Fr. John Whiteford preaches from Exodus 15:22-27.

Fr. John Whiteford speaks about the healing of the paralytic, found in John 5:1-15.

Fr. John reflects on the beheading of St. John the Baptist in light of current events.

Fr. John reflects on his visit to the country of Moldova, and the state of the family.

Fr. John Whiteford encourages Christians to live up to our high calling in Christ Jesus, through the Parable of the Talents. (Matthew 25:14-30)

Fr. John Whiteford shares about the healing power of Christ through the story of the woman who had an issue of blood. (Luke 8:41-56)

Fr. John Whiteford explains the Heavenly Tabernacle. (Hebrews 9:1-15)

Fr. John Whiteford shares the depth of God's love for us, and how we can abide it in. (1 John 4:12-19)

Fr. John Whiteford preaches on the story of Jacob selling his birthright to his brother Esau, and helps us understand it through the lens of our lives today. (Genesis 25:19-34)

Fr. John Whiteford helps us to understand how to receive suffering in a way that is redemptive in our lives. (Acts 14:19-22)

Fr. John Whiteford preaches on the Sunday of Orthodoxy.

Fr. John Whiteford describes how obedience helps us grow in humility.

Fr. John Whiteford reflects on the great love and faith the Myrrh-Bearing Women had for their Lord.

Fr. John Whiteford explains the purpose and importance of the Hymns of Ascent. Psalm 119 is featured.

Fr. John Whiteford talks about the life of St. James the Just.

Fr. John Whiteford continues his exploration of the Psalms of Ascent with Psalm 123.

Fr. John Whiteford continues his exploration of the Psalms of Ascent with Psalm 124.

Fr. John Whiteford preaches on the importance of edifying influences, such as Scripture and the saints.

Fr. John Whiteford continues his journey through the Psalms of Ascent with Psalm 126.

Fr. John Whiteford's homily from Sunday, March 24, 2024.

Fr. John Whiteford's sermon from June 30, 2024.

Fr. John Whiteford's sermon from July 7, 2024.

Fr. John Whiteford's sermon from October 13, 2024.

In this episode of The Wilderness Journal Angela continues her conversation with Summer Kinard, Jamey Bennett and Geoff Thompson about things we wish we had known about Orthodoxy before entering into the faith, including talk of Spiritual Fathers and people made of cheese.

While most Mother’s Day celebrations include things like cards, brunch or carnations, there are other, more tangible ways to embrace the more non-commercial aspects of appreciating mothers. What would it look like to connect daily gratitude with the small moments of mothering? How might it transform us?

On this episode of The Wilderness Journal, Angela Doll Carlson explores the topic of "time" with her friend (and Ancient Faith author) Dr. Nicole Roccas. They discuss connections between fear and apathy, and the differences between standing still and being static."

We all have ways to work through our hang ups. Whether we run away from the things we fear or rush headlong toward them, taking a moment to consider the story we’re telling can go a long way in helping and preserving us.

What does it say about a person who has a collection of barely used daily planners stashed under her bedside table? It is a sign of a disorganized mind and an unwilling spirit, or maybe just never finding the right thing? Angela and fellow author, Katherine Bolger Hyde explore the intricacies of day planner addiction, cabinets from Ikea, and phone alarms ringing at inopportune moments.

The Roman Centurion, a Gentile, shows more faith than all of Israel, according to the Lord's observation. How is it an "outsider" without all the benefits of centuries of religious education can see more clearly than the whole of israel shaped by centuries of examples and theology? Turns out being an insider is no guarantee that you won't end up outside!

Jesus uses seemingly harsh language when a father brings an epileptic son to the Lord for healing. But it's only because it's only this kind of language that can break past the selfishness of our own hearts to teach us how to have faith the size of a mustard seed!

There wasn't a Jew within the sound of Jesus' voice when He said if any man would be my disciple, he must take up his cross... You see, there's only one use for a cross, and that's for an execution. The Christian message invites us not only to follow Christ but to die to everything that isn't like Christ in our lives. That's what it means to "bear your cross!"

What a very familiar passage is this passage about a sower planting seed! We've heard this message forever, but I wonder, do we know how to cultivate "god soil" in our lives so that the seed of the Word of God will grow within us?

The guests invited to the rich man's banquet didn't value their invitation to his dinner as much as they valued other things. In the end, none of the expected elite got to go, but the most unexpecting group were invited and enjoyed the hospitality of the rich man!

Our society has become a place where Radical Autonomy has been elevated to the highest good. What "I" want is considered the highest value and the measure of the happiness of my life. But Christianity has a different value system based on Radical Communion.

The Sunday of the Myrrhbearers shows us some courageous women who, even when faced with an impossible task (who will roll the stone away) nevertheless kept on going to minister to the Lord. But even when they were confronted with the empty tomb and the news of the Lord's resurrection, they left the place afraid! Our world is facing some impossible tasks as well and we traditional believers are confronted with the societal earthquake of a changin moral climate. When faced with these realities, what kind of example will we leave our children? Will we allow society to silence us? Or will e face a scary time with determination and faith?

The word "impossible" is thrown around a lot, but the technological advances in our lifetimes would look like magic to previous generations. I wonder what will be commonplace tomorrow that we call "impossible" today? Both our Epistle Lesson and our Gospel lesson use words like "possible" and "impossible" on this Sunday of St. John Climacus. And the whole point is to drive home the truth that it IS NOT impossible for you to become like Christ, especially when you have His Grace and Power assisting you up the "ladder of Divine Ascent!"

Every year before Great Lent we hear the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee. But each year we should. All because it is so easy to allow the Power, Purpose, and Perspective of Great Lent to be lost in either a mere religious habit or, worse yet, total disregard. And that's because we humans are so very vulnerable to hiding from the truth that we need God and His transformative Presence to continually make us like Him.

Your memory is filled with all kinds of thoughts, some good and some bad. How do you choose to remember your life? Do you only focus on the bad things, stew about revenge, or do you ignore all the bad things and live in the delusion that "everything is fine." Well, the Faith invites us to deal with life in a realistic manner, always informed by the Good News of Jesus Christ.

On the Sunday of St. Gregory of Palamas we celebrate the wisdom of the Orthodox Faith to marry the physical and the spiritual and escape the false dichotomy of the created and the Uncreated. In other words, no more cubbyholing our lives into the sacred and the secular!