Raising Saints

Elissa reminds us that good stewardship heals our relationship to money and other possessions.

Elissa encourages us to engage in spiritual pilgrimages and approach all of life as pilgrims.

Rather than picture a perfect, established, normal Sunday school and try to fit yourself into that plan, maybe it's better to start by looking at what you do have and find a flexible, innovative way to make it work.

How will we help our children find a respectful and good way to offer Orthodoxy to this world? Elissa emphasizes the importance of being able to articulate the Orthodox faith in emulation of the twelve Holy Apostles.

Elissa takes a look at the recent Pew Research Center report on religious affiliation in the United States and speculates on some of the possible causes of the decline in Orthodox Christian believers.

It is good for our children to understand that the Orthodox treat bodies differently.

Great Lent is a preparation for the ultimate Pascha—for the end of time and Christ's return.

Try not to fall, but if you do, just get back up again.

The goal of Great Lent is not only to deny ourselves and live for Christ, but also to let Christ live in us.

How do you make fasting a beautiful and natural part of your home?

Resolutions are compatible with Orthodoxy, especially when the goal is to grow closer to God. Does Christ radiate in you?

Gifts are a part of Christmas, and that's actually okay, but "God become flesh" is the true meaning of Christmas.

Why does it matter that our God came down to earth and took on flesh? Elissa discusses using the Jesse Tree and other means to teach our children about the Feast of the Nativity.

Elissa discusses angels and what children can learn from them in Sunday school.

Elissa offers some suggestions for guiding children through death and dying.

Elissa is teaching middle schoolers this year at Sunday school, and she will be using the film The Butterfly Circus as the grounding image.

Elissa reminds us that it is our job to make our free will line up with God's will.

Elissa reminds us that the body of Christ is a living organism, and we remove pieces of it to the detriment of the whole.

Citing the writings of Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain, Elissa demonstrates how the conveniences we have invented to make life easy have actually made it quite a bit harder.

Elissa discusses Orthodox marriage and parenting, focusing particularly on how both involve dying to self.