Clicking here goes to information on the icon.Welcome to the St. Luke Web Page.
Search the site.Listen to Father Borichevsky's restored radio programsSee What St. Luke Orthodox Church has planned.Visit and sign our guest book.Contact the St. Luke Orthodox Church Web Development Team.
Find something on the site in a hurry.
St. Lukes Orthodox Church Home PageDonate Now!Shop for Orthodox goods from your Computerchurchdirectory Pages that deal with St. Luke the Evangelist Orthodox Church. What's the news at St. Lukes.View all the previous and current Evangelist newsletters.View the Sunday bulletin.Information about St. Luke Orthodox Church including the Mission and Vision statements. Pages for 'keeping in touch' with God. Information on prayers and prayingView the prayer of the week and all other previos prayers of the week.Need to pray for something? What is the Orthodox Church and how/why do Orthodox Christians worship? What is the Orthodox Church of America?Who were the Saints, and why do we honor them?Find and explore many different liturgical texts we have available, including the Divine LiturgyWhat is Pascha? See what it's like at St. Luke's.How is Orthodoxy playing a role in the present times?Learn what are icons and how are they used in the Orthodox Church today.BellsSee what we have to offer!Current Issues Pages for Organizations of St. Lukes. Christian Education, Youth Group, Music, Church Resource Center, Adult Education, and Junior Olympics.Maintenance, New Building, Strategic Planning, Cell Phone Tower, Inventory, Cemetery/Memorial Book, and Historian.Outreach, Charities, Internet, Evangelist Newsletter, Media, Prison, Sanctity of Life, and Mission.Fellowship, Supply Coordinator, Prayer, Women's Ministry, New Americans, Sunshinem, Flowers, and Vestments. Some stuff Study the bibleSearch the bibleOrthodoxy on the lighter side...Words of Wisdom...If you've got the taste for great Orthodox foods, this is the place to be.Children friendly section of the pageMessages

Fr. Giliguist: Let's Take a Lesson from Harry
By Pearl Homiak

"What is it in the Harry Potter books that attract kids and adults?" This was the central question that Father Peter Gillquist addressed at our Second Annual Forum on Orthodox Christianity. The title of the Forum this year was Christianity in the Age of Harry Potter. Father Peter approached this topic in an unexpected way. He asked two important questions: "Why does author J.K. Rowling touch a nerve?" and "What can we learn from the Harry Potter phenomenon to teach people about Jesus Christ?"

Fr. Peter concluded that there are three areas of appeal within the Harry Potter books. First, kids identify with Harry Potter’s family world; second, the moral challenge within the stories; and third, Harry's other world - his magical world.

Fr. Peter said that for many kids Harry Potter’s life mirrors much of their lives. Harry Potter’s parents are dead, so he lives with step-parents (his aunt and uncle and their undisciplined, over indulged son) who ignore and neglect him. Fr. Peter pointed out that this reflects the situation in much of American culture today. "Often parents are not available physically, emotionally, and spiritually for kids. Long hours on a job, involvement in away-from-home activities, or zoning in on computers or television remove parents from the focus children need. As a result, these children are often ignored and not disciplined. Sometimes we parents get so preoccupied that we don’t answer our kids." He mentioned a survey, which revealed that the average American parent talks to his or her child or teenager on an average of only 11 to 15 minutes per day. "It is no wonder, then, that kids identify kingdom, too, but it is a world of light.

Fr. Peter went on to briefly discuss what the Harry Potter books call "Muggles." They are people who are not wizards. Harry’s aunt and uncle are Muggles and lack the understanding of mystery. All of us are Muggles by the nature of the Fall of Man. Many of us are confounded by the miracle of the Virgin birth and have difficulty believing.

You can’t be a Muggle and be Orthodox declared Fr.Peter.

Before answering questions from the audience, Fr. Peter concluded his presentation by reminding everyone to make home a place where your kids want to be. Experience the life of the Church (‘Seek first the Kingdom of God...’ -Matthew 6:33). Put the life of the family and parish first, not a good job, education, food, transportation, and so on. Why? Because by doing this we will lead our children to Jesus Christ who is real - not a fictional character like Harry Potter.

Back to Previous Article
Back to Evangelist Listing
Go to Next Article