Newsletter June 13, 2025

Contemporary Luminous Faces: Metropolitan Anthony Bloom, Part One

“Consciously and at every hour I wish to take part in the redemption of the world, remaining a light amongst the storms, to be one of Thy beacons.

I go, O Lord, into the world to do Thy will. My only desire is to stand firm as a faithful servant at the post to which Thou didst appoint me, in order to meet Thee worthily.” – Metropolitan Anthony Bloom (1914-2003)

A brilliant contemporary witness to the work of Christ in the hearts of His devoted followers, Metropolitan Anthony Bloom was a man of prayer and spiritual insight of the highest caliber. He embodied unwavering faith in Christ, a profound insight into humanity, especially the modern individual, refined theological scholarship and language, and a steadfast, boundless compassion. A master of dialogue and conversation, he was renowned for his sharp insight, analytical clarity, and ability to grasp reality before expressing any judgment or opinion. No one crossed his path without being deeply and positively moved by him.

Read the entire article: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2450

For a change of pace, we will study the small book “Way of the Ascetics” by Tito Colliander. It is is available via a number of bookshops / vendors.
There is also a version online: https://stjohndc.org/sites/default/files/colliander_en.pdf

Please remember that our full calendar continues to be available at our parish web site. Here is a link:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Calendar/calendar.php

Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Prosphora/Docs/prosphora sched 2025 web.pdf

Full schedule:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Altar/Docs/epistle readers for 2025.pdf

Epistle: ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE HEBREWS 11:33-40; 12:1-2

Brethren, all the saints through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and scourging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were killed with the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, ill-treated – of whom the world was not worthy – wandering over deserts and mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, though well attested by their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had foreseen something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

Gospel: MATTHEW 10:32-33; 37-38; 19:27-30

The Lord said to his disciples, “Every one who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven; but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny him before my Father who is in heaven. He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Then Peter said in reply, “Lo, we have left everything and followed you. What then shall we have?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many that are first will be last, and the last first.”

God’s Gardeners – Nature and Orthodox Christianity

Paul Kingsnorth

(This is a recorded presentation, not an article…)

Read the entire article: https://paulkingsnorth.substack.com/p/gods-gardeners