SECOND SUNDAY after PENTECOST, June 2nd , 2024. Dear Friends, The Gospel reading is preceded by the account which tells us of the beginning of Christ’s public ministry, we then continue today with the call of Peter, and his brother Andrew. They will leave their nets, and then James and John will be called. Although as poor fishermen they did not leave much, it is noted that they generously left all to follow the Lord. That same invitation is also given to us. To put it in perspective we saw the Holy Spirit poured out over the Church and the All Saints Sunday reminded us of the result of that g ..read more

ALL SAINTS SUNDAY, May 26th 2024. Dear Friends, Today we celebrate the Sunday of All Saints. In a sense it is in its logical place in the calendar. For, having celebrated the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost what we now look to is the Saints. We look to them as those who have been transformed by the Holy Spirit and made in to heroes of the Faith. We read in the Ambon prayer: “O Lord glorious in the council of your Saints, you are the boast of the Apostles, the joy of prophets, the support of martyrs, the gladness of venerable ascetics and the crown of the Mother of God. Give us your ..read more

On the first Sunday after Pentecost, the Church commemorates all the saints–all of the Holy People of God who make up the “great cloud of witnesses” whose faith shows the world the power and love of God.  In his homily, below, Fr James Graham talks about how Christ tells us how to be saints. Carrying Our Cross Reminds Us to Live Holy Lives Homily for All Saints (First Sunday after Pentecost) Hebrews 11:33-12:2…………….Matthew 10:32-38, 19:27-30 Today the Church celebrates the Sunday of All Saints.  This means all of the holy women and men before us—and with us (including us)—and followi ..read more

“When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” “And suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind and it filled the entire house in which they were.” PENTECOST SUNDAY, May 19th 2024. Dear Friends, Today we celebrate the feast of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was pou ..read more

On the Seventh Sunday after Pascha, we celebrate the Great Feast of Pentecost–the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples to empower them to preach the Good News in different “tongues” so that people from all over the world could hear of God’s “mighty works” in their own languages.  In his homily, below, Fr James Graham emphasizes the gift of hearing imparted by the Holy Spirit. Come and celebrate the Divine Liturgy for this great feast with us at 9:30 on Sunday morning.  After our lunch and social, we’ll return to the church for the Kneeling Prayers (from Vespers on Pentecost ..read more

On the Sixth Sunday after Pascha (the Seventh Sunday of Pascha), between the Great Feast of the Ascension of the Lord and the Great Feast of Pentecost, the Church commemorates the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, which was convened by the Emperor Constantine in Nicea in the year 325.  The 318 bishops at the Council wrote the Creed–our Symbol or Profession of Christian faith.  (It was completed at the 2nd Ecumenical Council in 381, clarifying our belief in the Holy Spirit.)  As Fr James Graham notes in his homily, below, this day’s reading from the Acts of the Apostl ..read more

Christ is Risen! Indeed he is Risen! Christos voskrese! Voistinnu Voskrese! Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti! SUNDAY of the MAN BORN BLIND Sunday May 5th 2024. Dear Friends, We have many things to motivate and inspire us over the next two weeks. Today’s Gospel highlights one of the greatest miracles Christ worked. No one EVER healed a man born blind in the Old Testament. We do read of Tobias was cured of this blindness, but, he was not born blind. Therefore, as a miracle never seen before (pun intended), this miracle stands out as one of the greatest any Prophet had worked. It is also striking ..read more

The story of the healing of the man born blind, from St John’s Gospel, obviously has a message for us about seeing, or vision, or perception.  In his homily, below, for this 5th Sunday after Pascha (6th Sunday of Pascha), Fr James Graham invites us to think about what we should be seeing when we look at the world around us. Celebrate the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom with us at 9:30 on Sunday morning, and stay after the liturgy to enjoy lunch and conversation. LEARN TO SEE GOD AT WORK IN THE WORLD Homily for the Fifth Sunday after Pascha Acts of the Apostles 16:16-34…………….John 9:1 ..read more

On the Fifth Sunday of Pascha (the Fourth Sunday after Pascha) we hear the story of Jesus and the Samaritan Woman at Jacob’s Well from the Gospel of John.  And from the Acts of the Apostles we hear how Christ’s disciples dispersed from Jerusalem and in Antioch began preaching to non-Jews, who came to believe and made Antioch the place where the name “Christian” was first used.  In his homily, below, Fr James Graham shows how these two stories shape our understanding of the Church and its mission. Join us to celebrate the Divine Liturgy at 9:30 am on Sunday.  This Sunday, after l ..read more

Christ is Risen! Indeed he is Risen! Christos voskrese! Voistinnu Voskrese! Christos Anesti! Alithos Anesti! SUNDAY of the SAMARITAN WOMAN, Sunday April 28th 2024. Dear Friends, The reading from the Acts of the Apostles is noteworthy since for the very time the disciples, the new Christians of the nascent church are known as the Christianoi, that is, as Christians. What stands out and bears witness to them is their love one for another. This is a beautiful testimony to the Christians and was not something lost to the Pagans who saw their way of life. In fact the Acts describe Christians as tho ..read more