St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church (Part 2) with Fr. Kevin Rigdon

September 29, 2021

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On this episode of A Beautiful Church podcast, we’re continuing to talk to Father Kevin Rigdon who founded and serves at St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church in Cleveland, TN. If you haven’t listened to part one of our conversation, be sure to listen here! He shares some interesting thoughts about what the Orthodox Church brings to this region, the prayer culture of St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church, a bit of ancient church history, and more. Fr. Rigdon discusses how God is teaching his mission “the one thing needful” in this season - “mission” being a word they use to call their church.

Fr. Rigdon expresses how he believes that God has used Covid to provide us the opportunity to die to ourselves on behalf of other people and to teach us to become more like Him. Listen in to our conversation and hear how Kevin continues on the importance of practicing thanksgiving.

 

Jump Through the Conversation

  • [0:42] What Orthodoxy brings to the table for the Church in this region

    • Breakdown of what “Church” is to Orthodox communities

    • A bit of ancient church history

    • Being the church for the Orthodox is a rightly glorifying life - which means dying to yourself.

  • [15:23] Orthodoxy stands as a reminder that there is an unbroken continuity, not simply with the first century church, but all the way back [to the beginning].

  • [22:44] How Orthodoxy does an outstanding job tying everything back to history

  • [23:33] Breaking down the prayer culture of St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church and how personal prayer is rooted in liturgical prayer

  • [25:17] For the Orthodox families, there is a dedicated space or altar in their homes called the icon corner or “the beautiful corner”.

  • [29:05] How God is teaching the congregation of St Maria of Paris Orthodox Church “the one thing needful”

  • [30:54] A quick tangent on whether or not we will be hungry in heaven

  • [31:38] How God has used Covid to provide us the opportunity to die to ourselves on behalf of other people 

    • How God is teaching us how to become like Him

    • How God is allowing us to be more intentional about who, why and where we are

  • [34:40] What Kevin feels like God is doing in Chattanooga as a whole

  • [35:21] The importance of practicing generosity and practicing thanksgiving

    • The distinction between giving thanks to God in all circumstances vs for all circumstances

    • To live a right glorifying life requires thanksgiving.

    • Everything that we give thanks for - God has taken it, received it, filled it with His divine power and then He gives it back to us as communion.

  • [44:44] An exhortation to practice thanksgiving to God, no matter the emotion you are feeling

 

Links and Resources

 

A resource of the Chattanooga House of Prayer