What God is Not

This week’s episode starts as a mini topic and then becomes a full blown topic! This week Father Michael takes a listener question on vocations and talks about how we can each live out our call within the church. Father Michael and Mother Natalia talk about areas we can serve the church directly in the liturgy but then also out in the wider community.

References:
Sophia Montessori Academy and their Gala

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On this week’s episode Mother Natalia talks about running and how different experiences of a run can equate to experiences in our spiritual life.

References
Into Great Silence (Trailer)

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This week we have another in-person, live episode, this time with many guests! Father Michael talks about feasting and fasting, and how they're both intertwined. We have a few guests talk about memories of their favorite feasts.

References
Live IG Recording
For the Life of the World by Fr. Alexander Schmemann
Convo with a Cradle Copt

Mother Natalia and Father Michael Out and About
Mother Natalia was recently on Pints with Aquinas

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This week Mother Natalia talks about her retreat and the fruits of her retreat. She talks about how this retreat helped her learn or relearn to “just be” with Jesus, not necessarily learning anything, or having a divine revelation, but just learning to be and rest.

References:
The Diary of a Russian Priest by Fr. Alexander Elchaninov
Sister Clare Crockett: Alone with Christ Alone by Sister Kristen Gardner (book)
All or Nothing: Sr. Clare Crockett (video)

Bridegroom's Banquet - the nuns of Christ the Bridegroom are incredibly grateful for the financial support given at the Bridegroom's Banquet and leading up to the banquet. You can watch their video reflection from this year's banquet here. 

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This week we're joined by special guests Fr. Nathan Symeon and his wife Ali. Fr. Nathan Symeon and Ali talk about married priesthood from their own perspective and experience. They talk about the joys and struggles, and ultimately how this path they're on is the one they believe is for their sanctification and holiness.

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This week we're joined by several special guests who participated in an escape room with Mother Natalia and Father Michael. Mother Natalia reflects on how they each reacted within the escape room (one of those haunted house type ones), and how the reactions tended to break down by gender lines.

References:
The Lament of Eve by Johanna Manley
Gates of Fire by Steven Pressfield

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This week Mother Natalia and Father Michael are joined by two special guests, Mother Gabriella from Christ the Bridegroom Monastery and Natalie Bishay, a Coptic Orthodox since birth. Natalie shares some of the beauties of Coptic Orthodoxy, including their mentality of being servants and their process of electing men for the priesthood.

Live Episode:
We're excited to announce a live episode today, Wednesday, August 24th.
Proto-Cathedral of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church
5329 Sepulveda Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91411

Divine Liturgy will begin at 6:30 PM, followed by dinner and a live recording. A main course will be provided but please bring a side to share. Come for all or part of the event! We hope to see you there!

Bridegroom's Banquet - the monastery's annual fundraiser is Saturday, September 10th. All details can be found here, including a link to register to attend in-person, and a link for donations if you can't attend in-person. Thank you for your generosity!

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This week Fr. Michael and Mother Natalia do a "reaction audio" of the canon for the Dormition of the Theotokos. They talk about the links back to the stories of the Old Testament, the paradox of Christian life that's talked about in the canon, and the overall beauty of the prayers. 

Live Episode:
We're excited to announce a live episode next Wednesday, August 24th.
Proto-Cathedral of St. Mary Byzantine Catholic Church
5329 Sepulveda Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91411

Divine Liturgy will begin at 6:30 PM, followed by dinner and a live recording. A main course will be provided but please bring a side to share. Come for all or part of the event! We hope to see you there!

Bridegroom's Banquet - the monastery's annual fundraiser is Saturday, September 10th. All details can be found here, including a link to register to attend in-person, and a link for donations if you can't attend in-person. Thank you for your generosity!

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This week Fr. Michael uses Aristotle's writings to talk about the three types of friend in preparation for an article he's writing on friendship. He talks about the three types of friends, examples of how those friendships can be seen in action, and how we see friendship growing.

References
Wylde Works
Nichomachean Ethics by Aristotle
Leaning In - Episode with Libby on Fasting
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
Homework! John 15: 4-17
Spiritual Friendship
Denver Companions of Christ

Bridegroom's Banquet - the monastery's annual fundraiser is Saturday, September 10th. All details can be found here, including a link to register to attend in-person, and a link for donations if you can't attend in-person. Thank you for your generosity!

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This week we're joined by special guest, Fr. Travis! In today's episode, Mother Natalia reflects on Romans 12 where St. Paul describes the marks of a true Christian. Mother Natalia talks about some practicalities in interacting with others, those that are interested in our true Catholic selves and those that aren't.

References
Fr. Travis' Podcast: Outcast Catholic
Romans 12: 9 - 21
Wisdom in the World (but not of it)
Letter to Diognetus

Bridegroom's Banquet - the monastery's annual fundraiser is Saturday, September 10th. All details can be found here, including a link to register to attend in-person, and a link for donations if you can't attend in-person. Thank you for your generosity!

Follow and Contact Us!
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook
We're on YouTube!
Join our Goodreads Group
Fr. Michael's Twitter
Christ the Bridegroom Monastery
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Support the show