Christ is Risen!


Be Poets of the Logos!

Sarx (σαρξ) is the Greek word for "flesh". This is the blog of a Southern Man (sojourning in Buffalo, NY) attempting to follow God in the way of Jesus.

I am a priest in the Russian Orthodox Church in America (ROCIA). We are growing a Mission community here in Buffalo.

You can email me at "arkouda" at this domain.


Please buy me books from my Consumptionmas Wish List

Disclaimer

I who have written this story, or rather this fable, give no credence to the various incidents related in it. For some things in it are the deceptions of demons, other poetic figments; some are probable, others improbable; while still others are intended for the delectation of foolish men. (Closing lines of the Táin Bó Cúalnge)

Emergence

FRIEND – Who may identify theirself if they wish – recently took a new parish assignment. There was much rejoicing. The friend asked me for advice on Emergent Church Models and “how to do emergent”. You know: what books to read, etc.
And it was in the process of two conversations over [...]

Emergent Sacramentalists

Was having a talk today with a friend online about the Independent Sacramental movement. The conversation was all over the board.
Then I said we needed to start our own indy jurisdiction and I first suggested that we do Eastern Rite, but then I realised that would be stupid because I’d want no [...]

Reading Group.

Hey, Buffaloans!
Anyone interested in reading V. Eller’s Christian Anarchy: Jesus’ Primacy Over the Powers in a group setting? Read a chapter, discuss, maybe in a coffee shop or cafe? The book is available free at the above link (thanks to the publishers) but it would be fun to read in a group, I think.
Contact [...]

Status Report

I met with a Rabbi on Thursday who made it quite clear that conversion, per se, isn’t necessary for a Gentile. Unlike the Christians and the Muslims, the Jews don’t have sense of “evangelism”. We had a nice conversation and he suggested I read a book – now out of print – which [...]

How to do church

I Pray a lot
      A. pray without ceasing
      B. pray with others
II Decide you want to
III Get some others together who want to, too.
      A. Find a book.
            1. Christian Anarcy
      B. Invite locals to join you in reading.
            1. Post an ad on your local Craigslist
            2. Post an ad in your local Cool Paper
            3. Post an ad at your local [...]

Open Source (Eucharist – Pt 2)

I ended part one of this Rumination asking, “Is it useful for communities who consider themselves to be moving beyond older models to continue this model (of Ordained ministry and Apostolic Succession) or, if the goal is to move back to some older model (ie, the “Early Church”) how is that done?”
Over on [...]

Eucharist? – Pt1

I’m expecting 2 parts maybe more… an exploration of Eucharist and Ordination.
I visited the Circle of Mercy on Sunday. I went for two reasons: (1) I’ve never been to a UCC parish before and having read good things about them, I wanted to visit; (2) their worship sounded a LOT lit my time at [...]

St Hildegard’s Community

Hmm. EpiscoMergent:
We have tried to imagine and live out one possibility of a baptismal ecclesiology in conversation with emerging theologies, including feminist liberation theology. We foster a deep inner life personally and in community; we also promote significant ministries in the world and bring the joy and struggle of the world into the [...]

Status

A few points of Personal Blog:

I’ve decided that I can live with my doubts. What I do with them is another matter entirely.
A recent discussion of Praxis-Asheville brought out a lot of accusatory comments about the oddities of the group, but no real dialogue. This was disappointing. Let me come clean: I [...]

On Tradition.

The is the last post in the Praxis conversation (as far as I know). It’s a long one: I tried to edit it to make sense of the conversation as it happened: there were four of us.
THe Praxis pastor asked me some questions about Orthodox practise (ie, about our praxis). Her responses to [...]