I asked one Orthodox priest what he thought the typical newcomer would experience when visiting the Liturgy. His response: Chaos! He was joking. His congregation has a lot of free-range children. But I think he was right. Once the service begins in that icon-filled space, your typical Protestant is hard pressed to make much sense […]
Letters to a Young Pastor: The Children’s Sermon — Is it True?
Dear ______: I do think you’ll be well on your way to a solid children’s sermon if you take up my challenge to make it one salient point from the text you are preaching to the grown-ups. But that isn’t the whole journey. You still need to work hard at finding kid-friendly ways to get […]
Monday Meditation — RCL Year B, 7th Sunday of Easter, John 17:6-19
In Between Next Sunday’s Gospel text comes at a unique moment in the Church year. We had 40 days of Lent in preparation, culminating with Holy Week and the events of the Passion. Then the great even itself, Easter Sunday, which begins a new season of 50 days ending at Pentecost with the outpouring of […]
First Visit to an Orthodox Church (pt. 3): Eyes vs Ears
Step into the Nave Then you walk into the main worship space. Look around. You will see icons. Lots and lots of icons. You will have come into the “nave,” the place where the congregation gathers, through a door on the West wall. Ahead of you, toward the East you will see a wall, or […]
Letters to a Young Pastor: The Children’s Sermon — One Salient Point
Dear ______: I hear your objection to preaching a children’s sermon that is rooted in the main text you are preaching to the grown-ups. But I don’t think it is really a problem. Yes, some parts of Scripture are kind of “R-rated” or at least “PG-13.” But how often (really, let’s be honest here) do […]
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