Monthly
Chapter Content
Not sure what to talk about at your OCF meeting? We’ve got your covered. Each month we publish content designed with your OCF chapter meeting in mind! This academic year we’ll feature a different saint each month, sharing how their life and writings point to Christ. Discover below the various types of content ranging from discussion resources, educational videos, and blog articles to suggested activities and nationally hosted virtual events. These resources give chapters things to do at their meetings and ease the planning workload on chapter leaders.
October 2023: St. Ignatius of Antioch
Staff Book Pick | The Mystery of Christ: Life in Death
Recommended by Peter Mansour, Ministry CoordinatorBy returning to the practice and methodology of the early Church, Fr John Behr, a renowned patristics scholar, invites readers to approach the mystery of Jesus Christ in the same way that the first disciples learned...
Life in Death in the Letters of St. Ignatius of Antioch | Guided Discussion Guide
Introduction This month, we are learning to “Walk in the Light” with St. Ignatius of Antioch. St. Ignatius was the disciple of the disciples! His writings give us one of the earliest glimpses into the faith of the earliest Christians. St. Ignatius is known for his...
There’s a Saint for That: St. Ignatius of Antioch
The Life of St. Ignatius of Antioch “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 19:14 Holy tradition tells us that when Christ spoke these words, it was St. Ignatius of Antioch who was sitting on His lap....
St. Ignatius of Antioch’s Letter to the Ephesians | Curated Content Discussion Guide
Introduction The theme for OCF this year is “Walking in the Light”. We will be doing just that today with St. Ignatius of Antioch. We will watch a short video explaining his life and read parts of his epistles that he wrote on the way to his death. We encourage you to...
September 2023: St. John Chrysostom
St. John Chrysostom’s “First Instruction to Catechumens” | Curated Discussion
Introduction As we begin this school year, we’ve dedicated the month to “Walking in the Light” with our holy father, St. John Chrysostom. Today, we’ll read one of his writings dedicated to instructing those who are also at a new beginning—the beginning of their walk...
St. John Chrysostom’s Life Advice | Guided Discussion
Introduction Of all the teachings and sermons of the Church Fathers, by far the most recorded and preserved are those of St. John Chrysostom. With hundreds of sermons to read, you could easily spend a lifetime learning from St. John’s powerful rhetoric as well as his...
Staff Book Pick: On Living Simply
Recommended by Alexandros Pandazis, Campus MissionaryThese excerpts from the sermons of Saint John Chrysostom bring fourth-century wisdom to 21st century issues. Each serves as a brief introduction to a major spiritual thought and as a meditation for daily use.
There’s a Saint for That: St. John Chrysostom
The Life of St. John ChrysostomSaint John was born at Antioch in the year 347. His father, Secundus, being a famous military commander, died soon after John’s birth. His mother, Anthusa, although being widowed at the age of 20, did not dare to remarry but rather...
April 2023: Living Like We Believe in the Resurrection
April Events:
There’s A Saint For That : St. Lazarus
St. LazarusThe Life of St. LazarusSt. Lazarus of Bethany was brother to Mary and Martha and a known close friend of Jesus. He was very sick; some historians believe he had leprosy. He was a poor man and was often found lying at the gates of rich men begging for table...
Curated Discussion: “Planted in Death, Bearing Fruit in Life”
Begin your meeting with prayer and by reading the excerpt from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans below, followed by St. John Chrysostom’s commentary on the text. Then, discuss the questions about the reading. Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into...
Staff Pick : “Everyday Saints and Other Stories”
Recommended by Ivy Gabriella Tesfay,Ministry InternIn Communist Russia in 1984, five youths from non-religious backgrounds joined a monastery. This is the story of what they experienced and some of the "everyday saints" they met. The author says, "In this book I want...
Guided Discussion: “Let the Living Bury the Living”
This discussion is made up of five parts, with each part containing a reflection and a set of discussion questions. Either with your OCF chapter, a friend or two, or just on your own, read each reflection and discuss the questions related to it. You can choose to...
Staff Book Pick : The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Recommended by Christina Andresen, Director of Ministries John Mark Comer tackles the problem of hurry in our lives by helping diagnose the problem and introducing (or reintroducing) us to the spiritual practices of silence and solitude, Sabbath, simplicity, and...
Guided Discussion: “Worry, Hurry, and the One Thing Needful”
This discussion is made up of three parts, with each part containing a reflection and a set of discussion questions. Either with your OCF chapter, a friend or two, or just on your own, read each reflection and discuss the questions related to it. You can choose to...
There’s A Saint For That : St. Macarius the Great of Egypt
St. Macarius the Great of Egypt The Life of St. Macarius St. Macarius is a fourth century saint from a small village in Egypt. In obedience to his parents, he married a young woman despite wishing to remain alone. However, he left to rest in the wilderness for a few...
Curated Discussion: The Way of the Pilgrim
Part I: Excerpts from The Way of the Pilgrim Split up into pairs or small groups. Each group should be assigned one of the following excerpts from The Way of the Pilgrim to read aloud. Each group should try to answer these questions about their excerpt: What does this...
There’s a Saint for That: The Seven Holy Youths of Ephesus
The Seven Holy Youths (“Seven Sleepers”) of Ephesus The 7 Holy Youths “Seven Sleepers” of Ephesus—Maximilian, Iamblicus, Martinian, John, Dionysius, Exacustodianus (Constantine) and Antoninus—lived in Ephesus in the third century. Friends from childhood, the Seven...
Curated Discussion: “Monastic Time”
Watch the video of Maggie’s first visit to a monastery and hear what some of the sisters at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Monastery had to say about the role of time in the Orthodox life and the way that monastics seek to “redeem time.” Then, discuss some of the...
Staff Pick: “The Mountain of Silence”
Recommended by Alexandros Pandazais, Campus Missionary An acclaimed expert in Christian mysticism travels to a monastery high in the Trodos Mountains of Cyprus and offers a fascinating look at the Greek Orthodox approach to spirituality that will appeal to readers of...
Guided Discussion: “Time Management: An Orthodox Perspective”
This discussion is based on an article published by Dr. Albert Rossi and Julia Wickes in 2009 in the OCA’s Theology of Lay Ministries Volume III. The reflection sections are taken directly from the article, while the discussion questions are original to this content....
Guided Discussion: What to Do When Life Gets You Down
Part I: The Feelings Are Real Reflection “Despondency is the impossibility to see anything good or positive. Despondency is the suicide of the soul because when man is possessed by it, he is absolutely unable to see the light and desire it.” Fr. Alexander...
There’s A Saint For That : St. Silouan the Athonite
St. Silouan the AthoniteHow can St. Silouan intercede for us?As we can see in his simple yet complicated life, there may be no saint better acquainted with the depths of despair and despondency than St. Silouan. Although our temptation to hopelessness may look...
Podcast: Despondency with Nicole Roccas
Despondency | Your Orthodox Voice on Campus: OCF Campus Ministry Podcast In this episode Samuel Dutschmann, College Conference Midwest Student Leader, is joined by author, podcaster, and trauma coach, Nicole Roccas. They discuss despondency in the life of college...
Curated Discussion: Combating Restlessness
Part I: Start your meeting by reading from Father Jeremy McKemy’s blog post Acedia: The Two-Faced Demon. Part II: After reading, take 2-3 minutes to write down your initial thoughts about the article. Part III: Then, discuss the following questions as a group, or in...
Staff Pick: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
Recommended by Dn. Marek Simon, Executive Director In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, author Stephen R. Covey presents a holistic, integrated, principle-centered approach for solving personal and professional problems. With penetrating insights and pointed...
November 2022: How Gratitude Changes Our Perspective
November Events:
St. John the Hut-Dweller | There’s a Saint for That
St. John Calybytes “the Hut-Dweller”How can St. John intercede for us?St. John is known for his love for his parents and his gratitude. Pray to him to grow closer to your family while you are away for college. Ask him to implore the Holy Spirit to give you a spirit of...
Curated Discussion: “A Deeper Level of Thanksgiving”
Part I: Start your meeting by listening to this clip from Father Thomas Hopko’s Speaking the Truth in Love: “A Deeper Level of Thanksgiving” (Click here to listen to the the full episode on Ancient Faith Radio.) Part II: After watching, take 2-3 minutes to write down...
Suggested Activity: “Practicing Gratitude”
We are called to be grateful in two ways: towards God and towards our fellow human beings. If practice makes perfect, however, then we need to practice gratitude in order to achieve this calling from God. Here are two ways to practice gratitude this month: Read “This...
Guided Discussion : “Gratitude for Evil”
This discussion is made up of four parts, with each part containing a reflection and a set of discussion questions. Either with your OCF chapter, a friend or two, or just on your own, read each reflection and discuss the questions related to it. You can choose to...
Staff Pick: The Sayings of the Desert Fathers
Recommended by Alexandros Pandazis, Campus MissionaryWhen Christians first began living as monks in the Egyptian desert at the beginning of the fourth century, they had few books and almost no learning. As they gained experience, they concentrated that experience in...
October 2022 : Inviting Others into Eternity
Orthodox Awareness Month
Don’t miss our OAM Feature Panel: “Exploring Ancient Liturgies” via Zoom on October 25.
Chapters and Individuals are envited to participate in the OAM social media contest. Click here for details.
Guided Discussion: Inviting Others into Eternity
The Eternal vs The Temporal As Orthodox Christians, we’re used to the idea of the “eternal.” Our prayers repeat over and over, “now and ever and unto the ages of ages!” This idea of something being stable, being infinite, being timeless can sometimes feel foreign in...
St. Nektarios of Aegina | There’s a Saint for That
St. Nektarios of AeginaThe Life of St. NektariosAnastasios Kephalas was born on October 1st, 1846, in Eastern Selyvria of Thrace (now Turkey). He was one of six children and grew up very poor, but his parents taught him from a young age to be a pious Orthodox...
Curated Content Discussion: Beauty
Curated Discussion: Beauty Begin your meeting with a minute of silence, a prayer, and by listening to or having already listened to “The Red Flower” on Dcn. Nicholas Kotar’s Podcast In a Certain Kingdom....
Suggested Activity: Food Pantry
…for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord,...
Staff Pick: Resident Aliens
Recommended by Joseph Bray, Communications Manager “In the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, all human history must be reviewed. The coming of Christ has cosmic implications. He has changed the course of things. So the theological (and I’d add, the...
September 2022 : Building Christ-Centered Habits
Curated Discussion : Building Christ-Centered Habits
Start your meeting by watching together the Be the Bee episode “Habits” by Steve Christoforou. Take some time to journal on your own: What habits (good or bad) are you currently growing in your life? What is one habit you’d like to uproot in your life? What is one...
Guided Discussion: Building Christ-Centered Habits
What does it mean to build habits that are truly Christ-centered? It means to invite Christ into our everyday lives, no matter how mundane. It means for us to call upon the Holy Spirit so that we grow in our awareness of His presence. A Christ-centered habit is a...
Video: How do I pray amid the noise?
Fr. Apostolos Hill shares advice on how we can talk to God amid the reality of our busy and loud lives.
Staff Pick: The Life of Repentance and Purity by Pope Shenouda III
Recommended by Demiana Saleeb, Ministry InternNeed better habits? Want an easy read? "The Life of Repentance & Purity" by Pope Shenouda III might be the perfect book for you! OCF Ministry Intern, Demiana, read this book during the last Lenten season and now recommends...
Small Acts of Service: Building Christ-Centered Habits
This month, start building a habit of serving others by trying to do small acts of service throughout your week. Choose one small thing you could commit to doing at least once a week every week. Some suggestions we have: Check in with a friend you haven’t heard from...
St. Seraphim of Sarov | There’s a Saint for That
St. Seraphim of SarovPray to himHear our prayer, Saint Seraphim, from the innermost being of each one of us, from our greatest yearnings for truth and love, and from our deepest needs for intervention into our struggles in this temporal life. Proclaim to us, “Christ...
August 2022 : Time & Eternity
Curated Discussion : Time & Eternity
Start your meeting by listening together to the episode “Why Time” of the podcast Time Eternal by Dr. Nicole Roccas. Then, as a group or in smaller groups, discuss the following questions…
Guided Discussion : Time & Eternity
We live in a reality where we are caught between the eternal and the temporal. We live lives within the temporal: we mark the years, seasons, and feasts, and yet, we look to the eternal “and the life of the age to come.” At times, because we live in this tension, we...
Staff Pick : The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
Recommended by Fr. Panagiotis Boznos,Spiritual Advisor to the Student Leadership Board Imagine getting your hands on the other team’s playbook. That is what The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis is like. This book is a satirical collection of letters from a senior demon...
St. John of the Ladder | There’s a Saint for That
With the rivers of your tears, you have made the barren desert fertile. Through sighs of sorrow from deep within you, your labors have borne fruit a hundred-fold. By your miracles you have become a light, shining upon the world. O John, our Holy Father, pray to Christ our God, to save our souls.
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