memorized any of the hymns. They came around during Lent and we were forced to sing them and then they'd go back into cold storage for another year. As 8th graders, we had to write a little passage about whatever station was selected for us, and read it aloud with a microphone during the observance.

Then there would inevitably be at least one student, usually a female, who would be overcome by the smoke from the incense used during the benediction. Talk about your witch doctor mumbo jumbo!

I can safely say that the last time I went through the stations was Lent 42 years ago, when I was in the 8th grade. I can't tell you which station I had to read about. I'm doing really well with blocking as much of that "religious experience" as I can, continuing to run as fast as I can from the corruption and hypocrisy that permeates all forms of organized religion on the planet.

 

[toggleswitch]

I had a deju-vu Good Friday evening as I was on my way to the Voo-doo centre(church).

Neighbor (40-ish woman) commented my suit and tie. I said I was going to church. She said "Which one?" And then she rattled off the names of a few nearby Roman Catholic churches.

Uh no, there ARE other religions on the planet. Uhm I'm Greek Orthodox Christian. "OH" she said -disapointed. "Do you believe in Jesus Mary and Joseph?"

OMG HERE WE GO AGAIN. My mothers neighbors' girls (Italian off-the-boat Roman Catholics) asked me this when we were all teenagers. But the again they moved one county NORTH [Brooklyn to Queens; within the same city] and asked "Does it snow here" so I dismissed it as ignorance. (Get out much? UGH!!!! I see those Catholic school educations are worth the money, really, I do! LOL).

Yes, dear. It's the same religion with a poltical split called the Great Schism. You belong to the Western church while I belong to the Eastern church. (Of course each believes itself to be the true Church with the other having broken away).

Fascinaiting to me.

1-Roman Catholics believe theirs is only ONE catholic (complete /universal) church; the Roman one. What about the Anglican one and the Polish one? The Orhtodox* churches are also catholic in the sense of complete/unaltered.

2- No matter how much some Roman Catholics may loathe their religion (for the poltitcs and corruption and sex scandals, etc) they won't choose another the still believe it is THE CHURCH.

The Roman Catholic have under their wing a little branch called Byzantine Cathilics. This is the Eastern church with Eastern rites and Eastern liturgies ("masses"), only they pledge allegiance to the Pope.

My question is what are all the Roman Catholics going to do when the politacal orgainization...er Churhc implodes due to countless lawsuits over sexual molestations?

This is in no /any way intended to disrespect or speak poorly of that church. Nor is it intended to be inflamatory. If it is PLEASE IGNORE this post and shoot me an email telling me off.


I have taken Communion in many Roman Catholic churches. THAT dears is RESPECT and REVERENCE. As a matter fo fact the priest noticed I crossed myself "the other way" (right then left instead of left then right). My auntie-in-law (spouse' s aunt) comforted me after the priest announced oved the P.A. system that Communion (there) was only for Roman Catholics.
She said a few words in church against him that I didn't know she knew!

Anyhow. If one dosesn't like (aspects of) their religion they can change it. It's that simple.

*Orthodox means "correct worship /belief" or an a more shallow level to "worship standing" (See, me on my knees is OPTIONAL! )

PEACE ALL.

Eastern Catholic Churches - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[xraytech]

Randy,
Thanks for the compliments.
And yes I went to Easter Vigil mass last night, it was beautiful, but it was sad that only 29 people attended.
I went to mass again this morning and the church was packed.

I hope your Easter was equally wonderful.

 

[randycmaynard]

It was wonderful.........

here as well - the weather was great, the service was great just like it should be for Easter and every Sunday for that matter! I especially love the big pipe organ music for the hymns and the solo organ pieces as well. I rep for a pipe organ company part time in my area (Reuter - Lawrence,KS) and on Easter I can imagine all those organs and others letting loose on the big celebratory hymns and anthems..... such beauty.

One of our bigger installations is near you in Pittsburg - Shadyside Presbyterian Church - big 4 manual 100+ ranks and that thing can move heaven and earth!

Such a great day this is! He is Risen..... He is Risen Indeed!

 

[westyslantfront]

Hi Randy. I go to Christ The King Episcopal Church here in Tucson, AZ. The parish is located in the middle of 10 acres so we have the stations of the cross outside and I lead the annual hike on Good Friday. I have influenced my priest to go for more "high church" or more "catholic like". I bought and donated the incense burner (thurible) and had it engraved in memory of my parents. When incense is used, I swing it around.
Each part of the liturgy has a significance. Many people wish to learn and incorporated it in their worship.
Hi Steve, yes, having grown up in a predominately Roman Catholic area of Bayside, NY, I have frequently come across people who think that the Roman church is the only "true" church. We all come to the same destination, just that we take separate roots. What works for one person, may not necessarily work for the next person.

 

[westyslantfront]

And here is a picture of my priest, Fr. Mike just before mass wearing the biretta (hat) that I also bought and donated in memory of my parents. That was the only way I could get him to agree to wear it. In the Episcopal Church we have open and universal communion to all who are baptized and if not, anyone is welcome to come to the altar rail for a blessing. I have received communion in Roman Catholic, Lutheran, and Baptist churchs. Again, we are all travelling to the same place, just by different routes.

Ross

 

[westyslantfront]

And lastly, I am also on the Altar Guild. I do all the washing and ironing...communion linens, vestments, etc. I keep my priest looking good, thanks to the miracle of Mexican detergent (Viva), extra phosphates, hot water, Mexican bleach (Chloralex), bluing, and Mexican fabric softener (Ensueno).

 

[neptunebob]

Toggleswitch, about your questions, I can try to answer...

1. While there are some different Catholic religions, the largest seems to be Roman Catholic. Roman Catholic also had all those Catholic schools where they "brainwashed' the kids to think Roman Catholic was the only kind. My father was "brainwashed Catholic" and he knew of no other way to think because he knew all the priests, went to Catholic elementary schools, Catholic university, get the idea?

2. Some of us Catholics when we try to join other churches are NOT welcome once the minister finds out you were Catholic. Even if you don't directly tell it can "seep out". After feeling so unwelcome, it is understandable to "come home". Also, some Protestant people I know have joined a Catholic church after their church started doing thinks like "speaking in tongues" and they did not feel comfortable with that. As for all the scandals, I don't want to give money to the Church anymore, let the more faithful pay for all the lawyers, etc. They never got much from me anyway.

Religion seems to be more important if you have a family. Oh, and the Catholic church still likes you to have a family. There really is not much reason for a single person to be with a church.

No way I could ever be a priest:
1. I am gay and even if I don't tell they would figure it out.
2. I don't know all about religion the subject always bored me and I could not understand it.
3. When you train to be a priest they do a lot of psychological tests on you including the Rorschach ink blot test and ask a lot of personal questions. I think that's an invasion of privacy for me.

Ross, you look nice in all your vestments!

Randy, I know where Shadyside Presbyterian is I will have to take a look inside some time.

 

[westyslantfront]

Hi Bob. Everyone is welcome at my church. The majority of Episcopalians are not "cradle Episcopalians". We certainly have a number of defectors from the Roman Catholic church. We just got a Roman priest who wanted to get married so he is spending a year in my parish to learn about us and then the Bishop will receive him as an Episcopal priest. I know that in my parish are also ex Baptists, Methodists, etc.
We have women priests, bishops, and the head of the entire American Episcopal Church is Bishop Kathryn Jefferts Schori.
We also have plenty of openly gay clergy, most notably, Bishop Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.

Ross

 

[xraytech]

Randy,

I could just imagine how grand it must be to listen to your easter hymns played on a big pipe organ, unfortunately we dont have that here at St. Michaels. we do have a very nice 2 manual Rodgers with midi, when played at full organ lik etoday, it vibrates the whole church, with 6 of the largest Rodgers speakers available, plus 2, maybe 3 antiphonal speakers. This is a church with a capacity of 250. I do wish that we would interface the console with a few ranks of pipes, the console is only 12 yrs old and is capable of being interfaced.

Also, on the communion thing, it is to my understanding that at a Roman Catholic church the priest is not allowed to refuse anyone communion, weather they are roman catholic or not.

I will need to try to go hear the Reuter organ in Shadyside sometime.

here is a pic of our organ

 

[randycmaynard]

Sam - I'm well versed in Rodgers organs........

I played an earl 90s 735 w/drawknobs at my last church and I added an Allen Ensemble tone module via MIDI which gave me a great variety of solo stops and the 32' pedal reed which really put the bottom on the full organ. I had Dan Miller from Rodgers come out and revoice the organ and do a couple of concerts for us back in 2003 and 2004. Unfortunately the church decided they wanted all contemporary music or at least was working on getting there and I did not care for it and you can't do much with the organ on a good bit of that so I decided to leave the position plus my wife was not happy there either for a variety of reasons.

Prior to this last church I was assistant organist for 13 years at a church that had a 4 manual Schantz pipe organ and that I really miss playing. That church has gone over the top contemporary and the Schantz organ has not been heard in a service since 2004 and I was the last person to ever play it in the building before they expanded the auditorium - the Schantz console is sitting in the corner of a large public welcome area and the organ is currently for sale. As you might guess both these churches were baptist - southern baptist to be more specific. Our music heritage has been totally destroyed by this contempo music mess these young music guys have brought in a lot of the congregations.

Most recently I've filled in at the organ for an older downtown baptist church (South Knoxville Bapt) a much, much more traditional church in terms of worship and a nice 3 manual Schantz pipe organ - it was much fun to be back in a place that still appreciates the organ and its place/use in the service. Included a photo of the front area of the sanctuary with the organ. Thanks for the photos and info!

 

[randycmaynard]

Here's a wide shot photo......

From South Knoxville Baptist Church - Knoxville,TN

 

[randycmaynard]

Another photo........

Schantz organ console - South Knoxville Baptist Church - Knoxville, TN

 

[randycmaynard]

One last organ photo - from home......

Here's my Allen theatre organ in the living room at home. I like theatre organ music too and I can practice church/classic on it as well so the best of both worlds for practice at home!

 

[westyslantfront]

Hi Randy. Those are beautiful pictures of church organs. Yesterday was the last day for the organ in my church. I do not know much about organs, but it is an "Allen" and has been sold as we have purchased an Aeolin Skinner. Installation starts today and it should be up and running by June.

Ross

 

[randycmaynard]

Ross....

Congrats to the church on the A.E. Skinner organ.... hope the company that has restored it has done a good job! In the day A.E. Skinner was the Cadillac of pipe organs in the US - they were built in Boston, MA. What a difference, in a very good way, it will bring to the music at your church. Get some photos of the install over the next few months - it will be very exciting to watch and hear!