By Fr. Ephraim Once an older priest went up to a remote village in order to comfort and support the weary. The village was perched on a cliff, a living painting, and there was a small church in the middle next to the fairytale-like stone houses. Behind the sanctuary of the church was the cemetery […]
Sermon Content Is What Appeals Most to Churchgoers
April 20, 2017 By
by Lydia Saad STORY HIGHLIGHTS Three in four worshippers say sermons a major factor in why they go Youth programs, outreach and volunteer opportunities also important Preferring to worship solo is main reason non-attenders eschew services WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Easter and Passover help fill churches and synagogues this week, a new Gallup poll suggests […]
Preparing Homilies
January 18, 2017 By
by Fr. John Guy Winfrey Preaching is a task that we priests do at least every Sunday, and many of us more often. St John Chrysostom, my patron Saint, said that this is one of the most important tasks of the priest. I have been asked in the past how I prepare homilies. I preach […]
To the Preacher: K.I.S.S.
December 7, 2016 By
by Fr. Lawrence Farley For the Orthodox priest, preaching is a fearful responsibility: the Holy Gospel has just been solemnly chanted in Church, and the assembled people of God have greeted the Lord in their midst with the words, “Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You!” Then, as if he has something to add […]
7 TEDTalks That Will Make You a Better Preacher
November 22, 2016 By
By Megan Briggs You may have studied exegesis, theology, and even counseling people in seminary, but what did you learn about body language, the mechanics of speaking, and overcoming stage fright TED has been known to provide some incredibly helpful information for leaders and innovators. In other words, their content is a gold mine […]
On the Responsibility for the Scarcity of Preaching
November 7, 2016 By
From the book, Preaching Another Christ: An Orthodox View of Evangelicalism by St. Theophan the Recluse I agree with you that the priests must speak with the faithful more often and converse with them both inside and outside the church. I do not agree, though, that, if this does not happen, the parishioners lack spiritual […]
On Church Preaching
November 4, 2016 By
The Moscow Council December 1, 1917 Church preaching, in accordance with the Word of God (Matt. 28:19-20. Mk. 16:15, Acts 1:8, 1 Cor. 9:16, 2 Tim. 4:2, et al.), Church Canons (Apostolic Canons 36 and 58, Canon 19 of the Sixth Ecumenical Council, Canon 2 of the Seventh Ecumenical Council), and the directions of the […]
Pew Survey: Americans Want Good Sermons and Warm Welcomes
August 24, 2016 By
If you think preaching good sermons doesn’t matter, think again. It is the single most important thing Americans look for when seeking a place to worship regularly. On Choosing a New Church or House of Worship About half of U.S. adults have looked for a new religious congregation at some point in their lives, most commonly […]
