Show up. That’s the first step, and honestly, it’s the most important one.
Getting connected at an Orthodox parish works differently than what you might expect if you’re coming from a Baptist or non-denominational background. There’s no membership class you complete in six weeks, no card to sign, no altar call. Connection happens more slowly. It’s relational, not transactional.
Start by coming to Divine Liturgy on Sunday mornings. Come for a few weeks. You’ll feel lost at first, everyone does. The service is long, there’s standing, people are kissing icons, and you don’t know when to sit or cross yourself or what’s happening at the front. That’s normal. Keep coming anyway.
After Liturgy, stay for coffee hour. This matters more than you might think. In Orthodox life, the meal after worship isn’t just a nice add-on. It’s where you meet people. It’s where someone will learn your name and ask where you’re from and whether you work at one of the plants or offshore. It’s where you’ll discover that half the parish has family at First Baptist and the other half grew up Catholic. You’re not alone in being new to this.
Talk to the priest. Just introduce yourself. Tell him you’re visiting, you’re curious, you have questions. He’s not going to pressure you or hand you a stack of paperwork. But he needs to know you exist. In Antiochian parishes, the relationship with your priest matters. He’s not just the guy who does services, he’s a spiritual father who’ll guide you if you decide to keep exploring Orthodoxy. You can’t build that relationship if he doesn’t know your name.
If you keep coming, you’ll probably be invited to an inquirer’s class or catechism. Different parishes handle this differently, but the point is the same: you need to learn what Orthodoxy actually teaches before you can decide if you want to become Orthodox. This isn’t a sales pitch. It’s formation. Expect it to take a year, maybe longer. We’re not in a hurry. Conversion to Orthodoxy isn’t about making a decision one emotional Sunday morning, it’s about being transformed over time into the image of Christ.
Ask questions. Lots of them. Why do we venerate icons? What’s happening during the Eucharistic prayer? Why can’t I take Communion yet? Why does everyone kiss the priest’s hand? These aren’t dumb questions. They’re the questions every convert has asked. The people around you at coffee hour have asked them too.
Get involved in something small. Maybe you help set up chairs. Maybe you bake something for a feast day. Maybe you just show up consistently and learn people’s names. Orthodox parishes aren’t usually big on formal volunteer sign-up sheets and ministry fairs. Things are more organic. You see what needs doing, you offer to help, relationships form.
Don’t expect instant community. I know that sounds harsh, but it’s true. Orthodox parishes can feel clannish at first, especially if there are lots of families who’ve known each other for years. It’s not that people are unfriendly, it’s that Orthodox culture doesn’t do the aggressive welcome-wagon thing some evangelical churches do. Give it time. Keep showing up. The connections will come.
If you’ve got kids, bring them. There’s probably a church school program. If you’re single, you might feel like you’re surrounded by families, you probably are, but that doesn’t mean there’s no place for you. If you work rotating shifts at the refinery and can’t make every Sunday, come when you can. Real life happens. Parishes understand that.
One more thing. You’ll probably hit a point, maybe three months in, where you think, “I don’t know if I can do this.” The services are too long, the theology is too different, you miss the guitars and the casual vibe of your old church, you’re tired of standing, you feel like an outsider. That’s normal too. Talk to the priest. Talk to someone who’s been through it. Most converts hit that wall. The ones who make it through are the ones who didn’t try to white-knuckle it alone.
Connection at St. Michael’s isn’t a program you complete. It’s a life you grow into, one Sunday at a time, one conversation at a time, one feast day and one fast and one coffee hour at a time. Come to Liturgy. Stay for coffee. Learn some names. Ask your questions. The rest will follow.
