#religiousservice

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Sunday ❤🇮🇹 #worshipservice #foreverproud #religiousservice #kiaslocale

[averygoodday]

Religious Service (evensong: Wesminster Abby Mass: San Miniato al monte

For our religious service project we were asked to attend a service of a different faith and to relate the similarities and differences to our own church services in the Mormon Faith. I first attended Evensong at Westminster Abby in London and it was such an incredible experience. It was all very orderly. We were shown to our seats and given a card describing how the service would proceed. We were seated in the north area of the Abby and unable to see any of the choir as they filed in and took their seats but were able to see on a TV screen. They started singing and the feeling I had was something I can't quite describe. Even though it was not of my faith it was still a spiritual experience and you can still appreciate how they worship and sing praises to their God.

  The service consisted largely of singing. The choir would sing and the congregation would join in on certain songs as well. And in between songs we would all stand as the Father would walk out to the alter and read from the scriptures. This happened a few times. There were also certain songs that would stand for as they were sung, and at towards the end of the service there were certain chants or prayers that the congregation and choir said as a whole.

  The Abby has amazing acoustics that make it feel like every time the choir sings the music is being wrapped all around you, penetrating your heart, and vibrating your soul. I couldn't always understand the words they were singing but the melodious sounds filled me with amazement and awe as I looked up at the South rose window in front of me. I few times I closed my eyes and just listened to how beautiful the music was and let it wash over me. It was the most incredible experience that I will never forget.

  In relation to the Mormon Religion I would think the evensong service most closely relates to a musical fireside. There is usually a choir of people from the ward or stake that have prepared specific numbers. and the congregation sometimes joins in on the last verse of a hymn that might be sung.

  Also in our fireside there is usually a few speakers previously picked by the bishopric and asked to give talks on different topics. Or in a special musical fireside there might be people from the choir that read a few scriptures or say a few thoughts.  This is quite different from how the evensong was as it was only the fathers who read straight from the scripture. This is something I have always loved about our faith, that members of our congregation give the "sermons" I think it allows for each member to learn and it allows for the spirit to speak through a humble servant who may not feel like they are qualified or righteous enough to be preaching to the rest of the congregation. We do have a Bishop or Stake President but the leaders are rarely the only ones who speak. And I also think this shows a sense of community that we are all equals and all learning together rather than one rather than one Bishop or Priest always preaching to you as a dictator almost, judging you for your wrongdoings.

Another aspect of the service that was very different was attire of the people in the congregation. At almost any church meeting in the Mormon religion we wear our "Sunday best" but many people were very casually dressed at the evensong and I suppose part of it is due to the amount of tourist that join the service. I also found a correlation to the Mormon religion when the congregation stood up as the Bishop walked in. Although we don't do this for our Bishops in regular Sunday service I have been at the conference center when the prophet enters and stood with every person there as a sign of respect. So I could understand why they would do that during the service.

There were just a few things that I wanted to add about the mass I went to at San Miniato.  It was strange to me to be going to church on a day other than Sunday and in the evening as well.  In the catholic religion it's not  organized where and when people go to church unlike our church where you are welcomed into a specific ward with the same people who go to church with you every week. Once again it builds a community and I have a better appreciating for our church organization and the way that we care about and take responsibility for every person in the ward making sure they are cared for.

Another thing that was very unique to me in the mass was the part of the service where you turn to your neighbor and shake their hand and kiss their cheek and say "peace be with you" . It was almost like the time right after sacrament meeting when everyone is chatting with each other asking how they are.

Overall I loved going to another religions service, I was able to appreciate the way that they live their faith and it opened my eyes to some of the incredible and unique things that are a part of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I love that I am a Mormon and that I can be part of this amazing church.