I’m excited to say that it was necessary to have a second printing of Welcoming the Christ Child! That gave us an opportunity to switch up the cover a bit — I’m so excited to be offering this beautiful book and the matching ornament set again, so that Orthodox families can count down the Nativity Lent while truly preparing hearts to receive Christ on His birthday! The set is sold online at…

I think the best teaching is simple and elegant, and Fr. Evan Armatas never disappoints. I’ve enjoyed his talks at our Metropolis’ Camp Emmanuel and his commentary on his live call-in show, Orthodoxy Live (which is essentially a grown-up version of every camper’s beloved Stump the Priest.) Fr. Evan has just released a new book, Toolkit for Spiritual Growth, and I think it would be great for a book study! Because the…

Are you teaching Sunday School classes online, perhaps over Zoom or another video conferencing software? Many of us are embarking on Zoom classes for the first time, so here are some thoughts to help you get started. Take a deep breath, and remember that our goals have not changed. The material has not changed. The students are the same, and you’re the same. The difference is this mode of communication, which has…

I received a really lovely email from a podcast listener who recently heard a Raising Saints episode from March of 2017, and noted how helpful it was during this strange pandemic period. So many children who usually attend school are home all the time, and so many people who used to go into an office are working from home. It’s a lot of family togetherness! In many ways it’s a blessing, but…

I received a note from a podcast listener, who heard me mention in passing on Everyday Orthodox, that my daughter received a liver transplant in 2010. I was talking about the strange moment when we received the phone call, hearing that they had an eleventh hour liver for the very sick little baby lying in a hospital bed in front of me. That moment held so much joy and relief, and so…

Disclaimer: I don’t have the answers. I have the questions, perhaps, but I’m still working on answers. 2020. This year has been like no other. And like all of the other Sunday School Directors out there, my attention has moved from figuring out Virtual Vacation Church Camp to planning for the Fall 2020 Sunday School Semester, which promises to REALLY be like no other. For me, Sunday School planning is usually about…