Let it Be

We’re answering questions folks have asked about our building program and our new temple, and, as we noted in our last post, one of the most frequent questions we’ve been asked has to do with multiple services—as in why, exactly, we don’t offer more than one Divine Liturgy on a Sunday morning.

Because there are now Orthodox parishes that actually do serve at least two Liturgies each Sunday morning. These folks have received permission from their bishops to use that approach, at least on a temporary basis, but, again, as we explained last time, that doesn’t mean it’s at all a good idea.

But what if a parish genuinely doesn’t have enough space in their current facility to accommodate everyone who wants to attend? What are those folks supposed to do?

Well, we are all out of space, and we’ve found ways to move forward.

That doesn’t mean that what works in our setting will work in every community, but the point is that there are lots of options to consider before we start cloning the Liturgy.

For example.

Lose the Pews.

We’ve written about this before, and, while some folks would never forego fixed seating because of historical or theological or spiritual considerations, they might be willing to do without those chairs or pews if they understood how much more space they might gain.

Because as any architect or event planner will tell you, a seated person is going to take up 7-10 feet of space; a person who is standing is only going to need 5-6 feet of space.

So, the next time you’re in that temple that is just full-to-the-brim, quietly calculate how much more space you would gain—and how many more people you would be able to accommodate—if you simply put the chairs or pews along the walls.

Another example.

Clear the Clutter.

When you’re calculating how much space you could save by doing away with the fixed seating, you should also ask yourself a few other questions.

• Do the icon stands have to be right in the middle of the nave?

• Can we move the candle trays closer to the door—or put them in the narthex?

• Does that shrine have to be in that particular spot?

• Would it be possible to relocate the banners or the chanter’s stand to free up some space along the wall?

Making changes—or even shifting things around a bit—in sacred space is a delicate undertaking. However, if priests and parish councils and parishioners would only take a good, long look at how things are arranged in their temples, they would be amazed how much room they would be able to free up.

And, last, but, certainly, not least.

Space it Out.

Most of the ‘overcrowding’ that Orthodox parishes experience arises from the fact that everyone in the community wants to be present during a particular time slot on Sunday morning.

And that’s important because, as we stressed in our last post, one of the basic ways we proclaim our unity is by standing with our brothers and sisters before the same altar each and every week. The problem is that, in most parishes, on an average Sunday, the time slot for doing that is about three hours—and, often, it’s a whole lot less.

That’s because most communities only do an abbreviated version of the service that comes before the Divine Liturgy—The Service of Orthros. But here at St John’s, we allow two hours for Orthros. That means, on a typical Sunday morning, we’re in the Divine Services for close to five hours.

And the attendance during those five hours varies a great deal. During the Divine Liturgy itself, folks are often packed right up against the iconostasis. But, during Orthros, a lot of times, it’s just the clergy and the chanters and four or five other folks.

But what that means is that everyone has a setting that works for them: if people enjoy being part of a crowd, then, boy howdy, we’ve got that covered.

However, if folks prefer a quieter, more spacious setting, we can provide that, as well.

The fact that we also offer Daily Services and Divine Liturgies when a feast falls during the week provides even more options, but here’s the point to remember: those options occur naturally because we have a full liturgical calendar, not because we are trying to appeal to different target populations or interest groups.

In fact, when it comes to overcrowding (and most other problems) if we’ll just be the Church, everything will take care of itself.

Or, to put it another way, our Mom will make sure we have everything we need.

Or, to put it still another way, Mother Mary, the Very Icon of the Church, will always show us the way forward.

Yes, that lovely image is by our own Baker Galloway. And, of course, we’re also right in the middle of The Dormition Fast, when we dedicate the first fifteen days of August to the Most Holy Theotokos.

Which is why we are going to, still once again, go Back to The Beatles at the end of this post.

Before we get there, though, please know that you’re welcome to join us at the Divine Services. If that’s not geographically possible, join us in prayer for our new temple.

In addition to your prayers, you can support us by taking out a paid subscription or picking up some Come See Something Beautiful clothing or commissioning an image of a beloved pet for the Calming Room of our new temple or making a direct donation to our Building Fund.

And, sure, Sir Paul has always insisted that he’s singing about his mum, but that just means we can sing about our Mum, too...