Fr. Apostolos shares about the importance of oil in the Old Testament, the New Testament (the myrrh-bearing women), and today. "If our desire is for the Spirit of the Lord to come mightily upon us, we must walk in the anointing power of the Holy Spirit, for we are an anointed people. We are consecrated to God and we are destined for eternity. So, let us follow the bold example of the myrrh-bearing women and take a step of faith in our lives."

Fr. Apostolos Hill delivers a short homily on what we will all write in the New Year on the pages of the books of our lives.

Fr. Apostolos Hill gave a recap of the vitality of our young ones' faith alongside the pitfalls awaiting those whose spiritual development is neglected in the home or parish. Stay Alert, Stay Alive was the theme of All Saints Camp (Arizona) this past week.

Fr. Apostolos Hill speaks about the Hymn of Kassiani's retelling of the sinful woman who wept her tears of repentance over the feet of Christ and of Jesus' retort to Simon, "He who is forgiven little, loves little...." He also tells about the life and love of St. Mary of Egypt.

Fr. Apostolos Hill preaches about the Living Water that only Christ can give to quench the thirst in the deepest part of humanity.

Sermon on the Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (II Cor 11:31-12:9; Luke 16:16-31)

Sermon on the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost (Galatians 1:11-19; Luke 8:26-39)

Sermon on the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (I Corinthians 9:2-12; Matthew 18:23-35)

Sunday before the Beginning of the Great Fast

Forgiveness is at the heart of the gospel message and Christian experience. As Christians living in the community of faith, we are called to share all things in common. Fr Tom explains that this includes sharing the mercy and compassion with one another that we first received from Christ. (Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost)

On the day before the beginning of Great Lent, the Church teaches us that our journey of repentance begins with offering forgiveness. Fr Tom reminds us that forgiveness is the essential action to grow in the likeness of God, because it is what He freely offers to us. (Forty-first Sunday after Pentecost - Forgiveness Sunday)

On the last Sunday of preparation before we begin the Great Fast, the Church calls us to offer and receive forgiveness from everyone. Fr Tom reminds us that we are commanded to forgive precisely because this action allows us to participate in and experience the Divine Life of God Himself.

God uses even the difficult circumstances of our life for our salvation. Fr Tom reminds us that in these tests of life, God wants us to persevere and draw closer to Him. (Thirty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost)

The healing of the paralytic is a wonderful gospel scene rich with meaning for us. Fr Tom reminds us that God demonstrates His power when formerly "paralyzed" lives are healed and transformed to become living testimonies to the truth of Christ.

Our Lord taught his disciples to put away anxiety about life and instead trust in God. Fr Thomas reminds us that by seeing life through the teachings of Christ, even the difficulties and tribulations of life will build us up to be stronger followers of Him. (Third Sunday after Pentecost)

Today, many view religion with a consumerist mentality in a marketplace of choices. Fr Thomas enumerates three Orthodox distinctives to encourage and challenge us and those who are seeking the true faith. (Gal 1:11-19)

Recent news has reported that, in the US, church attendance is down, in direct relation to the social changes sweeping the country. Fr Thomas teaches us that when the winds of change blow, the most important thing we can do is assess our own commitment to faith in Christ by checking for spiritual blindness.

When we hear the story of the Prodigal Son, our focus is often on the actions of the son in his return to the father. Fr Thomas emphasizes from the same story, that we can also learn much about the nature of God, how He is eager to forgive us with abundant mercy, and how He wants everyone in the community to share in His joy. (Luke 15:11-32)

Fr Thomas challenges us to recognize that our task as Christians is not simply to come to church to be fed for our own purposes, but to be sent out to build up the body of Christ.

In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus illustrates the consequences of unforgiveness. Fr Thomas teaches us that it is the God of love, mercy, and compassion who commands us to forgive and warns us of the judgment to come if we do not.

On the day before the Great Feast of the Annunciation of the Mother of God, Fr Thomas weaves the themes from the gospel of the Second Sunday of Lent (the healing of the paralytic) and from the Annunciation to remind us that the Word of God is given to us to increase our faith and trust in Him.

"God is Love" has become one of the most abused verses of Scripture. It's used today to justify every sin and excuse every condition. Fr Thomas urges us to look at the entirety of the Gospel message to truly understand the implications of being a creature of God Who is Love.

As Christians, the Holy Spirit gives us a new perspective on life and that includes what we do with our time, talent, and treasure. In short, everything belongs to God. He gives it all to us as a gift and we're called to offer a portion back to Him in thanksgiving.

On the Pre-Lenten Sunday of the Final Judgment, Fr Thomas speaks out against the false teachings of universalism, millenarianism, and the doubted return of Christ.

In a powerful message on the value of faith, Fr Thomas reminds us that forgiveness is the most important healing we'll ever receive.

Leading into the Great Fast, Fr. Tom urgently calls us to remember that all of the fasting in the world is useless if we neglect the weightier matters.

As we remember the saints of North America, we remember that what made them special wasn't ethnicity or cultural preservation . . . it was their desire to preach the Gospel!

Fr. Gregory speaks on the Gerasene demoniac and possession by evil spirits.

The Holy Myrrh Bearing Women were the first to proclaim the risen Christ to their incredulous male counterparts.

Subdeacon Emmanuel is the homilist and speaks about the celebration of the saints of Britain and Ireland as well as all saints abroad.

Deacon Christopher is the speaker today and talks about God doing great things with scarce resources.

Forgiveness is waiting for us NOW when we turn to Christ. Use the help that is available and let us carry each other in love and prayer as we all strive to a greater perfection.

Church teaching is that every human being is loved by God, is unique and a special person. We are called to love each other as Christ loves us.

Deacon Emmanuel Kahn's homily on the biblical story of Blind Bartimaeus reminds that we should all become focused on Christ, instead of our problems—even if those problems rightly remain important to us.

Fr. Dn. Emmanuel gives the Holy Thursday sermon from the 6th Chapter of Romans.

When we repent, when we seek to change our lives and our relationship to Christ, what is “at hand”? What is near? What is about to happen? The kingdom of heaven!

Fr. Christopher asks, "Why do we thank people? A cynic may answer to encourage more present giving in the future, and there is some truth to that. We do it to acknowledge the love and kindnesses of people and because there is a relationship. If there is not a two way exchange it is not a real relationship."

Fr. Dn. Emmanuel Kahn gives the sermon on Forgiveness.

Let us make the sign of the cross, and invite the Presence of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit into our lives—into our hopes and our fears. God already knows those hopes and fears, but sometimes He waits for us to share our lives with Him privately, to be honest with Him, so that He can then be honest with us, through revealing some of the fullness of Himself to each of us.

Fr. Dn. Emmanuel says often God’s purpose is not immediately clear to us in our own lives or in the lives of others. We are aware that God is there—that God is present in our lives and in the world, but what exactly is God’s purpose for us and for the world? How can we order our lives?

Fr. Emmanuel Kahn gives the sermon on the Feast of Theophany.

Fr. Gregory Hallam says that Theophany is a good time to look afresh at our own baptism and what this means for all Orthodox Christians.

Fr. Emmanuel Kahn and Fr. Gregory Hallam speak to both the adults and children about the importance of forgiveness.

Fr. Emmanuel Kahn suggest that by praying and by seeking to live a good life, we can be transformed.

Fr. Gregory Hallam and Fr. Emmanuel Kahn preach on the Conception of the Most HolyTheotokos by the Righteous Anna, as well as the life of the Prophetess Anna, mother of the Prophet Samuel.

Fr. Gregory Hallam gives the sermon for Sunday, 10 March 2019.