family Archives - Behind the Scenes

Renewing Your Marriage: Information on the Upcoming Online Retreat

January 20, 2021 · Melinda Johnson

Marriage is hard work. Sometimes, it’s harder than it needs to be because we don’t have the right tools to help us in our struggles. Join Fr. Nick and Dr. Roxanne Louh for a life-giving online marriage retreat. Drawing on faith and psychology, the Louhs will help you understand what makes couples argue and how you can turn those hard times into strengths. As you learn more about the mind and…

Mom and Kids review Rooted in Prayer Virtual Vacation Church Camp

August 18, 2020 · Sarah Geana

The most surprising result of the week of church camp was this deepening sense of prayer. My children have all grown up in the church and have been saying family prayers since they were born and attend church on a regular basis, etc., so you would think they would have a very firm grasp of what prayer is and its importance.

Happy Father’s Day

June 19, 2020 · Fr. George Shalhoub 1

Today, I will dwell on the issue of what makes a man a dad. A father can become a dad only in a school called, “the academy of marriage,” where he learns what to say and do. A good dad most often has a good father to learn from.

Journey to Pascha 2020 Chart

February 5, 2020 · Fr. Jonathan Bannon 3

The Journey to Pascha chart is a wonderful resource that has become a popular annual tradition. Created by Fr. Jonathan Bannon and generously shared with Ancient Faith and the world at large, this chart can be used like a map of Lent, marking off the milestones through this holy season and providing a suggestion for personal spiritual practice for each week.

Using A Child’s Guide to Confession with My Kids: A Review

May 23, 2019 · Nikki Johnson

My kids especially appreciated the self-examination questions, which help with introspection and examination of conscience and focus first on love and our failures to love perfectly, rather than on sin.

Journey to Pascha 2019 Chart

February 11, 2019February 11, 2019 · Fr. Jonathan Bannon 3

We’re delighted to share this year’s edition of Fr. Jonathan Bannon’s wonderful “Journey to Pascha” chart. This chart can be used like a map of Lent, marking off the milestones along the way and providing a suggestion for personal spiritual practice for each week. Last year, the original edition of this chart traveled around the world. It was even translated into other languages. Glory to God! Fr. Jonathan came up with the…

A Year of Tending the Garden

January 15, 2019January 15, 2019 · Kristina Wenger 1

Had I known, when I received it a year ago, what all Elissa’s message would have entailed, I’d have said yes on the spot, without thinking about it for a few days.

Beautiful Things: An Orthodox Coloring Book for Children

June 7, 2018 · Megan Gilbert 1

When I was 25 years old, I was working full-time as a Montessori assistant in a Kindergarten classroom. During morning circle time, I would take little notes on our scrap paper about what the head teacher was sharing with the 5-7 year olds. No holds barred, this teacher, a life-long lover of learning, poured into these children rich details about complex ideas and precise nomenclature. I love the Montessori concept of the…

Little Church Foundations: Icon Corner

December 5, 2016March 23, 2017 · Caleb Shoemaker 2

Blueprints for the Little Church: Creating an Orthodox Home focuses on what we call the “Foundation Stones” of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.