A 'how-to' leaflet on behaviour in Church services

[Ephrem Baker]

Hi All,

Glad to make people's acquaintance.

Basically I'm on the outlook for some templates for putting together a leaflet to give to newcomers at church explaining the basics of behaviour in church services covering such points as when to stand, brief information on communing etc

When I was at Oxford about 8 years ago I remember there used to be such a leaflet. Any possibility of someone sending me a copy of the text, or a copy of a similar leaflet from any other parishes, or perhaps pointing me in the direction of some online sources?

It will be much appreciated!
In XC,
Yew Han

[Michael Stickles]

On Frederica Mathewes-Green's website, there is an article called "12 Things I Wish I'd Known (http://www.frederica.com/12-things/)... First Visit to an Orthodox Church", and it looks nearly identical to a similarly-titled brochure I picked up at my first visit to the Orthodox parish we now attend. It might actually be the basis for the brochure I saw, since the article notes that Conciliar Press (http://www.conciliarpress.com/catalog/Brochures-46-1.html) offers an editied version of her article in brochure form.

I've seen a couple of other guides online: Visiting an Orthodox Church (http://www.exarchate-uk.org/Visiting_Orthodox_Church/Visiting.html), and What to Expect at Services (http://www.athanasiusoca.org/comeandsee/).

Hope those help!

In Christ,
Mike

[Ephrem Baker]

Many thanks! The 'Visiting An Orthodox Church' is the leaflet I remember from Oxford, but the others are really useful too. We're going to do one specific to our parish so I'll try to take the best elements from all of them.

In XC,
Yew Han

[Michael Astley]

I have recently been thinking about seeking a blessing to do something similar at my own parish, Yew Han. People have given positive feedback about the pages on our website here (http://www.newmartyr.org.uk/visit.html) and here (http://www.newmartyr.org.uk/liturgy.html) (after the quotation from St Justin Martyr's Apology), but, as you say, a leaflet will need to have the basics so I'll have to condense what's on those pages and just include the essentials. Being the verbose sort of person that I am, at least in writing, it will be difficult. I am certainly no editor in that respect. Perhaps you could send me yours when you've finished so that I can get some idea of how to go about whittling it down.

Pax,
Michael

[Ephrem Baker]

Hey Michael,

A lot of that info looks good - I'm gonna have a read and digest a few different sources and hopefully come out with something!

Oh and thanks for singing again on Sunday! Always nice to have 4-part vocals!

In XC,
YH