From the Archives: An Explanation of the (Christian) Heresy of Islam for Orthodox Believers

A friend of mine has been encouraging me to put something together on this for a church publication.  I wanted to write so much more (e.g. presenting more of the patristic work on the subject), but time and space didn’t allow for it.  I am guessing that some of the audience will find the title […]

Nazerite Vow Completed – anybody have 2 bits?

The Setting: the church fire brings new challenges At four-thirty in the morning of the feast of St. Michael, the police came to the rectory bearing some terrible news: the church was on fire.  It had obviously been burning for several hours; fire was coming out of the roof and windows.  In that moment, I […]

Genealogy: Perkins Ancestors in Colonial America

ISAAC PERKINS (1571-1639).  Isaac was born in Rugby Borough, Warwickshire, England and christened on 20 December 1571 in Hillmorton, Warwichshire, England and emigrated to New England in the 1620’s.  In Ipswich, MA he is listed as Yeoman (i.e. Landowner)  “Issache” Perkins.  He was married twice (both wives were named “Alice”); Abraham was born of his first […]

Homily: The Sower – Surviving the Coming Storm

Homily on the Sower: Surviving the coming stormSt. Luke 8:5-15 There is a storm coming and I am not sure we are ready. God sowed His seed here in the Blackstone Valley.  It grows within the heart of everyone here.  Like a garden in the spring, there are beautiful shoots waking up to the possibilities […]

Homily: Loving vs. Commodifying (St. Luke 6:31-36)

Summary of the Gospel (“The Rules”) Treat others the way you would like to be treated. Offer yourself without expecting anything in return. Love your enemies. This is the way God is (and you should be thankful for that!). Introduction: missing the point It is hard for us to live the way we should.  From […]

Homily: Why is it so hard to build a good marriage (and parish)?

Homily on Saint Luke 5:1-11; Fishers of Men So it was, as the multitude pressed about Him to hear the word of God, that He stood by the Lake of Gennesaret, and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets. Then He got into […]

Class. How did we get here?

Opening Scripture:  First General Epistle of St. John, Chapter One.  Summary of Scripture:  The invitation to Orthodoxy is an invitation to fellowship with Christians so that your joy may be full. Today’s Lesson:  How did we get here? Questions for consideration: What(or who) brought you to Orthodoxy?  What brought you to St. Michael’s? What is […]

Homily: How to be a Man

Homily: advice to my oldest son, graduating from high school Introduction Be a hero – the right man in the right place at the right time, prepared to get things done. But how do you do that? It doesn’t just happen on it’s own. Too many men are too lazy or vice-ridden to step up […]

Homily for the Entrance of the Theotokos: a witness on offering our best to the Lord

Homily Notes for the Feast [Tell the story of the feast]: Joachim and Anna had always wanted and worked for a child, but without success. One day, the priest at the temple refused Joachim’s offering because he had no children. He and his wife turned to the Lord in prayer, promising to offer any child […]