This year Easter (Pascha) came almost a full month later for Orthodox Christians than it did for others. We are just finishing our second week of participation in the Resurrection of Christ, and for quite a while still we’ll be singing, “Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those...
Author: Fr. Joel Wilson (Fr. Joel Wilson)
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Flowers & Weeds: Are We In Control?
When I was in seminary, I came across a quote from a modern-day saint who had observed that “Those who cannot control themselves are eager to control others.” At that time, I had been struggling with thoughts of others who were not behaving in a Christian manner, and it was giving me quite a bit...
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Along the Road of Voluntary Humiliation
Why doesn’t God always answer our prayers? What if, instead of answering your prayer, He publicly insulted you instead? Would you continue asking God for help? This weekend in the Orthodox lectionary there is a reading from the Gospel of Matthew 15:21-28. It is one of the more difficult passages in the New Testament to...
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All That Remains Is to Face God
In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Throughout the history of mankind, it has been understood that sickness, suffering, and (aside from a few exceptions) death are all unavoidable. Though we may wear masks to keep from getting sick, or or isolate ourselves to keep from...
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Church? Take a break this summer!
Written for and published by Phelps County Focus. “Summer is almost here and it’s made for relaxing! Based on the last several summers, it’ll be too hot to do anything but sit by a pool or lay on a beach. When that gets old, there’s always sleeping in, staying up late to watch Netflix, delivery...
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Sunday of the Cross, 2019
+ In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. I imagine nearly everyone here, at least once, has had a difficult time locating a certain destination you were trying to find. Maybe you were given wrong directions, or while you were driving down the road, slowing down to see...
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Sunday of Orthodoxy, 2019
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Throughout the world on this Sunday of Orthodoxy, it is a common practice for the Faithful of various communities to gather together and proclaim the unity of our Faith. As the Prophet and Psalmist says, “How good and pleasant it is for brothers dwell together in unity!” Unity is...
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Cheesefare, 2019
Beloved in Christ, We now stand at the entryway of Great Lent. Words cannot describe the gift of God that awaits us in this season of repentance. The grace is inexhaustible, and the opportunities are endless. The possibility to escape the death-grip of sinful and selfish habits that we have been unable to shake off...
Sermons
Cheesefare, 2019
Beloved in Christ, We now stand at the entryway of Great Lent. Words cannot describe the gift of God that awaits us in this season of repentance. The grace is inexhaustible, and the opportunities are endless. The possibility to escape the death-grip of sinful and selfish habits that we have been unable to shake off...
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A Greater Love
Written for and published by Phelps County Focus » Tonight I get to surprise my wife with a Valentine’s Day dinner, thanks to a gracious friend who was willing to watch our kids. I recently learned that Valentine’s Day, this day of love, is actually the second most popular day for marriage proposals. For many...