Refugia

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Host Debra Rienstra interviews a different guest each week, exploring the idea of refugia from a variety of perspectives, from biology to worship to politics. Refugia are places of shelter where life endures in times of crisis. We’re exploring what it means for people of faith to be people of refugi…

Debra Rienstra


    • Nov 20, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 39m AVG DURATION
    • 32 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Refugia

    #31 Artful Wildness: Biologist Dave Koetje Reflects on Season 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2022 26:52


    Dave Koetje returns as co-host to reflect on what we've learned about refugia church from our guests this season. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #30 Fortress Press Roundtable: Sharon Delgado and Talitha Amadea Aho on Sentinel Experiences, the Clash of Kingdoms, and Caring Well for Young People in Crisis Times

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2022 48:02


    Fellow Fortress Press authors Sharon Delgado and Talitha Amadea Aho discuss writing books during a pandemic, young people's spiritual hungers, and the resources the church can offer during a climate crisis. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #29 Climate Hospitality: Karyn Bigelow and Avery Davis Lamb on Creation Justice Ministries and Resilient Church Communities

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2022 48:25


    The executive directors of Creation Justice Ministries explain how faith-based climate organizations can bring people together, inspiring churches and individuals to build social cohesion and work toward a livable and just future. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #28 Becoming The Refuge: Rev. Gerry Koning on Sensory Sanctuaries, Poo-Sniffing Dogs, and the Transition to a New Kind of Church

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2022 48:55


    Rev. Gerry Koning describes the process of moving from an ordinary, traditional congregation to a refugia church focused on "all abilities, all creation, all nations." --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #27 God is Still Speaking: Rev. Jim Antal on Communal Vocation, Golden Rule 2.0, and Our Urgent Moral Challenge

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2022 52:10


    Rev. Jim Antal recounts his long experience in climate activism and shares his conviction that Christians, and people of all faiths, are called to a communal vocation at this crucial moment in history. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #26 At School in Community: Ruth Padilla DeBorst on Intentional Christian Community, Resisting the Allure of Empire, and Planetary Gardening

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2022 35:38


    Theologian Ruth Padilla DeBorst describes life in Casa Adobe, an intentional Christian community in Costa Rica, and discusses what faithful living can look like as we seek to resist complicity in the abuses of empire. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #25 Houses of the Future: Rabbi Dean Shapiro on Biblical Stories, Renewed Ritual, and Facing Climate Change as Religious Communities

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2022 54:01


    Rabbi Shapiro, founder of an interfaith clergy training program called The Joseph Project, discusses how religious ritual and story bind us together and help us strengthen community in times of crisis. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #24 The Arc of Movement History: May Boeve on Bridging Refugia through Global Connection, Leveraging Prophetic Speech, and Looking into the Abyss with Faith

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2022 43:10


    350.org co-founder and Executive Director May Boeve describes the joy and challenge of connecting climate activists across the globe, scaling up climate solutions, and drawing on faith to drive courage and prophetic speech. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #23 Purple Zone Refugia: Leah Schade on Climate Crisis Preaching, the Prophetic Church, and the Trickster Christ

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2022 52:42


    To open Season 3, homiletics professor Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade considers the prophetic role of churches amid the climate crisis, as well as the challenge of working for long-term transformation through preaching and structured dialogue. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    Refugia Podcast Season 3 Trailer

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2022 4:10


    We're back! Join us for Season 3 of the Refugia Podcast starting Sept. 18. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #22 Living Together in a World of Wounds: Dave Koetje and Summing Up Season 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2020 45:40


    Biologist Dave Koetje returns to reflect with host Debra Rienstra on major themes from Season 2. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #21 Infrastructures of Holiness: Fred Bahnson on Arks, Intercessory Forests, and Gregarious Hermits

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2020 52:32


    Writer Fred Bahnson explores the distinction between arks and refugia. He describes his visit to the church forests of Ethiopia and his involvement in the community garden movement, and he ponders the role of metanoia and mystical connection in a refugia faith. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #20: Imaginative and Messy: Kathryn Mae Post on Religion Journalism and Reconstructing Faith

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2020 37:04


    Kathryn Mae Post describes her own process of reckoning with a faith crisis, engaging in anti-racism work, and starting out in religion journalism at a time of major cultural and religious transition. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #19 Love Thy Downstream Neighbor: Tim Van Deelen on Sorrow, Anger, and Conservation Biology.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2020 42:16


    Wildlife biologist Tim Van Deelen reflects on the spiritual challenges of wildlife conservation and considers the call to value the commons and engage in strategic activism. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #18 Where Beauty is Happening: Katerina Parsons on International Development, Ripple Effects, and Hunger for Deep Roots

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2020 41:30


    Katerina Parsons reflects on refugia in international development settings, on engaging in advocacy and activism as a young adult, and on feeling restless and place-starved at once. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #17 Dreaming of Eloheh: Randy Woodley on Following the Harmony Way

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2020 38:59


    Randy Woodley brings Christian and indigenous worldviews into instructive conversation, describing his quest to establish Eloheh Farm, a place where people can reconnect with land and recover indigenous farming practices. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #16 Kites and Kingfishers: Ruth Harvey on Iona Community and Emerging Patterns

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2020 39:32


    Ruth Harvey describes how times of crisis spur people toward new ways of imagining and organizing community. She reflects on how the Iona Community models refugia as places we move in and out of, located and dispersed. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #15 Momentum into the Next Thing: Bill McKibben on Fighting Overwhelming Odds and Praying Through Mental Static

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2020 39:54


    Bill McKibben reviews some recent good news in the climate fight and reflects on an ethic of human solidarity, the demands of activism, and holding on to Christian faith. Also: the book of Job, refugia, and the delights of vernal pools. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #14 Sacramental Cats and Hungry Deer: Dave Koetje on Refugia Amid COVID

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2020 39:50


    Biologist Dave Koetje talks with host Debra Rienstra about how the COVID-19 pandemic has altered his ideas about refugia. Also: Zoom worship, garden pests, and stepping-stone refugia. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #13 Important Dying: Dave Koetje and Summing Up the Refugia Series

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2019 38:31


    Biologist Dave Koetje returns to reflect with host Debra Rienstra on everything we’ve learned over the course of the last twelve episodes. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #12 Baselines and Soul Work: Hillary Scholten on Immigration Reform and the Urgency of Creating Good Policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2019 26:51


    Hillary Scholten, an attorney who worked for the DOJ under President Obama and then provided legal representation for migrant workers in Michigan, considers how government policy, people of faith, and the larger community can intersect to create healing refugia spaces. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #11 Jazz on the Dunes: David Jellema and the Colony at Lost Valley

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2019 41:06


    In this episode, we travel out to the shore of Lake Michigan and back in time. Jazz musician David Jellema recounts the history of the "artist intelligentsia retreat" founded by his father and uncle. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #10 Do the Next Right Thing: Kate Kooyman on Refuge, Refugees, and Stewarding Citizenship

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2019 41:05


    A pastor and education team leader at the Christian Reformed Church’s Office of Social Justice, Kate Kooyman sorts out some confusing matters of immigration policy and explores how people of faith help immigrants and refugees go beyond refuge to community integration. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #9 Keep All the Pieces: Tim Van Deelen on Wildlife Conservation and the Ghost of Aldo Leopold

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2019 50:10


    Tim Van Deelen, professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, explains how the term refugia is used in the context of wildlife conservation, along the way telling stories about grizzlies, black-footed ferrets, wolves, and Aldo Leopold. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #8 Dying and Rising: Jeff Chu on Composting, Evolving Faith, and Pop-Up Refugia

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2019 37:52


    Journalist and recent seminary graduate Jeff Chu ponders the intersection of theology and farming. He also describes the Evolving Faith Conference and other places of healing and fresh imagination for people who are, for whatever reason, feeling on the margins of the church. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #7 Through Pain to Freedom: John Witvliet on Prayer, Lament, and Refugia in Worship

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2019 31:27


    John Witvliet, Director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, explores how Christians can create refugia spaces in worship through thoughtful public prayer and courageous practices of lament. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #6 Kitchen Table Refugia: Christina Edmondson on Higher Education, Social Media, and Discipleship for Discernment

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2019 40:32


    Dean for Intercultural Student Development at Calvin University and co-host of the Truth’s Table podcast, Christina Edmondson reflects on the potential for refugia on college campuses and on the virtues and difficulties of virtual refugia. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #5 New Generation Rising: Kyle Meyaard-Schaap on Young Evangelicals and the Climate Crisis

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2019 37:51


    Kyle Meyaard-Schaap, National Organizer and Spokesperson for Young Evangelicals for Climate Action, takes stock of how the church is doing in addressing climate change and describes how young Christians are leading the way, finding refugia through intentional action. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #4 Sacred Vessels: Jo-Ann Van Reeuwyk on the Arts, the Holy Spirit, and Sanctuary Spaces

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2019 36:26


    Studio artist and art educator Jo-Ann Van Reeuwyk reflects on art and risk-taking, sacred spaces pedagogy, vessels, and pokey things. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #3 Seedbed to Be a Blessing: Steve Bouma-Prediger on Refugia in Scripture

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2019 42:34


    Steve Bouma-Prediger, professor of religion at Hope College and “ecotheologian,” reflects on examples of refugia in the Bible and the virtues necessary to fulfill our God-given, human responsibility to the earth. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #2 The Great Laughter: Jamie Skillen on Humility and Hope

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2019 34:39


    Jamie Skillen, professor of environmental studies at Calvin University, overviews the sometimes tense relationship between Christianity and environmentalism and urges us to aspire toward an “eschatological stewardship.” --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

    #1 Little Pockets: Dave Koetje and Defining Our Terms

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2019 22:37


    Dave Koetje, professor of biology at Calvin University, helps lay the groundwork with some definitions. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/refugia/message

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