Stepping Into a New Culture

by Global Ministries | published on Oct 10, 2014

When we step into new cultures or situations we immediately notice the similarities between our background and the new situation. This is the first stage of culture and is often accompanied by a feeling of excitement and adventure.

It’s not often in my life that I have thought of a new church service as cultural immersion, but I realize now that each denomination, region/conference, and congregation individually has its own unique culture. In the DOC & UCC, our congregations certainly have distinct cultures. It could be that one puts the announcements in the middle of the service, has a special tradition for lighting the candles on the altar, or has a specific group of lay leaders that are well-known to members. These cultural traditions may only become apparent to you upon worshipping elsewhere one Sunday. The same can be said for other subcultures in our lives.

I started as a GMI (Global Mission Intern) in October and though I’ve tried out several new church communities it is taking some time to settle down. I’ve experienced several different worship styles and yet I often observe many similarities. Each of the congregations has been welcoming to newcomers, faithful in their worship, and enthusiastic in their singing (pleasantly amplified by the stone floors & walls that are typical of churches in the Middle East). All of the churches I’ve visited also participate in one of my favorite traditions: the passing of the peace.

The passing of the peace is a beloved ritual in many churches. It is an opportunity to check-in with friends, welcome newcomers, and warm each other’s hearts with a blessing. I never thought much of it until I came to Jordan and began to look forward to the portion where I would be able to exchange greetings in Arabic with other worshippers. Like other epiphanies I have had, this one is based on language.

The traditional Arabic greeting, used many times each day, is “Salaam Aleykum.” I appreciate the greeting but it does become rote from frequent use. It dawned on me in church last Sunday, though, that “Salaam Aleykum” is the prototype for our passing of the peace; it literally means “peace upon you.” The response, which you would be rude not to return, is to flip the phrase and say “wa Aleykum as-Salaam,” ‘and upon you, peace.’ Our traditional Passing of the Peace phrase, which is unfortunately confined to that part of the service when our pastor invites us to pass peace, is a translation of this ancient ritual.

Much of my personal growth this year has been centered around learning more about ancient Christianity and the faithfulness with which Christians in the Middle East have practiced their faith despite persecution, shrinking populations, and Western misconceptions of their culture. I work with the Orthodox Initiative which serves as the Jordan office for the Patriarch of Jerusalem. As far as the Patriarchates of the Orthodox Church around the world go, you may not be surprised to learn that the Patriarchate of Jerusalem is an important one. A great many historic sites are within its domain, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. The contrast between this, the most ancient of Churches contrasts starkly with the modern, informal, and evolving church of my upbringing, the United Church of Christ. I will always love the fresh vitality of the UCC, but I have come to appreciate the intricate beauty and contemplative gravitas that resides in Orthodox Christianity.

And yet, my personal growth is not confined only to learning more about Orthodox Christianity, but also witnessing the fortitude of humans. The nature of my work has been two-sided – the other side being direct assistance to Syrian refugees. Jordan reached its capacity for housing refugees long ago yet maintains open borders. The enormous population of Syrian refugees takes a toll on individual communities, and yet the hospitality I have witnessed in those places has left an indelible impression on my understanding of extravagant welcome. This also ties to another common Arabic greeting: Ahlan wa sahlan. This greeting is harder to translate but figuratively bestows prosperity and ease to the recipient. It is translated as “welcome.” Can you imagine what to say in response? A simple ‘thank you’ does not cut it; instead, the recipient responds with ahlan feek, or ‘prosperity to you.’ Arabic is, undoubtedly, one of the toughest languages in the world. And yet, it is also one of the most poetic. There are times when I grow frustrated by my slow progress with the language, questioning my decision to study Arabic over French or Spanish. But without fail, the zeal returns. Likewise, when it seems as if there is little hope for this region swathed in turmoil, I remind myself that there must be a future for a region that so values hospitality and welcome, a region in which greetings are inherently reciprocal, and a region whose people welcome the wandering masses with open arms.

Ariel Royer serves as a Global Mission Intern with the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem/Orthodox Initiative, Jordan. She serves as assistant for Refugee Response and Communications.