St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church

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Exploring Orthodox Christianity: A Lenten How-To Series

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EXPLORING ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY is a six-week experience for anyone interested in understanding better the faith, teachings, history, worship and practices of the Orthodox Christian Church. This Lent Unit (Saturdays Mar. 7 – Apr. 11) is complemented by an Advent Unit held in the Fall.

This evening program begins with 5pm Vespers on Saturday night, followed by a common potluck fasting meal (roughly 6pm, no meat or dairy, please), a short presentation and discussion. One or more church members will give the presentation(s) and moderate the discussion. Each evening’s program should wrap up by 7-7:30pm.

This program is recommended for all interested (including Orthodox Christians, non-Christians or non-Orthodox Christians) and is also part of the standard preparation for formally enrolled catechumens of the parish (those who have made a commitment to become Orthodox Christians).

TOPIC SCHEDULE FOR LENT 2020 (subject to adjustment as needed):

March 7: How to Interact with Your Priest
When should you call the priest? What is the proper relationship with your priest? What are realistic expectations of him? What are the major life events where he needs to be notified and asked for help? What does healthy obedience to a father-confessor look like?

March 14: How to Fast
What is the purpose of fasting? What kind of fasting is normal for most Orthodox Christians? What are the foods one can and cannot have during a fast? How do the fasts throughout the year differ? What if you have a medical condition that makes it hard to fast?

March 21: How to Be a Good Steward
What does it mean to tithe? What is really expected of a Christian by God? How do we love one another? How do you find your ministry in the church community? What is the right amount to give of one’s time, talent and treasure?

March 28: No class this evening due to the Lenten retreat happening all day

April 4: How to Interact with Saints and Angels
Who are the heavenly hosts? What is the Divine Council of God? How does someone become a saint? How do you venerate saints and angels? Do we pray to them or pray with them?

April 11: How to Pray at Home and Church
What is prayer? What is a prayer rule? (Is it necessary to have one?) How do you make Christ’s presence apparent at home? How do you keep from getting distracted during prayer? How do you pray the Jesus Prayer? (Is it necessary to have a prayer rope?) What does it mean to meditate?

Lenten Retreat Mar. 28: The Gospel of the Kingdom

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What is *A* Gospel? What is *THE* Gospel? And how do we respond?

The answers might not be what you think.

On Saturday, Mar. 28, Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick will explore these questions in a Lenten retreat in a series of 4 talks. Each talk is about 45 minutes, followed by a 15 minute Q&A.

There is no cost for the retreat, and it is open to all who may be interested.

SCHEDULE:

9am: Welcome & Coffee

9:30am: Talk #1: What is A Gospel?

10:30am: Break

11am: Talk #2: What is THE Gospel? (Part 1)

12pm: Lunch (Lenten Potluck — bring a dish to share!)

1pm: Talk #3: What is THE Gospel? (Part 2)

2pm: Break

2:30pm: Talk #4: How do we respond to the gospel?

3:30pm-4:30pm: Break

5pm: Great Vespers

Jan. 18 – Feb. 29: The Early Church (Saturday Night Class)

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On Saturday evenings at St. Paul’s, a 7-week educational series on the earliest years of the Church — from the first through third centuries — is being taught by Dr. Cyril (Gary) Jenkins, Van Gorden Professor in History at Eastern University and Director of the St. Basil Center for Orthodox Thought and Culture.

The schedule for each evening is as follows:

    5pm Great Vespers
    5:45pm Potluck Meal (bring a dish to share)
    6pm Short Lecture with Discussion

Syllabus

18 Jan: The Church of the First Century I
Sources and the Apostolic Church

25 Jan: The Church of the First Century II
The Church of the Late First Century and the Ferment of Heresy

1 Feb: The Church of the Second Century I
Martyrdom and Apologists

8 Feb: The Church of the Second Century II
Gnosticism and Catholicity

15 Feb: The Church of the Third Century I
Athens and Jerusalem: Montanism, Origen, and the Greeks

22 Feb: The Church of the Third Century II
The Emergence of Latin Theology: Hippolytus, Cyprian, and Tertullian

29 Feb: The Church of the Third Century III
The blood of the Martyrs is the seed of the Church

Exploring Orthodox Christianity: Advent Unit

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EXPLORING ORTHODOX CHRISTIANITY is a six-week experience for anyone interested in understanding better the faith, teachings, history, worship and practices of the Orthodox Christian Church. This Advent Unit (Saturdays Nov. 10 – Dec. 22) is complemented by a Lent Unit held in the Spring.

This evening program begins with 5pm Vespers on Saturday night, followed by a common potluck fasting meal (roughly 6pm, no meat or dairy, please) and a short presentation and discussion. One or more church members will give the presentation(s) and moderate the discussion. Each evening’s program should wrap up by 7-7:30pm.

This program is recommended for all interested (including Orthodox Christians, non-Christians or non-Orthodox Christians) and is also part of the standard preparation for formally enrolled catechumens of the parish (those who have made a commitment to become Orthodox Christians).

TOPIC SCHEDULE FOR ADVENT 2019
(subject to adjustment as needed):

November 16 – Church History Orientation
Overview
Ecumenical Councils
Historical sources
Also: Clergy & hierarchy

November 23 – Prayer in the Orthodox Tradition
Prayer in the Orthodox tradition (Personal and Corporate)

November 30 – Sacraments (Holy Mysteries) I
What are the Holy Mysteries?
Baptism
Chrismation
Eucharist

December 7 – Sacraments (Holy Mysteries) II
Marriage
Holy Unction
Holy Orders
Confession (Penance)

December 14 – Feasts and Fasts
The Church Year
Overview of Major Feasts
Overview of Major Fasts
Why fast?

December 21 – Other Topics
The Theotokos & Other Saints
Prayer with the saints
Stewardship / Ministry
Tradition / Scripture

St. Paul’s Hosts Orthodox Conference on Author J. R. R. Tolkien

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On Sept. 27-28, 2019, in conjunction with the St. Basil Center for Orthodox Thought and Culture and the Amon Sûl Podcast, St. Paul’s hosted DoxaMoot: The Orthodox Christian Tolkien Conference, featuring lectures from pastor Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick, as well as novelist Dcn. Nicholas Kotar, Prof. Alfred Siewers, parishioner Prof. Cyril Gary Jenkins, and author Michael Haldas.

Over 70 people gathered from 11 US states and the Canadian province of Ontario to listen to spiritually edifying talks, to gather for prayer and meals, and to engage in discussion about how Orthodox Christians read the popular fantasy author’s Middle-earth works and find applicability in a way compatible with Orthodox spiritual life.

The dates for the next DoxaMoot are April 24-25, 2020, also to be hosted at St. Paul’s.

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St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church

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