Spiritual Weather

I’ve always been a little bit of a weather geek. I appreciate watching the coming and going of the seasons, which is part of why this boy born is Southern California enjoys living in Michigan so much. There’s a certain feeling to the coming of spring, distinct from when summer fades into fall. It’s not […]

Seven Smart Uses of a Smartphone

I have not been shy in sharing my concerns for the direction of our society under the rising influence of digital technology in everyday life. The increasing social isolation, individualism, and the paradoxical growth of “groupthink” via social media are things I have spoken and written much about with great concern. But it’s not all […]

March 19, 2017

Check the Turbulence of our Flesh

“Check the turbulence of our flesh.” This short phrase that comes from one of the closing prayers of the Compline service strikes me every time I hear it. Think of a time you’ve been on a plane when turbulence became a problem. It can be terrifying to feel such powerful forces being exerted on the […]

Feast of the Annunciation

Rejoice, O Theotokos, O deliverance of Adam from the curse! Rejoice, O chaste Theotokos! Rejoice, O living bush! Rejoice, O lamp! Rejoice, O throne! Rejoice, O ladder and door! Rejoice, O divine chariot! Rejoice, O bright cloud! Rejoice, O temple, O most-gilded jar! Rejoice, O mountain! Rejoice, O tabernacle and table! Rejoice, O deliverer of […]

Adoration of the Cross

“Take up your cross and follow me” means to get started on our journey to salvation. If the road we are on does not have God’s Eternal Kingdom as its destination, then we had better make a U-turn and find the right one! “Taking up our cross and following Jesus” means trying harder when those […]

March 12, 2017

March 5, 2017

From a Distance??

From a Distance? No offense, Bette Midler. Really Ask anyone who knows me well and they’ll tell you that somewhere close to the top of the list of the songs I really dislike the most is her 1990 hit song, “From a Distance.” I really have no problem with 95% of the lyrics of the […]

Orthodoxy Sunday

The Sunday of Orthodoxy is the first Sunday of Great Lent. The dominant theme of this Sunday since 843 has been that of the victory of the icons. In that year the iconoclastic controversy, which had raged on and off since 726, was finally laid to rest, and icons and their veneration were restored on […]

Antiochian Women’s Month

The month of March, designated as Antiochian Women Month by His Eminence Metropolitan Joseph, is a time when the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America encourage their sisters in Christ to participate in the Liturgy and minister in their parishes and their communities. With this focus in mind, the women of our parish are encouraged […]

The Lenten Spring (Training)

“The Lenten spring has come – the light of repentance.” This is a line from just one of the many hymns that describe this Lenten season using the analogy of the change of seasons happening around us as we emerge from winter. There is something refreshing about spring (even if our winter doesn’t seem to […]