Chaplaincy: Manifesting God’s Love This year’s Northwest Regional Training of the International Conference of Police Chaplains, included a day long seminar on “Principle Based Leadership, the Importance of Ethics”, presented by Chief Bob Vernon, retired Police Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. As the conference came to a conclusion
Category: The Morning Offering
Photo taken at Ecola State Park My how God has blessed our eyes.As we are nearing the conclusion of this year’s Northwest Regional Seminar of the International Conference of Police Chaplains, we’ve all marveled at the beauty that surrounds us. The location of the conference center is Cannon Beach, Oregon.
Cannon Beach, Oregon Community: The Essential Element Christianity is a communal faith, one that requires it’s followers to be actively involved with others. The Church’s worship is communal, and salvation itself is a corporate act, one that necessitates interaction with others. One is not “saved” in a vacuum, but as
The Oregon Coast (click photo to enlarge) Leaving the ninety-nine for the one The work of the Church is to seek out the lost sheep, and bring them into the fold. The modern mission of the Church is to go out into the community and find those who are lost.
Thirty Years a Monk After almost thirty years as a monk, and nearing eighteen years in the priesthood, I am hard pressed to think there could be any other life for me. I am content. Living in community with my brothers, celebrating the divine services in the monastery’s temple, counseling
Godly Friends and Spiritual Progress It is easy to feel trapped by our bad habits. We don’t like certain behavioral patterns that have become habitual, and we feel helpless in our attempt to change. Growing as Christians is often fraught with failure, and we find ourselves stuck. Our spiritual progress
The Nativity Sermon by Saint John Chrysostom “I behold a new and wondrous mystery! My ears resound to the shepherd’s song, piping no soft melody, but loudly chanting a heavenly hymn! The angels sing! The archangels blend their voices in harmony! The cherubim resound their joyful praise! The Seraphim exalt
The Saints are Alive in Christ JesusVigil lights are placed before the icons of the saints, according to Saint Symeon the New Theologian, as a way of showing that without the Light, Who is Christ, the saints are nothing. It is only as the light of Christ shines on them
God Himself Appeared in the Flesh We Orthodox Christians who keep the ancient Church Calendar are approaching our celebration of the Nativity of Christ Our Lord. On January 7th we will all be gathering together in monasteries, chapels, churches, and cathedrals, to celebrate the Liturgy of the Nativity of Our
Never Converse with DemonsIn 1986 I spent fourteen days in retreat at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania. Staying in the monastic quarters, I had two weeks of wonderful fellowship with fellow monastics, worshiping in their temple, eating with them in trapeza, walking the trails through their forest, praying