Gary Neal Hansen

Theology. It's good for you.

  • About
    • Speaking
    • Contact
    • Home
  • Books
    • Love Your Bible
    • Christmas Play
    • Kneeling with Giants
    • Review Crew
  • Library
    • Join
    • Login
  • Blog
  • Lenten Prayer Class log in
    • Lenten Prayer Class Info
    • Class Info: Your First Sermon
      • Your 1st Sermon — Course Login
    • Advent Lectio Divina Class Info!
      • Lectio Divina Class Log In
    • “Pray Like a Reformer” Class Info
      • Pray Like a Reformer Login
  • Christmas Play
  • Love Your Bible
  • Kneeling with Giants
You are here: Home / Archives for Community

First Visit to an Orthodox Church (pt. 4): Jazz vs Ballads

May 11, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 3 Comments

jazz vs ballads

I asked one Orthodox priest what he thought the typical newcomer would experience when visiting the Liturgy. His response: Chaos! He was joking. His congregation has a lot of free-range children. But I think he was right. Once the service begins in that icon-filled space, your typical Protestant is hard pressed to make much sense […]

Filed Under: Community, Music, Worship Tagged With: First visit to an Orthodox Church, Jazz vs Ballads, Time vs Eternity

First Visit to an Orthodox Church (pt. 3): Eyes vs Ears

May 5, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 2 Comments

eyes vs ears

Step into the Nave Then you walk into the main worship space. Look around. You will see icons. Lots and lots of icons. You will have come into the “nave,” the place where the congregation gathers, through a door on the West wall. Ahead of you, toward the East you will see a wall, or […]

Filed Under: Community, Worship Tagged With: Eyes vs Ears, Iconograph, Icons

First Visit to an Orthodox Church (pt. 2): Passageway vs Preparation

April 24, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 4 Comments

Passageway vs Preparation

Last week I started writing about how to have a really excellent first visit to an Orthodox church. I think you need to be aware of several differences — just six or so — between the Christian East and the Christian West. The first one is outside, when you look up and see a dome […]

Filed Under: Community, Worship Tagged With: First visit to an Orthodox Church, Narthex, Sign of the Cross

First Visit to an Orthodox Church: Domes vs. Steeples

April 17, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen Leave a Comment

If you’re a regular here on my blog you’ve seen me writing on a variety of topics relating to Orthodox Christianity. I don’t mean “little ‘o’ orthodox” — like any Christianity with good theology. We’re talking “big ‘O’ Orthodox” — Eastern Christianity, the part that was divided from the West back in 1054 and is […]

Filed Under: Community, Theology, Worship Tagged With: Domes vs. Spires, Orthodoxy, Visiting an Orthodox church

Forgiveness Vespers

March 8, 2018 by Gary Neal Hansen 9 Comments

forgiveness vespers

A couple weeks ago I attended a gathering for the night before Lent began. No, this was not a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper. Nor was it a Mardi Gras carnival. This was a Sunday evening worship service. It was an Orthodox church — and for the East Lent does not begin on a Wednesday. Orthodox […]

Filed Under: Church Year, Community, Worship Tagged With: Ceremony of mutual forgiveness, Forgiveness Sunday, Forgiveness Vespers, Lent, Rite of Forgiveness

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 9
  • Next Page »

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…

Recent Posts

  • A Children’s Sermon on Luke 1:26-38 — The Annunciation
  • I’m in a play! “The Memorandum” by Vaclav Havel
  • A Children’s Sermon on Matthew 5:38-48
  • A Children’s Sermon on Matthew 2:13-23 — 1st Sunday in Christmas Season
  • A Children’s Sermon on Matthew 11:2-11 — Advent 3

Search the site

Need a new and manageable way to dig into Scripture?

Find out how it can be a joy again--or maybe for the first time. Love Your Bible: Finding Your Way to the Presence of God with a 12th Century Monk is a modern introduction to an ancient, prayerful, Christian practice called lectio divina. Click the button to subscribe to my weekly(ish) newsletter with all my new articles and announcements. As my way of thanking you, I'll send you the ebook version for free.

Get my book!

Archives

Let’s connect on social media…

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Search the site

  • Community for Mission
  • Letters to a Young Pastor
  • Christianity as a Second Language
  • Role Models for Discipleship

© 2023 garynealhansen.com · Rainmaker Platform