Everything is Spiritual

As a millennial faith leader, Rev. Jen brings particular wisdom and insight into our conversations around justice work and self-care. She finds inspiration from her deep connection with past generations of resilient women and shares her radical hope for the future.

Unpack the simple practice of centering prayer, which transformed Rich's life when he started in 2014. Through sitting in stillness, he's learned how to better connect with his true self. And rest in the pure presence of God without any obstacles. Rich shares what he's learned to support others in creating a sustainable practice.

In 2014, Mary was ordained a Roman Catholic Womenpriest. She founded the Holy Family Inclusive Catholic Community in Springfield, IL for folks who love their Catholic faith, but not the man-made institution. All are welcome, and Mary guides them in new ways to pray to God that are nourishing and life-giving.

At age 30, Hunter LaFave was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. Hunter healed his body and mind through breathwork, yoga, and meditation. He teaches us what he has learned about holistic wellness, managing his mindset, and other tools he's used for living more authentically.

Intimately connecting with the natural world can rewire our souls and bodies, teach us about the nature of God, and show a new path to liberation for all. Eileen brings her life experiences as a gay woman, a justice advocate, and an ordained UCC pastor to her new ministry of accompanying others to listen, learn, and heal in the wild.

Being regenerative is putting life at the center of every action and decision. Kelly changed her life by connecting deeply with her body's innate ability to regenerate. She discovered the more subtle aspects of healing, particularly around food, emotions, and the nervous system. Then she began leaning into new ways to connect and live more harmoniously with the natural world.

After moving to the US from Egypt, Fr. Mina received a call to the priesthood later in life. And now he leads the Coptic Orthodox Christian community in east-central Illinois. Learn more about the Coptic church as Fr. Mina shares some of the rich traditions and inspirational saints.

Developing a deep friendship as an adult is both possible and rewarding. Listen as podcast co-hosts Denise Renee and Mariana share the secrets of their friendship, and how they integrate faith into relationships, work, and everyday life.

With more than 35 years of nursing experience, Gregory has a pretty good sense of what healthcare looks like. But he's engaged in an initiative to move healthcare outside the walls of the system. He shares a passion for working with individuals across the community to identify strategies to live the healthiest life possible.

The Mindful Gratitude author explains how to cultivate a thankfulness mindset. She encourages us to express gratitude every day, not just to ourselves but also to our loved ones. Even when life is not going so great, she stresses how important it is to pause and look for the good things all around us.

To many people, the experience of being listened to is so close to the experience of being loved that most people can't tell the difference. This quote sums up Dan's mission to use listening as a tool for honoring legacy, sharing love, and leading transformational change for individuals, the community, and the church itself.

For this milestone episode, my beloved cousin Nicole offered to turn the tables and interview me. We talked about midlife and feeling stuck, overcoming a negative mindset, what inspired Soul Care, purpose, curiosity, and so many other things.

Critically examining our beliefs or questioning the actions of the church doesn't mean moving totally away from our faith. Kate is open and vulnerable about how her beliefs have shifted to include affirming love for all people. Although her journey has been challenging and sometimes lonely, she still identifies as a Christian because the story of Jesus never fails to capture her heart and imagination.

For Maryam, Islamic Sufi mysticism provides a way to integrate beliefs from the different faith traditions she's practiced throughout her life. Sufi teachings and practices all her to connect with the God of all things in a holistic and inclusive way.

Contemplative prayer is one method that Feli uses to listen to God's sacred invitations through the labyrinth of her life. It's allowed her to listen better to other people and be more compassionate. She's been led to support women through collaborative community efforts.

Our conversation today centers on the humility it takes to actually listen to a different perspective than your own. Maybe listening with an open mind is something we can practice. Rev. Terrance Thomas believes that God is on the side of the oppressed – those that experience injustice because of race, gender, or sexual orientation. Ultimately, though, he believes the pattern he’s seen in the scriptures: that God will step in to help/heal/bless AFTER we’ve gotten up ourselves. So, that’s what he encourages us to do first.  Then there's the practice of Black joy and Hope as resistance. The whole idea of oppression is to keep people down. So when people continue to shine and live fully, it is an act of resistance to find happiness and comfort despite tribulations. Meet Rev. Terrance Thomas  The Reverend Terrance L. Thomas is an Itinerant Elder with the African Methodist Church and Senior Pastor of Bethel AME Church in Champaign, IL. In addition to his pastor role, he has worked as a hospital chaplain with Advocate Aurora and Carle Health. He sits on several community boards including Champaign Country Christian Health Center, CU Trauma and Resiliency, and HV Neighborhood Transformation. He is also the Executive Director of the Bridgewater-Sullivan Community Life Center. A dedicated liberation theologian and unapologetic Black Nationalist, Rev. Thomas received his undergraduate degree in Inner City Studies with a minor in Sociology from Northeastern Illinois University and a Masters of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.  In his spare time, Rev. Thomas enjoys theater, jazz, the sultry soul of 70's music, video games, political discourse with a sip of whiskey, baseball, professional wrestling, and community service projects. He is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc; a proud father to five beautiful children; and he loves to quote Zora Neale Hurston when she says, “If you ain't got it, you can't show it. If you do got it, you can't hide it.” Find Rev. Thomas on Facebook. Resources We Mention Why We Can't Wait by Dr. Martin Luther King The Cross and the Lynching Tree by James Cone God of the Oppressed by James Cone Our Lives Matter: A Womanist Queer Theology by Pamela Lightsey The African Methodist Episcopal Church: A History by Rev. Dr. Dennis C. Dickerson Katie's Canon: Womanism and the Soul of the Black Community by Rev. Dr. Katie Cannon

Ashley Price is our guest this week. She's always been interested in the historical stories of gods and goddesses from different cultures. Out of that came her polytheistic and nature-based pagan practice. Throughout the episode, she emphasizes how her spirituality builds connections with deities and spirits beyond the human world. Ashley shares the diverse beliefs and practices within paganism and dispels some myths and preconceptions. As a leader of the local group, Prairie Sky ADF Grove, her intention is to make gatherings and rituals as inclusive, family-friendly, and mindful of others’ needs as possible. Consent is an important aspect that allows the group to be a safe space. Using consent makes it easy for people to say “no” to what they don't feel comfortable doing. Hospitality and the exchange of gifting and receiving is also a central theme. She talks about her recent interest in ecstatic dancing and how body motion rituals can help you be more connected with the spirits around you. While on the topic of connecting with spirits, Ashley also talks about what it's like to be an animist. This practice helps her form a sense of place and connect with the natural world around her. Meet Ashley Ashley Price is a restorative exercise specialist working in Urbana, IL with a unique gift for uncovering the habits and restrictions that lead to discomfort in our daily lives. She is a Neo-pagan Druid, animist, and spirit-worker. Ashley is the founder and current Senior Druid of Prairie Sky Grove, the local congregation for Champaign-Urbana. The grove is a part of ADF, a denomination of Paganism based on ancient Indo-European traditions expressed through public worship, study, and fellowship. Through her grove, Ashley is working to create the space for an inclusive and place-based pagan culture to develop. Her spiritual practice is informed by her work as a movement teacher and her obsession with dance. She is also an outdoor enthusiast and has a close friendship with an oak tree near her home. Email Ashley  at prairieskyadf@gmail.com Prairie Sky ADF Grove Facebook page Resources We Mention Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer  We recommend Bookshop, an online bookstore committed to strengthening the fragile ecosystem and margins around bookselling and keeping local bookstores an integral part of our culture and communities. As an affiliate, Soul Care receives a 10% commission on every sale and independent bookstores receive a matching 10%. Bookshop wants to give back to everyone who promotes books, authors, and independent bookstores! Visit the Soul Care storefront on Bookshop Like what you heard? Thank you for listening to this episode! If you enjoyed it, share it using the social media buttons on this page. We’d be VERY grateful if you could rate, review, and subscribe to Everything Is Spiritual on iTunes. We value knowing what you think and this helps other east-central Illinois folks find the podcast as well.

What makes a space sacred? Or more importantly, how do you turn an ordinary place into a sacred place? And what does hospitality have to do with it? Rev. Melissa Keeble has a passion for holding space for ordinary and sacred places in her community. She visits strangers and listens to them with a fresh set of ears and a fresh heart. She sits by their hospital bed and lets them say whatever they need to say, and that becomes a sacred place. True hospitality is love in action.  It touches something very deep in us — our profound human longing to feel accepted, to belong, to be loved, to feel safe,  to be valued and respected. Hospitality is not something to be proclaimed;  it must be lived to be authentic. Listen in as Melissa talks about the transformation of a turquoise picnic table that was already serving to foster social connection in her community. And how a heart for hospitality turned it into a sacred gathering space for giving and receiving during the pandemic. The lesson she has learned through all of this is that we all need people.  Meet Melissa Rev. Melissa Keeble is a midwest transplant. Never did she imagine she'd come to know and love Champaign-Urbana so much! She cares deeply about the community but often struggles to discern what the next right step is to make CU the best that it can be—for ALL. So she starts small. With a little picnic bench. And simply tries to love people well.  Melissa is an ordained Minister of Word & Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She works as a Chaplain at Carle Foundation Hospital and finds purpose in walking with people in the hard spots of life. She also sits on the Citizen Police Review Subcommittee for the City of Champaign and is an active volunteer with several community organizations. When recognized as a Community Impact Award winner in 2019, nominators expressed that Melissa is known for constantly going out of her way to heal or help bring about change where she sees a need through emotional support, supplies, and speaking out. Find Melissa on Facebook or  Instagram  Copper Creek Church website Resources We Mention The Turquoise Table: Finding Community and Connection in Your Own Front Yard by Kristin Schell  Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad We recommend

Lorraine Kim is a faithful connector of all people. She grew up in an inner-city neighborhood and church community. This influenced her spirituality, her views on race, and even her choice to go into social work. Her grandmother taught her that God never gives up on loving people, and neither should we. She talks about how beautiful our stories are and how they make us who we are. In 2018, Lorraine began an LGBTQ+ ministry group for allies, family members, and queer parishioners at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Urbana, IL. She shares the message that we can find our identities and that we all can feel God's love.  Lorraine shares her thoughts and observations about the tension inherent in social justice work and participating in institutions such as the church that cause discomfort and sometimes pain. “Sometimes we change the world by staying and working within and sometimes we choose to walk away,” is a powerful quote from our conversation.  Meet Lorraine Lorraine Kim describes herself as someone who wears many different hats. Professionally, she's a social worker who provides in-home counseling to homebound people through the Good Samaritan Program of Catholic Charities. She's also a mom and a wife, and an active member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. She’s a quilter and she also loves reading. Learn more about the monthly contemplative discussion series at St. Patrick's Church. It runs from October 2021 through May 2022 called Sharing Stories Around The Table: An Educational and Spiritual Series About Racism. It's inspired by the 2018 US Catholic Bishops’ pastoral letter, “Open Wide Our Hearts: An Enduring Call to Love.” Resources We Mention Me and White Supremacy: A 28-Day Challenge to Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor by Layla Saad http://laylafsaad.com/meandwhitesupremacy We recommend Bookshop, an online bookstore committed to strengthening the fragile ecosystem and margins around bookselling and keeping local bookstores an integral part of our culture and communities. As an affiliate, Soul Care receives a 10% commission on every sale. Independent bookstores receive a matching 10%. Bookshop wants to give back to everyone who promotes books, authors, and independent bookstores! Visit the Soul Care storefront on Bookshop KINDRED SOULS MEMBERSHIP Take advantage of this early invitation to join Kindred Souls as a Founding Member!  In celebration of Soul Care's two-year anniversary and Kelly's 50th birthday, join Kindred Souls

Growing up in the Champaign community, Valena talks about the village that helped raise her and sustain her through many of the struggles that, statistically, derail young people. Her message is that God sometimes speaks to us through the people in our lives.  Balancing parenting, being a wife, and working full-time in a ministry role is extremely difficult. When she hears God’s voice speaking through her children when they tell her they don’t get to see her enough—she listens! Valena talks about some of the ways she's made it work and what she's discovered along the way. She believes the family is the first priority and she lives a life of service. Service to her husband and her children. This concept may ruffle some feathers but be sure to listen to the loving way she describes what mutual devotion looks like. Valena is passionate that all women, no matter what their role is, understand and appreciate their innate worth and beauty. Meet Valena Valena Claiborne is the Executive Pastor of CU Church and has served with that congregation since January 2019. Before that, she was the Outreach Minister at Windsor Road Christian Church, where she joyfully encouraged others to share God’s love within our community and to boldly engage the world. Valena identifies herself as a perfectly imperfect follower of Jesus, wife to her better half, and supermom to three kids. She's volunteers as a board member with both Real Life Families and the United Way of Champaign County. She leads Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts with them. She's also a certified yoga instructor and has provided classes for the community and University. Find Valena on Facebook, Instagram, or email Valena@cuchurch.com Resources We Mention Woman Evolve: Break Up with Your Fears and Revolutionize Your Life by Sarah Jakes Roberts We recommend Bookshop, an online bookstore committed to strengthening the fragile ecosystem and margins around bookselling and keeping local bookstores an integral part of our culture and communities. As an affiliate, Soul Care receives a 10% commission on every sale and independent bookstores receive a matching 10%. Bookshop wants to give back to everyone who promotes books, authors, and independent bookstores! Visit the Soul Care storefront on Bookshop KINDRED SOULS MEMBERSHIP Take advantage of this early invitation to join Kindred Souls as a Founding Member!  In celebration of Soul Care's two-year anniversary and Kelly's 50th birthday, join Kin

Today’s episode is a beautiful reminder that God is for all of us. Our guest Isaac Simmons, also known as Ms. Penny Cost, shares his witness of Divine love and grace. We can share in God's creation as we realize and affirm our true, authentic identity.  We talk about answering a call to the vocation of ministry—and what that means to someone who doesn't “fit the mold” of what an ordained person should look like.  Isaac shares his passion for storytelling, performance, and Divine co-creation. And how he's used these gifts for life-changing and life-saving work. He's stepping up and teaching us how to increase our capacity to love those who may have a different outlook on the world.  Meet Isaac Isaac Simmons is a twenty-three-year-old senior student studying theology at Illinois Wesleyan. He's also a congregant and staff member at the progressive and affirming Hope United Methodist Church in Bloomington, IL.  When Isaac announced his calling to Ordained Ministry, his home church community celebrated and encouraged his discernment. Isaac Simmons became the first openly Queer person to be certified as a Candidate for Ordained ministry within the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the UMC, and reportedly, the first Drag Queen to receive that title in the world. His drag performance as Ms. Penny Cost is rooted in the joy-filled reclamation of spirituality for and with Queer folks. His mission (and hers too) is to break down the false duality which, for too long, has stated that Queerness and Faith can not be combined.  He is here to say that YOU, right here and right now, are enough. There is nothing that you will ever have to do to experience the Love, Affirmation, and Celebration which freely flows from the Divine. Find Isaac on Facebook, Instagram, or email ms.pennycost@gmail.com Resources Role of ordained people in the Methodist Church Mikhail Bakhtin and the concept of Carnivalesque and Grotesque Learn more about the intersection of church and queerness. Soul Care has an extensive affirming reading and resource list from a variety of faith traditions. Check out our conversation with past podcast guest Daniel Guerra. He has a message of inclusion, acceptance, and belonging in the church for LBGTQIA+ people and allies.

Karen Simms grew up supported in many different ways by the people of her church. She loves the positive influence that a community church can have on neighborhoods and families. Her social service work and passion for community advocacy are rooted in faith through her seminary education. She believes in hope and her training has led her to new ways of operationalizing it. Kelly and Karen discuss the CU Trauma & Resiliency Initiative and the projects that she has been a part of to bring help and healing to the black community. She lives out her Christian faith every day by offering hope, looking out for the most marginalized, and bringing authentic trauma-informed care to all who she works with.  Karen is doing the work to create a new kind of robust, vibrant, supportive community, one that is built on love,  self-reliance, and giving back. Her aid and the opportunities that she makes available to those in need are rhythmic, repetitive, relational, respectful, and restorative to the community. Don’t miss the end of the episode when Karen talks about burnout. If you are feeling the need for a bit of rest or restoration, book a Quiet Pod at Soul Care. Spending as little as one hour in stillness reading, breathing, journaling, creating art, or even just napping can do wonders for your body, mind, and soul.  Meet Karen Karen Crawford Simms is an experienced consultant, trainer, facilitator, and coach. She has a master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy; and has spent over 30 years advocating for individuals, families, and communities who have been marginalized because of race, gender, sexual orientation/identity, health, or socioeconomic status.  She is the founder of Trauma & Resilience Initiative, Inc. a not-for-profit that trains, educates, advocates for, and promotes resilience and justice for individuals, families, organizations, and communities. TRI works to reduce the impact of adverse community experiences by healing and repairing those who have been impacted by trauma and equipping organizations and providers to be trauma- and justice-informed. Karen has expertise in trauma-informed care, culturally responsive practices, community engagement, outcome-based planning, collaborative processes, and implementing evidence-based practices. She is also the owner/founder of Meridian K Consulting & Counseling Services which provides targeted training and technical assistance to schools, universities, community organizations, law enforcement, local governments, civic organizations, not-for-profits, and employers. Resources We Mention Their Eyes Were Watching God and other works by Zora Neale Hurston Dr. Bruce Perry and childhood trauma theories Rev. Otis Moss of the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago

Today's episode focuses on the Jesus Movement and how Christianity can get back to the heart of the pure love of God.  Vern Fein has dedicated his life to ridding the modern Christian church of negative influences so that mercy and justice, which we need so much of, can re-surface.  Kelly and Vern discuss literal and figurative interpretations of the Bible and how to orient ourselves within communities, especially amid times of dizzying political strife.  Although it's been more than 50 years since the Jesus Movement of the 1970s, there are ripples of those same inclinations and desires in progressive Christian circles today. Vern has some thoughts on what's happening in the Christian church and where things might be headed in the next 50 years. Meet Vern Vern Fein is an octogenarian who has lived a rich and storied life. He studied American Literature at the graduate level at the University of Illinois in the early 1970s. During that time, he became heavily involved in political activism with the anti-Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movements. And moved from being an atheist to becoming Christian as part of the Jesus Movement. He and his friends were among the many young people who left conventional Christian churches in search of more fulfilling and countercultural spiritual experiences. These years significantly shaped the rest of Vern's life and the way the Urbana community looks. Vern served as the outreach pastor for two area churches, and through his work helped to start or sustain area ministries including the Eastern Illinois Food Bank and vegatarian restaurant The Red Herring.  He's now retired after 45 years as a special ed teacher at Cunningham Children’s Home. Since retiring, he's written a book called Radical Faith: From 60s Counterculture to Jesus about the connection between his faith and politics, both of which are still significant in his life. He also writes poetry, essays, and short stories, and is working on his first poetry book.  Active at New Covenant Fellowship Church in Champaign IL, he's proud to be involved in their study to implement reparations in our community and nationally.  Vern Fein's poetry and prose – https://www.vernfein.com Resources We Mention After Evangelism: The Path to a New Christianity by David Gushee Changing Our Mind: The Landmark Call for Inclusion of LGBTQ Christians by David Gushee What Is the Bible?: How an Ancient Library of Poems, Letters, and Stories Can Transform the Way You Think and Feel About Everything by Rob Bell How the Bible Actually Works: In Which I Explain How an Ancient, Ambiguous, and Diverse Book Leads Us to Wisdom Rather Than Answers–And Why That’s Good News by Peter E

Life is full of opposition and contradiction and therein lies the humor and the beauty. In this episode, Kelly talks with Debra Joy Hart about navigating the peaceful times as well as the difficult times of life. Debra shares her thoughts about connecting with the human and Divine in each of us. The importance of mindset and how to overcome when we feel like our truth has been denied. And the tension between joy and sadness that shows up in all parts of our lives.  Our conversation includes: Looking back on her life after turning 65 years old and her eclectic theology Turning away from God and then making a conscious decision to be in a relationship with God and having that affirmed Core tenents of Unity Church and Spiritual Center Why you shouldn't be arguing for your limitations and what are denial prayers and abundance prayers What it means to experience spiritual gaslighting, how to unclutter your heart and live into being a true child of God Epigenetics and the theory of how past trauma is coded into your DNA The spiritual practice of Gratitude Cups Meet Debra Debra Joy Hart is the Spiritual Administrator and part-time minister at Unity Church and Spiritual Center in Urbana, IL.   She has more than 30 years of hands-on nursing and teaching experience. Mixing her experience together with her skills as a Joyologist, a student of death and dying, and a minister, Deb is an award-winning national speaker. Her talks weave humor, laughter, science, and silliness into an unforgettable experience.  Deb wears many hats as a wife, mom, and grandma affectionately known as Bubbie. Inspired by her grandkids, she's authored a children's book ”Grandma D's Bubbles: A Lesson in Life and Loss.”  For the past 23 years, Debra Joy and her alter ego “Daisy the Clown” have worked with a team to bring therapeutic humor and laughter programming to families affected by HIV/AIDS.  Deb was recognized in Spring 2021 with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor. She's been a member of that association for more than 25 years. She has been a frequent presenter and workshop facilitator for the World Laughter Tour. Visit Deb's website – debrajoyhart.com. Follow her on Facebook. Check out her weekly live online chat

Pastor David Ashby leads his congregation in faith. He also serves as a volunteer chaplain giving spiritual support to the first responders in Urbana and Champaign, IL. Today you'll hear him discuss his background and his worship practices. And the privilege to accompany the police officers and firefighters in our community when they encounter stress and emergencies. When first responders have a relationship with God that can sustain them, they have someone with whom they can share their burdens.  Meet David David Ashby is the pastor of Trinity Community Fellowship in Farmer City and previously pastored in the Champaign-Urbana area for 20 years. The son of Champaign's former fire chief, he spent lots of time with first responders and passed on that legacy to two of his sons. Now in his late sixties, the grandfather of nine serves as the chaplain of both Champaign and Urbana Fire Departments and the Urbana Police Department. He is one of four chaplains for the Champaign Police Department. For David, being a chaplain is all about developing relationships. The nature of the work and training for police and firemen is extremely stressful and taxing on the heart and mind. By being present, Pastor David can develop trust. So when a need for support arises, he can be invited into the tender inner parts of the people he serves. And do what he can to provide personal and spiritual assistance. Resources We Mention A Bend in the Road: Finding God When Your World Caves in by Dr. David Jeremiah Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Back: Persevering Through Pressure by Charles R. Swindoll  We recommend Bookshop, an online bookstore committed to keeping local bookstores an integral part of our culture and communities. As an affiliate, Soul Care receives a 10% commission on every sale and independent bookstores receive a matching 10%. Bookshop wants to give back to everyone who promotes books, authors, and independent bookstores! Visit the Soul Care storefront on Bookshop Looking for ways to manage stress in your own life with prayer and Scripture? Join us for Embracing Interruptions, an 8-week in-person bible study, hosted on Thursday mornings by Beth Walker, author of Lessons from the Sidelines. Running from September 9 through October 28, 2021. Enjoy The Episode? Drop a comment below or leave a review on iTunes to let us know. We value knowing what you think. And this helps other east-central Illinois folks find the podcast as well. Sign up for the S

In today's episode, Rabbi Alan Cook shares information and insight about different types of Judaism and Jewish practices including fasting, kosher food and Sabbath rules, and weekly readings of the Torah. One of the things that are so special about the Jewish faith is the strong ties to family and community. Deeds of social action and care for relationships help move the world towards God's vision of wholeness.  Rabbi Alan shares stories of participating in summer camp, writing puns and poetry, and responding to social justice issues in the community and the nation.  A sense of mindfulness and gratitude toward those he interacts with shows up in it all.  Rabbi Alan believes that each of us plays a collective part in harmony with everything and every person in the world. He shares stories of building relationships between the Muslim and Jewish communities in Champaign-Urbana and bringing together different faith communities and leaders under the Interfaith Alliance. Don't miss his original poem/blessing inspired by one of the weekly Torah portions at the end of the episode! Meet Rabbi Alan Rabbi Alan Cook was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2003.  After serving congregations in Denver and Seattle, he came to Champaign in 2013 to serve as the rabbi of Sinai Temple.  Rabbi Alan is married to Rabbi Jody Cook, Sinai Temple’s director of education, and they have three children.  In 2014, Rabbi Alan helped to reorganize the Interfaith Alliance of Champaign County and served as chair of the reconstituted organization for the first three years.  Rabbi Alan has served as a board member of the Eastern Illinois Foodbank and currently is on the board of Faith In Place.  He enjoys writing, reading, and cooking. Read some of Rabbi Alan's past writings on https://ravcookie.blogspot.com/. You can email him at ravcookie@gmail.com. Resources We Mention What is Reform Judaism? Thanks a Thousand and A Year of Biblical Living by AJ Jacobs The Red Heifer Simchat Torah: A celebration of completing the annual reading of the Torah The Heart of the Torah

In today's episode, Kelly nerds out with Dr. Melody Green about books and stories. Particularly children’s fantasy and science fiction with characters, plots, or symbols that provide insight into the nature of God in Christianity. And how this might provide new and imaginative ways to connect to the Divine. Melody gives examples of how imagery that's used in fantasy is already familiar and lets us talk about the bigger picture and the human condition. In fact, children's fantasy and science fiction stories are the perfect genres for exploring spiritual questions. In her classes and research, she dives into the themes and messages about God that show up in the popular and lesser-known works of authors C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. But her classes aren't just for those who identify as Christian. Students come from different backgrounds and beliefs, and Melody meets them just where they are on their spiritual journey. Listen in on our conversation around how spiritual themes in children’s fantasy and science fiction, and other books, films, and even TV shows can challenge and inspire us. She shares LOTS of recommended titles you can add to your reading list. And we even get into talking about Dr. Who and Harry Potter a bit. Meet Melody Dr. Melody Green is the Dean at Urbana Theological Seminary and an Assistant Professor of Christianity and Culture. You'll find her teaching courses there on literature and theology. Melody’s research interests include the intersection of faith and literature, especially focusing on the authors J. R. R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, and George MacDonald. She has spoken at a wide variety of conferences and published quite a few articles and book chapters on these and related topics. You can find out more about Urbana Seminary (where you’ll find the classes she teaches) here, and more about the annual Tolkien Conference she organizes here. Resources We Mention 1979 animated television movie – The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe 1977 animated television movie – The Hobbit C. S. Lewis’ Letters to Children by Lyle W. Dorsett and Marjorie Lamp Mead  The Mythopoeic Society Phantastes: A Faerie Romance for Men and Women by George MacDonald The Wingfeather Saga Book Series (including North! or Be Eaten and On The Edge of The Dark Sea of Darkness) by Andrew Peterson The Chronicles of Prydain Book Series (including The Black Cauldron and The Book of Three) by Lloyd Alexander The Neverending Story by Michael Ende Ursula LeGuin books The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yol

Today's episode brings you not one, but two guests who work in tandem to make amazing things happen.  What's it like to try to start a new church during a pandemic? Anchor Church founders and pastors Nick and Hannah Brzozowski have somehow managed to build a beautiful and welcoming community even though in-person activities were limited in 2020 and 2021.  They dreamed of coming to east-central Illinois to build their church and they decided on Champaign-Urbana. Sometimes we believe that God's will for us will inevitably be the harder path, but Nick and Hannah's story is an example that God's will for us can also be beautiful, delightful, and our top choice as well! Hannah talks about her journey coming into her own leadership abilities and how she is working to examine her conservative foundation and grow into a strong female pastor. The Anchor Church community is built on service, thoughtful hospitality, and a belief that nobody should be scared to go to church. Relationships and openness supersede all else. MEET NICK AND HANNAH Nick and Hannah Brzozowski are pioneers, champions, and new pastors in our community. The two moved to Champaign-Urbana in October 2019 from Kenosha, WI to start Anchor, a non-denominational Christian church that is trying to do church in a different way. Nick is the Lead Pastor at Anchor Church. He has a Master’s of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a Bachelor’s in Christian Ministry from Trinity International University. Throughout college, he worked at Youth For Christ reaching out to teens and developing leaders. He also worked as the Next Generation Pastor at Immanuel in Kenosha for four years. Nick enjoys reading as many books as he can, playing his Nintendo Switch, and watching the latest Marvel movies. Hannah is the Operations Leader at Anchor Church. She has an Associate’s in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute. She’s led small groups of high school girls for years and is passionate about helping people connect to the church through hospitality. Prior to starting Anchor Church, Hannah worked as Operations Leader at Immanuel in Kenosha, WI for four years. Hannah enjoys taking pictures of her dog, Albert, drinking Starbucks, and keeping up to date with the latest Taylor Swift music. Nick and Hannah strive to model humanness, imperfection, kindness, and true friendship as they bring people to faith in Jesus. They are an amazing team and force for good.  Learn more about Anchor Church or follow them on Instagram (@anchorchurchil) or Facebook (@anchorchurchil) or YouTube. You can email Hannah at hannah@anchorchurchil.com or email Nick at nick@anchorchurchil.com. You can also shoot them a text anytime at (262) 945-5603. RESOURCES WE MENTION

Amy Penne’s spirituality can be summed up pretty easily: “I am a creative and Divine holy spirit. There is infinite creativity in the world so it may as well come through me.” In this episode, Kelly and Amy talk about the spiritual practice of being creative, whether it’s through art, journaling, writing, researching, or just putting together new ideas in new ways. As an academic and a self-professed “rabbit-hole” reader” who seldom finishes a book before being drawn to a new thing, Amy encourages us each to find a way to think outside of our own self-imposed limitations and be creative. Even if you can’t draw a stick figure, you can be inspired and build upon the work of other artists. For Amy, when creativity is combined with meditation and the practice of the mindful pause, it can be a powerful tool for kindness and compassion that shows up at home, in her work, and in so many parts of her life. Meet Amy Amy Penne, Ph.D. is a writer and Professor of English at Parkland College. She’s a true lover of books, as is her husband Bryan who’s a school librarian. She also has two grown sons who are brilliant musicians, writers, and thinkers, but most importantly, they are compassionate young men. She and her family live in a hundred-year-old arts & crafts home in Tuscola, a small town thirty miles south of Champaign, along with two dogs and two cats. She’s known as the lady who feeds all the birds in town. She shares her thoughts and musing around the intersections of creative writing, poetry, and life in her blog The Pensive Penne. Amy’s essays, reviews, and poems have been included in Tupelo Quarterly, Minerva Rising, and Brain Child, among others, and she has a new essay called Exit 212: A Haibun Comfort Food Essay forthcoming in Midwest Writing Center’s upcoming anthology These Interesting Times: Surviving 2020 in the QC. You can follow Amy on Instagram (@pensivepenne), Facebook (@amy.penne), and Twitter (@thepensivepenne). You can email her at amy.penne@gmail.com. Resources We Mention Creation and destruction are all part of the same cycle (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) Art of Frieda Khalo Dalai Lama and the Heart Sutra

This week, I’m talking with Kimberly Otchere, the Director for Inclusion and Talent Development for University Housing at the University of Illinois. We discuss one of her life’s passions: reforming and promoting diversity and inclusion in organizations and leadership. Kimberly shares insightful personal experiences from her childhood raised in the Baptist Church and the classroom and out-of-classroom education that formed her faith. We talk about the importance of creating a greater capacity for compassion through dialogue and listening. Doing this allows us to find and feel God’s love and connection with humanity, even amid the grief and pain we face. We also talk about marriage, being a mom, and what true friendship looks like. MEET KIMBERLY A 2008 Saint Mary’s College of Notre Dame alum who majored in Social Work and minored in Business, Kimberly obtained her MSW from the University of Michigan and her MBA from the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. For the last eight years, she has served as a social justice educator for University Housing at the University of Illinois. In her current role as Director of Inclusion and Talent Development, she provides strategic DEI oversight for the eight operations units and more than 600 employees in University Housing. Kim’s passion to serve was nurtured by her Christian faith and family’s unwavering commitment to serve underserved vulnerable populations in the Chicagoland area. Raised Baptist, Kim grew up in a religious household with a father who served as a volunteer prison chaplain for more than 30 years. She sang in the church choir and taught Sunday school and Bible study. While attending a Catholic single-sex high school she was introduced to the spirituality of faith through a Kairos retreat, where she served as Rector. Her undergraduate and graduate life yielded a merging of her faith, academic and social passion. Experiences of campus community organizing, diversity recruitment, and inclusion programming grounded her commitment to social justice work. Each experience has inspired scholarship and practice centered around creating equitable and inclusive spaces for underrepresented and underserved communities. Connect with Kim on Instagram at linkedin.com/in/kimberly-otchere. RESOURCES Learn more about the Kindred Souls Community DID YOU ENJOY THIS EPISODE? Please drop a comment below or leave a review on iTunes to let us know. We value knowing what you think and this helps other east-central Illinois folks find the podcast as well. Sign up for the Soul Care Insider weekly email Follow Soul Care on Instagram @soulcare.experience or Facebook @soulcareexperience Join the Soul Care Book Group to read books about faith, religion, or spirituality and a monthly guided discussion.

Today we're talking with Don Follis about his work supporting pastors and preventing ministry burnout. Kelly and Don also explore how to live mindfully, understanding the natural rhythms of life, the real self-care you need, and the Daily Examen. The Daily Examen is a technique of prayerful reflection on the events of the day in order to detect the presence of the Divine in each moment and interaction described by Ignatius Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises.  The Examen is an ancient practice that can help us see God's hand at work in our whole experience. Don walks us through the way he prays, the benefits of quiet time, and awareness. MEET DON You may know Don Follis from his regular columns in the News Gazette about faith and religion. But you may not know that he's a graduate of the University of Illinois. He served as a campus pastor for more than 20 years, then transitioned into administrative work with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and pastoral care at Vineyard Church in Urbana. Since 2011, he's directed a small nonprofit called Pastor-to-Pastor Initiatives, supporting pastors, church leaders and congregations through counseling, mentoring, coaching, and spiritual direction. He has open and honest talks about all the “behind-the-scenes” stuff involved with being a human in a spiritual job and basically encourages pastoral leaders to stay the course. Over the years, Pastor-to-Pastor has served more than 200 pastors. He has offered classes on spiritual formation, marriage retreats for pastors and spouses with his wife Jennifer, seminars on emotional health for church staff, classes on grief, and retreats on silence and solitude. In 2019, Soul Care worked with Don to put on a seminar on how to better understand and incorporate the Enneagram in the life of the pastor and church. Learn more about Don and Pastor-to-Pastor Initiatives at donfollis.com. Feel free to email him at donfollis@gmail.com. You can follow Don on Facebook, Twitter (@donfollis), and Instagram (@dondfollis). RESOURCES  Eugene Peterson, The Message (modern wording Bible) https://messagebible.com/ 5 Steps of the Examen  Taking a Pause Learn more about The Examen and how to practice it at a Mini-Contemplative Prayer Retreat offered each week at Soul Care DID YOU ENJOY THIS EPISODE? Please drop a comment below or leave a review on iTunes to let us know. We value knowing what you think and this helps other east-central Illinois folks find the podcast as well. Sign up for the Soul Care Insider weekly email Follow Soul Ca

Lyndsey Scott is an artist, a weaver, a sacred space holder. Through her example, she has taught the people she engages with to open their hearts more with compassion and grace and to lean on the strength of ancestors. Kelly & Lyndsey have a fascinating conversation about rekindling kinship with the earth, the power of song and other spiritual technologies, and anchoring anti-racism as a contemplative and embodied practice. During the episode, we talk about: Permaculture and plants Her early Christian years and deconstructing/reconstructing Power of forgiveness to liberate Who is the beloved in me? And the people I interact with? The positive practice of loss and grief Spiritual technologies Being contemplative and embodied in racial justice, art, and work What does love mean for you? Song as a spiritual practice and community singing Meet Lyndsey Lyndsey is well-versed in social and spiritual practices that support enjoyable, sustainable societal transformation: yoga, song-weaving, visual art, dancing, and gardening. Educated as a painter and trained as a yogi, Lyndsey spent a decade as a community artist in St. Louis before returning to the area to run a yoga studio in Rantoul. She enjoys designing projects to feed her inquiry about life while attracting adventures and connecting with tribes that grace her journey with experiential wisdom in creative healing and joyful sustainability. Her passions are catalyzing radically simple + beautiful + fun intentional community, sparking spontaneous collaborative singing and dancing, long journey bike-abouts throughout the Heartland, permaculture, and loving children. Creating and leading Song has taught her to hold each moment as prayer, whatever the task at hand. She loves to honor thresholds, bring beauty to gatherings, tend the grief in our bones, liberate the pleasure in our bodies ~ all woven in Song, all in service of this great big Coming Home. When she leads Song, she has a deep desire to nourish each person as they claim and wake into our divine birthright, Freedom. Her current growth edge, with mentorship from Holistic Resistance, is leaning into Song as a tool to dismantle internalized white supremacy. Her song teachers and mentors include Liz Rog, Lisa Littlebird, Laurence Cole, and Barbara McAfee who model the path of singing as heart-opening. Learn more about Song Power Hour and other events led by Lyndsey. You can follow Lyndsey on Instagram (@lila.gaia) and YouTube and follow the We Belong! Community of Song on Facebook You can support Lyndsey’s Sacred Song work on Patreon. Resources We Mention My Grandmother’s Hands: Racialized Trauma and the Pathway to Mending Our Hearts and Bodies by Resmaa Menakem The On Being podcast

Lyndsey Scott is an artist, a weaver, a sacred space holder. Through her example, she has taught the people she engages with to open their hearts more with compassion and grace and to lean on the strength of ancestors. Kelly & Lyndsey have a fascinating conversation about rekindling kinship with the earth, the power of song and other spiritual technologies, and anchoring anti-racism as a contemplative and embodied practice.

Daniel Guerra is the founder of Bridge of Hope, an organization that focuses its ministry on inclusion, acceptance, and belonging. He graduated from Christ For the Nations Institute in Dallas Texas and was ordained under the AOG Association. Daniel has pastored successful organizations in Texas, Missouri, and Illinois. He is a musician, writer, and sought-after public communicator with a passion to love, encourage, and empower people to live their authentic truth.

Dr. Nicole Anderson Cobb is an amazing woman with a rich background as a researcher, professor, activist, journalist, award-winning playwright, community volunteer, and a wife and mom. She’s a staff writer for the online magazine Smile Politely covering race relations & governance, gun violence, and economic disparities. In 2019, she created a series called “When Faith Speaks” exploring the intersections of faith leaders and communities, politics, and society. Nicole is a world traveler and a lifelong learner. She is currently part of the Newbigin Fellowship seminary program equipping people to embody the way of Jesus, the call to peace, and the work of justice. Books, Podcasts, Poets, and Resources Nicole references: When Christians Were Jews by Paula Fredriksen Pete Ens - The Bible for Normal People podcast, The Bible Tells Me So book Theologian Howard Thurman Poet Pádraig Ó Tuama at the Church of the Heavenly Rest Theologian James Cohn Frank Thomas sermons on YouTube The Bible Project podcast Yoga with Adrienne

Beth Walker is a mom of 2, a writer, a content marketing professional, a ministry leader, and much more. But she’s also the wife of a football coach and has partnered with her husband for twenty years, in leadership and ministry both on and off the football field. Beth is passionate about encouraging women to pursue their individual callings from God. She is a contributor to Friday Night Wives and The Glorious Table. In her recently published book, Lessons from the Sidelines, she shares personal stories as a coach’s wife as well as interviews with other women in supporting roles. On her blog by the same name, Beth offers practical advice for other coaches’ wives as well as a behind-the-scenes look at her family’s life as they serve their football players and their community. Join the Mighty Network for Lessons from the Sidelines - https://lessonsfromthesidelines.com/mighty-network-access/ Thriving In Your Sweet Spot 7 Step Action Plan & other resources from Lessons from the Sidelines - https://lessonsfromthesidelines.com/book-resources/ Enneagram - The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Crone & Suzanne Stabile Cultivate What Matters and Powersheets by Lara Casey Please leave a review of the episode on your favorite podcast platform. Learn more about Soul Care at experiencesoulcare.com