August 29, 2021

Questions Answered Gently
Sunday Sermon

- Fr. Ernesto Obregon -


Today in the Orthodox Church we commemorate the Beheading of Saint John the Baptist. Saint John like many prophets and apostles had moments of doubt and even questioned God. Father Ernesto shares with us several examples of this from scripture including Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Luke and II Corinthians. It is a false cliché to think that these holy men followed God without questioning Him and experiencing internal issues. In their suffering they questioned God honestly and He answered them gently. Suffering is a mystery but in can be shared and supported by others and help us engender a dependence on God. It is profitable to know that God is willing to listen and He answers gently.



The Rev. Fr. Ernesto M. Obregón was born in Cuba, sent to the USA as a refugee child and grew up in north-central Ohio. He was drafted during the Viet Nam era and served

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Photography Credits: Beth Hontzas - Music: Presbytera Katerina Makiej





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The Rev. Fr. Ernesto M. Obregón was born in Cuba, sent to the USA as a refugee child and grew up in north-central Ohio. He was drafted during the Viet Nam era and served in the Army as a Medical Laboratory Specialist. After discharge, he finished his Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology at Kent State University (KSU), a Master of Arts in New Testament and Theology at Ashland Theological Seminary (ATS), and a Master of Arts in Philosophy at Cleveland State University (CSU). He met his wife of over 40 years, Presvytera Denise, at KSU. They and their children served as missionaries in Bolivia and Perú for 10 years, 1990-2000, where Fr. Ernesto was ordained as an Anglican priest. Upon their return, Fr. Ernesto served as the Hispanic Missioner for the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. In 2004, Fr. & Presvy. converted to Orthodoxy. Fr. Ernesto was ordained an Orthodox priest in 2007, and served a mission parish in Melbourne FL from 2007-2010. Fr. Ernesto returned to Birmingham in 2010, and worked at the VA hospitals in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa until his retirement. During this time period he finished a Master of Science in Management from the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT). During that time he was, and continues to be, attached to this parish.