Tending the Garden of our Hearts

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Tending the Garden of our Hearts: Meditations for Families offers weekly meditations for families, with Saint's stories, Scriptures and lessons designed to open up conversation and to enrich the family's Little Church.

Elissa Bjeletich, Kristina Wenger, and Ancient Faith Radio


    • May 30, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 14m AVG DURATION
    • 747 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Tending the Garden of our Hearts

    Parable Series: The Parable of the Servants Waiting for their Lord

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025


    This week, Kristina Wenger and Elissa Bjeletich consider the Parable of the Servants Waiting for their Lord. We'll be thinking about the Second Coming, and about how important it is for Church leaders to do a good job of watching over Jesus' house.

    Parable Series: The Parable of the Tenacious Widow

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2025


    This week, Kristina Wenger and Elissa Bjeletich ask what we can learn from this tenacious widow.

    parable widow tenacious elissa bjeletich kristina wenger
    Parable Series: The Parables of the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2025


    This week, Kristina Wenger and Elissa Bjeletich take a look at the Parable of the Lost Sheep and the Parable of the Lost Coin. How interested is God in bringing you home?

    god parable coins lost sheep lost coin elissa bjeletich series the parables kristina wenger
    Parable Series: The Parable of the Wicked Husbandsmen

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2025


    This week, Elissa Bjeletich and Kristina Wenger take a look at the Parable of the Wicked Husbandsmen who refused to pay their rent, and attacked their landlord's representatives. What does that have to do with us?

    wicked parable elissa bjeletich kristina wenger
    Parable Series: The Parable of the Talents

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025


    This week, Elissa and Kristina explore the parable of the talents.

    Parable Series: The Parable of the the Laborers in the Vineyard

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2025


    This week, Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger explore the what Jesus means when He says, "The last will be first and the first will be last."

    Parable Series: The Parable of the Marriage Feast

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025


    This week, Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger explore the parable of the marriage feast, and how God calls all of us into a wonderful banquet, even if He has to go find us in the highways and the hedges!

    Parable Series: The Parable of the The Ten Virgins

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2025


    This week, Elissa and Kristina take a look at the Ten Virgins, and why five of them could not just give the others some oil!

    Parable Series: The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2025


    This week, Elissa Bjeletich and Kristina Wenger consider the unmerciful servant and the lesson he learned about how only a forgiving heart can receive forgiveness.

    parable unmerciful servant elissa bjeletich kristina wenger
    Parable Series: The Parables of the the Treasure, the Pearl, and the Dragnet

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025


    This week, Elissa Bjeletich and Kristina Wenger explore three short parables. What is Jesus saying about how we enter into the Kingdom, and how we can stay there?

    jesus christ kingdom dragnet elissa bjeletich series the parables kristina wenger
    Parable Series: The Parable of the The Leaven

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2025


    This week, Elissa Bjeletich and Kristina Wenger explore the meaning behind Christ's parable of the leaven which completely and permanently transformed three measures of meal.

    jesus christ parable leaven elissa bjeletich kristina wenger
    Parable Series: The Parable of the Mustard Seed

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2025


    This week, Kristina Wenger and Elissa Bjeletich explore the multi-layered meaning behind this simple, one-sentence parable! How is the Kingdom of God like a mustard seed?

    kingdom of god parable mustard seeds elissa bjeletich kristina wenger
    Parable Series: The Parable of the Wheat and the Tares

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025


    This week, Elissa Bjeletich and Kristina Wenger explore the big question of why bad things happen in this world through a look at the simple and understandable Parable of the Wheat and the Tares!

    parable wheat tares elissa bjeletich kristina wenger
    Parable Series: The Parable of the Sower

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2025


    Kristina and Elissa are re-releasing their series on the Parables, just in time for the Triodion! This week, Kristina Wenger and Elissa Bjeletich begin this unit on the Parables of Christ with a consideration of what parables are, and a look at the Parable of the Sower!

    The Sheep & The Goats

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2025


    Kristina and Elissa are re-releasing their series on the Parables, just in time for the Triodion! This week, Elissa Bjeletich and Kristina Wenger take a look at the Parable of the Last Judgement (or the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats) and ask how we can become sheep instead of goats.

    sheep parable goats parables last judgement elissa bjeletich kristina wenger
    Parable Series: The Parable of the Prodigal Son

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025


    Kristina and Elissa are re-releasing their series on the Parables, just in time for the Triodion! This week, Kristina Wenger and Elissa Bjeletich take a look at the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Which brother are you?

    parable prodigal son parables elissa bjeletich kristina wenger
    The Publican and The Pharisee

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2025


    Kristina and Elissa are re-releasing their series on the Parables, just in time for the Triodion! Throughout Great Lent and into the summer, we'll be learning the Parables and exploring the wisdom they contain! We begin with the Publican and the Pharisee, and prepare our hearts for Great Lent by remembering that we must be humble if we hope to know God. Find related materials at tending-the-garden.com/parables

    Three Teammates: Feelings, Thoughts and Actions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025


    In our last episode, we looked at our Heads and our Hearts, considering ideas from the book Bread and Water, Wine and Oil, by Archimandrite Meletios Webber. This week, in part two, we'll think about how exactly our feelings work, and how they effect us. Be sure to check out our website to get the free printable that goes with this episode: tending-the-garden.com

    Our Hearts and Our Minds

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2025


    In this episode, Elissa and Kristina talk about a really big idea: the Nous. What is your heart, what is your mind, and what is your soul? With some help from the book Bread and Water, Wine and Oil, by Archimandrite Meletios Webber, we'll try to understand it together. And check out our website to get the free printable that goes with this episode: tending-the-garden.com

    Re-Release: Saint Seraphim of Sarov

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2025


    Here's a special re-release of a classic episode as we celebrate Holy Nativity! Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger tell about St. Seraphim of Sarov.

    Re-Release: The Magi

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2024


    Here's a special re-release of a classic episode as we celebrate Holy Nativity! Kristina Wenger and Elissa Bjeletich Davis consider the Magi: who were these wise men from the East, and what made them decide to seek out the Baby Jesus?

    Re-Release: The Nativity of our Lord

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024


    Here's a special re-release of a classic episode as we celebrate Holy Nativity! Kristina and Elissa read St. Luke's account of Christ's birth, stopping along the way to consider the many ways that God communicates His love to us.

    Re-Release: Jesus' Family Tree

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2024


    Here's a special re-release of a classic episode as we celebrate Holy Nativity! As the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers approaches, Elissa Bjeletich and Kristina Wenger look at the first chapter of Matthew's gospel and discuss the meaning of the lineage of Jesus Christ.

    jesus christ re release family tree elissa bjeletich kristina wenger
    Re-Release: St. Nicholas

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024


    Here's a special re-release of a classic episode as we celebrate St. Nicholas Day! As the feast of the very beloved St. Nicholas approaches, Elissa and Kristina tell his life story, and consider the significance of giving in secret.

    St. Valentina of Minsk

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2024


    Let's get to know a little known saint from Belarus! Her prayers saved a soldier and his friends, and we think you're going to find the story very interesting!

    St. Ia of Cornwall

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2024


    Today we consider the amazing story of St. Ia, an Irish Princess who wanted to preach the word of God!

    St. Ypomoni

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2024


    In the final days of the great city Constantinople, God sent a wonderful Empress to comfort the people as they struggled through really hard times.

    Saints Cyprian and Justina

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2024


    In this amazing story, one of the devil's most powerful servants becomes a Christian because of the example of a teenage girl!

    St. Paul's Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2024


    St. Paul didn't start out as a follower of Christ, and he wasn't one of the twelve Apostles — and yet, he was probably the most influential Apostle of all!

    Sts. Zenaida and Philonella

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024


    Did you know that St. Paul's cousins were famous saints too? Intelligence and faith ran in his family! These sisters were holy unmercenary doctors, and we think you're going to like them!

    Bishop Basil Rodzyanko

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2024


    Bishop Basil had a very interesting obedience — one that you might want to consider too!

    bishop basil
    All Saints Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024


    Aubree's curious about All Saints Day, and so are we! Here's everything you ever wanted to know about it…

    All Saints Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2024


    Aubree's curious about All Saints Day, and so are we! Here's everything you ever wanted to know about it…

    Sewing It All Together

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024


    As Pascha comes to its conclusion with Ascension and then Pentecost, we consider how all of these feasts fit together in God's great plan for us. God loves us and wants to be united to us — and Jesus ascending into heaven is a big part of that!

    Sewing It All Together

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2024


    As Pascha comes to its conclusion with Ascension and then Pentecost, we consider how all of these feasts fit together in God's great plan for us. God loves us and wants to be united to us — and Jesus ascending into heaven is a big part of that!

    St. Luke of Crimea

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024


    In this episode, Elissa and Kristina answer a special request from listener Luke to talk about none other than St. Luke of Crimea!

    St. Luke of Crimea

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2024


    In this episode, Elissa and Kristina answer a special request from listener Luke to talk about none other than St. Luke of Crimea!

    Family of Saints: Two Gregorys and a Basil

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2024


    In this episode, we'll meet two of St. Emmelia's very famous and distinguished sons, and one of their friends.

    Family of Saints: Two Gregorys and a Basil

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2024


    In this episode, we'll meet two of St. Emmelia's very famous and distinguished sons, and one of their friends.

    Family of Saints: Two Macrinas and Emmelia

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024


    Elissa and Kristina had a request for the life of St. Emmelia — but it's hard to talk about her without discussing the whole family! So this time, we'll talk about Macrina, Macrina and Emmelia, but next time, we'll talk about Gregory, Gregory and Basil!

    Family of Saints: Two Macrinas and Emmelia

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2024


    Elissa and Kristina had a request for the life of St. Emmelia — but it's hard to talk about her without discussing the whole family! So this time, we'll talk about Macrina, Macrina and Emmelia, but next time, we'll talk about Gregory, Gregory and Basil!

    The Holy Myrrhbearers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2024


    Christ is risen! Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger consider the real meaning of myrrhbearing and incarnation, both for the Holy Myrrhbearers and for us today! Originally released April 20, 2023

    jesus christ holy myrrhbearers kristina wenger
    The Holy Myrrhbearers

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2024


    Christ is risen! Elissa Bjeletich Davis and Kristina Wenger consider the real meaning of myrrhbearing and incarnation, both for the Holy Myrrhbearers and for us today! Originally released April 20, 2023

    jesus christ holy myrrhbearers kristina wenger
    The Harrowing of Hades

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2024


    This week, Elissa Bjeletich and Kristina Wenger get us ready for Pascha by asking: how exactly did Jesus trample down death by death? What does that mean? Originally released April 15, 2021

    jesus christ hades harrowing pascha elissa bjeletich kristina wenger
    The Harrowing of Hades

    Play Episode Listen Later May 2, 2024


    This week, Elissa Bjeletich and Kristina Wenger get us ready for Pascha by asking: how exactly did Jesus trample down death by death? What does that mean? Originally released April 15, 2021

    jesus christ hades harrowing pascha elissa bjeletich kristina wenger
    St. Dorothy of Kashin

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2024


    Kristina and Elissa received another special request: this week, we will be learning the story of St. Dorothy of Kashin, who lived in the ruins!

    St. Dorothy of Kashin

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2024


    Kristina and Elissa received another special request: this week, we will be learning the story of St. Dorothy of Kashin, who lived in the ruins!

    The Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024


    On Sunday we commemorate St. Mary of Egypt, whose life was not always saintly. That's why she is such a favorite in the Church, actually—she is a wonderful example of how we can turn our lives around when we truly repent. Find the Tending the Garden of Our Hearts: Daily Lenten Meditations for Families book, ebook, and audiobook at store.ancientfaith.com/tending-the-garden-of-our-hearts-daily-lenten-meditations-for-families. The downloadable activity book is available at etsy.com/listing/970766999/tending-the-garden-of-our-hearts-daily. Originally released April 7, 2022

    The Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 18, 2024


    On Sunday we commemorate St. Mary of Egypt, whose life was not always saintly. That's why she is such a favorite in the Church, actually—she is a wonderful example of how we can turn our lives around when we truly repent. Find the Tending the Garden of Our Hearts: Daily Lenten Meditations for Families book, ebook, and audiobook at store.ancientfaith.com/tending-the-garden-of-our-hearts-daily-lenten-meditations-for-families. The downloadable activity book is available at etsy.com/listing/970766999/tending-the-garden-of-our-hearts-daily. Originally released April 7, 2022

    St. Ignatius

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2024


    In this episode, we'll get to know St. Ignatius the God-bearer — for Ephrem's brother!

    St. Ignatius

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2024


    In this episode, we'll get to know St. Ignatius the God-bearer — for Ephrem's brother!

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