The Clergy Corner

After some technical difficulties last weekend, this week Pastor Arik looks at the importance of going with the flow, even when the unexpected occurs. Listen in!

In response to the passing of Pope Francis, this week Pastor Arik takes a look at his life and the legacy he leaves behind on the world and the institutional church

This week Pastor Arik takes a personal moment to reflect upon the parallels of our Holy Week story and what is going on in the world around us. If any of his musings resonates with you, feel free to share with others. Take care of yourselves, everyone. 

After a memorable moment with his son, Leo, earlier this week, Pastor Arik reflects upon the importance of finding moments of light and love in the midst of the darkness. 

After a shopping excursion earlier this week, on this episode Pastor Arik reflects upon the impact that a pair of pink cowboy boots had on his life, and the way they encourage us to live our lives fully and authentically. Listen in!  

On this week's episode, Pastor Arik looks at how the coming spring season can instill within us signs of hope. Even in the midst of these turbulent and chaotic times, hope is stirring beneath the surface. Join him as he explores the importance of hope in the midst of dark times. 

As we begin our Lenten journey today, this week Pastor Arik looks at the significance of the Ash Wednesday service and how it prepares us for the Lenten season. Listen in!

This past weekend Pastor Arik and the confirmation class visited a Sikh Gurdwara to worship alongside them. Join him as he explores the basic beliefs of the Sikh religion and the beauty that comes from their belief of the oneness of all humanity. 

On this week's episode, Pastor Arik examines how finding moments of joy is an act of resistance. In a world that seeks to overwhelm us with bad news of troubling times, finding moments of joy is a profound way of fighting back. 

What a year it has been, already! This week Pastor Arik gives thanks for the distraction of the NFL playoffs and how faith and sports can learn lessons from one another. 

Happy New Year, everyone! Join Pastor Arik this week as he explores the beauty found in our mundane routines and how it opens us up to the possibility of experiencing the divine. Join him as he shifts his thinking from "routine" to one of "ritual," as we enter into this new year. 

What a wonderful day! Somehow the release of episode 300 perfectly aligns with Christmas day, so join us as Pastor Arik celebrates the season with a poem from one of his favorite poets, Sh'maya. Merry Christmas, everyone!

After a major loss in the congregation this week, on this week's episode Pastor Arik looks at the importance of naming our grief in the midst of the holiday season. Join him as he explores what grief looks like and why it is important to allow ourselves to grieve at Christmas. 

This week, as Pastor Arik prepares for the youth Christmas pageant on Sunday, he reflects upon how children experience this season in its pure and unfiltered form. Join him as he explores how we can reconnect with the child within us and approach this season with awe. 

As we enter into the month of December, and as the snow begins to fall in earnest, this week Pastor Arik looks at how we can take lessons from the season and apply it to our own lives. Join him as he explores the wisdom found within the winter season. 

This week Pastor Arik looks at how the season of fall can reflect the changes in our own lives, and how sometimes we need to shed the leaves that are holding us back in order to prepare for the coming winter. 

After a rough couple of weeks, on this episode Pastor Arik looks at the importance of gratitude, especially during difficult times. Join him as he invites us to ground ourselves in a spirit of gratitude, as we prepare ourselves for the work ahead.

In the aftermath of a very busy week, on this week's episode Pastor Arik looks at the importance of the "village" and how it is still alive and well in our community, today. Listen in! 

After a chance encounter with AI this past week that left him stunned, in this episode Pastor Arik looks at the advancement of artificial intelligence technology and the good (and bad) that might come from it. 

This week, in a continuation of our mini-series examining problematic texts of the Bible, we look closer at Psalm 88 - the only psalm where the psalmist does not make a turn from sorrow to praise. Join Pastor Arik as he looks at the silence of God as an example of sacred care, and how sometimes the best way to support another in their grief is to be a listening ear. 

This week Pastor Arik takes a closer look at the problematic story of Genesis 22 and the story of Abraham and Isaac. Join him as he explores Abraham's faithfulness/faithlessness and how the story might resonate with us today.

Join Pastor Arik this week has he lifts up the stories of some of the first responders on September 11, 2001. As we look back on that fateful day, 23 years ago, let us lift up those first responders who gave so much to help those in danger. 

As the school year kicks off, this week Pastor Arik takes a look at the importance of Christian Education and having a place where our kids feel loved and supported, no matter what comes their way. 

As Pastor Arik recovers from a nasty virus, this week he re-releases an episode from back in the day when his family was fighting off a bug, right before Sage's baptism. Listen in and stay healthy, friends!

This week Pastor Arik looks at the power that language has in shaping our reality, especially when it comes to the power of names. Join him as he looks at several biblical examples of names and how there is deeper meaning found within. 

This week Pastor Arik looks at those "in-between" times in our lives when we find ourselves in a place of transition. Join him and his exploration of eschatology as we discover meaning in the midst of the various seasons of our lives 

In this week's episode, Pastor Arik looks at the history and origins of lobotomies, and how it became known as the "surgery of the soul." Diving into the theory of the collective unconscious, join Pastor Arik as he explores a theory of where the soul resides. 

In the aftermath of this past weekend's events, Pastor Arik takes a few minutes to reflect upon the radically nonviolent nature of our faith. Take care of yourselves, everyone. 

With the 4th of July being celebrated this week, Pastor Arik uses the opportunity to examine the dangers of civil religion and why we need to be intentional about what becomes an object of our worship.

As Pastor Arik reflects upon a busy weekend, he lifts up those that made the many church events a resounding success. Join him as he embraces a spirit of gratitude for all those who gave of their time and energy this week. 

As we celebrate Juneteenth today, this week Pastor Arik takes a look at the history of the holiday and why we need to hold the celebration of the day in tension with the sorrow of slavery. 

As PRIDE month begins, this week Pastor Arik looks at why this is such an important month to celebrate as a faith community. Join him as he looks at how far we have come and how much further we have left to go. 

This week, as Pastor Arik prepares for our first outdoor worship service of the year, he does a bit of reflecting on why he loves gardening and the process of watching things grow. Join him as he explores the parallels between growing a garden and tending to the garden of our soul. 

In preparation for the first meeting of our church book club later this week, on this episode Pastor Arik takes a look at the book of Job and the reason what it still remains relevant to us in our world, today. 

With Mother's Day approaching this weekend, this week Pastor Arik looks at why he uses the holiday as an opportunity to celebrate the women in our lives as a whole, and offers up two poems from incredible poets that speak to the power of women in the world. 

As Pastor Arik worked from a coffee shop to try to get past his writer's block, he experienced an interesting phenomenon. Join him as he explores what "sonder" is and how it is something that can help us be more mindful in our lives. 

This upcoming Sunday afternoon, Ankeny UCC will be hosting the Central Association's Spring Meeting, followed by the installation service for Pastor Arik. Join him this week as he looks at what an installation service is all about, and why he finds it so special. 

With Easter now behind us, this upcoming Sunday we will hear the story of doubting Thomas. Join Pastor Arik this week as he explores a different approach to the story, and why doubt is so important to us as people of faith. 

With Holy Week upon us, this week Pastor Arik shares one of his favorite poems by the poet Sh'maya, titled, "The Shattered Grave"

With the upcoming Holy Week events taking much of Pastor Arik's time and focus, this week he releases an old interview from years ago when he sat down with a dear friend and coworker. Join us this week as Pastor Arik sits down with Ronald Gibson, an incredibly intelligent man and a talented organist, as they discuss Ron's life journey and his passion for music

With St. Patrick's Day approaching on Sunday, this week Pastor Arik looks at the origins of the holiday and how it has transformed into the celebration we have here, today. 

As new life returns to our world, this week Pastor Arik examines the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Join him as he explores how painful moments of deconstruction can create fertile ground for the new life that is coming next. 

This week Pastor Arik revisits an old interview he did with his best friend, Dr. Michael Sinklier, from eight years ago. Listen in to this old episode where they discussed Michael's faith journey, his passions, and some of his more memorable medical stories.

This week Pastor Arik examines how our routines can sometimes leave us feeling in a rut. As he explores an example in his own life, he encourages us to find ways to live intentionally in the present moment, and to live every day to the fullest. 

Today is Ash Wednesday AND Valentine's Day! This week Pastor Arik looks at how these seemingly opposite holidays actually work well when brought together. Join him as he explores how embracing our mortality makes those relationships in our lives, even better. 

As Lent approaches next week, this week Pastor Arik centers himself (and hopefully the listeners!) by leading a guided meditation. Find some time and a place to get comfortable before listening in to this week's episode!

In the midst of revamping the website and updating the church's logo, this week Pastor Arik looks at how the cross became the symbol of the Christian faith, and why the church's new logo will step away from this imagery.

This past weekend Pastor Arik attended a planning session with the church council. Coming away from the experience, he was impressed and hopeful for what the year will bring. Join him as he reflects upon what made this planning session different, and how we can apply these same lessons to our own lives

With the recent snow storms, this week Pastor Arik takes a look back on a fond memory he shared with an older member who traveled to church in the midst of a blizzard. Stay safe and warm!

TW: School Shootings In the aftermath of the tragedy in Perry last week, this week Pastor Arik reflects upon the impact of these events in our lives and the lives of our children. Let us work toward and build a world where violence will be a distant memory. 

With the New Year before us, this week Pastor Arik looks at how we can choose to make this year the best year of our lives. In a year where there will be tension and uncertainty, let us choose to be beacons of light and love in the lives of others.