Guest writer: short story “Bildungsroman”

One of my favorite people in the world wrote this.  He is not just a gifted writer, spiritual warrior/mystic, and beautiful chanter… he’s my son.  I think you will enjoy the story.  I am encouraging to publish his work more widely (let me know if you agree). ================= Bildungsroman By Nick Perkins The time had […]

Day Four – Paleo, Orthodoxy, and Grains

One of the reasons I love the paleo movement is that it challenges a status quo that is so obviously broken and dangerous.  Like anarchism when it comes to modern government and economics, paleo steps outside the dominant paradigm and blasts away at its problems.  We need to hear that.  I also love that they […]

Day Three – Homily on Jarius’ Daughter

Homily: The Raising of Jarius’ DaughterSt. Luke 8:41-56 What do we learn from today’s Gospel lesson? 1.  The effect of Christ’s perfect love and power on this world.  The role of belief.  Many “touched” Him, but this woman was healed – why?  Why not everyone?  Everyone is suffering.  We are suffering.  Will we be healed? […]

Day Two – Lenten Fasting for the Orthodox Paleophile

Fasting is good for you!  You’ve seen the science on intermittent fasting, building willpower muscles, and the like.  You also recognize that it is an important part of The Orthodox Way to all things good.  Maybe you are like me and you have decided to augment the standard Orthodox fasting regimen with one that avoids […]

Day One: Get your beard on (or off)!

Beards are all the rage.  Here in New England, the Red Sox just won the World Series by getting their beards on; the male cast of Duck Dynasty has also done their part to bring respect to the beard.  In my profession, beards are often seen as part of the game.  When I was catechized, […]

Class: On Eternal Life (Death and Dying)

Orthodoxy and Eternal Life St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox ChurchIntroduction:  What is Life?  Death?  Why do we die? Scriptural Introduction to Human Life:  Genesis 1:26-28.  Man is special: the Image of God and the highest of earthly creation. Genesis 2:7.  The breath of God, put into ordinary creation. Created for Communion with God Deuteronomy 8:3.  Our […]

Homily: The Demoniac at Gardenes

Introduction – the context of the story Our Lord had just come across the water with his disciples.  They had faced one kind of fear when they were on the water: a fear of the chaos of a storm.  A great wind had come up while Jesus slept, and the disciples panicked.  They woke Jesus […]

Announcement: Vocations Retreat (11/16)

The Deanery of New England invites you to A VOCATIONS RETREAT!!!   Who:     All men and women interested in deepening their service to Christ and His Church!      What:    Practical instruction on vocations, chanting, diaconal liturgics, and worship   Where:  St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Woonsocket, RI   When:   From 2-9 PM on […]

Class – The Mystery of Communion

Our Faith: Orthodox Christianity at St. Michael’s:  The Mystery of Communion Questions for consideration:  What is the relationship of the “spiritual world” to the “physical world”?  How do we experience reality?  How does God work in this world?  Only through ideas?  Why did He become flesh and blood at the Incarnation?  Why does He become […]

Homily – Lazarus and the Rich Man (i.e. Us)

Homily on Lazarus and the Rich Man St. Luke 16:19-31 [Bottom line up front: actions have consequences; when we do something less than God’s complete will, we suffer.  Not because God wants to punish us, but because love is the foundation of all creation and the plan for redemption; when we work against this plan, […]