Given the discussion below about some of the ways that we new and not-so-new converts can get things wrong, I thought today’s lectionary reading from Isaiah was interesting. And maybe a little comforting, at least insofar as it lets you know that the fight isn’t something new. How do we exhibit righteousness without becoming self-righteous? […]

So here we are in the homestretch of Lent. Passing the fifth Sunday, we bear down on Lazarus’ tomb and Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The Holy Week services are lengthy, to be sure, but they don’t seem like work. The Church has done the work. The standing, the praying, the chanting, reading, listening, repeating […]

… yogurt.
That’s today’s random Lenten mid-point factoid.

My current workload allowed for a morning off, and so I’m whooping it up in my usual way — hanging out at the bookstore, perusing books I probably won’t buy. It’s not completely unfair to them, since I do occasionally pick one up. And besides, I’m thoughtful enough to patronize the cafe and always leave […]

I almost forgot that I got a request for a blog post re-run the other night from Nicodemus. Since I don’t get many of those (or any, come to think of it), I’m happy to oblige. Especially since the information I’m passing along on there is one of my favorite observations about how the Orthodox […]

And just like that, Lent starts again. We hear the cries of Adam in Orthros:
Woe is me; I cannot bear the disgrace, I who was formerly king over all earthly creatures. Behold, I am now captive because of a counsel aside from the law.
We hear Christ telling his disciples how to fast and how not […]

It’s the last weekday before Cheesefare Sunday and it’s a snow day, so I’m in a big hurry. I already got the breadmaker out and it’s working up a fine, fresh loaf of bread to have with a lot of butter. And I’ve got the pot of tea here with milk in it, and I’ve […]

Yesterday was almost too bright to look at, but today the sky is overcast again. That’s the way it goes at this time of year. This morning I heard the insistent, liquid song of a cardinal outside the window, but today the birds are silent except for the occasional bleating of migrating geese. Spring is […]

I had a fond idea of using the opportunity of the CD to provide a little education about the eight tones. But I got the education myself, and found out that the tones weren’t as I expected them to be. I think there’s some info that might be worth the read. But first, let’s catch […]

Hooray! The CDs my choir made as a fundraiser got finished up earlier than I had said. So here’s another one of the tracks to celebrate. This is probably the shortest number on there, but it’s Greg’s favorite one, so that’s good enough for me. Plus, I kind of like that I managed to get […]