Lynnette explains the Vesting prayers of the priest before the Liturgy and the “whole armor of God

In this short series we take a peek at some of the things that occur in the Church mostly out of sight of the laity. In this episode Lynnette examines the Kairos service, the first of the three short services that take place before Matins, and the lessons there apply to all of us in the pews.

Bad behavior has become normalized over the past few years, and society has become ruder and more disrespectful. Our words and deeds flow from our thoughts and our hearts, as Jesus taught. Lynnette muses on her main takeaway from the pandemic years: the importance of guarding our hearts, especially when chaos reigns.

After Great Lent and Pascha, we want to look back and check our progress. But spiritual growth is not an easy thing to measure, either by our accomplishments or our feelings. As in marriage, we grow in immeasurable love for God over time.

n this episode we consider the facial features and expressions of the saints in iconography as well as the meaning of the objects they hold. Then, in preparation for Holy Week, we consider the icon of the Crucifixion of Christ and the powerful lessons it teaches us.

We may be excited about the ancient faith, but people around us often aren’t. Their responses to Orthodox Christianity can range from confusion to indifference to hostility. In this episode Lynnette considers some of the emotional reasons behind others’ negativity as well as how to respond—or keep silent—in loving ways.

In the Church, we fast in community, traveling together on our journey to Pascha. In this episode, we explore the blessings of fasting under spiritual direction and the pitfalls of going it alone.

Just as the birds herald the coming of spring, the Church prepares us for the coming of Great Lent. The readings lengthen, the Triodion period centers our hearts and minds, and anticipation grows. Lenten journey is arduous, yet the arrival of spring during these weeks reminds us that it is a time of healing and renewal.

It seems that every time we Orthodox gather in Church, we’re asking for mercy. Is all the repetition of “Lord, have mercy” a bit much? In this episode, Lynnette looks at pleas for mercy in the Bible and in the services of the Church, contrasting the Western, juridical view of mercy with the Eastern understanding of God’s lovingkindness and compassion.

After spending so much time thinking about the Eucharist during the Divine Liturgy, Lynnette reflects on her earlier experiences with Protestant approaches to communion, including the “memorial supper” view, multiple theologies in a single gathering, and the ever-present little plastic cups of grape juice