By Charly SHELTON

For many, organized religion is daunting. Whether raised as part of a church/synagogue/mosque and then separating from it later in life, or trying to break into the scene for the first time, there are a lot of challenges and intimidating social conventions that must be confronted, especially when one is trying to “come back into the fold.” Overall, Christianity is on the decline, according to a Pew Research Center study in 2014, with non-Christian faiths rising a small amount and “unaffiliated” faiths (agnostic, atheist, etc.) rising by more than 35% of its previous total in the last seven years. It is those unaffiliated members of the community who want to be part of some kind of worship group that Rev. Holly Cardone invited to The Well.

“The Well is an alternative worship community that is reaching out to people who have had adverse experiences with organized religion,” Rev. Cardone explained. “Granted, I’m an Episcopal priest and with that comes history, traditions, rituals and practices that I love and treasure. The challenge is creating a place where the history, tradition, rituals and practices inform what we do in the development of a contemporary worship community that is inclusive, welcoming and compassionate, and focused on justice, action and service. The other question is, can we create a place where we talk about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit where people feel safe to voice their doubts, hesitations and concerns, as well as positive experiences?”

The service was held on Sunday at St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church and welcomed about 20 people, Rev. Cardone said.

“And, considering it was Oscar night, we were really happy. Most of those who came have complex and painful experiences with the church but were brave enough to walk over the threshold,” Rev. Cardone said. :They were pleasantly surprised that lightening didn’t strike them.”

The service featured hymns, Scripture reading, and prayer, in which about half of the attendees participated. It was followed by communion, dinner in the parish hall and, throughout it all, discussion.

“People were very open [about] sharing thoughts, feelings and theological concerns,” Rev. Cardone said.

Overall, the event was a success and it has provided some feedback for Rev. Cardone and her colleagues who will be organizing these services on a monthly basis.

“People’s responses were very positive and most everyone said they would come back. We are doing it once a month, the first Sunday of the month, which means the next one will be April 1 at 5 p.m., Easter Sunday evening,” Rev. Cardone said. “I came away with the feeling that being in the sanctuary of the church itself was too constricting. People sat in the pews and they felt too far away from me, distant.

“I’m used to being in a sanctuary with chairs that we reconfigure at the change of seasons and we, the clergy, are one among the people even though we may be standing in front of the congregation reading or preaching. We, and when I say ‘we’ I mean a few of the people who have taken leadership roles with me in developing and creating this new and different way to experience church, have decided to try it in the round in the parish hall with the altar at the center of the circle of people.”

Rev. Cardone said she looks forward to the development of this new type of worship.
“The order of worship, readings and prayers are a work in progress,” she said, “as is settling on music and its role in the service.”
St. Luke’s of the Mountains is located at 2563 Foothill Blvd. in La Crescenta.

  Charly Shelton