Why Does the Church Exist? If you were to catch someone on the street and ask them what church is about or why it exists, you’d probably get a bunch of different answers. Some people might say it’s a club.
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Church’s Vision?
Whose Side Is God On?
Beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year Today is the beginning of the Church New Year and so we are reminded of the “Year of the Lord’s favor,” which is to bring good news to the poor, proclaim the release of
Read moreBecome Fully Human
As many of you know, I’m fairly active in many different community activities. One of them is something called “New World Brewing.” This is an intentional conversation. Each month, there’s a selected topic. Two “conversation starters” get the ball rolling
Read moreHow Church Makes Us Sin
Do you feel set up for failure by the stringent fasting regulations of the Church? Do you feel like prayer rules or “putting your time in” at church is just false piety? Have you ever noticed an inconsistency between the
Read moreSo Many Services
“Fr. Dustin, aren’t all those extra services (feast days, Vespers, Matins) just for monks and retired people?” Here’s my brief response.
Read moreHaving the End in Sight
This past week we’ve seen the fallout of yet another school shooting. Everyone agrees that they must end. But how? Many people are advocating for stricter gun laws. Others think teachers should be armed. And some believe we need to
Read moreThe Triumph of Orthodoxy: Squashed?
In one month’s time, we’ll celebrate the “Sunday of Orthodoxy.” Triumphantly we’ll read the Synodikon that proclaims the Orthodox Christian faith to be the faith of the Apostles, the faith of the Fathers, in short, “…the faith on which the
Read moreCosmic Salvation
In American circles, I often hear salvation spoken about in an individual way. “I’m saved.” “Jesus is my personal savior.” But the Bible casts a much bigger picture. We’re actually meant to be a part of something bigger than ourselves.
Read moreFrom King’s Bread (Vasilopita) to Peace Bread
Every year in January, Orthodox Christians gather to cut the Vasilopita (St. Basil’s or King’s Bread). Typically, we think of ourselves, hoping to find the coin hidden in the dough. But, if we stop to consider the story behind the
Read moreTheophany: a Revelation of Creation’s Purpose
Often we come to Scripture with our own questions, such as, “How can I be saved?” This isn’t always bad, but it can cause it to miss what Scripture is actually telling us about the true purpose of creation!
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