Rejoice in the Day the Lord has Made

Rejoice in the Day the Lord has Made

At this time of year, we reflect and remember the Apostles and the mission of the church.

In this low key inspirational and extemporaneous sermon , Fr John Brian reminds everyone of the very premise of mission and purpose in Christian spiritual development.

Fr. John Brian challenges listeners to live in the day the Lord has made and bring others to the ever-present love of God available every day.

This sermon uses and refers to scripture readings appointed by the Syrian Malankara calendar and was given on Sunday, June 24, 2012 by Fr. John-Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

Please, as you are inspired, pray for us and help us.

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml

LISTEN ON-LINE HERE:

Mercy From the Beginning - Retreat Talk

Mercy From the Beginning
Retreat Talk for Youth/Adult group

The theme for the 2012 annual retreat of the Kerala Christian Congregation of Minneapolis was Matthew 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

Fr John-Brian was one of two presenters on the theme. On Saturday afternoon, he gave an extemporaneous talk "Mercy From the Beginning" from questions after the first talk.

Earlier, Fr John Brian spoke with the pre-teen group about mercy by going through the mercy demonstrated in the five parables of the first talk "Mercy Mercy"

This talk uses and refers to the scriptures and the church fathers. It was given on Saturday, June 16, 2012 by Fr. John-Brian Paprock of Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel in Madison, Wisconsin at the KCC of Minneapolis Annual Retreat in Amery, Wisconsin.

Please, as you are inspired, pray for us and help us.

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml
LISTEN ON-LINE HERE:

Mercy Mercy - audio from retreat talk

Mercy Mercy - audio from retreat talk

The theme for the 2012 annual retreat of the Kerala Christian Congregation of Minneapolis was Matthew 5:7 "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

Fr John-Brian was one of two presenters on the theme. On Friday night, he gave an introduction to mercy: "Mercy Mercy" which was accompanied by a PowerPoint presentation which is also available on-line:


http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2012/06/mercy-mercy-slideshow-of-retreat.html

This talk uses and refers to the scriptures and the church fathers as well as to an article by Fr. Thomas Hopko. It was given on Friday, June 15, 2012 by Fr. John-Brian Paprock of Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel in Madison, Wisconsin at the KCC of MInneapolis Annual Retreat in Amery, Wisconsin.

Please, as you are inspired, pray for us and help us.

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml
LISTEN ON-LINE HERE:

Mercy Mercy - slideshow of retreat presentation

Mercy Mercy - retreat theme presentation by Fr. John-Brian Paprock

Given at Kerala Christian Congregation of Minneapolis Annual Reterat

Amery, Wisconsin - June 15, 2012

To listen to audio recording of two "Mercy Mercy " presentations
LISTEN ON-LINE
1. Mercy Mercy (recorded 06-15-12)
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2012/06/mercy-mercy-audio-from-retreat-talk.html

2. Mercy From The Beginning (recorded 06-16-12)
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2012/06/mercy-from-beginning-retreat-talk.html

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD either or both:
http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian
or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml

iTunes: Now Available Two Books by Fr. John Brian

Fully Alive
by Rev. Fr. John-Brian Paprock
This book is available for download on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iBooks and on your computer with iTunes. Books must be read on an iOS device.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/rev.-fr.-john-brian-paprock/id460397293?mt=11

Neighbors, Strangers and Everyone Else
by Rev. Fr. John-Brian Paprock
This book is available for download on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch with iBooks and on your computer with iTunes. Books must be read on an iOS device.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/rev.-fr.-john-brian-paprock/id460397293?mt=11

Book Review: Living in the Eighth Day

Living in the Eighth Day (2006)
Google Books User Review
by Jarrod Ryder 
(note: The reviewer has disclosed that he is a member of Coptic Orthodox Church)

Fr John Brian Paprock is an American priest in the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church [sic], who shepherds a mission parish of the Holy Transfiguration, Madison Wisconsin. Although he has been exposed to some of the great academic theological minds of our time, including Paulos Mar Gregorios (famous for his work on St Gregory of Nyssa's theology - Cosmic Man) he shows in this collection of homilies and pastoral recollections from the Church year a wonderful ability to communicate to all people.

Fr John-Brian Paprock's service should be interesting not only to Orthodox, but to people interested in religious studies in general because he represents a new trend in people seeking to know the mystical and ancient Christian faith of the early centuries in a contemporary setting.

Who would have thought, that amidst the mega churches of America with their modern innovations, people would begin to search for the heart of their historical faith and find it amidst a spiritual fountain of cultural and spiritual blessings from those ancient cultures that have preserved the original faith handed down via the apostles. I see many similarities in the experiences and message being promoted in the Church of the Holy Transfiguration to our small sister Church in Australia with the same faith and purpose, and it is a delightful read not only for its message(s) but also for an insight into a new breed of Christian mission that is older than the New Testament.

review originally appeared at this url:

http://books.google.com.au/books/about/Living_in_the_Eighth_Day.html?id=qtQQxsclsCQC&hl=en%2FV1%2Fpgcb1_2.html%3Fctid%3DCT2504091 

Essential Unity in Saintliness

Essential Unity in Saintliness

In the time of Pentecost, the church lessons are focused on mission, purpose and lives of the apostles and the saints.

Starting with Paul's words to the Ephesians (Chapter 2) about two becoming one, diverse becoming united through the Spirit.

In front of each of us is a saintliness we are called to fulfill. Fr. John Brian talks about the essential unity of Christian spirituality. Our spiritual development must meet the saints in the actions of our everyday life.

This sermon uses and refers to scripture readings appointed by the Syrian Malankara calendar and was given on Sunday, June 10, 2012 by Fr. John-Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

Please, as you are inspired, pray for us and help us.

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml
LISTEN ON-LINE HERE:

Holy Spirit Imitation

Holy Spirit Imitation

Holy Spirit Trust

The Holy Spirit has descended. The comforter has come. Now what?

The popular ideas of what is to happen are fantastic and supernatural. Beyond the natural world - Yes! But not always fantastic.

We are called to fulfill the ideal to which we were created - that we are created in God's image. It is only by the Holy Spirit that we are able to do what Christians are called to do - that which is un-natural or supernatural in the views of this world.

This world is either in awe or in disdain for our un-natural work of Christian spiritual development. It is entertained by the fantastic and revels in criticism when we are unable to live up to the lofty ideals of Christian mercy.

Fr. John Brian talks about the spirituality of the Holy Spirit using excerpts from Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians.

This sermon uses and refers to scripture readings appointed by the Syrian Malankara calendar and was given on Sunday, June 3, 2012 by Fr. John-Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

Please, as you are inspired, pray for us and help us.

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml
LISTEN ON-LINE HERE: