Christ is born! Glorify Him! Social Media Maven and Monastic, Fr. Peter Preble (Shepherd of Souls) talks with me about the vocation of monasticism in 21st century America. I also snuck in another story by my son, Nicholas. In this … [Continue reading]
2013 Nativity Epistle from the Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops outside Ukraine
January 6, 2014 By
PERMANENT CONFERENCE OF UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX HIERARCHS BEYOND THE BORDERS OF UKRAINE Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ 2013/2014 To the Venerable Clergy, Monastics and Faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church beyond … [Continue reading]
Patriarch Bartholomew, 2013 Nativity Epistle
January 6, 2014 By
I love it when our hierarchs write homilies for us! - Fr Anthony + BARTHOLOMEW, By God’s Mercy Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical PatriarchTo the Plenitude of the Church: Grace, mercy, and peace from the Savior Christ, born in … [Continue reading]
Guest writer: “Come When Called” by Nicholas Perkins
January 1, 2014 By
Skeletons danced in silver mist, and Kira wondered whether he was dreaming. He pinched his arm and gasped. Nope; definitely still awake. There really were dancing skeletons, and the cavern floor really was covered in a swirling layer of silver … [Continue reading]
Waiting Tables, Nepsis, and Diaconia
December 27, 2013 By
A few days ago, I wrote about how much we are like the toy monkey with the cymbals: our buttons get pushed and we start to clang. It's as if everything were pre-programmed. Psychologists have found that this isn't far from the case. My favorite … [Continue reading]
Day Forty – Christmas is for Church
December 24, 2013 By
Even if Professor William Tighe is correct and the Church was re-appropriating the date from the pagans (possible, but there were competing claims), the broader evangelical point made below remains valid. It even gains additional urgency: the Church … [Continue reading]
Day Thirty-nine – Comfort
December 23, 2013 By
The most iconic image of the comfort is found in Psalm 22/23: "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." Those words bring to mind all the warm fuzzies of a mother's hug and all the calm of a father's protection. Psalm 22/23 is like the greatest … [Continue reading]
Day Thirty-eight – Never
December 23, 2013 By
2 Timothy 3: 3-9 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, … [Continue reading]
Teaching the Divine Liturgy – Meditations
December 22, 2013 By
Here are my notes from the teaching Divine Liturgy served on 22 December 2013 Prologue: Please meet the love of my life…I was nervous the entire week leading up this “Teaching Liturgy.” It was hard to figure out why. After all, I’ve been … [Continue reading]
Day Thirty-seven – Candy Canes
December 21, 2013 By
I don't know if I've ever eaten a candy cane. I tried one once, and it was way too sweet. We have about a dozen of them in the house. We use them for tree ornaments. They are like family heirlooms; I'm pretty sure I got them from my mom. She … [Continue reading]
