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Youth and Emerging Adults Religious Education and Stewardship - Part 2

Following up on the April 30 episode, Bill continues to explore ways to encourage our youth and emerging adults to be faithful to the Church.In the last segment, he is joined by Steven Christoforou for some very practical insight.




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Does the Future Have a Church?

Bill Marianes and Fr. Barnabas Powell welcome guest Fr. Anton Vrame. Together they dive into the incredible data you need to know about what is going on with our Christian churches in America, including our beloved Orthodox churches. Most importantly, they start to cast a better vision about a brighter future.




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Youth and Young Adults -The Forgotten Stewards

If our youth and emerging adults do not understand and practice true Christian stewardship, we have sealed the regrettable fate of many of our churches. And yet, we have a relative dearth of resources or information available to teach true Christian stewardship to this most critical group of parishioners/stakeholders.Bill Marianes talks with Y2AM Director Steve Christoforou.




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If We Care About Our Clergy . . .

Our “Men in Black” are shepherds who lead us to a better life here and now and in the hereafter. So, who is helping them and tending to their needs? Bill Marianes welcomes his special guests including Reverend Dr. Nicholas Louh and Presvytera Dr. Roxanne Louh as well as Dr. George Koulianos. Dr. Koulianos is an internationally recognized medical doctor helping to address specific Clergy needs as a part of the $1 million grant from the Lilly Foundation to the Center for Family Care of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.




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Philanthropy, Outreach and Evangelism

“Go and make Disciples” was our Lord’s clear instruction, an at the end of His parable where the Good Samaritan helped an injured Jewish stranger, He advised us to “Go and do likewise” and help our brothers and sisters in need. So how can we do that critical work in our lives and our communities? We will explore practical ideas you and your Parish can implement to answer this critical question with Fr. John Kocolas, the Proistamenos at Nativity of Christ Orthodox Church in Novato, California. Nativity of Christ’s Community Outreach Ministry does so much to help so many. Join us for a discussion of creative ways you and your Parish can “go and do likewise.” Call in to share ways you and your parish make disciples and serve others.




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Prepare Youth for a Lifetime : Orthodox Volunteer Corps

Join Bill Marianes for a conversation with the leaders of Orthodox Volunteer Corps, the newest Approved Agency of the Assembly of Bishops. OVC leaders, Michael Sider-Rose and Kyra Limberakis, will share the exciting story of this transformational agency and help you understand how your youth and young adults can prepare for a lifetime through a year of service.Prepare




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Autism: What Can You and Your Parish Do

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects an estimated 1 in 44 children in the United States. ASD can create challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech, and nonverbal communication. After her son Michael was diagnosed with ASD, Dr. Lisa Liberatore and her husband Dr. Dimitri Kessaris formed LUV Michael, a pioneering nonprofit ministry that transforms the lives of those with ASD. We will speak with Lisa Liberatore and Mark Bondi about their innovative LUV Michael organic granola products enterprise that employs the autistic population, their U.S. Autism Homes housing initiative, and other autism advocacy. LUV Michael is a unique ministry opportunity for you and your parish to help create meaningful work for autistic adults, learn about autism, and advocate for autism acceptance




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Autism and Adam

Today we eavesdrop on a kitchen table discussion with daughter Megan (with a little help from 20-month-old Michael who thought the microphone looked tasty!) as they discussed Michael's six-year-old brother Adam and the still mysterious condition known as autism. Here is a picture of Adam and Frederica's article from an earlier posting on Beliefnet.




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The Sex Revolution - Part 1

This is the first part of a talk Frederica gave on the influence of the sexual revolution in the movies. We have broken it up into three sections and next time will be part 2. The talk was delivered at the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute in Ottawa. They recently held a conference that they called "The Sheptytsky Institute Study Days."




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The Sex Revolution - Part 2

Here is the second part of a talk Frederica gave on the influence of the sexual revolution in the movies. Part 1 was posted on September 4.




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The Sex Revolution - Part 3

Here is the third and final part of a talk Frederica gave on the influence of the sexual revolution in the movies. Part 1 was posted on September 4 and Part 2 on September 17.




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Moral but Obscene

Frederica discusses a possible trend in film of wrapping a conservative message in vulgar jokes and nudity. As examples, she looks to the movies Love, Actually; Knocked Up; and The 40-Year-Old Virgin.




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Southern Methodist College

Frederica speaks on Orthodox worship at Southern Methodist College in Spartanburg, SC.




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Questions About Atonement

Frederica explains the true role that Christ's death and resurrection play in our salvation.




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Beauty in Worship

Frederica speaks at the annual "Donors' Dinner" for St. John the Compassionate Mission in Toronto about the power of beauty in worship and the Divine Liturgy.




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Don't Think About It

Frederica reminds us that a passion begins to die when you don't think about it.




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Beauty

Frederica reads a passage on the role of beauty in the Church from her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.




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Inside Out

Frederica Mathewes-Green reviews the new Pixar film Inside Out, a movie that works on both a child and an adult level—especially when it comes to telling the truth about sadness and the lessons it has to teach us.




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Sin as Pollution

Frederica recalls Forgiveness Vespers from a few weeks back which reminds her of a Garrison Keillor story about the effects of sin.




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Persecuted for Christ

He was a Lutheran pastor and was severely persecuted for his faith by Communists in Romania. He is Rev. Richard Wurmbrand and Frederica has a rare recording of his voice singing a hymn to the Theotokos that he wrote himself. Frederica makes reference to an article in Again Magazine about Pastor Wurmbrand and you can download and read it by clicking HERE.




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St. Basil on Praying without Ceasing

Frederica reads from and reflects on St. Basil the Great's writings on praying without ceasing.




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Fr. George and Persecution in America

Frederica Mathewes-Green presents a Romanian elder’s take on the simple faith that is held by many Americans, and how God responds to it, and she also reports a prayer experience that conveyed the same idea.




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But What About St. Peter?

As people make their way toward the ancient church, sooner of later they have to make a decision: Orthodox or Catholic? And they wonder, What about St. Peter? Did the Lord intend that he and his successors would govern the church worldwide? The Orthodox have a different take on that, which may be unexpected.




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Crossroad- Orthodox Youth Take the Challenge

Fr. Tom interviews the leaders of the Crossroad program at Hellenic College in Brookline, MA. Crossroad is intended to help High School students discern their life callings, matching their personal gifts with the needs of the world. His guests are Ann Bezzerides, Mary Long, and Dan Belonic. He referenced in this interview his very informative eight-part AFR podcast series on the Church and State. In the next program, Fr. Tom will interview some of the participants in Crossroad.




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Crossroad- Orthodox Youth Take the Challenge - Part 2

Fr. Tom speaks with two students and a leader in the Crossroad program.




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Speaking Out for Life

Fr. Tom was unable to attend the March for Life rally in Washington DC earlier this week but he did think about what he would have said had he been given the opportunity to speak.




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Numbers and Deuteronomy

Dr. Constantinou concludes her discussion of Numbers and begins a new study on Deuteronomy.




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Deuteronomy

Dr. Constantinou concludes her discussion of the life of Moses.




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Ruth

Dr. Constantinou continues her series, "Introduction to the Bible." In this episode, lesson 83, she discusses the book of Ruth.




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Peace Out to My Digital Marketing Career – It’s Been One Hell of a Ride

I tried several different ways to begin this post, but it seemed only fitting to be as blunt in this announcement as I have been during my entire SEO and affiliate career, thus the title of this entry. It's been an amazing ride In 1998, after my oldest son suffered a massive bilateral stroke, I…

The post Peace Out to My Digital Marketing Career – It’s Been One Hell of a Ride appeared first on Sugarrae.




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Spiritual but Not Religious

Fr John Finley on the ills of being "community-less"—spiritual but not religious—in Yuma, Arizona.




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Sometimes We Don't Want the Truth!

During the Paschal season, on the Sunday of the Paralytic, Fr Joseph was at St Paul/Tupelo, Mississippi. Here's excerpts from that Sunday's sermon which claims we don't always want the truth. (But we do need to be healed.)




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Priest Says “Pull Out Your Phone”

In a move as shocking as reading the lyrics to popular songs in church, Fr. Joseph asks the folks at St Joseph/Houston to pull our their cell phones!




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About Those “Kids” and Gadget Addiction

Speaking at St John Chrysostom Mission/Lakewood, Colorado -- where Father Seraphim and Matushka Masha Gisetti also operate the St Ephraim Center, which offers addiction and mental health treatment -- Fr Joseph attempts to answer a question about children and gadget addiction.




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“Mom, Dad—there was an explosion . . . in Beirut”

Moments after the explosion on August 4, Fr. Joseph receives audio messages from his daughter in Beirut.




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Satan Cuts Bait

Trigger warning: "The news of the day, social media, and cancel culture are all the rage these days. You can cancel others, but you can't deny yourself. Amirite?" Fr. Joseph preaches at St Joseph/Houston.




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It's Okay to be Itty-Bitty, But

Jesus says the disciples could not exorcise a demon because of their little faith. He then went on to say that faith the size of a mustard seed could move mountains. Huh?




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Introduction to Worship in Spirit and Truth

Fr. Thomas Hopko begins a brand new series taking us through the Divine Liturgy of the Orthodox Church.




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It's All About the Gospel

In the second installation of his new series, Fr. Tom Hopko talks about the biblical and evangelical nature of the Divine Liturgy. True worship in Christ and the Holy Spirit.




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Daniel and the Three Youths

Fr. Tom continues to look at worship in the Old Testament as a prelude to his in-depth teaching on the Divine Liturgy. Today is part one of a two-part episode concentrating on Daniel and the Three Youths. He begins with an overview of Daniel.




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Daniel and the Three Youths - Part 2

Fr. Tom now looks at the story of the three youths in the flaming furnace and the beautiful correlation to our worship as Orthodox Christians.




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Out of the Mouths of Babes and Sucklings

Fr. John shares his homily from Palm Sunday.




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The Inconvenient Truth about Homosexual Marriage

Fr. John shares his homily from the Sunday of All Saints.




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“As Many as Have Been Baptized into Christ Have Put on Christ”

Fr. John shares his homily on Theophany.




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The Hieromartyr Peter of Krutitsa

Fr. John shares his homily from the Sunday of the New Martyrs of Russia.




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Putting Our Gifts to Work for the Church

Fr. John shares about humbly using our spiritual gifts, from Romans 12:1-13. Please note: "At one point in the sermon I mentioned Arsenius the Athonite, but actually meant to refer to the Elder Paisios, and the book I referred to is http://www.amazon.com/Elder-Paisios-Mount-Athos-Isaac/dp/960897643X"




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Blessed art Thou, O Lord, Teach Me Thy Statutes (Psalm 118:9-16)

Fr. John continues his series from Psalm 118, "Wherewithal shall a young man correct his way? By keeping Thy words."




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Work Out Your Own Salvation

Fr. John shares from Philippians 2:12-13.




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Ruth

Fr. John shares the story of Ruth, ancestress of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.




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The Way of God's Statutes

Fr. John returns to the series on Psalm 118, and discusses verses 33-40.