Called - At the Intersection of Ministry and Life

We're back! Bill and I share updates on our lives (new baby! co-first-grade-teacher!) and then drive into what we're all experiencing these days: Covid fatigue. Our Reads of the Week Your ‘Surge Capacity’ Is Depleted — It’s Why You Feel Awful - Tara Haelle About Getting to Nimble For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Getting to Nimble podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

We don't know what the future is bringing, but we can be active right now to imagine the New that we're heading toward. A note for listeners: this is our last episode for a few months while Sarah is on maternity leave. Stay nimble! Resources We Mentioned Salisbury Cathedral - "Our Purpose and Values"The Great Emergence: How Christianity Is Changing and Why - Phyllis Tickle About Getting to Nimble For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Getting to Nimble podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Here's how we're planning for the fall - with curiosity and a focus on the big "whys" of the ministries we lead. Joining us is Christine V. Hides, Director of Christian Education at Kenilworth Union Church. Resources We Mentioned Must- Have Online Ministry ToolsFaith Formation PlaylistsIt's Flowchart Time About Getting to Nimble For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Getting to Nimble podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Freedom to move, to eat, to coffee. This and other ways we see in-person worship changing because of our extended time at home. (Spoiler alert: Sarah's keeping the comfy pants.) Our Reads of the Week Flow: The Ancient Way to Do Contemporary Worship - Lester Ruth About Getting to Nimble For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Getting to Nimble podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

It's often easier to change while we're already in the midst of change because our old habits and systems are in flux. Bill and Sarah talk about using this changing season to think through our systems at church. Resources We Mentioned on This Episode Change Your Life When You're Changing Your Life - Happier with Gretchen Rubin About Getting to Nimble For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Getting to Nimble podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

A snapshot of where we are in terms of emotions and how we're planning/not-planning, then a longer conversation about starting (or hopefully, continuing) anti-racist work in our churches starting with one-on-one relationships. About Getting to Nimble For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Getting to Nimble podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Online worship, nimbly opening (while expecting future closures), and planning in a season of flux. About Getting to Nimble For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Getting to Nimble podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Last summer, my colleagues and I at First Congregational of St. Louis developed a creative, intergenerational worship series. Then, the four of us - Hannah Rice and Emily Stokes, plus Bill and I - turned the series into a 14-week curriculum for other congregations to use. In this episode, the four of us talk about our collaborative process, surprises along the way, and the opportunities for healthy vulnerability that our summer worship gave us. On This Episode We Mentioned: A Neighborhood Summer: A 14-Week Intergenerational Worship PlanPotBangerz About Getting to Nimble For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Getting to Nimble podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Changing our musical habits is hard (and oddly enough right now, maybe both easier and harder than ever). In this episode, we talk with Paul Vasile about being open to musical change and helping others embrace the new, even when they're sure they only want what they already know. Find Paul Vasile online here. About Getting to Nimble For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Getting to Nimble podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Climbing up a learning curve. Running down a sand dune, trying not to face plant. Throwing everything at the wall to see what sticks. Just a few metaphors for the work we're doing lately! Emily Stokes, a minister for children and families, joins us to talk about our approaches to ministry right now. Our Reads of the Week A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny. Bill says, "It was one of those books I finished and said a little silent thank you to the author." About Getting to Nimble For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Getting to Nimble podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

What a strange time we are in, especially as church leaders. Bill and Sarah share what they are currently doing to respond to COVID19, especially in terms of pastoral care and spiritual connection in a time of physical distance. We can still "worship in spirit and in truth" whether or not we are in-person. Resources We Mentioned in the Episode We Are the Church About Getting to Nimble For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Getting to Nimble podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

What are the advantages (and disadvantages) to getting an advanced degree when you're in church ministry? Bill and Sarah talk master's degrees, doctorates, certificates. Our Reads of the Week If you purchase through some of the following links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting the work we do!  How Not to Diet: The Groundbreaking Science of Healthy, Permanent Weight Loss - Michael Greger About Getting to Nimble For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Getting to Nimble podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Why do we worship corporately on Sunday mornings? When would we worship if we removed the "but we've always..." from our thinking? Our Reads of the Week If you purchase through some of the following links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting the work we do!  Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life - Nir Eyal About Getting to Nimble For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Getting to Nimble podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

We church leaders have a lot to learn from game theory - and especially, how we should think of churches as part of an "infinite game" rather than a "finite game." Drawing on Simon Sinek's new book The Infinite Game, Bill and Sarah share how infinite games provide a conceptual grounding for leading churches in the 21st century. Our Reads of the Week If you purchase through some of the following links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting the work we do!  The Infinite Game - Simon Sinek About Getting to Nimble For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Getting to Nimble podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

What is "nimbleness" and why should we value it as church leaders? Our Reads of the Week If you purchase through some of the following links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting the work we do!  The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. TolkeinVarieties of Gifts: Multiplicity and the Well-Lived Pastoral Life - Cynthia G. Lindner About Getting to Nimble For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Getting to Nimble podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

'Tis the season for hospitality! Bill and Sarah talk about open houses, small groups, alcohol, and what it means to focus on the church's social cohesion (not on our personal friendships). Plus an announcement! We are changing our podcast's name from "Called" to "Getting to Nimble." This change should show up in your podcast feed in December. This is our last episode of 2019 - looking forward to a new year of "getting to nimble"! Our Reads of the Week She Said - Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey Note: If you buy something through this link, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. About Called - At the Intersection of Life and Ministry For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Called podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Social media can be tricky for those of us who minister in churches. Bill and I share four perspectives to help us make wise use of this tool: Ask yourself, "Who is my neighbor?" given the endless, often anonymous nature of social mediaUse social media as a pastoral tool, a way to minister to your congregation outside of church servicesConsider how (and if) you want to share about yourself and your family on social media - there are no one-size-fits-all strategies here!Remember how powerful loose connections can be (see our reads below!) Our Reads of the Week "Why You Need a Network of Low-Stakes, Casual Friendships" by Allie VolpeComedy Sex God by Pete Holmes About Called - At the Intersection of Life and Ministry For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Called podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Here's how to lead a productive, generous annual review process - and why you should. Annual Review Discussion Questions The following questions can be adapted to suit your church's needs. What has been your greatest contribution to the mission of [Church Name] in the past year? At what moment in the past year did you feel most engaged in service to God and the mission of the church?Describe a problem you encountered in the past year dealing with a member of the congregation or a coworker and how you resolved it. Did you feel supported by your supervisor and/or the personnel representative?Describe an example of communication with a fellow staff member or member of the congregation you feel was particularly effective. Also describe an example of communication with a staff/church member you believe not to be effective or helpful. How might you communicate differently in the future?Describe areas in which you would like to improve in your current position. Rate the effectiveness of the church in providing you with the tools and resources necessary to perform your duties. 1 is not very effective, 5 is extremely effective. Provide examples to explain your answer.Do you feel that your work is respected and valued by coworkers, your supervisor, [Council, Session etc.], and the members of the congregation?If you could change anything about your position, what would it be?Do you feel that the expectations for your role at the church are reasonable and well-defined?In reference to both [Church Name]’s [Mission, Vision etc.] statement, and your specific position description, please list 3-5 goals for the coming year to improve job performance and/or job satisfaction. Our Reads of the Week "No More 'Interim Pastors'" - Jan Edmiston"'Ok Boomer' Marks the End of Friendly Generational Relations" - Taylor Lorenz About Called - At the Intersection of Life and Ministry For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Called podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

How do our families connect with our church ministries? And how can we alleviate some of the pressure on our "preacher's kid" families? As a pastor and a musician, Bill and I have encountered very different expectations and experiences. Our Read of the Week "It Was a Tough Week" - Lydia Sohn About Called - At the Intersection of Life and Ministry For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Called podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Want to avoid dead air and awkward pauses in worship services? Planning for flow can help. Bill and I share how we plan for a smooth flow in worship services, plus the small steps we take that make a big difference. Our Reads of the Week Bless This Mess: A Modern Guide to Faith and Parenting in a Chaotic World - Rev. Molly Baskette and Ellen O'Donnell, PhDHow to Lead When You don't Know Where You're Going: Leading in a Liminal Season - Susan BeaumontWhen Moses Meets Aaron: Staffing and Supervision in Large Congregations - Gil Rendle and Susan Beaumont About Called - At the Intersection of Life and Ministry For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Called podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Pre-planning funerals give you a chance to talk (and live) the Gospel. Here's how to help church members pre-plan, plus a bunch of advice on funerals and burial in general. Our Reads of the Week Raising a Screen-Smart Kid: Embrace the Good and Avoid the Bad in the Digital Age - Julianna Miner Verlyn Flieger About Called - At the Intersection of Life and Ministry For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Called podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

How can you lead a great committee or staff meeting? And how can you influence a meeting for the good when you're not running it? Bill and I talk about purpose, organization, and most importantly, energy - with a side of fried chicken and social connection. (Plus the important question: should you forward this episode to your head of staff?) Remember, you can scroll down for a transcript if that's your style. About Called - At the Intersection of Life and Ministry For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Called podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Our Read of the Week If you purchase through the following link, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting Called! Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams Transcript of Called Ep. 9: Great Church Meetings (Yes, They're Possible!) Bill Smutz: Welcome to called a podcast where we explore the intersection of ministry and the rest of our lives as church workers. Sarah Bereza: I'm Sarah Bereza. Join us on the first and third Tuesdays as we talk about cutting out the bs and embracing the good. Between the two of us, we have ministered in churches for over 50 years and we haven't burnt out yet. Bill Smutz: I am Bill Smutz. I am a Presbyterian pastor, so most of my service has been in Presbyterian congregations. Though the last few years I've been serving as a interim transitional pastor in United Church of Christ congregations. Large churches, small churches in between churches. If they pay, I've been there. Sarah Bereza: Meanwhile, if they hire organists, I've been there. I'm a church musician, and I've worked in a lot of different denominations. I'm currently working in a United Church of Christ congregation. Bill Smutz: Today we are talking about something that seems really mundane, and yet is so crucial to the life of those who work in the churches. And that's how to do good meetings, fruitful meetings, faithful meetings, meetings that you don't want to stick a pencil in your eye because you're so bored in the middle of it. Meetings that help churches move towards that future where God is calling them. Sarah Bereza: And these meetings could be committee meetings, council meetings, staff meetings where you got a group of people with one person who's at least on paper is the leader. Bill Smutz: All those other task force meetings, those groups that come together just for something, some special purpose. Any kind of meeting in a church. Sarah Bereza: But not a meeting, as in, here's our worship service. A meeting, not a Meeting House meeting. Bill Smutz: That's a different kind of meeting. Three Key Elements: Purpose, Organization, Energy Sarah Bereza: Yes. So we're going to talk about three main areas today. We're going to talk about the purpose of meetings. And we're going to talk about organization of meetings. And we're going to talk about energy. Because that's really important, especially if you don't want to put a pencil in your eye. Bill Smutz: Well it does take some energy to put a pencil in. Purpose - Not As Obvious as It Seems Sarah Bereza: Right? So let's let's start out by talking about purpose and why purpose isn't as obvious as you think it would be. Cause I think in some ways that seems like a kinda dumb place to start. Well, don't we know the purpose? We're having a staff meeting, we're supposed to talk about our staff stuff or we're having a committee meeting. This is the worship committee. We're going to talk about worship stuff. And so you would think that you know what the purpose is.

Spoiler alert: it's flexibility! Why you need it, how to develop it, and how to encourage your congregation toward it - plus an ear toward the Holy Spirit's leading. Click on the player to listen to the conversation, or scroll down to read the transcript. Our Reads of the Week If you purchase through some of the following links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thank you for supporting Called! Gossip - Rocky Supinger The Color of Life: A Journey Toward Love and Racial Justice - Cara Meredith About Called - At the Intersection of Life and Ministry For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Called podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Transcription of Called Ep. 8: The One Thing You REALLY Need in Ministry (That You Didn't Learn in School) Sarah: Welcome to Called, a podcast where we explore the intersection of ministry and the rest of our lives as church workers. Bill: I'm Bill Smutz. Sarah: And I'm Sarah Bereza. Bill: Join us on the first and third Tuesdays as we talk about cutting out the bs in our lives and embracing all that is good. Sarah: Between the two of us, we have ministered in churches for over 50 years, and we haven't burnt out yet. Bill: It's been close, but we're not there yet. I have pastored primarily Presbyterian congregations, urban, rural, big, small, and and for the last four or five years I have been doing interim transitional work in United Church of Christ congregations. Sarah: And I have been a church musician all over the denominational spectrum - Mainline, Evangelical, Catholic. Basically if they hire organists, I have probably worked for them. That One Thing They Didn't Teach You? Sarah Learned It in Middle School Sarah: Today we are talking about the one thing you need in ministry that they didn't teach in school. You never took a class on this. You probably didn't even hear professors talk about this in seminary or grad school. But you have to have this, or you going to be miserable. So let's see if you can guess what this is. We're going to start out with a story. Sarah: I was 11 years old, almost 12, and the lead pianist at my little Baptist church moved away and at nearly 12, I was the next person in line. And so for the next six years I was the lead pianist in a Baptist congregation where that meant, I was like the main lead musician for the church. Sarah: And I played for three services a week, and the choir, and most of the solos and the prelude and postlude, all that. Not always , cause there were other musical people in the church, but I was the person. And what that means is that I was the person who got hymns that morning right before the service started. And I was the person who a visiting evangelist would call up during the middle of the sermon. "Hey Sarah, come accompany me while I sing this hymn." I was that person as a middle school, high school student. Sarah: And you know what, as I look back on those six years at that little Baptist church, I think that was the best training I could have had. I mean, yeah, I had great music lessons, I had good teachers, all that good stuff. But that insistence on turning on a dime, of suddenly in the midst of a service, "Oh, here's the hymn that the Holy Spirit has led me to sing for our altar call." That kind of stuff. Like, go right now. Do it now. Sarah: What is it that we're talking about? Flexibility. Flexibility is where it's at for church workers. Bill: Anybody in a ministry setting knows that or is suffering because they don't. Why You (and Your Church) Needs to Practice Flexi...

What should we DO with patriotic holidays in the church? Celebrate them? Mention the occasion in a pastoral prayer? Run for the hills? Bill and I talk about the challenges of patriotic holidays and offer healthy ways to approach them. Transcript of our conversation below! Our Read of the Week Preaching in the Purple Zone: Ministry in the Red-Blue Divide by Rev. Dr. Leah Schade (And here's the book's website) About Called - At the Intersection of Life and Ministry For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Called podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts. New this episode! A transcript Bill: Welcome to Called, a podcast where we explore the intersection of ministry and the rest of our lives as church workers. I'm Bill Smutz. Sarah: And I'm Sarah Bereza. Today we're talking about national holidays, patriotic holidays - something that we do in America around Veterans Day and Labor Day and the 4th of July. And what does it mean for us in the church world? Bill: And maybe a little civil religion mixed in there. Sarah: Yeah, definitely a little bit. Here's a little bit about Bill and I between the two of us. We have ministered in churches for over 50 years, and we haven't burnt out yet. Bill: I have pastored in primarily Presbyterian churches for the last several years. I have been doing interim transitional work in UCC congregations. And the churches I served have been large and small and everything in between. Sarah: And I had been a church musician all over the denominational spectrum - mainline, evangelical ,Catholic, basically if they hire organists, I've worked there. Which means I've done a lot of "The Star Spangled Banner" over the years. So today we're talking about national holidays, patriotic holidays. Bill: My sense is we're talking about the area between how we try to be disciples of Jesus Christ, and how we try to worship God, and the influx of what does that mean particularly in the American context when we come to a Memorial Day weekend or a Veterans Day or any political season where the phrase "God bless America" is flying fast and free. And where members of the congregation may come with expectations for how their relatives or service in the military, should be reflected in their worship experiences, and how that not everybody shares that. And how sometimes pastors and other church staff are in agreement with that, and other times they have different opinions and that those differences, those separate perspectives can cause real points of tension within congregations and between individuals and can make ministry really hard. Ask the WHY Sarah: Yeah, it can. And I think that one of the things that we're talking about now, is whatever we decide to do in those services around those patriotic holidays, we need to really understand why we're doing that. And that's like the framing question, whatever choice you come to: why, what's the point? I think that that's hopefully a question we ask about all the things that are in our services, especially services where we as the leaders in the local church have a lot of autonomy over the choices that we make. You know, I realize that not everyone listening to this has a lot of autonomy over the choices they make for a given Sunday. But for those of us who do, we really have to pay attention to the choices that we do make. Bill: We do. And we have our own personal choices and our own theological preferences or understandings. It's my experience over the years that what I believe personally or how I choose to worship and choose to lead worship can be at odds...

It's hot outside, and the church has left the building. How can we learn from the downsides of summer, and lean into the positives? Bill and I share how we make summer a productive season of the church year, starting with the big one: enjoy the breathing room. Our Reads of the Week, Plus Resources We Mentioned The Four TendenciesBecoming a Pastor: Forming Self and Soul for Ministry - Jaco J. HammanSplintered Light: Logos and Language in Tolkein’s World - Verlyn Flieger About Called - At the Intersection of Life and Ministry For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Called podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Change is one of the great constants of the world - right up there with death, taxes, and the love of God. But even though it's inevitable, we're often reluctant to change, and get anxious when change happens. On this episode, Bill and I share strategies for how we've cultivated our own openness to change and why we think that openness is vital to ministry. Our Reads of the Week (And Other Resources We Mention in the Episode) A Brightness Long Ago by Guy Gavriel KayStatus, Ambition and the Way of Jesus by Craig C. Hill "The Regular Kind" (on Neophiles and Neophobes) by Seth GodinResearch on being a different person in 10 years: NPR summary, "The End of History Illusion" in Science Magazine About Called - At the Intersection of Life and Ministry For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Called podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Where should you start when you move to a new ministry? Here are six strategies to help you settle in: People are #1.Get to know the landscape. Literally.Find out what's normative.Seek out the sacred cows.Figure out what to do now - and what to postpone.Give yourself some grace. Our Reads of the Week Educated by Tara Westover"Five Pitfalls to Avoid When Evaluating the Senior Minister" by Susan Beaumont About Called - At the Intersection of Life and Ministry For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Called podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Weekends can be really tricky for church workers. They're busy for us, but often, that's when our families and friends have time to spend together. Bill and I share how we've navigated the challenges—and opportunities—of working on the weekends. Our Reads of the Week I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott"Desire" by Rocky Supinger About Called - At the Intersection of Life and Ministry For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Called podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

It's that time of the year! On this episode of the Called podcast, Bill and I talk all things wrapping up the program year. Celebrating the good things, learning from what didn't work so well, and thinking about where to go next. (Plus the important question, "When should the next program year begin?") Our Reads of the Week The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters by Priya ParkerLamentation by C. J. Samsom Resources We Mentioned 20 Anthems By Women Composers that My Church Choir Sang This Season About Called - At the Intersection of Life and Ministry For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Called podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

What does "calling" mean? In the inaugural episode of Called - At the Intersection of Life and Ministry, Pastor Bill Smutz and I talk about what calling can mean in all areas of our lives. The call to ministry is an important one, but it’s not the only one. Our Reads of the Week Is Your Wellness Practice Just a Diet in Disguise? by Melissa Fabello About Called - At the Intersection of Life and Ministry For 50 years between them, Pastor Bill Smutz and musician Sarah Bereza have survived and thrived in churches big and small, urban and rural, good and not so good. With generous hearts and healthy boundaries, they share practical advice for church staff about working smart, cutting out the bs, and embracing the good in ministry. New episodes on 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. Check out all the Called podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Y'all, I am so excited to announce this new podcast! My colleague Bill Smutz and I have been working on a ministry related podcast since the winter and now it's ready for the world! Here's what the show is: practical advice for church workers, based on our experiences of over 50 (!) years. We're talking about wrapping up the program year, helping church members pre-plan their funeral services, taking care of old buildings, maintaining healthy boundaries.... Basically, if it relates to our lives as church staff, then it's fair game. Who we are: a church musician and a Presbyterian pastor. I've ministered across the denominational spectrum—mainline, Evangelical, Catholic. Basically if they hire organists, I've probably worked there. Bill has pastored primarily in the PCUSA tradition. And for the last several years, he has been an intentional interim pastor in the United Church of Christ. We're releasing new episodes on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month. The first one launches on May 7th. Until then, I hope you'll check out our trailer (just click the link above to listen). And if it sounds like a show you're interested in, please subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Check out all the Called podcast episodes here, or wherever you listen to podcasts.