Respect and Reverence in Church

Respect and Reverence in Church: 

Respect and Reverence in Church Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Entering the Church: 

Entering the Church The time to arrive at church is before the service starts , but for some unknown reason, it has become the custom -- or rather the bad habit -- for some to come to church late? If you arrive after the Divine Liturgy begins, try to enter the church quietly -- and observe what is happening. Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Entering the Church: 

Entering the Church If the Epistles or Gospel is being read or the Procession of the incense is taking place, wait until it is finished to quietly & quickly find a seat. If the priest is giving the sermon, stay in the back until he has concluded. Try not to interrupt the Liturgy with your entrance. Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Entering the Church: 

Entering the Church By the way, the best way to avoid this problem is to arrive on time -- then you don't have to wonder if it's okay to come in or not. People who come late to the Liturgy should not partake of the Eucharist! Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Standing vs. Sitting: 

Standing vs. Sitting The traditional posture for prayer and worship in the Orthodox Church has been to stand . In the Orthodox "old countries," there are usually no pews in the churches. Chairs on the side walls are usually reserved for the elderly and infirm. Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Standing vs. Sitting: 

Standing vs. Sitting When should you definitely stand? Always during the Processions of the incense, the Readings, the Gospel, the Anaphora, the distribution of the Holy Communion, whenever the priest gives a blessing, and the Dismissal. When in doubt, stand. It is NEVER wrong to stand in church. Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Crossing Legs: 

Crossing Legs In some Orthodox cultures, crossing one's legs is taboo and considered to be very disrespectful. In our North American culture, while there are no real taboos concerning crossing one's legs [outside of church], we tend to cross our legs to get comfortable while sitting. Should we cross our legs in church? Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Crossing Legs: 

Crossing Legs No. Not because it is "wrong" to ever cross legs, but rather because it is too casual -- and too relaxed -- for being in church. Just think about it, when you get settled in your favorite chair at home, you lean back, cross your legs, and then your mind can wander anywhere it wants to. Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Crossing Legs: 

Crossing Legs Remember that sitting in church is a concession, not the normative way of prayer. You surely don't want to get too relaxed and let your mind wander off too much. In fact, when you do sit in church, you should sit attentively -- and not too comfortably. Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Crossing Legs: 

Crossing Legs When sitting in church, keep those feet on the floor, ready to stand at attention (which is what "Let us attend" means). Cross yourself with your fingers and hand -- but don't cross your legs! Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Talking During Church: 

Talking During Church Isn't it great to come to church and see friends and family members? But wait until coffee hour to say "Hi" to them. It just isn't appropriate to greet people and have a conversation with them during the services. Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Talking During Church: 

Talking During Church Besides being disrespectful towards God, it is rude towards the other people in the church who are trying to worship. Talk to God while in church through your prayers, hymns, and thanksgiving, and to your friends in the hall afterwards. Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Snacks for Children: 

Snacks for Children You can always tell where young children have been sitting in the church. The telltale signs are graham cracker crumbs, Cheerios….. Parents often bring snacks and a cup of fruit juice along for children during church. [If the children must eat during the service for some reason, please take them outside and return when they are through.] Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Snacks for Children: 

Snacks for Children By the time children are 3-4 years old, they should be able to make it through Liturgy without eating anything , and by the time they reach seven (the age of their first confession), they should begin fasting on Sunday morning for Communion. Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Snacks for Children: 

Snacks for Children For those children who get snacks, please don't feed them in church, and certainly not while in the line for Holy Communion (this applies to blessed bread as well). They need to come to Communion without food in their mouths. Chewing gum during Liturgy or after communion is a No-No for everyone! Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Leaving Before Dismissal: 

Leaving Before Dismissal Leaving church before the Dismissal -- besides being rude -- deprives us of a blessing. Worship has a beginning and an end (“Go in peace..."). To leave immediately after Communion is to treat church like a fast food restaurant where we come and go as we please. Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Leaving Before Dismissal: 

Leaving Before Dismissal We live in a fast-paced world where we seem to be hurrying from place to place. But in God's presence, we need to make every attempt to fight this pressure to move on to the next thing on the day's agenda. We deprive ourselves of blessings by not being still and participating in God's holiness. Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Leaving Before Dismissal: 

Leaving Before Dismissal Eat and run at McDonald's -- but stay in church and thank God for his precious gifts! Don’t miss the Final Blessing “the love of God the Father, the Grace …. Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Handling the Blessed Bread: 

Handling the Blessed Bread At the end of the liturgy it is traditional to take a piece of the blessed bread or “ Lokmat el Barakah ” ! While “ Lokmat el Barakah ” is not Holy Communion, it is blessed bread and as such, should be eaten carefully so that crumbs don't fall all over the place. Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

Handling the Blessed Bread: 

Handling the Blessed Bread When you take a peace from the Priest eat the bread trying not to drop crumbs. If you want to give a piece to someone else, go ahead and take an extra piece -- don't break it yours in half (it produces too many crumbs). Monitor your children while they eat it and teach them to eat it respectfully. Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.

A Final Thought: 

A Final Thought North American society is rather casual in its approach to life. Don't allow this prevailing attitude to enter into your Orthodox Christian piety. Always Remember that you are in church to worship God, the Holy Trinity. We should draw near "With Fear, Faith & Love”! Archangel Raphael & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church, Palmdale, CA.