The Orthodox Christian Fellowship @ McMaster


The Orthodox Christian Fellowship at McMaster is dedicated to sharing the timeless worship and teachings of the historic Christian Church.

Through weekly services, speakers, and the Desert Wisdom Coffee Talks, the Fellowship seeks to offer members a taste of desert Christianity, as a contrast to the passing spiritual trends of our times.

We pray, worship, teach, and believe the same way Orthodox Christians the world over have done for twenty centuries, and invite you to share it with us.

Ancient Christian Chant at the Orthodox Vespers Service takes place every Monday at 6:00pm in either Room 203 or 220 of the Student Centre (as noted in the schedule below). The service follows the pattern used in desert monasteries since the fourth century, and still used by Orthodox Christians today. The service lasts about 45 minutes. All are welcomed.

The Desert Wisdom Coffee house will take place each Monday, following the Vespers Service, starting at about 7:00pm, also in either Room 203 or 220 of the Student Centre (as noted in the schedule below).


Our Meetings & Speakers

OCF at McMASTER - 2007-2008 SCHEDULE
2007: September, October, November,
2008: January, February, March.

SEPTEMBER: Christ in Real Life

• Monday, September 10th, 2007 (ROOM 203)
Who Do You Say That I Am?:
Jesus Christ in the Unchanging Christianity
   What did Christians believe about Jesus Christ from the beginning? Where is this eternal truth to be found today, two thousand years later? Cut through the chatter of what pop culture religion offers, and discover something of the unchanging truth about Christ in this one hour presentation.

• Sunday, September 16th, 2007
   Campus Blessing Service
   Meeting at east parking gates at 2pm.

• Monday, September 17th, 2007 (ROOM 220)
Orthodoxy 101: Heresies, New and Old
   Almost anything today tries to pass for "Christian", from political and social movements, to exotic religious practices. Yet from the earliest centuries, it wasn't so. Join us for a glimpse at the road map of how the Church defended the truth about Christ from the assaults of heretical opinions, preserving the faith once and for all delivered to the saints.

• Monday, September 24th, 2007 (ROOM 220)
The Modern Mind:
Ways we Think in the Post-Christian Age
   While some like to believe we live in a Christian society, the reality is that the thinking of our times combines a mix of revolutionary philosophies and human-centred worldviews, many in sharp opposition to the purpose of the Church. Join us for this informative survival course, designed for inquiring Christian minds seeking to navigate the treacherous waters of modernity.


OCTOBER: Christ in Life - Part I

• Monday, October 1st, 2007 (ROOM 203)
The Saints
   What makes someone a saint? Is holiness the same as "being a good person"? Explore the great divide between our common idea of goodness and the timeless Christian view of holiness of life in this look at the awe-inspiring lives of the giants of historic Christianity.

• Monday, October 8th, 2007
   Thanksgiving Holiday

• Monday, October 15th, 2007 (ROOM 220)
Holiness for Professionals
   University may prepare us for the world of work - but how are we prepared to stay spiritually afloat in a professional environment that empties the heart and strips the soul? A practical guide to preparing the human heart to live faithful and holy professional lives.

• Date & Place To Be Announced
A Return to Modesty
   Has boldness and sexual freedom led men and women to real happiness? Wendy Shalit, author of the bestsellers, A Return to Modesty and Girls Gone Mild, joins us to discuss the disappointments of a generation who lost their innocense and modesty early, but came up with little lasting satisfaction and a diminished sense of true self esteem. Wendy Shalit offers a new - or renewed - path to a satisfying personal life for men and women alike. A unique talk, open to all community members from high school on up.

• Monday, October 22nd, 2007 (ROOM 220)
The Traditional Christian Guide to Courtship, Love & Sex
   The person we marry has a huge impact on the way we approach life and faith. Authentic Christian life provides a radically different path in this critical choice than the world offers. Come and learn about the path of great struggle - and the greatest rewards.

• Sunday, October 28th, 2007
First Annual Hike & Pub Lunch
   Starting from All Saints of North America Orthodox Church, following the Divine Liturgy. Join us for the service of the blessing of the waters, as we hike part of the Bruce Trail. The hike will be followed by a pub lunch at a delightfully warm location.

• Monday, October 29th, 2007 (ROOM 220)
Two Become One: Marriage That Lasts
   One in two marriages in Canada end in divorce - yet Orthodox Christians experience a dramatically higher rate of marital; success, stability, and happiness. This talk will discuss the ingredients that go into what should be the most long-term relationship of our life: Christian marriage.


NOVEMBER: Christ in Life - Part II

• Saturday, November 3rd, 2007 (Off-campus)
   Orthodox Christian Fellowships Together
   Off-Campus Event - Dinner & Speaker

• Monday, November 5th, 2007 (ROOM 203)
Orthodox Monastic Life
   Christian life since the beginning has presented two distinct calls to live faithfully in community: one is marriage, the other is monastic life. Surprisingly, many of the struggles are the same, yet the call and the context are very different. Join us to hear about life within the walls of the Orthodox Christian monastery, and the profound way it shapes the human soul.

• Monday, November 12th, 2007 (ROOM 220)
The Spiritual Father: Guide and Healer
   At a time when professional therapists have replaced clerical counselors for many suffering people, individuals are still crying out for effective ways to deal with past wrongs, hurts, addiction, and repeated failures to live the way we'd like. This talk about the ancient practice of Confession as it is known in the Christian East (quite distinct from the Catholic west) is accessible to all who are interested in authentic inner healing.

• Monday, November 19th, 2007 (ROOM 220)
Open Forum: Q&A for Inquisitive Minds
   This evening will provide an opportunity for inquirers - Christians and non-Christian alike - to address their toughest questions to our Campus Chaplain. Bring popcorn!

• Monday, November 26th, 2007 (ROOM 220)
Christmas OCF Dinner (following Vespers)
   Join us for our annual pre-Christmas Dinner, at a restaurant location to be announced.

- Christmas Break -


JANUARY: Real Witness

• Monday, January 14th, 2008 (ROOM 203)
A Crash Course for Us Hypocrites
   Orthodox Christians confess the full and true Christian Faith, but each of us continues to struggle daily with the passions and sins of everyday life. How can we avoid hypocrisy, while providing an authentic witness to the Faith in our life?

• Monday, January 21st, 2008 (ROOM 220)
A Balanced Life?
   Is it possible to "balance" our lives between our faith and the world? Are the two compatible, or entirely in conflict? With increasing time commitments and deadlines, how can we strengthen ourselves for the long haul, and not neglect our faith, or work or our families? Join us!

• Monday, January 28th, 2008 (ROOM 220)
Communion with God
   Holy Communion is more than a periodic ceremony for Sundays: Christians from the beginning have recognized it as actual union with God. Compelling reasons to accept the Holy Mystery Christ offers us.


FEBRUARY: Real Life

• Monday, February 4th, 2008 (ROOM 203)
My Way: Rebellion in the Spiritual Life
   As Canadians, we love to do things our own way. In the spiritual life, this kind of fickleness has serious effects, at a time in our history which already destabilizes our lives and homes. Come and listen, to learn about a balanced path to spiritual discipline, and the positive fruits it offers.

• Monday, February 11th, 2008 (ROOM 220)
The Spiritual Roots of Depression
   One third of Canadians will be medicated for clinical depression at some time in their lives. How on earth did we get to this point? A discussion of the spiritual roots of depression, the physiological connection, and the path to wholeness.

- Reading Week - February 18th - 23rd

• Monday, February 25th, 2008 (ROOM 220)
Body & Soul:
Illness, Wellness, and the Spiritual Life
   How does the spiritual life impact on our physical health? What unique wisdom does the ancient Christian tradition have to offer? A compelling talk for all interested in health issues.


MARCH: TO BE ANNOUNCED