As Great Lent comes to a close, our attention turns to preparing the family for Holy Week. Elissa Bjeletich, co-author of the book Blueprints for the Little Church, offers today's reflection.

Entering into Holy Week

Now that we've passed the halfway point of Great Lent, Elissa Bjeletich suggests that we consider mixing up our routines. In particular, we might get our children involved in some charitable works to remind ourselves of the true meaning of Great Lent.

Mixing It Up: Almsgiving

Caleb Shoemaker, coauthor of Blueprints for the Little Church, encourages us to take a look at our schedules as we plan out the remaining weeks of Great Lent—looking for balance as we plan to attend church services with children and looking ahead to embracing the meaning of the Sundays of Lent.

Scheduling

Learn from the video below about this substantial update of one of our best selling books at Ancient Faith. Fr. Andrew Damick talks about the new expanded version of Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy. Available Spring 2017 from store.ancientfaith.com. Click here to preorder your copy.

Orthodoxy and Heterodoxy 2.0

Elissa Bjeletich talks about adjusting the plan for Great Lent to make sure it's suiting the family well, and about creating a fasting rhythm that will be meaningful and sustainable even after the season ends.

Sustainability

Caleb Shoemaker chimes in with some tips for keeping Great Lent with young children.

Getting Ready for Great Lent with Caleb Shoemaker

Great Lent is always a struggle, but it's especially so in households with children—and even more if you have children at various developmental stages (toddlers and high schoolers under one roof?). Elissa Bjeletich, co-author of Blueprints for the Little Church, shares some tips.

Great Lent with Children of All Ages

This is the second of a two-part series titled "I will walk among you" and was presented at St. Barnabas Orthodox Church in Costa Mesa, California, by the Very Reverend Father Tryphon. Fr. Tryphon is the co-founder and abbot of The Brotherhood of the All-Merciful Savior Monastery, Vashon Island, WA. He is also the founder of a laity brotherhood “The Brotherhood of the Salish Sea." He is a longtime blogger (“The Morning Offering”) and podcaster (“The Morning Offering”) on Ancient Faith Blogs and Radio, providing meaningful daily support and authoritative guidance for a spiritual life in today’s world.

“I Will Walk Among You” - Part Two

This is the first of a two-part series titled "I will walk among you" and was presented at St. Barnabas Orthodox Church in Costa Mesa, California, by the Very Reverend Father Tryphon. Fr. Tryphon is the co-founder and abbot of The Brotherhood of the All-Merciful Savior Monastery, Vashon Island, WA. He is also the founder of a laity brotherhood “The Brotherhood of the Salish Sea." He is a longtime blogger (“The Morning Offering”) and podcaster (“The Morning Offering”) on Ancient Faith Blogs and Radio, providing meaningful daily support and authoritative guidance for a spiritual life in today’s world.

“I Will Walk Among You” - Part One

Actor and Orthodox Christian Jonathan Jackson speaking at Holy Apostles Orthodox Mission in Bowling Green, KY. This is one of three talks given at the Seeing God Symposium. Our thanks to Fr. Michael Nasser for allowing us to film.

Seeing God: The Love of the Beautiful

Iconographer Jennie Gelles speaking at Holy Apostles Orthodox Mission in Bowling Green, KY. This is one of three talks given at the Seeing God Symposium. Our thanks to Fr. Michael Nasser for allowing us to film.

Seeing God: Exhibiting the Holy Art of Iconography

Fr. John Oliver speaking at Holy Apostles Orthodox Mission in Bowling Green, KY. This is one of three talks given at the Seeing God Symposium. Our thanks to Fr. Michael Nasser for allowing us to film.

Seeing God: We Worship the God of Matter

Fr. John Finley, a missionary priest with the Department of Missions and Evangelism of the Antiochian Archdiocese, speaks at the Sacred Music Institute at Antiochian Village in Ligonier, Pennsylvania.

Ancient Faith Presents Video Edition (Video)

Ancient Faith Presents Video Edition (Video)

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