While Christ is Lord o’er heav’n and earth / How can I keep from singing?

How Can I Keep From Singing, American folk song

Going to a service of any congregation that isn’t your own can be a little bit nerve racking. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a little nervous when I recently attended my first Vespers service at the Berlin Cathedral. I am by no means an expert, but I hope that sharing my experience might make you more open to attending a new kind of service.

In visiting Vespers, I learned that there are two important things you can do as a visitor: listen and watch.

Watching is the best way to get what you want out of a different type of religious service. As I entered the cathedral, seeing the worship space itself made a huge difference for me. It’s cool to see the symbols and art that practitioners consider sacred; in this case, the dove at the top of the dome stood out to me, showing that the influence of the Holy Spirit is a big focus in meetings that take place there.

Watching the people around you can be the best way to successfully attend a different service. During Vespers, I tried to watch and follow suit with those around me, folding my arms and opening my hymn book at the same times they did.

Listening was vital in Vespers. Many people listen to the world around them nearly constantly, which makes it hard to tune in to specific moments. It was tempting for me to fall into this when the service began, as I didn’t know the songs or the language. Even so, listening to the teachings, recitations, and songs was a deeply meaningful experience for me.

One of my Biblical Hebrew professors has said, “If God gave you your voice, it’s good enough to praise Him with.” She meant that “not having a good singing voice” is no excuse for praising the Lord in song. Many traditions see song as the highest way to praise the divine, one of the best devices to feed yourself spiritually.

This was very true at the Vespers service. I’m traveling with a group of roughly forty Americans, and most of us speak little to no German. You can imagine that our participation in the hymns didn’t sound like a heavenly choir. However, by watching and listening, and then choosing to participate, I felt connected with people around me and closer to God.

At the close of the service, those who lead the service took care to meet and thank us for coming. I thought this was remarkably kind, as our presence probably complicated and elongated their service. It showed me that most people are eager to share their faith when the situation permits, simply because it makes them happy. By listening to them, I didn’t just help myself; I helped them feel more joy as well.

What other services would you like to attend? What can you do to make sure you have an uplifting visit and influence?

Vespers

An evening service of praise and thanksgiving. One of the oldest of the traditional liturgy of the hours. Practiced in Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran Christianity.

“Vespers.” Britannica. (https://www.britannica.com/topic/vespers)

Cathedral

“A cathedral is the seat of the bishop and a centre of worship and mission. The primary purpose of a cathedral is to be a place of Christian worship but it is also often the oldest building in continuous use in its surrounding area and of significance to the heritage, culture and community life of the area it serves.”

“What is a cathedral?” The Association of English Cathedrals. (https://www.englishcathedrals.co.uk/about-us/)