Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

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You are here: Home / Archives for Community

Monday Meditation: RCL Year A, Lent 5, John 11:1-45

March 26, 2020 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

John 11:1-45

We’re all cooped up in our homes, loving our neighbors by keeping six feet away and not gathering with anybody we don’t live with. But whether our churches are streaming their services (in otherwise empty sanctuaries) or whether our congregations are simply not meeting for the next while, we need to draw near to God, […]

Filed Under: Bible, Church Year, Community Tagged With: John 11:1-45, Lent 5, Raising of Lazarus, RCL Year A

After the Tree of Life Synagogue Massacre

October 29, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 11 Comments

Tree of Life

Monday Morning I’m at the Starbucks at the corner of Forbes and Shady. I walked here from my home in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. On the way I passed two very grand synagogues. If I’d walked a few blocks further I’d be at the Tree of Life. I wore black. During services Saturday a man […]

Filed Under: Community Tagged With: Anti-Semitism, Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, Hate Crime, Mr Rogers, Squirrel Hill, Tree of Life

First Visit to an Orthodox Church (conclusion): Religionless Christianity vs Religionfull Christianity

July 3, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 8 Comments

Today I’m wrapping up my series on “How to Have a Good First Visit to an Orthodox Church.” Six posts, not counting this one. (Click here to start at the beginning.) If you are a Protestant that probably sounds a bit like overkill. You know newbies don’t need much help when they visit your church. […]

Filed Under: Community, Faith, Worship Tagged With: Bonhoeffer, Orthodoxy, religionless Christianity

First Visit to an Orthodox Church (pt. 6): Hearing vs Multi-Sensory

June 6, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

hearing vs multi-sensory

In this series I have pointed out a bunch of key differences between worship in the Protestant West and in the Orthodox East — architecture, candles, icons, processions and so on. I fear, though, that even with all these things in mind, many Protestants will have a hard time on a first visit to an […]

Filed Under: Community, Worship Tagged With: First visit to an Orthodox Church, hearing vs multi-sensory

First Visit to an Orthodox Church (pt. 5): Drama vs Narrative

May 25, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

If you read last week’s post in this series, you know my musical metaphor: Orthodox worship is to jazz as Western worship is to a singer-songwriter concert. There are several individuals and groups which, like instruments or sections, pick up important themes in turn, transforming each theme and adding to it. On your first visit […]

Filed Under: Community, Worship Tagged With: drama vs narrative, Great Entrance, incense, Little Entrance

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Theology. It’s good for you.

I'm a Church historian by trade. My writing, speaking, and teaching explores the Christian past to equip today's disciples. Join me here for regular posts on the best of theology, spirituality, community, and ministry. read more…

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