Podcasts about being church

This week we carry on our "Being Church" series by looking at the theme and reality of the Church as God's dwelling place. We start in Exodus 33 where Moses pleads with God to go with the Israelites and there is the incredible statement: "How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

"Doing Church" --- "Being Church" --- in the Aftermath of an Assassination Attempt A Family Life Interview For much of the nation, so much has happened in a two-week period, that the news-cycle has moved on from the assassination attempt in Butler County, Pennsylvania. However, for the people of that immediate region an hour north of Pittsburgh, the trauma and the questions that started a mere two Saturdays ago will continue for quite some time. Local churches there are responding --- and will, into the long term. Our Greg Gillispie talked with regional pastor Tom Harmon, asking about Christians' local response, to an internationally-famous incident. Theirs is among many local congregations of multiple traditions and denominations reaching out in faithful responses in the aftermath of this shooting.   The Rev. Dr. Tom Harmon is executive presbyter for Beaver-Butler Presbytery, a network of 60 congregations in western Pennsylvania. The organization to which Dr. Harmon refers is "Search for Common Ground". The USA component of this worldwide movement released a public statement regarding the shooting of Donald Trump and three attendees at the Butler rally. The organization's website is www.SFCG.org Family Life News seeks to bring a Christian Worldview to what's happening in New York, Pennsylvania, across the country, and around the world with 12 daily newscasts, special features, podcasts, and extended interviews like this one.

Joe continues our series looking at Being Church unpacking whole-brained Christianity. How has our culture of division infiltrated our church and discipleship practice? Do we use our full brains in our approach to coming to God? Are we open to seeing the face of Jesus to expand our relationship with him? For more information on who we are as a church visit: https://www.yeovilcommunitychurch.co.uk

Adam continues our Being Church series looking at who we are as a church, what are our Mission, Vison, and Values? We launched an annual report that shares our story and what God is doing here at YCC. What does it mean to be a part of YCC and how can you contribute? If you would like to read our annual report online visit: https://www.yeovil.cc/report For more information on who we are as a church visit: https://www.yeovilcommunitychurch.co.uk

Fewer and fewer people find their way to a traditional church building on Sunday. So what would it look like to bring church into every context? Drawing on decades of experience helping lead the Fresh Expressions movement in the U.K., this talk from Michael Moynagh with ignite your imagination with new dreams of where church can happen.Fresh Expressions is a worldwide movement of everyday missionaries who want to see churches thrive in the places we live, eat, work and play by leveraging the creativity and endurance of the inherited church. To learn a simple five-phase process for starting a new expression of church go to freshexpressions.com/howtostart.Season three is brought to you by FX Connect, an online community full of other church leaders passionate about reaching new people in new places. Access our entire library of practical and inspiring training materials and connect with other church leaders at fxconnectus.org.Revd Dr Michael Moynagh is an internationally recognised missiologist who has been central to the development of the Fresh Expressions movement in the UK and beyond. He is also an associate tutor at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford, and a senior research fellow with Career Innovation. He is author or Church in Life: Innovation, Mission, and Ecclesiology and Being Church, Doing Life: Creating Gospel Communities Where Life Happens and other seminal texts within the Fresh Expressions and mission-shaped church movements.

Welcome to another thought-provoking episode of "Sanctified-ish," where Reagan and Victor explore the deeper side of spirituality and the Christian faith. In today's episode titled "Doing Church v Being Church," our hosts engage in a spirited discussion about the difference between the two concepts and how they impact the modern Christian experience. Reagan and Victor kick off the conversation by examining the traditional understanding of 'doing church,' which emphasizes rituals, ceremonies, and activities that define a congregation's identity. They delve into the challenges posed by an overly structured approach and the potential pitfalls of a rigid focus on religious practices. As they progress, the duo shifts gears to explore the concept of 'being church,' a transformative approach that emphasizes the essence of Christian living, love, and relationships. Victor shares personal anecdotes that highlight the power of community, while Reagan reflects on her own spiritual journey and the ways in which embracing a 'being church' mentality has changed her life. Together, they discuss the importance of authentic connection with others, the role of empathy, and the necessity of practicing inclusivity in order to create a more vibrant and fulfilling spiritual experience. Throughout the episode, Reagan and Victor engage with insightful commentary and questions from listeners, offering valuable perspectives on how to navigate the balance between 'doing church' and 'being church.' Join Reagan and Victor for this enlightening and heartwarming episode that will inspire you to reflect on your own spiritual journey, as they encourage listeners to embrace a more authentic and meaningful approach to faith and community. Don't miss this engaging conversation that challenges traditional norms and offers a fresh perspective on what it means to live a truly Christian life.

3-26-23 Being Church by MPPC

Worship Guide 12 February 2023 The post “Being Church in a Post-Church Age” appeared first on Table Life Church of the Nazarene.

Do you feel like there isn't enough time or wish you could just get a better hold on time? This episode is a chance to enter into a way of greater freedom with time. Professor and author James K. A. Smith talks with me about history, contingency, limitations, Black Lives Matter, hope, and his latest book, How to Inhabit Time: Understanding the Past, Facing the Future, Living Faithfully Now.__Guest Bio:“James K. A. Smith is professor of philosophy at Calvin University and serves as editor in chief of Image journal, a quarterly devoted to ‘art, mystery, and faith.' Trained as a philosopher with a focus on contemporary French thought, Smith has expanded on that scholarly platform to become an engaged public intellectual and cultural critic. An award-winning author and widely traveled speaker, he has emerged as a thought leader with a unique gift of translation, building bridges between the academy, society, and the church.”__Connect Online:Website: jameskasmith.comTwitter: @james_ka_smith__On the Podcast:Latest book: How to Inhabit Time: Understanding the Past, Facing the Future, Living Faithfully NowChristianity Today interview with BonoBono's book SurrenderMidnight Library by Matt HaigRepetition by KierkegaardPlough Essay | When Merit Drives Out GraceA Royal Waste of Time: The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being Church for the World by Marva Dawn__For full show notes, transcript, and more, go to: amyjuliabecker.com/james-k-a-smith__Season 6 of the Love Is Stronger Than Fear podcast connects to themes in my latest book, To Be Made Well, which you can order here! Learn more about my writing and speaking at amyjuliabecker.com.*A transcript of this episode will be available within one business day on my website, and a video with closed captions will be available on my YouTube Channel.Connect with me: Instagram Facebook Twitter Website Thanks for listening!

In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss the exodus of Christians from the Church who are trying to recreate “church-like” experiences elsewhere - whether that's an exercise class, a group Bible study, a parachurch ministry, etc. Their conversation takes a look at what cannot be surrendered to have a biblically functioning Church, and how many evangelicals have a terrible understanding of the doctrine of the church - either devaluing the Church or shaping it into their own image. One thing is clear, there is biblically no such thing as an unchurched Christian. Episode Links The conversation kicked off with a discussion about the online church, a prescient decision to end Mecklenburg Community Church's multisite model, and the need to be a hybrid, phygital church - embracing both the digital and the physical. Dr. White has written several blogs that will serve as helpful additions for you to read. “They're Not Coming Back” explores the adjustments that the Church must make as we grapple with the fallout of a decline in attendance that began long before the pandemic. For churches that did experience online growth during the pandemic, the blog “The Importance of Affirming Online Attendance” discusses the need to continue to have a thriving online campus. In “Why We're Ending Our Multisite Approach” you can read about the decision made by Meck's leadership team to end the multisite model, a decision that proved to be a critical missional shift. And finally, “The Shift From Gathering to Connecting” examines just how well people are able to find thriving community through the church, even online. Then the conversation turned to the doctrine of the Church, and how even Christians can find excuses to devalue the Church and to try to shape it into whatever they want it to be. Here, you'll find the blog “The Unofficial Religion of American Culture” to be an interesting read about people who would equate yoga classes with a church-like experience. And finally “This Is Church” that outlines when you have the church being the church. Along those lines, Dr. White delivered a series at Mecklenburg Community Church called “Being Church,” with four installments that outline what Jesus had in mind when He said, “... I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out…” (Matthew 16:18, Msg). A final resource that will serve this conversation is a book written by Dr. White titled The Rise of the Nones that you can find on Amazon or at your favorite bookseller. For those of you who are new to Church & Culture, we'd love to invite you to subscribe (for free of course) to the twice-weekly Church & Culture blog and check out the Daily Headline News - a collection of headlines from around the globe each weekday.

Sermon by Dr. David Rountree on March 3, 2022 at New Covenant Church in Anderson, SC. Scriptor Passage: Romans 16:1-27 Outline Be Caring (v. 1-16) Be Cautious (v. 17-20) 1. Creating divisions contrary to the word of God (v. 17) 2. Speaking with flattery to gain their constituents (v. 18) 3. Serving their own appetites (v. 18) Being Church (v. 21-27) 1. Kissing the Bride (v. 21-24) 2. Kissing the Bridegroom (v.s 25-27) a. God's message (v. 25) b. God's mystery (v. 26) c. God's management unto obedience (v. 26, Ezek. 36: 26, 27; Phil. 1:6) d. God's Praise for his glorious self (v. 27) www.ncchurch.net

When I preached last Sunday, the text I used went all the way to the end of chapter 5. My focus was on looking at Professor Gamaliel's thinking that helped navigate a very difficult situation. He did not try and convince them of an new truth that they not already believe. Rather he simply take the elements of their existing world-view and come up with an action plan that would avoid spiritual harm and keep open the possibility of discovering the truth of who Jesus Christ might be. So, we looked at how professor Gamaliel saved the day but we also looked at how his reasoning can be applied to the issues we are facing today. But there is something we did not look at. And that is the last three verses of last Sunday's text. This deals with what happened to the Apostles after their Sanhedrin clash and that is what I am going to focus on this week.

The passage we are going to work with today is something that interests me in a special way because I have meditated on Gamaliel's approach and thinking for a long time now. The portion we are looking at today is a long one. I could not break it into smaller chunks because we have to take in the whole story and then look at the competing forces going in there and then draw out the principles being put forth for our understanding. This is our task for today. First let's take a quick look at the story.

Returning to our journey through Acts, this weeks passage you may have noticed is not a narrative of dramatic events. This week's passage is instead a summary statement of the early church. We saw another summary statement previously at the end of chapter 4. That statement talked about how much unity there was in that church and also how much they shared their possessions to take care of each others needs. In contrast, this summary statement focuses on the healing ministry of the early church. Just recently in Acts chapter 3 you will remember, we witnessed a dramatic healing story of the man who was born lame and begged in front of the temple gate called beautiful. In our passage today, we are told that there were many such stories. In in verse 15 and 16 it says, “As a result of the apostles' work, sick people were brought out into the streets on beds and mats so that Peter's shadow might fall across some of them as he went by. 16 Crowds came from the villages around Jerusalem, bringing their sick and those possessed by evil[a] spirits, and they were all healed.”

Last Sunday we looked at the end of Acts 4 where the early Christian community was at its best almost ideal state. They had an incredibly high level of unity of mind and spirit, they had boldness to witness to preach the Word of God and they had a community in which no needs went unmet. As a result, the author declares that God's great blessing was upon them all. That kind of blessing, I hope is the goal of anyone who is walking the Christian life. But even in those days it was not like 100% of the members of the church were in of the same mind and spirit. There will always be those problematic individuals everywhere. Ananias and Sapphira were a couple who were not of the same mind as everybody else. And God chose to use them as negative examples and a warning for everyone. But this is also a very unique story that has almost no exact parallels in other parts of scripture and so it is one of those stories that is extremely hard to interpret. Yet it is an important story meant to teach us something. So that is what we will wrestle with today and examine how God is speaking to us through it. When dealing with difficult territory, it is always helpful to start by defining the boundaries, by identifying what it is not. So that is going to be where we begin.

Meet the hosts of "Afresh: A New Way of Being Church", a podcast about Fresh Expressions in the Uwharrie District and Western North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church. Hear from those who are living out new ways of being and doing Church and learn from them. 

(00:00-10:37): Brian and Aubrey reacted to Facebook's decision to extend Trump's suspension and discussed David Leonhardt's New York Times article, “Facebook Ducks the Big Issue.” (10:37-28:43): Dr. Karen Love and Bishop Dr. Michael Love, Founders of the Love Family Christian Foundation, joined Brian and Aubrey to chat about their ministry and the upcoming Judson University Community Prayer Breakfast, which is Monday, May 10th at 7:30am CT. The breakfast is sold out, but will be streamed live on Judson University's Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/JudsonU and YouTube Channel.   Karen and Michael also serve as First Lady and Senior Pastor of Trinity Baptist Community Church International in Crystal Lake.  Learn more about the Love Family Christian Foundation at facebook.com/lovefamilychristianfoundation.org Learn more about Judson University at judsonu.edu (28:43-36:53): Brian and Aubrey reacted to the news about Bill and Melinda Gates getting divorced. (36:53-44:23): Brian and Aubrey shared their thoughts on Donald Judd and Caroline Kelly's CNN article, “Biden dismisses McConnell's pledge to focus 'on stopping this new administration.'” (44:23-1:02:11): Matt Sorger, prophetic minister, Host of the Glory Living podcast, and Author of “God's Unstoppable Breakthrough: When Your Mountain Doesn't Move, Go Over It!”, joined Brian and Aubrey to chat about his book and his mission to rescue children from trafficking through Rescue1. Learn more about Matt and his books at mattsorger.com Learn more about Rescue1 at rescue1now.com (1:02:11-1:11:02): Brian and Aubrey honored the life and ministry of Marva Dawn. They also talked about her book, “A Royal Waste of Time: The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being Church for the World.” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we're talking all about "church people" and the wide range of ways that church people are described and perceived today. Here are some resources I hope will help you to no longer "go to church" but instead to "be church" both inside and outside of church walls. 1. the art I referenced from Scott Erickson (the chapel in an hourglass) on his Instagram account - follow Scott today! 2. Podcast: More Than Small Talk - How to be a Friend When Life Hurts 3. Podcast: Human Hope - How to Have Healthy Hard Conversations With People You Disagree With 4. Podcast: That Sounds Fun - Francis Chan 5. Podcast: Be The Bridge with Latasha Morrison 6. Be The Bridge: Pursuing God's Heart for Racial Reconciliation, by Latasha Morrison 7. Accidental Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People, by Nadia Bolz-Weber 8. Song: May You Find a Light, by The Brilliance 9. Song: We Are One, by Ginny Owens 10. Song: Oceans (Where Feet May Fail), by Hillsong 11. Journal prompts: Who have been the "church people" in my life who have brought me closer to relationship with God? What did they do/say that impacted me? Who are the "church people" who have pushed me away from relationship with God? Is there a particular instance I can remember? How can I process the pain of this experience? How can I make my heart more hospitable to others today? In what ways can I learn or adjust in order to love people better? Where are my potential blind spots? As I look at my church community, how is God leading me to make us more joyful, friendly, inclusive, and spirit-filled? PS- An anthem for Being Church, no matter whether or where we "go to church". Let's go love the world like Jesus does.

Hunting for Jewels as the Creative Life. --> Matthew 13:44-46At The Table Church we long to creatively engage with God, one another, creation and culture since we reflect the image of God who creates, renews and restores.In this episode we explore 5 conditions for a Creative Life with God:1. Alternative Morality2. Alternative Time Zone3. Alternative Knowledge4. Alternative Expectations5. Alternative Race to RunMentions and Resources from the Show:Table Radio PodcastLet Your Life Speak - Parker Palmer - “Is the life I am living the same as the life that wants to live in me?” With this searching question, Parker Palmer begins an insightful and moving meditation on finding one's true calling.Makoto Fujimura - an artist and the author of Art+Faith: A Theology of Making (Yale Press).A Royal Waste of Time by Marva Dawn - The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being Church for the WorldThe Voice of Jesus by Gordon Smith - Discernment, Prayer and the Witness of the SpiritMinistry of Insults - Vanessa's offering on Everyday me Everyday God - Our friend Elaine Pountney's YouTube channel.Support the show

“Transfigurative Ecclesiology and Other Thoughts on Being Church” from 2021-02-14 by Matt Matthews.

Recorded on September 13th, 2020 at Word of Life Church in Le Sueur, MN. Pastor Jason Lang preaching. - We are introducing a new series called "Being Church". What does it look like for followers of Jesus to Be Church in a season of that is less focused on the church building and large gatherings?

Emmett Fox wrote the Presence. I have put in a couple of my own wording but for the most part this is straight from his writing which he took from the Psalms and rewrote. .Emmett Fox was packing them in well before Neville Goddard started speaking and he and Dr. Murphy were contemporaries at the Science of Being Church. The Presence is Consciousness, God, Source, the One, Awareness of being - whatever you wish to call it. Use this when you cannot say these things to yourself for the day is pounding at you. Use this when you wish to just flood your mind with God and ponder on God. Use it anytime you wish for yourself and others. I hope this helps and blessings to you! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/rita-cragwall/support

In the third week of our Being Church series, Lisa Watson explains how to be a community on mission by answering these questions: Who gets to be a part? What do we do? and How do we do it?

This week we learned that a dear member of our church, Angel Scroggins, passed away. In response to this news, Pastor Watson decided to take a break from our Being Church series and pause in this moment to lament - to grieve this loss, and other losses that we are experiencing during this time. This sermon gives space for us to name the death and loss that we've experienced, and then to name the life and hope that we see in Christ.

In this week’s episode, Fr. Matthew, Alissa, and Tom continue the Being Church Lenten Series on the Holy Week Narratives with the accounts of the Resurrection and the promise of A New Creation. This Lent, Being Church episodes will drop on Fridays, and engage stories from Holy Week from a theological point of view. As a prayerful companion to the Being Church Podcast, check out Fr. Matthew’s Lenten Reflections on our new parish podcast channel called St. Louis Presents! (https://stlouispresents.fireside.fm/) They come out at the same time as Being Church Episodes, and you can subscribe to it wherever you listen to your podcasts. Special Guest: Fr. Matthew Kinney.

In this week’s episode, Fr. Matthew, Alissa, and Tom continue the Being Church Lenten Series on the Holy Week Narratives with the story of The Road to Emmaus. This Lent, Being Church episodes will drop on Fridays, and engage stories from Holy Week from a theological point of view. As a prayerful companion to the Being Church Podcast, check out Fr. Matthew’s Lenten Reflections on our new parish podcast channel called St. Louis Presents! (https://stlouispresents.fireside.fm/) They come out at the same time as Being Church Episodes, and you can subscribe to it wherever you listen to your podcasts. Special Guest: Fr. Matthew Kinney.

In this week’s episode, Fr. Matthew, Alissa, and Tom continue the Being Church Lenten Series on the Holy Week Narratives with the story of Jesus’s Trials. This Lent, Being Church episodes will drop on Fridays, and engage stories from Holy Week from a theological point of view. As a prayerful companion to the Being Church Podcast, check out Fr. Matthew’s Lenten Reflections on our new parish podcast channel called St. Louis Presents! (https://stlouispresents.fireside.fm/) They come out at the same time as Being Church Episodes, and you can subscribe to it wherever you listen to your podcasts. Special Guest: Fr. Matthew Kinney.

Being Church means Supporting the community We'll support one another when we belong to a community Acts 2:42-47 What did “support” mean to the early church? Why don’t we support one another? How can we support one another? share resources share a meal share our labor share finances share our burdens   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. www.crossroadsjourney.com www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

In this week’s episode, Fr. Matthew, Alissa, and Tom continue the Being Church Lenten Series on the Holy Week Narratives with the story of the Washing of the Feet. This Lent, Being Church episodes will drop on Fridays, and engage stories from Holy Week from a theological point of view. As a prayerful companion to the Being Church Podcast, check out Fr. Matthew’s Lenten Reflections on our new parish podcast channel called St. Louis Presents! (https://stlouispresents.fireside.fm/) They come out at the same time as Being Church Episodes, and you can subscribe to it wherever you listen to your podcasts. Special Guest: Fr. Matthew Kinney.

Being Church is About Community Acts 2:42-47 Why should we be in community? Self-sacrifice vs personal freedom Accountability vs. privacy. Relationship vs isolation How do we develop and foster community? Breaking bread together Small Groups Church Events Life Events Serving Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. www.crossroadsjourney.com www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

In this week’s episode, Fr. Matthew joins Alissa and Tom to kick off the Being Church Lenten Series on the Holy Week Narratives with the story of Jesus’s Entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. This Lent, Being Church episodes will drop on Fridays, and engage stories from Holy Week from a theological point of view. As a prayerful companion to the Being Church Podcast, check out Fr. Matthew’s Lenten Reflections on our new parish podcast channel called St. Louis Presents (https://stlouispresents.fireside.fm/)! They come out at the same time as Being Church Episodes, and you can subscribe to it wherever you listen to your podcasts. Special Guest: Fr. Matthew Kinney.

Being Church is a Lifestyle Acts 2:42-47 Making church a lifestyle takes devotion Making church a lifestyle means every day   Crossroads – about heaven, earth, and the journey in between. www.crossroadsjourney.com www.facebook.com/crossroadsjourney

“Being Church” from FPC-C Podcast 2020-01-12 by Matt Matthews.

“Being Church” from FPC-C Podcast 2020-01-12 by Matt Matthews.

바나바님과 함께 하나님의 선교에 대한 포스트모던적 의미에 대해서 나누었습니다. 교회로 가는 것(Going Church)에서 우리를 부르신 삶의 자리에서 교회가 되는(Being Church) 기독교를 꿈꾸어봅니다! 후반부에 삽입된 찬양은 어노인팅의 '교회여 일어나라'는 곡입니다. 들어주셔서 감사합니다!

Full disclosure: We had to re-record this episode because the fact that 70% of Catholics don't believe in the Real Presence really made Tom and Alissa bitter. When this survey came out a few weeks ago, prominent Catholic voices made their displeasure known. Bishop Robert Barron published a firey YouTube video calling for more consistent catechesis, and Tom Carani ranted in the hallways of St. Louis parish. But with a few weeks between the published survey and our reaction, we're trying to focus on positive next steps. How do we evangelize the good news of the Eucharist to others while re-affirming its truth for our own lives? Share this episode of the Being Church podcast!

Alissa and Tom sit down with Fr. Matthew, our new pastor, to find out a little more about the guy behind the collar. Hear his vocation story, his motivating spirituality, and his hopes for this parish in this episode of the Being Church podcast!

Tom and Alissa have had a busy summer full of change and transition (they're so sorry to have left you hanging Being Church community!). In this episode, they share some insights about their transitions and what practical tips have really helped them these past few life-changing months.

Being Church is about being Community, but what if spending time with people is draining?Mark 1:29-39 and Matt 22:34+

Marva Dawn has a book on worship called, A Royal “Waste” of Time: The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being Church for the World. I like that, because what she is getting at is that of all the Habits of Grace we talk about, worship is the least utilitarian. What I mean is, it seems to get you nothing! We see great purpose in studying the Bible in the Soul Room and talking with God in prayer. We see purpose in Sabbath and Celebration because we all have seen and felt the value of rest. Community, we really see the value in interacting with friends that become like family. But worship? Is it worth it? Apparently not, in our culture. There are more and more people who talk about being Jesus followers, who might even read the Bible and pray, but who feel no compulsion to worship and view it essentially as a waste of their time. To be clear, I am talking about corporate worship here. I am referring to the stated time your tribe or church family has designated to gather corporately as the people of God to declare the praises of God—together. Now, while worship in the church may be on the downswing (according to all the statistics I read), worship in the culture has not diminished at all. No, we were built by God to worship. Whatever we delight in, we will find the time to gather with other people who delight in the same thing, and we will celebrate like there is no tomorrow. If you doubt me, just wait till the fall arrives, and watch people show up in droves to celebrate their favorite football teams! This Sunday we are talking about worship, the practice of gathering with your tribe under Word, Sacrament, and Prayer. Show me a people formed by God anywhere in the world, and I will show you a people who gather to worship. It is almost like we can't help it. If you think not much is happening in worship, join us Sunday as we peel back the veil just a little to see what God is doing for us and in us when we make worship one of the greatest priorities in our life.

This week we wrap up our series "Being Church at Home". We look at the example of Lydia in Acts 16:11-15. We see in her a desire to put her newfound faith to work by transitioning her home to serving as a hub for the gospel work in her community. With her example, we talk about the call upon us for “Being Missional.”

This week we continue our series "Being Church at Home". We look to Deuteronomy 24:17-22 and James 1:19-27 to talk about “Being Family…” But not just any family. We talk about the call God has placed upon the church to become a family for those who have no family and we look at God’s heart for the orphan and the calling that brings to our church and our families.

We continue our talk about "Being Church at Home". Last week we talked about “Being Parents”, so this week our particular focus will be on “Being Kids.” Focusing on Ephesians 6:1-4 and the Old Testament passages it refers to we learn about the responsibility placed on all of us.

We continue talking about "Being Church at Home" as we talk about “Being Parents.” This valuable piece adds to the conversation of what it means for us to be living the gospel our of our homes.

This week we continue our series "Being Church at Home" as we talk about “Being Married.” We look at Genesis 2:15-25 as our guide for talking about the beautiful testimony marriage can be to the love and grace of God.

This week on Being Church, Tom and Will host Rochelle Carlin, a parishioner, mother, wife, and marriage prep catechist extraordinaire. Rochelle recounts her journey into the Catholic Church while lambasting Will and Tom for their lack of 80s pop culture knowledge. Hey, we're #millennials and if it's not Taylor Swift or avocado toast, we're not interested.  In all seriousness, we can all identify with Rochelle's authentic and honest journey of faith. Driven by love of her family and love of the Truth, she's found a home at St. Louis where she can use her gifts to serve her community and grow in love for God while emanating the joy of the Gospel. 

2016-10-16 sermon by Pastor Jim Wilson at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio, where we proclaim God's extravagant grace, radical inclusion, and relentless compassion. Join us for worship at 8am, 9am, or 11:15am. http://www.AcceptingAll.com

2016-09-18 sermon by Pastor Jim Wilson at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Columbus, Ohio, where we proclaim God's extravagant grace, radical inclusion, and relentless compassion. Join us for worship at 8am, 9am, or 11:15am. http://www.AcceptingAll.com

This podcast is a recording of a talk I gave at a Day of Reflection I offered to the Twin Cities Ignatian Assocaites on the themse of "Being Church in Today's World."  This talk, the third and final talk of the day focused on what it means for us to "be a place where God happens."  The podcast runs for 30:33.

Today's host(s): Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell Today's guest(s): Msgr. Robert Deeley, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia for the Archdiocese of Boston Links from today's show: Today's topics: 2012 Catholic Appeal Summary of today's show: This weekend marks the launch of the 2012 Catholic Appeal, the primary fundraising effort for the central ministries of the Archdiocese of Boston. Msgr. Robert Deeley joins Scot Landry and Fr. Mark O'Connell to discuss the importance of the Appeal to the work of the Church, not just for those that are directly funded by it, but for all Catholic parishes and apostolates that depend on the support of the central ministries, as well as the work of Cardinal Seán and the other bishops. Scot and Fr. Mark then consider Cardinal Seán's homily for this coming Sunday in which he considers God's call for us to be transfigured and how our response to that call can take shape. Fr. Mark also notes that his work on the Tribunal over the past 11 years has positively affected the lives of many people and supported the work of priests and pastoral associates. He said it would not have been possible without the generosity of donors to the Catholic Appeal. 1st segment: Scot and Fr. Mark discuss that this weekend is the kickoff for the 2012 Catholic Appeal. Fr. Mark said its important every year. Scot said it was moved from a May start to a March start a few years ago to coincide with Lent and give Cardinal Seán an opportunity to preach on Lent in a video or audio recorded homily throughout the Archdiocese. They will discuss the homily in detail in the third part of the show. Scot welcomed vicar general Msgr. Robert Deeley to the show and said it's his first Catholic Appeal as vicar general. Scot said this is a big deal for every ministry in the Archdiocese whether it receives money directly or not because it undergirds the central ministries. Msgr. Deeley said its the most important effort to raise funds every year. The Catholic appeal is the foundation for all the work we do. It enriches our parishes because it is the instrument by which we help priests, deacons, and pastoral associates. We also work to strengthen families, inspire the next generation of Catholics, and aid our leadership here in the Church. Campus ministry is an important part of our ministry. He recently celebrated Mass at the chapel at MIT and it was standing-room only with students excited to be there. In the brochure for the Appeal is a picture of Stephen, a young man at MIT who has been served by campus ministry, and Msgr. Deeley was able to speak with him about how he has been helped by the ministry. Fr. Mark asked how money helps with evangelization of Catholics. Msgr. Deeley said the Cardinal has asked Bishop Kennedy to head a special initiative for evangelization over the next year. We hope that in our parishes there can be evangelization, which is supported by the ministries at the Archdiocese. Scot said the materials for the Catholic Appeal look great. The theme this year is “The Good Samaritan is You.” Msgr. Deeley said that is not only this year's theme, but is also a new way to look at the Catholic Appeal. It reminds us that the work of the Church is about each of us individually. As Jesus speaks of the Good Samaritan, he teaches that when we serve one another we serve the Lord. The Good Samaritan is the perfect exemplar of what Jesus was calling us to be. Being Church is about each of us in our own way and able to afford, provide what we can for the needs of others. This is fundamental to what we are as Catholics. Scot said last year about 44,000 families contributed to the Catholic Appeal. How does he answer someone who asks why they shouldn't just support the parish? Msgr. Deeley said the parish can't exist without the Archdiocese. The Catholic Appeal is foundation of any other ministry happening. It is the offertory of the Archdiocese. Fr. Mark said some pastors hate asking for money, but if you believe in the good use it goes for, you should be able to stand up and ask for what you need. Msgr. Deeley said taking care of the Church and the poor the Church serves is part of our Christian responsibilities. It may not be comfortable to preach on, but it is a duty. Scot said pastors said having the Appeal launch in Lent ties in with the almsgiving of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Why is it important all Catholics in the Archdiocese to come together? Msgr. Deeley said the strength we have by the collective gifts we can use to further the mission of the Church makes it possible for other programs to exist. He offered the example of Catholic Charities, which has its own sources of fundraising, and turns to the Archdiocese for a lot of help. Scot said there's a lot of information online which offers a transparency. Chancellor Jim McDonough concludes his service to the Archdiocese today. Msgr. Deeley said its hard to overstate what Jim has accomplished. He's been a tremendous help to the Cardinal in moving the Church of Boston forward. Fr. Mark added his agreement. Jim McDonough gave both an outsider and insider perspective as both a former banker, but also a Catholic with a great love of the Church. Scot said both Msgr. and the cardinal will be on the road this weekend. Msgr. Deeley will be preaching at three parishes within about a 10 mile drive of the cathedral where he lives, while the cardinal will have about a 50-minute drive. Msgr. Deeley will be at St. Eulalia's, Winchester; St. Brigid, Lexington; and Sacred Heart, Cambridge. Cardinal Sean will be at Holy Family, Amesbury, and Sacred Heart, Middleboro. Monsignor said the goal was to have them cover all five regions and the cardinal got first choice. Msgr. Deeley lived at St. Brigid's for a number of years when he was working on the tribunal. Those Masses are intended for anyone who would like a live kickoff to the Appeal. Everyone else will hear a video or audio homily from Cardinal Seán. Msgr. Deeley would like everyone to think about we can never do anything alone. We are strengthened by our common bond in the Church. It helps us to speak and act in ways that no one of us can do alone. The Catholic Appeal is our way to be the Good Samaritan and to make the Church stronger. 2nd segment: Every Friday we discuss the readings for this coming Sunday. Because we want to preview Cardinal Seán's homily for this Sunday, we want to read them now to give the context for what he says. God put Abraham to the test. He called to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am!” he replied. Then God said: “Take your son Isaac, your only one, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. There you shall offer him up as a holocaust on a height that I will point out to you.” When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. Then he reached out and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the LORD's messenger called to him from heaven, “Abraham, Abraham!” “Here I am!” he answered. “Do not lay your hand on the boy,” said the messenger. “Do not do the least thing to him. I know now how devoted you are to God, since you did not withhold from me your own beloved son.” As Abraham looked about, he spied a ram caught by its horns in the thicket. So he went and took the ram and offered it up as a holocaust in place of his son. Again the LORD's messenger called to Abraham from heaven and said: “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you acted as you did in not withholding from me your beloved son, I will bless you abundantly and make your descendants as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore; your descendants shall take possession of the gates of their enemies, and in your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing- all this because you obeyed my command.” Gospel for the Second Sunday of Lent (Mark 9:2-10) Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them; from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them. As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead. So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. Scot said we hear these readings every Lent on the second Sunday. The first reading prefigures the crucifixion of Christ and the transfiguration helps the apostles understand why God would send His only son in a bloody sacrifice on the cross. Fr. Mark said both readings have a returning, an unbelievable moment of God and then a return. The first reading is one of the most striking stories in the Bible. Abraham is never the same again. In the Gospel, Peter, James, and John are terrified. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience of God and then a return to normal. Most of our life is lived in those moments of “return”. Scot said we are called to be listening and responding. We will now hear what Cardinal Seán said about this first reading about Abraham's call: The History of Salvation began with a call. God Calls Abraham by name. He was an unlikely choice. God's choices often surprise us. Abraham was too old, he was childless, hardly the right person to be the father of a great nation, but what Abraham lacked in human attributes, he compensated for by his great faith. A faith that allowed him to trust in God completely, to hope against hope, to obey even the hardest command ever imaginable: to sacrifice the son of the promise, Isaac who was born when Abraham was 80 years old. This was the son whose descendants would be as countless as the stars of the sky and the sands of the seashore. Abraham's faith in God is of such magnitude that he felt God would be able to resurrect the slain Isaac in order that His prophesy might be fulfilled. Such faith in God's word and in His promise lead this Old Testament passage to be regarded as incredibly significant and exemplary one. Isaac carrying the wood for his own sacrifice prefigures Jesus carrying the Cross up the Mount of Calvary to be sacrificed. The ram or the male sheep that Abraham is to substitute for his son as the sacrifice, points to Christ the Lamb of God, a substitute for humanity. And Abraham's willingness to give up his own son Isaac is seen as a foreshadowing of the willingness of God the Father to sacrifice his Son. This powerful passage has been an inspiration to Christians, Jews and Muslims who all claim to be spiritual descendants of Abraham. To us Catholics there is a powerful Eucharistic symbolism but the story also speaks to us about faith and sacrifice. We too are being called to be a part of God's holy people, to journey towards a promised land and to fulfill a mission in this world. God is calling each of us by name. Scot said the Cardinal began and ended by saying the history of salvation began with a call to Abraham and to us. The response is to model Abraham and Jesus by responding with faith and a generosity that recognizes all our gifts come from God. Part of our duty is knowing we can return it in love to God. Fr. Mark said a call is not necessarily a call to something that's fun or easy. The call of Abraham, Isaac, and Jesus was a call to something difficult and hard to understand. Yet we have to listen to that type of call too in our lives. So many people listening have been called to carry the wood of the cross through illness or financial burdens or needs of their families. We're all called to carry the cross. We're not always called to something to jump for joy about. Scot said there are many levels of call. The Latin word is vocare from which we get vocation. From all of time we were created with a purpose for own lives that will return us to heaven. Then there is a call which is a substantial path to heaven that we call our personal vocation: religious life, married life, priesthood, etc. Beyond all the other good things we can do, our main path in life is to be the best husband or priest or religious. Sometimes our job vocation and personal vocation conflict, the calling to be a good husband or priest or religious takes precedence. Then there are the daily calls, the competing demands and requests and the ways we can respond each day in prayer. This is the call Cardinal Seán is talking about this weekend: How much am I being asked to sacrifice financially for those in need here in the Archdiocese of Boston. For some it might not be a lot, even if it's just the widow's mite for someone who can't afford much. Certainly we are all called to holiness. Fr. Mark said it takes everyone of us. He recalled a recent example in his own life of a man who stepped up to help Fr. Mark communicate with a deaf man. It took their combined gifts to reach this deaf man. Lent is a time for us to reaffirm our faith and our willingness to embrace the sacrifices a life of discipleship demands of us. Lent is about making time and space for God, going into the desert, climbing the mountain. We need to step back from the routine, the noise, the distractions that prevent us from seeing what is really important in life. Lent is a communal retreat that all Catholics are making together. Our Lenten sacrifices and prayers prepare us to renew our baptismal vows at Easter and to walk closer to Christ and our fellow disciples. The geography of lent begins with the first Sunday in the desert and now the second Sunday finds us on the mountain. I can never hear this gospel without recalling my own visit to Monte Tabor, the place of the Transfiguration. I was making retreat with a group of priests from Massachusetts. We were staying at a retreat house on the mount of the Beatitudes. In the mornings we had prayers and conference, and in the afternoon we visited the holy places. To get to Mount Tabor we went in buses to the foot of the mountain, but the mountain was so steep that the buses could not make the climb. They took us up in some old Mercedes taxicabs with kamikaze drivers. The hairpin turns and the sheer cliffs were terrifying. When we arrived at the top I felt like St. Peter. I wanted to kiss the ground and say: “how good it is to be here. Let's build some tents and stay because I'm not getting in that cab again.” The views from the mountain are spectacular, but what the apostle saw in that secluded place is much more stunning that the view of the valley; for they glimpsed the glory of God. The apostles needed to know that Jesus is much more than a persuasive rabbi or a great miracle worker. They needed to be assured that the scandal they would soon find in the cross is not the end, that it is necessary, and that all will end in glory for the Lord and for themselves. The mystery of the Trinity is made visible. A bright cloud overshadowed them, it is the shechinah, the luminous cloud that covered the Israelites during the exodus. That represents the Holy Spirit, and the voice of the Father is heard: “This is my beloved Son, listen to him”. Our Lord is strengthened and confirmed as to his unique sonship, his necessary cross, and his glorious future beyond, and because of it. The lesson for us can hardly be different. Carrying our daily cross, in imitation of Jesus, is our own prelude to glory. Transfiguration also means there is another level to our Christian lives that is yet to be. And what blessed one it is! On Mount Tabor were present the three persons of the Trinity, the three apostles and the two prophets. Heaven and earth meet in this event. At our Sunday Eucharist God's glory is hidden but present. The community helps us to climb the mountain and glimpse Christ's loving presence among us. Here we find the strength and motivation to continue on our journey of faith and to fulfill the mission that Christ has entrusted to us. Scot said he loved that the transfiguration is for us a sign of how heaven and earth meet which is similar to how heaven and earth meet at every Mass in the Eucharist. The partaking in the Eucharist as a community strengthens and motivates us to continue in our faith with the mission entrusted to us. Fr. Mark said no one us will encounter Christ like the apostles did in the transfiguration, but all of us get glimpses of God. He said a new father showed him the photo of his newborn baby and God is part of the pulse of that miraculous child. Scot said his wife and son were on the Mount of the Transfiguration this past Tuesday in the Holy Land and she described what it was like to go up there on the very high mountain with a beautiful view. It's not difficult to imagine that if God was going to give his voice from heaven on a cloud, it would be on top of this mountain, not just because of its beauty, but because it can be seen from miles away. As we look out from these mountains, we are often struck by the wonder of creation, which is a glimpse of God. We're all called to be aware of how we will be transfigured if we respond to Jesus' call to us. Just like the apostles didn't really understand, we're not going to understand exactly how heaven is until we're there. Fr. Mark said he's never been to the Holy Land, but everyone he knows who's been, it's been a lifechanging event. You never look at the Bible the same again. The lifechanging event is a transfiguration. But Cardinal Sean also points out that lifechanging events begin in the desert with quiet and solitude. The desert is a challenging place. But to truly be transfigured, we must start with prayer and penance and fasting. It is during this Lenten season that I come to remind all of the Catholics of the Archdiocese that our mission of evangelization, our works of mercy, and our service to the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, the formation of priests, deacons and lay leaders, our outreach in campus ministry, the youth, our apostolate to immigrants, and the countless services and activities of the faith community depend upon your participation, your generosity, and spirit of sacrifice. Each year we turn to our Catholic faithful to ask for your help to be able to carry on our mission. We ask for your prayers, your time, treasure and talent. We know that many grandmothers in nursing homes are our prayer warriors. They join us each day for Mass and rosary on Catholic Television. We have thousands of volunteers who carry on so many acts of community service, works of mercy, religious formation of our young people and so many other ministries . On my own behalf and on behalf of the wider community, I thank each of you sincerely. We are also profoundly grateful for the monetary support given through the Catholic Appeal from many Catholics throughout the diocese. I know that it is your faith that allows you to make this sacrifice as did the Good Samaritan who stopped to care for someone he didn't even know. Let us continue to work together to carry on the mission joyfully and generously so that the Gospel will be known and loved. Each of us must do our part. We are not alone but surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who urge us on together through the forty days of spiritual renewal to the joy of Easter resurrection. Know that you are ever in my prayers. Scot said we each one must do our part so that the everyone can hear the Gospel. Fr. Mark said he's been a priest for 21 years and worked in Central Ministries for over 11. He thinks what he's done in the Tribunal for 11 years has helped heal a lot of people and helps priests and parishioners fulfill their vocations. This is possible through the Catholic Appeal. He knows without a doubt that God works through him and that dollar in the Appeal in part funds him and every other person in the building and throughout the Archdiocese who have a direct effect on the lives of people. He knows the effect and wants to say Thank You for allowing him to do what he does. Scot said the person who gave to the Appeal 30 years ago or 25 years ago, investing in everyone who worked for the Church, have left this legacy so Fr. Mark can minister to people today and for many more years. And those investments 25 years ago in him lead to his current and future service. Scot spoke of Bishop Kennedy's upcoming new role starting in July as the vicar for the New Evangelization. We all know someone who isn't practicing their faith anymore and we all know we can do a better job in proclaiming the faith and reaching out to them. We want the biggest family reunion in heaven ad that's really the work of the Central Ministries of the Church. While The Good Catholic Life isn't directly funded by theCatholic Appeal, it wouldn't be possible without the Catholic Appeal. Every gift makes a difference. Scot said he spent his first 4 years at the Pastoral Center in the development office and he knows that the every gift matters, no matter how much. We are a much stronger family works together.

Sermon given by the Rev. Carissa Baldwin at All Saints Church, Pasadena, on Sunday, November 14, 2010. "Being Church in Difficult Times: Our Youth and Our Future."  Readings: Malachi 4:1-2a, and Luke21:5-19.

A Canadian author suggests that churches need to learn to live in the "borderlands", where faith, other faiths, and unfaith intersect. This session will explore that aspects of our culture that make "Being Church" difficult and how our local congregations can adapt for the sake of mission.