Musing on Mission

Final Words

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:52:57 +0000

Fr. Gabriel completes his podcast Musing on Mission. He offers some concluding thoughts on beginning a mission parish. Fr. Gabriel would like to offer a special thanks to all those who listened to this series.

Report

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:50:51 +0000

Fr. Gabriel reflects on his summer as well as future goals for his mission parish.

Conversion: Part Two

Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:00:01 +0000

Fr. Gabriel continues his conversion discussion, focusing on the meaning of truth .

Conversion

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 03:58:38 +0000

Fr. Gabriel offers the first part of a discussion on the significance of the word "conversion" to the Orthodox Christian.

Eight Tactics for Mission Development

Thu, 29 Apr 2010 04:09:59 +0000

Fr. Gabriel discusses the eight components he's found essential to building a mission.

When Irrational Conflicts Enter the Church

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:46:50 +0000

Fr. Gabriel meditates on the trials and tribulations he has experienced over the last forty years of ministry.

Community

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:07:56 +0000

Fr. Gabriel asks, "What does it mean to have koinonia—to have a 'unity of the spirit'"?

Taking Stock

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 21:58:18 +0000

Fr. Gabriel takes a moment to reflect on the growth of his mission parish and what it will take to keep it growing.

The Things We Carry

Tue, 26 Jan 2010 18:39:17 +0000

Fr. Gabriel addresses the "evanescence" of the Church. Please note that Fr. Gabriel experienced technical difficulties while recording this episode. We apologize in advance for the poor audio quality.

St. George Orthodox Military Association

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:28:30 +0000

Pani-matka Susan interviews Vladimir Laven, a fellow parishioner who just recently began a network called the St. George Orthodox Military Association.

Normalcy

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:48:45 +0000

What happens when a congregation reaches the point of homeostasis? Fr. Gabriel answers this question and more on a new Musing on Mission.

Secular vs. Christian Mindsets: Part 4

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 23:38:11 +0000

Fr. Gabriel explains that the notion of religion is something we do in order to enter into God's presence.

Secular vs. Christian Mindsets: Part 3

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:20:35 +0000

Fr. Gabriel enumerates the various ways in which secular individuals replace the one true Messiah who is lacking in their lives.

Secular vs. Christian Mindsets: Part 2

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:57:03 +0000

Fr. Gabriel engages in a sustained meditation upon the centrality of the Resurrection for Christians.

Secular vs. Christian Mindsets

Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:42:14 +0000

Fr. Gabriel explains that missions is not just about getting people into church; rather, it's likewise about enabling people to think like Christians.

How People Get Into Orthodoxy

Wed, 16 Sep 2009 17:16:52 +0000

Fr. Gabriel shares the results of an evening forum he hosted on Orthodox conversions.

Faith and Culture

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 00:08:26 +0000

What role does culture play in bearing faith to people? What role should culture play in bearing faith to people? How are we ever going to develop an American Orthodox Church? Fr. Gabriel answers these questions and more on a new Musing on Mission.

Orthodox Teens

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 14:49:48 +0000

What do Orthodox teens love about the Church? The community, the stability, the history, and the worship. Fr. Gabriel shares the results of a conversation he recently had with a Ukrainian Orthodox Teen Missions team.

False Issues

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:30:30 +0000

How do you deflect the false issues with which potential seekers confront you? Fr. Gabriel suggests that you maintain your focus on the central message of Christianity.

Joy

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 16:23:18 +0000

Fr. Gabriel explains the distinction between joy and happiness.

Pruning

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:35:01 +0000

There comes a time when pruning is necessary to increase the health of your flock. But this is no easy task, says Fr. Gabriel.

Chrismation

Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:18:09 +0000

Fr. Gabriel muses on the power of the service by which we bring people into the church, as well as the genius of allowing seekers to convert at their own pace.

The Loss of Boundaries

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 00:21:14 +0000

Fr. Gabriel explains why he just recently quit his job as an artisan baker and why he views this as a positive step in his life.

Pride

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 22:20:11 +0000

What do a local mysticism study group, the film Religulous, and the poem Invictus have in common? They all emanate from human ego and pride. Fr. Gabriel Rochelle tackles the heretical conviction that "whatever you can make up to believe religiously is probably okay and may be true."

The Celtic Way of Evangelism

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 22:24:56 +0000

What can we learn from Catholics in Ireland? Fr. Gabriel explains the Celtic way of evangelism, which he believes is directly applicable to the Orthodox Church.

Reliant on Prayer

Fri, 09 Jan 2009 02:37:51 +0000

A mission is not just built, it is literally prayed into existence!

Soul and Body

Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:51:54 +0000

As we near the end of the fast, Fr. Gabriel comments on the tendency in modern Christianity toward a dichotomy of the physical and spiritual as well as belief and actions.

Baking and Ministry

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 20:56:19 +0000

As an artisan baker, Fr. Gabriel has some insight on the relationship between baking and ministry.

Talk Is Not Cheap

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:26:17 +0000

Questions from inquirers can be a regular occurrence at a new mission. What we say and how we say it makes a huge difference in the growth of the mission.

Concept and Craving for Community

Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:56:22 +0000

Should anyone notice or really care if just one person is missing from Church on any given Sunday?

Thresholds

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 01:04:54 +0000

Today Fr. Gabriel reflects on those moments in life where new territory is explored and we enter a strange land. He also celebrates the naming of the new Mission!

Tent Maker

Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:01:44 +0000

Fr. Gabriel muses on the necessity and value of being bi-vocational as a mission priest.

Organization or Organism?

Thu, 02 Oct 2008 04:48:09 +0000

How do you maneuver in the waters of secularism when you are about a true alternative?

Loneliness and the Individual Christian

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:26:46 +0000

Bringing Orthodoxy to a new community involves a demonstration of the communal nature of salvation.

The Priestly Mindset

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 03:43:43 +0000

Returning from a brief vacation, Fr. Gabriel reflects on the old right brain, left brain model and explores the mindset of a priest.

Building Social Capital

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:33:00 +0000

Your relationships in the community matter a great deal not only on their own merit but in your efforts to establish a mission.

Despondency and Despair

Wed, 13 Aug 2008 20:35:37 +0000

Its inevitable when you are starting a mission. There will be times of discouragement. But how should we react?

Money Matters

Sat, 02 Aug 2008 13:56:07 +0000

How should we look at the obvious need for finances when starting a new mission?

Mission in a Post Modern World

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 17:31:11 +0000

Fr. Gabriel even wonders if this is a post-post modern world or back to a modern world! Whatever age we are in, there are unique challenges facing us in planting a mission parish.

How Do You Begin?

Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:08:40 +0000

How do you unravel the Truths of our faith in a place where there is no history, experience or concept of Orthodoxy?

The Shape Of The Mission

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:29:00 +0000

Fr. Gabriel explores the Location, Limitations, Liabilities and Labors of Love that go into establishing a new mission.

A Place For Maintenance And A Place For Mission

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 04:09:00 +0000

In his 2nd installment, Fr. Gabriel reflects on the value of both the maintenance of established parishes and the planting of new ones.

Planting the Seed

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 11:08:00 +0000

In this first episode, Fr. Gabriel gives some background on what led them to Las Cruces New Mexico.