IT’S SUMMER! A wonderful time for family, friends, relaxing, and playing. A time for vacations—vacations from work and vacations from school. But there is one type of vacation we shouldn’t be taking this summer—and that is from Church. Church should be the center of our lives throughout the year and summer is no exception. Join us this summer as we #soakuptheSON. More »
I used to be fearful of pruning my rose bushes, wanting them to have full freedom to grow any which way they would. I didn’t want to be like a highly caffeinated hairdresser lopping off more than enough inches, leading to something that looked like a shearing rather than a trim. ‘Don’t be afraid to prune’ gardening experts say, “pruning leads to new growth and continued blooming.” (Marie Ianotti) More »
The invitation to this parade, and the events of Holy Week, are extended to everyone. Christ does not require a perfect and complete faith. He asks for an open heart, a willing spirit, and our first step to be taken in faith. After that initial step, Jesus will lead us to experience the events of this week in an intimate and life-changing manner. Come and see! More »
One of the sacraments of the Orthodox Church, the Marriage Service is rich with biblical imagery,
prayer, and symbol. Because the ceremony is attended by Orthodox and non-Orthodox who may not
be aware of the significance of the actions, this text has been prepared. It can be used as the basis for
a program booklet distributed at the ceremony. There are a few spots for customization, such as
including the names of the bride and the groom. The text can be edited easily to fit the program.
Other possible additions to a program include the names of the bridal party, the family members,
the clergy celebrating the ceremony, locations of receptions, and a personal note from the couple. More »
I want to share with you an excellent resource for strengthening your marriage relationship. The book is titled Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by John Gottman and his wife Julie. John Gottman is a world-renowned clinician, researcher, and author on marriage and parenting issues. Although some of his work trends toward an academic audience, Eight Dates is accessible to everyone interested in improving their marital bond. More »
