Had the pleasure of meeting Rev Gene Robinson before the pandemic. For maybe a year and a couple meetings during that time, I served on the board of a Peace Fellowship and Gene was our chaplain. I had not known him before that. Unless he had me fooled, I found him to be a very spiritual and relatable human being.
That being said, one of his quotes I found online is: "I think people often come to the synagogue, mosque, the church looking for God, and what we give them is religion."
The Episcopal Church's services are quite prescribed. So much so that we are given a "script" to follow along with and participate with. For instance, the priest will say "The Lord be with you" and the folks in the pews respond. You know what it is.
What if someone instead said "Thanks, buddy" or "Right back at ya".
Lately, I have been often noticing that we are all reading and responding from the script. We are not looking at the priest. We are not looking at or engaging with each other. We are reading the script.
Even when the Bible verses are being read, most are reading along in the printed out version we are handed (which includes the psalm of the day and a collect). A few of us are simply looking at the reader.
It is as if one goes to a play to see, let's say, Superstar, and instead of enjoying the actors the audience is sitting reading the script while sometimes participating by reading out loud.
Over the years I have learned that many love the service. So please understand, I am not intending here to besmirch the service. Forgive me if I offended. I am not suggesting changing the service. I have no idea of what it would be changed to.
And of course we do interact when we exchange the "peace".
But I am wondering out loud if Bishop Robinson was right.
Folks come "seeking God and what we give them is religion".
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