Podcasts about celtic christians

This may not be your typical Lenten Psalm, but at a time when the world is springing to life and the days are becoming longer (in the hemisphere I live in, anyway), this week we'll be hearing Psalm 19. We might think of Lent as a time for more sombre reflections - and while it is important to do that, and we will be allowing space for that in this series - Lent can also be a time to find inspiration in the world around us, to see the beauty that is in our midst, to increase our awareness, to use our senses as we tune in to our surroundings, and to tend to our wellbeing in this way. This week was St. Patrick's Day, and the language of nature filled so many of the prayers of his time because of the early Celtic Christians' close relationship with the cycles of life and the seasons of the year. In the Celtic tradition, there was a teaching that there are two books through which we learn about God: scripture and creation. Today, we hear the words of Psalm 19, which tells of the heavens declaring the works of God, and skies proclaiming God's glory. As you listen, consider any moments when the world around you showed you something of who God is. And may we be reminded that amid the brokenness of the world, we can also see the beauty all around. You can find lyrics, scores/books, mp3s, CDs for The Heavens DeclareFind our more about our music at www.celticpsalms.comIn the Lenten Psalms and Practices series, there will be a weekly podcast that will come out on Wednesdays throughout Lent. And for paid subscribers, on Fridays, you will receive a short video leading you through a practice each week, as well as an mp3 of the Lenten Psalm.Toward the end of Lent, I will also be offering a Lenten Practices Workshop live on Zoom, and I would love for you to join me. If you'd appreciate a chance to go deeper this Lent with these Psalms and practices, I invite you to be part of this journey with me. Become a paid subscriber for a deeper experience of Lenten Psalms and Practices.Celtic Psalms St. Patrick's Week TourThis week, we're embarking on a St. Patrick's Day Tour, beginning in Belfast and then traveling from the Northeast to Midwest US. These concerts promise to be a healing balm in a hectic and fraught time. Please come, sing with us, and say hello!Tour Details here https://www.celticpsalms.com/events/Follow Kiran's monthly reflections on Bless My FeetPsalms for the Spirit is a listener-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit psalmsforthespirit.substack.com/subscribe

A lecture with Q&A entitled "A Very Celtic Christmas: Incarnation and Christology in Celtic Christian Theology" by Dr. Matthew Hoskin. Much is often made of the “closeness” of “Celtic” Christian spirituality to the rest of the created order and the “natural world”. At times, this approach is even presented as more “incarnational” than other forms of Christianity. Yet sometimes one wonders what is specifically “Christian” about all this. Holy wells are well and good, but what about the incarnation of Christ Himself? Did Celtic Christian have much to say about this? In this Fellows Lecture, Dr. Matthew Hoskin unpacks the the Celtic tradition's theology of the incarnate Christ, from the foundational Trinitarian orthodoxy of St Patrick's Confession and St Columba's hymn "Altus Prosator" and its specific expressions in liturgy and poetry, closing with a consideration of John Scotus Eriugena. He demonstrates that the early medieval Irish, Welsh, and Scottish church had a perfectly orthodox Christian faith that expressed itself in its very own mode, and that this can still help us worship the incarnate God more fully today. To learn more about Davenant Hall, and to register for Dr. Hoskin's upcoming course on Celtic Christianity, please visit: https://davenanthall.com/course/celtic-christianity/

Toward the end of the year Earthkeepers podcast always releases a special holiday episode that breaks from the usual interview mode. In this episode, we're gifting a passage from our friend Christine Sine's book called Celtic Advent: Following an Unfamiliar Path Through Advent. Earthkeepers recommends this book because in it, Christine brings fresh, life-giving perspective on the conventional Western practices of advent. According to those Western practices, the advent season this year begins on Sunday, December 1—so why offer an advent reflection in November? In her book, Christine explains: “for Celtic and Orthodox Christians, advent begins the evening of November 15th – forty days before Christmas Day. Celtic Christians always prayed and fasted for 40 days in preparation for any major life event, whether it be the planting of a new monastic center, the beginning of a new adventure, as well as for preparation for Christmas and Easter.” Given the Celtic theme of the passage, it is read by Brother Seán Aherne, an Irish monk who is very familiar with the St. Kevin story that is featured in this episode.Christine's website, GodspacelightBook: Celtic Advent: Following an Unfamiliar PathBrother Seán Aherne ( born 1946 ) is a Celtic Christian monk living in a small monastery on outskirts of Dublin. He is Director &  founding member of the John Moriarty institute for Ecology & Spirituality in Dingle, County Kerry. Together with Míchael W.Higgins he edited : Introducing John Moriarty In His Own Words. He is a passionate supporter of John Moriarty's vision for a Christian Monastic Hedge School for Adults called Slí na Fírinne. Over the years he animated & directed many retreats on Celtic Spirituality & the Native Irish Wisdom Tradition.Keywords: Advent, Celtic Advent, creation care, Saint Kevin, spirituality, environmentalism, community, nature, God, reflection, Glendalough, John Scotus Eriugena, John Philip Newell, Christ of the Celts, Carmina Gadelica, Alexander CarmichaelTakeaways ·      Celtic Advent begins 40 days before Christmas for preparation.·      Creation is an expression of God, not a void of nothingness.·      Our view of creation reflects our attitude towards God.·      Saint Kevin exemplifies a deep connection with nature.·      The incarnation of Christ emphasizes God's care for creation.·      Recognizing God's concern for all creation is vital.·      Engaging with nature can enhance our spiritual lives.·      Reflection on creation can deepen our understanding of God.·      Welcoming creation into our lives can be an Advent practice. Find us on our website: Earthkeepers Support the Earthkeepers podcast Check out the Ecological Disciple

The Cherry Tree Memorial - How A Group of Gun Dogs Taught Us About Loyalty, Loss and HopeWhy was I standing by a freshly dug hole in the park, surrounded by a small group of my friends and their dogs? The answer lay in the cherry sapling nearby, its thin bare twigs reaching towards the sky like fingers grasping for hope. The air in the park that morning was heavy with the smell of soil and sadness. If given time, nature could work her mysterious miracles. Season after season, year after year, the beauty of the pink blossom would come to the tree's barrenness. All it would take is time. But I had no time. ‘Go on Pete, say some words.'Words can feel futile when standing by a hole in the ground. But words often are all that's left to express how we feel. It's in moments like these, the sacred is close if we would stop and notice. These are the moments when the very essence of our limited time here on earth seems so precious. We can feel them heavy like velvet, but barbed with the pain of loss. I glanced at the surrounding faces, looking to me to speak words which might have seeds of hope within them. Words that, too, given time, might make some sense of the loss and confusion we all felt. For among us, our good friend, time had ended. For all of us, one day, time will end too.So I began. Shelagh would have loved this. All of us, and all our dogs together...A Pack of Friends: The Dog Walkers' Daily RitualTwenty years have passed since I was standing with a group of dog walkers around a hole in the park. The council that morning dug the hole to make room for the cherry tree that was about to be planted. The earth from the hole piled high next to us all. A pack of dogs laid down in twos and threes or sat next to their owners.For over three years, every day, same time, same paths of the park, we had walked together. I was the only man in the group. Gentle teasing and cheeky banter oiled smooth daily strolls with our dogs. The pack comprised only gun dogs - Labradors, Spaniels and Golden Retrievers, mine included. Not a pheasant in sight, to scurry or aim for. The odd squirrel would dare a run from cover now and then. The only thing we would shoot would be the breeze.Shelagh: The Heart of the GroupIn her early sixties, Shelagh's short grey hair was as spiky as her wit. Her curious, enthusiastic character overflowed like the Angel Falls, rushing over us with wonder at the ever-changing natural world, her black lab always at her heels. Sarah wouldn't leave her side, save for a swim in the brook, returning like a slick oiled otter.When Spring came to the park, the trails of pink and white blossoms would hang like leftover Christmas baubles. Our dogs would romp through the petal rain with unbridled abandonment, aware of only the present moment as dogs teach us that vital truth about living. What joy to live unconcerned with what anyone thinks, only to be lost in a moment's beauty. That was Shelagh. Shelagh was full of the joy of life and living, and forever making it overflow with laughter. The joker and storyteller of the dog walkers. Tales of her mishaps, the wry observation of one of us, her humour never with malice, just fun.Shelagh was forthright and direct, more like a Terrier than a gundog. It would cut through the small talk on our walks. She stood no nonsense, and we loved her all the more for it. As a self appointed organiser of our group, she brought coffee and cake for us and the dogs to celebrate the bandstand opening. She always included everyone in everything.When Laughter Fades: Shelagh's Battle with CancerShelagh's once spritely walks around the park slowed as her back ‘played her up.' As time marched on, Shelagh's effervescent vitality faded from spring to winter.They had found cancer in her spine. Shelagh was a fighter. She had guts. Shelagh bravely never hid the truth from anybody. Her determination to fight was as unrelenting as her sinister enemy within.One day, she didn't turn up. And, as the days passed on, Shelagh and Sarah the lab never walked with us and our dogs again. I wish I had known the day when it was the last time we would have walked together. I'd have taken more time to notice the moments, to listen with more attention, to see the eternal in the temporal. I suppose we should treat each moment as the last, as someday it will be. The last thank you, the last kiss, the last, ‘I love you.' But we don't. We imagine life will continue on. We missed Shelagh's vitality, vigour and vim for brightening even the darkest and dankest of dog walking days. The park was much the same. The cherry trees bloomed in spring. But something then on was always missing.I kept in touch with Shelagh and visited her. Taking my dog, we'd chat. She kept optimistic, and hopeful, waiting for the days when she could join us again. Wanting to know the latest news, and what the trees in the park looked like.The dogs would play, and we would chat. She was renowned for her love of conversation.We talked about eternity, and what it might be like. Shelagh bravely asked the questions about life you only ask when you're facing death. To sit with someone and ask those questions is to dwell in a sacred space. In such moments hangs eternity.A few times, I have had the honour of sharing the space between life and death with someone, knowing that I will stand next to a coffin and speak words of eulogy and legacy about them. It is a profoundly spiritual place. It's what Celtic Christians call a ‘Thin Place.' A physical space where the spiritual distance between heaven and earth feels is at its closest. You do not find these so often in a cathedral or temple, more on mountains or when you act like a dog dancing through cherry blossom rain with abandonment.Shelagh decided she wanted a ‘living funeral.' ‘I don't want people to say nice things about me when I am dead. I want to hear them!' I want laughter and love, music and dancing. ‘I don't know if I would have ever known how many people loved me, if it hadn't been for this,' was her brave expression of gratitude for life.Shelagh and her family chose a date. Her prognosis was six months at best. A favoured venue picked, caterers arranged, band booked, the date close to her wedding anniversary only a couple of weeks ahead.With her family and friends, including our group of dog walkers, however the dogs absent this time, we joined in the magnificence of that memorial I will never forget. The music played till the early hours, Shelagh dancing with her husband in a wheelchair all night.Shelagh died unexpectedly a few days later. As if completing her course, Shelagh no longer needed the body that had held her, so she let it set off, skipping through the cherry blossoms into eternity. I imagine and hope so.A Final Farewell: Planting Memories And A Dog's TributeThe park keeper lifted and planted the cherry tree into the hole. The dog walkers stood around. I said a few words.At the moment I finished, Shelagh's dog, Sarah, padded towards the mound of earth, stooped, and paid tribute to her owner in dog fashion. Then, as we all watched in amazement, one by one, all the other dogs lined up and forming a queue, each cocking a leg or stooping on the mound of earth waiting to cover the roots.The pile of earth next to us, it too, became a ‘Thin Place,' and at the same moment, eternity became temporal again.I forget the words I said. But I won't forget Shelagh. We'd paid for a memorial plaque placed under the cherry tree where the blossom rain falls on it every spring. Now, it's forever a memorial to Shelagh, and a ‘Thin Place' in the park. Twenty Years On: The Blossoming of RemembranceI pass ‘Shelagh's tree' every day. The tree's branches are thick and strong now, twenty seasons of rain and sun have seen to that. And every spring I stand underneath the raining blossoms, kicking the petals for Shelagh, and in that moment hangs eternity. I've never taken the blossom in the park for granted since. It is with grateful thanks to Shelagh's family and their permission to be able to share this story and photo of the memorial. Thank you. Sundial Wisdom - In This Moment Hangs EternityLife Story Writing Prompts* What's been a ‘thin place' in your life - a space where you feel closest to something greater than yourself? Do you return their often? * If you could leave behind a single piece of wisdom, like the sundial's ‘In this moment hangs eternity,' what would it be?* How has a loss in your life changed the way you appreciate everyday moments?* If you could choose a living memorial like the cherry tree, what would it be and why?* What's a story about you that you hope your friends will tell long after you're gone?The Sundial Series FREE Worksheets. Do you want to create a collection of your thoughts, memories and stories? Download a free worksheet to keep for this post - Paws and Petals: The Touching Story Behind a Dog's Walker's Memorial. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theartofmemorialising.substack.com

John Philip Newell, a "wandering teacher" from Scotland in the ancient Celtic Christian tradition, is our very special Guest Teacher. Known for blending the poetic and intellectual, Newell speaks to both the head and the heart. He will present The Great Search: Turning to Earth and Soul in the Quest for Healing and Home.

There are times when our awareness of God's presence is heightened. It brings to our attention the reality and closeness of a spiritual realm. We were created for connection with our Creator, so how do we make the most of those opportunities to draw near to God? In this sermon Brendon Walmsley explores the ancient Celtic Christian concept of ‘Thin Places'. If you enjoyed this sermon please consider subscribing. CONNECT WITH US Instagram: www.instagram.com/humeridgechurch Facebook: www.facebook.com/humeridgechurch YouTube: www.youtube.com/humeridgechurch Have you made a decision to follow Jesus? Do you have a praise point, or want to request prayer? We would love for you to get in contact with us so we can follow up with you! Please complete the contact form on our website at https://humeridge.church/contact

Fr. Conor McDonough is a Dominican priest and a lecturer at the Dominican House of Studies in Dublin and is originally from County Galway. He is a renowned scholar, with degrees from the Universities of Fribourg, Maynooth, and Cambridge, specialising in Theology and Philosophy. He has also been involved in an exciting YouTube series called Treasure Ireland, focusing on the hidden gems of the history of the Catholic faith in Ireland. For more, please see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROBFYalO4Ws&t=0s https://soundcloud.com/thomisticinstitute/fire-in-the-head-paganism-in-irish-christianity-fr-conor-mcdonough https://soundcloud.com/thomisticinstitute/christianity-and-nationalism-fr-conor-mcdonough-op

More than two hundred million people from a variety of faiths undertake a pilgrimage each year. For many throughout the ages, a pilgrim’s task has been to journey to a sacred place to receive some kind of blessing. It’s been all about reaching the temple, cathedral, shrine, or other destination where a blessing can be received. Britain’s Celtic Christians, however, saw pilgrimage differently. They set out directionless into the wild or let their boats drift wherever the oceans took them—pilgrimage for them being about trusting God in unfamiliar territory. Any blessing was found not at the destination but along the journey. Hebrews 11 was an important passage for the Celts. Since the Christian life is about leaving the world’s ways behind and trekking like foreigners to the city of God (vv. 13–16), a pilgrimage echoed their life’s journey. By trusting God to provide along their difficult, untrodden path, the pilgrim grew the kind of faith lived by the heroes of old (vv. 1–12). What a lesson to learn, whether we physically trek or not: for those who have trusted Jesus , life is a pilgrimage to God’s heavenly country, full of dark forests, dead ends, and trials. As we journey through, may we not miss the blessing of experiencing God’s provision along the way.

The ancient Celtic Christians named the Holy Spirit the Wild Goose. The Holy Spirit is wild and untamed. Our Acts reading today is about Philip's encounter with the Holy Spirit and his Wild Goose Chase.   Acts 8:26-40 | 1 John 4:7-21 | John 15:1-8

One of the most challenging times to hear God's voice is in seasons of suffering and ill-health. Clarity is difficult to find in the midst of pain, fear and doubt. On this episode, we talk to someone who understands this more than most. British author, communicator and friend, Kate Nicholas joins us on the GC podcast to talk about her rollercoaster ride of cancer diagnoses and how she heard God speak in the midst of them. This episode will encourage anyone who is seeking to hear God's voice in the midst of suffering. On the show, we talk about: Kate's fascinating faith journey, beginning with her bohemian upbringing and faithful attendance at a Baptist church in childhood. This was followed by a season of rejecting her faith when she was unable to reconcile God's goodness with her father's mental illness. Finally, a time of spiritual exploration led her to travel, studying Buddhism in India and experiencing God's presence in the Australian outback. Kate's first diagnosis with advanced breast cancer in 2014 and the extraordinary journey of healing that followed. The prognosis was devastating - Stage 4 cancer had spread to some of the main organs of her body - but through it all, Kate clung to a promise that God had given her - she would “not die, but live and declare the works of God” (Psalm 118:17). It was during this time that Kate wrote her first book, Sea Changed in order to show her children that God was with her and so that they wouldn't reject God as she had. Kate's insights on healing - though Kate still doesn't understand why some experience physical healing and others do not, she explains how God's healing is bigger than a cure. She tells of one of her early meetings with the oncologist and how she experienced such a deep peace, that the oncologist questioned her understanding:  “You do understand the implications of what I'm saying to you, don't you?” “Yes, you're telling me that I'm dying. But I'm going to leave the door open to God.” Kate's second cancer diagnosis in 2021 - this time in the other breast and far more aggressive than the first. Though initially bewildering for Kate, the cancer became a profound gateway to a greater connection with God. Kate's discovery of the contemplative tradition. During her cancer treatment and the isolation caused by COVID, Kate learned about the contemplative practises used by the Apostle Paul, the early desert fathers, the Celtic Christians and the medieval mystics. These all focus on being close to God in solitude and hearing God in silence. As a self-proclaimed “raving extrovert”, Kate explains how this was a challenge at first! "I discovered a whole tradition I knew very little about which goes back all the way to the dawn of Christianity. These contemplative practices focus on being close to God and hearing his voice in solitude and silence. This was a challenge for me because I am a raving extrovert!" Kate reminds us that Christianity is an Eastern faith at its roots - and that sadly, the Western tradition has lost much of this emphasis. Kate tells of the riches to be found in Christian mindfulness, centering prayer and opening up to our intuition. She encourages us all to “be still and know that he is God.” (Psalm 46:10) About Kate Nicholas Kate Nicholas is a Christian author, TV presenter and speaker with over thirty years working experience as a journalist and editor and more recently global communications chief for Christian aid agency World Vision. She also preaches at the Amazing Grace Church of St Peter and St Paul in the British market town of Olney in Buckinghamshire.  When first diagnosed with advanced breast cancer in 2014, Kate was given a promise that she would ‘ not die, but live and declare the works of God' (Psalm 118:17). And when, against all odds she survived, this became the mission of her life beginning with her first book Sea Changed - an account of her unconventional journey of faith and h...

November 15 marks the beginning of Orthodox and Celtic Christian observances of the season of Advent. 40 days before Christmas — likely the sights and sounds of the season are already visible; however, the consumeristic nature of this time of year might have you seeing more than just holiday red. The truth is, we are […] The post The Advent Antiphons — O come thou Lord of might,… first appeared on Soccer Chaplains United.

This conversation with Mary DeJong, spiritual companion and sacred ecology teacher, is all about re-wilding. She teaches us what it means to look at where our wild selves have been blocked or dammed, and how to find our truest flow again. She teaches us: God is right here on this wild earth. She invites us to look up and look down and see God all around us.About MaryMary DeJong is a spiritual ecologist, ecotheologian, wild soul guide, urban naturalist, and practitioner and guide of place-based pilgrimage. She specializes in the spiritual companionship of "rewilding" and instructs spiritual directors and companions through Spiritual Directors International and One Spirit Learning Alliance. Mary facilitates retreats and pilgrimages in the Pacific Northwest and in Iona, Scotland that strengthen the unique and mystical interconnection of participants, the sacred, and the natural world. She has studied and practiced within the Celtic Christian spiritual tradition, her own maternal line heritage, for over twenty years, and is influenced by the lives of Celtic saints, and the lands that guided them. She holds a post-Heroic Journey framework that calls us to emerge as poets and prophets, instead of heros, an applied mythological worldview that is connected to her training within mythology and the emerging field of ecopyschology. Mary's theoretical and praxis focus within deep ecology, eco-spirituality, ecotheology, ecopsychology and specialization in Thomas Berry's Universe Story delves into why place matters, the sacramentality of creation, and how together this informs the development of our ecological self. Mary terms this work “sacred eco-awakening” and sees this as a critical and holy endeavor as it allows us to come to grievous terms of our human history and to posture ourselves once again side-by-side with the whole of creation.Connect with MaryVisit Mary's websiteLearn about the Waymarkers Iona PilgrimageRewilding Retreats | December 16, The Whidbey Institute (Whidbey Island, WA) Cascade Mountains Rewilding Retreat | April 5-7, 2024Wild Seasons (virtual self-paced rewilding course)Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for great resources, previous blog posts, and more.Get some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

November 15 marks the beginning of Orthodox and Celtic Christian observances of the season of Advent. 40 days before Christmas — likely the sights and sounds of the season are already visible; however, the consumeristic nature of this time of year might have you seeing more than just holiday red. The truth is, we are […] The post The Advent Antiphons — O come thou Wisdom from on high,… first appeared on Soccer Chaplains United.

Take a journey through Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales for a radical adventure in prayer and faith with Dr. Gene Bailey and Rebecca Friedlander. Revival Radio TV takes you deep into the heart of Celtic lands; be inspired by the early Celtic Christians to build a rhythm of prayer into your faith journey.

This heartfelt podcast brings together timeless prayers, readings, declarations, and blessings from the ancient Celtic Christian tradition, as well as celebrating songs, songwriters, and artistry from modern independent Celtic Christian artists -- all formulating a posture of worship for us today. The Celtic Worship Podcast is curated and produced by Dr. Luke Gambill. Luke received his doctorate in worship studies from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, is the Director of Worship Arts at Mission Cleveland, is the Area Coordinator of Music Business at Lee University, spent 20+ years full-time in the Christian Music Industry in both creative development and publishing at companies such as Integrity Music and Capitol Christian Music Group, has a heritage in local church ministry, enjoys a rich bloodline that reaches generations across the United Kingdom, and loves the traditions of the ancient and current Celtic Christian worshipers. Would you like your music played on the Celtic Worship Podcast? Since its beginning, this podcast has celebrated Celtic Christian songwriters and artistry. All types of Celtic music are welcome, as long as the lyrics and artists are believers in Jesus Christ, the Savior. If you would like to submit your song(s) for consideration on the Celtic Worship Podcast, click HERE. The Scripture readings are based upon the Sunday Lectionary from The Book of Common Prayer (2019). Scripture readings are taken from the English Standard Version. The Psalter is the New Coverdale Psalter from The Book of Common Prayer (2019). Podcast artwork graciously provided by GABHART MEDIA: https://www.gabhartmedia.com JESUS PAID IT ALL (theme music) was produced by Sam Levine. Master Use Licensing permission has been cleared through Music Services. JESUS LOVES ME (HE IS STRONG) was produced by KD Music from Northern Ireland. For all related worship resources for this song, please visit https://kdmusic.co.uk/stories/blog/6943719/jesus-loves-me-he-is-strong. Here you will find a complete list of downloadable companion resources for usage during your corporate or personal times of worship. Be encouraged to go check these out, as well as the other many great songs from KD Music! The financial support for this weekly podcast goes toward website hosting fees, podcast hosting fees, copyright master fees, and other miscellaneous fees all associated with developing a podcast of this nature. If you appreciate weekly prayer and Celtic culture, consider a monthly pledge or a one-time donation at https://www.patreon.com/celticworshippodcast. With your ongoing gift, you can join us in this weekly journey of unearthing these timeless treasures of Celtic worship. Thank you!

What can we learn from a student and his cat about the Celtic Christian view of life?

What can we learn from the early Celtic Christian saints who brought the gospel to Scotland and Northern England: St. Patrick, St. Aidan, St. Columba & St. Cuthbert?These were the wandering & worshipping monks & missionaries, the peregrine pilgrims, devoted to prayer, justice and sharing the good news amongst the pagan tribes.And what about the Early Church Fathers & Mothers or the Nestorians who travelled deep into Asia?Matthew Burden, our guest in this episode, is the author of a fascinating new book called Missionary Motivations: Challenges from the Early Church. He grew up in Brazil, spent time in Africa and now pastors a church in Maine, USA.We discuss the attractional nature of the Desert Fathers, inaugurated eschatology, Christus Victor & much more!____________________________________________________________________________________To connect with Wycliffe Bible Translators, click here (UK) or here (USA).To connect with Matthew and to see the books that he's written, visit his blog here.To hear a brand new uncut, unplugged album, written and sung in caves, mountains and on beaches over the last few weeks while on a Celtic Pilgrimage from Iona to Holy Island (with 247-Prayer's Pete Greig,) check out Rich Dawson's Pilgrim Songs here on Spotify or wherever you listen to music online.To follow their journey and to access a 21 day devotional about the Celtic missionary monks, check out the Lectio365 app (11th June - 2nd July)._________________________________________________________________________________Do get in touch if you have any questions for Matt or for any of his guests.matt@frontiers.org.ukYou can find out more about us by visiting www.frontiers.org.ukOr visit www.frontiers.org and select from one of our national offices. For social media in the UK:Instagram: frontiers_ukFacebook: @frontiersukfriendsAnd do check out the excellent 6 week video course, MomentumYes:www.momentumyes.com (USA)www.momentumyes.org.uk (UK) _________________________________________________________________________________

This heartfelt podcast brings together timeless prayers, readings, declarations, and blessings from the ancient Celtic Christian tradition, as well as celebrating songs, songwriters, and artistry from modern independent Celtic Christian artists -- all formulating a posture of worship for us today. The Celtic Worship Podcast is curated and produced by Dr. Luke Gambill. Luke received his doctorate in worship studies from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, is the Director of Worship Arts at Mission Cleveland, is the Area Coordinator of Music Business at Lee University, spent 20+ years full-time in the Christian Music Industry in both creative development and publishing at companies such as Integrity Music and Capitol Christian Music Group, has a heritage in local church ministry, enjoys a rich bloodline that reaches generations across the United Kingdom, and loves the traditions of the ancient and current Celtic Christian worshipers. Would you like your music played on the Celtic Worship Podcast? Since its beginning, this podcast has celebrated Celtic Christian songwriters and artistry. All types of Celtic music are welcome, as long as the lyrics and artists are believers in Jesus Christ, the Savior. If you would like to submit your song(s) for consideration on the Celtic Worship Podcast, click HERE. JESUS PAID IT ALL (theme music) was produced by Sam Levine. Master Use Licensing permission has been cleared through Music Services. Podcast artwork graciously provided by GABHART MEDIA. O FOR A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD was recorded by Nigel Cameron and Julie Cameron-Hall. To hear more about this song, as well as other songs and artists on their label, please visit https://www.soundsofwonder.org. The financial support for this weekly podcast goes toward website hosting fees, podcast hosting fees, copyright master fees, and other miscellaneous fees all associated with developing a podcast of this nature. If you appreciate weekly prayer and Celtic culture, consider a monthly pledge or a one-time donation at https://www.patreon.com/celticworshippodcast. With your ongoing gift, you can join us in this weekly journey of unearthing these timeless treasures.

Happy Father's Day to all you incredible dads out there! As we celebrate fatherhood and the impact of generosity and partnership through our mission work, we invite you to gather around the proverbial campfire and listen in on our conversation with Steve and Brenda Lummer of the Outdoor Nations Network. Learn how their passion for the great outdoors has changed lives through remarkable stories like Steve Timmons receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit during a hike, and the healing of Derek and June's marriage through a campfire ministry.We also delve into Jesus' time in the wilderness and how it shapes our identity. We discuss the Celtic Christian concept of a "thin place," where heaven and earth seem closer, and how we can experience it in the midst of our own wilderness journeys. As we navigate the challenges of life, we're reminded of the importance of our identity in Christ and the adventure that awaits us.On this Father's Day, let's honor the fathers among us, giving thanks for their love and encouragement. We also pray for continued guidance, strength, and identity as we face the ever-changing landscape of our world. Be inspired by the transformative power of the wilderness and the love of our Heavenly Father, and remember that whatever challenges life throws at us, we can always find solace and strength in the great outdoors.CCC Social linksCornerstonehttps://www.cornerstoneaz.org/Follow Jesushttps://www.cornerstoneaz.org/follow-jesusLife Groups https://www.cornerstoneaz.org/life-groupsGiving https://cornerstoneaz.churchcenter.com/givingChurch Center App - Download then add Cornerstone Christian Center in Avondale, AZiOShttps://itunes.apple.com/us/app/my-church-center/id1357742931?mt=8&ls=1&ign-mpt=uo%3D4Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ministrycentered.churchcenter----Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cornerstoneazFacebookhttps://www.facebook.com/cornerstoneaz.orgTwitterhttps://twitter.com/cornerstoneaz.org

This heartfelt podcast brings together timeless prayers, readings, declarations, and blessings from the ancient Celtic Christian tradition, as well as celebrating songs, songwriters, and artistry from modern independent Celtic Christian artists -- all formulating a posture of worship for us today. The Celtic Worship Podcast is curated and produced by Dr. Luke Gambill. Luke received his doctorate in worship studies from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, is the Director of Worship Arts at Mission Cleveland, is the Area Coordinator of Music Business at Lee University, spent 20+ years full-time in the Christian Music Industry in both creative development and publishing at companies such as Integrity Music and Capitol Christian Music Group, has a heritage in local church ministry, enjoys a rich bloodline that reaches generations across the United Kingdom, and loves the traditions of the ancient and current Celtic Christian worshipers. Would you like your music played on the Celtic Worship Podcast? Since its beginning, this podcast has celebrated Celtic Christian songwriters and artistry. All types of Celtic music are welcome, as long as the lyrics and artists are believers in Jesus Christ, the Savior. If you would like to submit your song(s) for consideration on the Celtic Worship Podcast, click HERE. JESUS PAID IT ALL (theme music) was produced by Sam Levine. Master Use Licensing permission has been cleared through Music Services. Podcast artwork graciously provided by GABHART MEDIA. THERE IS A GREEN HILL FAR AWAY was recorded by Nigel Cameron and Julie Cameron-Hall. To hear more about this song, as well as other songs and artists on their label, please visit https://www.soundsofwonder.org. The financial support for this weekly podcast goes toward website hosting fees, podcast hosting fees, copyright master fees, and other miscellaneous fees all associated with developing a podcast of this nature. If you appreciate weekly prayer and Celtic culture, consider a monthly pledge or a one-time donation at https://www.patreon.com/celticworshippodcast. With your ongoing gift, you can join us in this weekly journey of unearthing these timeless treasures.

This heartfelt podcast brings together timeless prayers, readings, declarations, and blessings from the ancient Celtic Christian tradition, as well as celebrating songs, songwriters, and artistry from modern Celtic Christian believers -- all formulating a posture of worship for us today. The Celtic Worship Podcast is curated and produced by Dr. Luke Gambill. Luke received his doctorate in worship studies from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, is the Director of Worship Arts at Mission Cleveland, is the Area Coordinator of Music Business at Lee University, spent 20+ years full-time in the Christian Music Industry in both creative development and publishing at companies such as Integrity Music and Capitol Christian Music Group, has a heritage in local church ministry, enjoys a rich bloodline that reaches generations across the United Kingdom, and loves the traditions of the ancient and current Celtic Christian worshipers. Would you like your music played on the Celtic Worship Podcast? Since its beginning, this podcast has celebrated Celtic Christian songwriters and artistry. All types of Celtic music are welcome, as long as the lyrics and artists are believers in Jesus Christ, the Savior. If you would like to submit your song(s) for consideration on the Celtic Worship Podcast, click HERE. Listen on Spotify and YouTube!   00:00 - MUSIC INTRO 00:20 - INTRO 01:42 - Credo (I Believe) (Vincent Zarletti) 06:32 - The Grace (Dave Whitcroft – KD Music) 11:15 - Thine Be the Glory (New Scottish Hymns Band) 15:38 - My Jesus, I Love Thee (Nigel Cameron & Julie Cameron-Hall) 20:05 - PERMISSION LINK ON WEBSITE 21:27 - This Is a Holy Place (New Scottish Hymns Band) 26:09 - Freedom's Slave Hymn (Dave Whitcroft – KD Music) 30:31 - We Shall All Be Changed (New Scottish Hymns Band) 34:16 - There Is a Green Hill Far Away (Nigel Cameron & Julie Cameron-Hall) 42:50 - Come Lord Come (Dave Whitcroft – KD Music) 49:07 - Let Your Light Shine In the Darkness (New Scottish Hymns Band) 53:52 - SUPPORTING INDIE ARTISTS 55:27 - The Benediction (Vincent Zarletti) 56:27 - CREDITS   JESUS PAID IT ALL (theme music) was produced by Sam Levine. Master Use Licensing permission has been cleared through Music Services. Podcast artwork graciously provided by GABHART MEDIA. The financial support for this weekly podcast goes toward website hosting fees, podcast hosting fees, copyright master fees, and other miscellaneous fees all associated with developing a podcast of this nature. Consider a monthly pledge or a one-time donation at https://www.patreon.com/celticworshippodcast.

When bird symbolism is used in Christianity, the most popular one is that of a Dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit. We hear words like “gentle” and “calm” in connection to doves and we think of the Spirit of God in that way. But many may not know that years ago, Celtic Christians had an intriguing name for the Holy Spirit that lent toward a different bird; perhaps an unexpected animal. They called the Holy Spirit An Geadh-Glas, or “the Wild Goose.” The name hints at the mysterious nature of the Holy Spirit. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. With Him, there seems to be an air of unpredictability. At times, the Holy Spirit can be like a dove leading us to a place of stillness and peace. What I find often, He's rambunctious as a goose — wresting us from our sedentary ways, disturbing the status quo, and injecting the fire of God's love into our lives.

When bird symbolism is used in Christianity, the most popular one is that of a Dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit. We hear words like “gentle” and “calm” in connection to doves and we think of the Spirit of God in that way. But many may not know that years ago, Celtic Christians had an intriguing name for the Holy Spirit that lent toward a different bird; perhaps an unexpected animal. They called the Holy Spirit An Geadh-Glas, or “the Wild Goose.” The name hints at the mysterious nature of the Holy Spirit. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. With Him, there seems to be an air of unpredictability. At times, the Holy Spirit can be like a dove leading us to a place of stillness and peace. What I find often, He's rambunctious as a goose — wresting us from our sedentary ways, disturbing the status quo, and injecting the fire of God's love into our lives.

In this episode, we welcome Rebecca Friedlander as she talks about her latest production, "CELTIC RHYTHMS". Rebecca Friedlander has been in full-time ministry for over 18 years, ministering both locally and internationally using creative arts and music."CELTIC RHYTHMS" takes you on a journey through Ireland, Scotland, England, and Wales for a radical adventure in prayer and faith! Rebecca takes you deep into the heart of Celtic lands; be inspired by the early Celtic Christians to build a rhythm of prayer into your faith journey. 

When bird symbolism is used in Christianity, the most popular one is that of a Dove symbolizing the Holy Spirit. We hear words like “gentle” and “calm” in connection to doves and we think of the Spirit of God in that way. But many may not know that years ago, Celtic Christians had an intriguing name for the Holy Spirit that lent toward a different bird; perhaps an unexpected animal. They called the Holy Spirit An Geadh-Glas, or “the Wild Goose.” The name hints at the mysterious nature of the Holy Spirit. Much like a wild goose, the Spirit of God cannot be tracked or tamed. With Him, there seems to be an air of unpredictability. At times, the Holy Spirit can be like a dove leading us to a place of stillness and peace. What I find often, He's rambunctious as a goose — wresting us from our sedentary ways, disturbing the status quo, and injecting the fire of God's love into our lives.==========

Celtic Christians were serious about spiritual disciplines.

Jeff Tharp interviews Rebecca Friedlander, minister, author and filmmaker. In this episode, Jeff and Rebecca discuss her upcoming film, the Celtic Christians, cultivating rhythms of prayer, and more! Watch us LIVE on Tuesday, March 14 at 2 p.m. Pacific Time on all ElijahFire platforms! ———————— STUFF WE TALKED ABOUT: Rebecca's Celtic Films: https://www.rebeccafriedlander.com/ce... Rebecca's Prayer Cabin Project: https://www.rebeccafriedlander.com/pr... Rebecca's Launch Your Vision course: https://www.rebeccafriedlander.com/la... FOLLOW REBECCA: Instagram: @rebeccafriedlander https://www.instagram.com/rebeccafrie... Facebook: @RebeccaFriedlanderProductions https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaFried... Website: https://www.rebeccafriedlander.com/ ———————— FOLLOW US! Listen to ElijahFire on the go with the ElijahFire Podcast! Listen now on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, or on Spotify! https://open.spotify.com/show/6yYrpoM... SUBSCRIBE to ElijahFire on YouTube: / @elijahfireshow ElijahFire is on Twitch! @elijahfireshow https://www.twitch.tv/elijahfireshow ElijahFire Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elijahfires... ElijahFire TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@elijahfireshow ElijahFire Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElijahFireShow SUBSCRIBE to ElijahFire Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/c-1326244 ElijahFire and ElijahStreams are part of Elijah List Ministries. Thank you for making the always-free Elijah List Ministries possible! Click here to learn how to partner with us: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/elijahfirepodcast ElijahFire: 525 2nd Ave SW Suite 629 Albany, OR 97321 USA #RebeccaFriedlander #Celtic #Prayer #LevelUp #ElijahFire

What is Celtic Christianity? How do Celtic Christians worship? Is there anything inherently wrong with Celtic Christianity?

Celtic Christian hagiography had many purposes, not the least of which was to recall and improve the memory of some great leader.

Angels, guardian angels & fallen angels (demons) are truths upheld by the Catholic faith. Strangely today, its our myths and fairytales that proclaim their reality more than most churches. This episode uses these stories to rediscover the friends and foes in the spiritual realm. Excerpt from episode: "See, our myths and fairytales remind us what the Celtic Christians used to say: the world is porous and thin, and permeable by the spiritual realm. Whether we personally feel at peace or in conflict, there is a spiritual battle taking place which draws in the whole of creation. This certain enchantedness of creation is not only accepted within Catholicism but celebrated… we who have the most developed teachings of angelology as well as demonology, drawing from the accounts found in the scriptures, but also developed from theologians and the experience of the saints. I'll divide up today's episode into two sections then – beginning fist with angels, then moving onto fallen angels, before finally offering some reflections on their significance on this pilgrimage here on earth"

In this interview I am once again joined by Dr Thomas Clough Daffern philosopher, educator, peace activist, and peace officer for the Council of British Druid Orders. In this episode, Thomas shares his lifetime of research into the druid tradition of the British Isles and Europe, including his historical research and personal contact with druids today. Thomas reveals why most modern day druid groups are reconstructionists, and probes the possibility of a living druid lineage in certain areas of Ireland. Thomas explains why he believes Jesus was an initiate of the mystery schools of his day, discusses the connections between Celtic culture and mystical Christianity, and shares his current research into the Gnostic Gospels and the Gospel of Mary Magdalene. Thomas also considers the guru disciple relationship, what ‘enlightenment' means in different traditions, the dangers of prematurely declaring one's enlightenment, and offers warning signs for recognising guru and cult figures. … Video version: https://www.guruviking.com/podcast/ep181-druidic-enlightenment-and-european-mysticism 
Also available on Youtube, iTunes, & Spotify – search ‘Guru Viking Podcast'. … Topics Include: 00:00 - Intro 01:10 - Discovering the druids 02:06 - Researching the occultist Dr John Dee 03:07 - Meeting a druid 04:28 - Advocacy for access to British sacred sites 09:42 - Druid spread across Europe 12:08 - History of the druids 16:26 - Was Jesus Christ an initiate of the mysteries? 18:54 - Gnostic gospels and the inner disciples 20:56 - Love and wisdom confronting false power and ignorance 22:06 - Celtic-Christian connections 23:42 - Thomas' current research into the Gospel of Mary Magdalene 25:55 - Are current druid groups reconstructions or part of a living lineage? 31:44 - Advocacy for Irish culture 32:37 - Druidry should be taught in schools 33:36 - Druids and enlightenment 37:32 - Buddhism vs the druid path 42:16 - What is enlightenment? 42:59 - Common root of Vedic, Kabbalist, and Druid teachings 49:31 - Druid revolutionaries 54:27 - The Judas mystery 58:47 - Great teachers and bad disciples 01:00:47 - Keats' school for souls 01:01:24 - Planetary enlightenment or bust 01:03:31 - Golden Gate Project 01:04:47 - The Eastern gate of Jerusalem 01:08:51 - Transcending revenge consciousness … Previous episodes with Dr Daffern: - https://www.guruviking.com/search?q=daffern … To find our more about Dr Daffern, visit: - http://www.educationaid.net/ - https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/iipsgp - https://interfaithpeacetreaty.wordpress.com/ … For more interviews, videos, and more visit: - www.guruviking.com Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James

Celtic Christians delighted in life and in serving God amid the wonders of His world.

Celtic Christians made a tremendous impact in their world because they understood how to make the best use of their time.

"There is very little that is new" says Dallas Willard at the beginning of The Divine Conspiracy. Roy Searle, a founder and former leader of the Celtic-influenced Northumbria Community and a mentor for pioneering British churches, and Michael Stewart Robb explore whether that's true. We set the Celtic Christian view of the world up against Dallas's own view of "Our God-Bathed World" and look for wisdom for modern Europe, where we must "sing the Lord's song in a strange land." Imagine Dallas Willard and St. Cuthbert sitting in a room together and chatting. This isn't that but it might be the closest you'll come this side of eternity. Or so we hope. BE INFORMED and PRAY for us better by signing up for the Sanctus newsletter: https://sanctus.institute

Celtic Christians understood the importance of living "there and "then" in the "here and now."

Celtic Christians deeply appreciated the work of their forebears in the faith

Celtic Christians appreciated the history of those who brought the Gospel down to them.

Celtic Christians believed that Jesus was fully God and fully Man. Only Immanuel could save us from our sins and fulfill the redemptive plan of God. And Celtic Christians believed this with all their hearts.

Celtic Christians understood the Kingdom of God and God's calling for us to join in seeking its progress on earth as it is in heaven.

Celtic Christians held firm to the belief that they must let God be God.

What misconceptions might we have about Celtic spirituality, and in what ways might ancient Celtic Christians teach us a way to re-enchant our faith?

Celtic Christians had a word to describe places where the boundary between heaven and earth had been collapsed. They called it "a thin place." Thin places are those places and spaces where it's EASIER to encounter God, EASIER to hear His voice, EASIER to sense the leading of God's Spirit. In this message, Max Vanderpool unpacks the broader meaning behind the Psalms of Ascent (Psalms 120-134) and why it matters that we regularly visit thin places.

In this short reflection and prayer, you'll learn about the importance of circles to Celtic Christians. Then you'll create a circle of your own and receive a blessing, "a circle of light drawn around a person to protect, heal, and strengthen." 

Greetings wonderful listeners! This week I was joined by my friend Angela Hickey of Outlandercast Clan Book Club and Queen Bee's Hive (Patreon) to break down every facet of Jamie Fraser's very nuanced character. Because his story is broad in scope and crucial to the overall shape of Outlander, it was impossible for us to cover everything in one episode. So in Part One of our King of Men duo, we discussed his backstory including the influence his family had on him growing up, his faith as a Celtic Christian, and the events of Wentworth Prison and how that created a ripple effect throughout the rest of the series. Make sure to check back for more details on Part Two coming soon!

The Celtic Christian tradition has a term for those spaces where we easily encounter God's presence. They call these moments thin places. But is it possible to experience God's presence when there are dishes to be washed, decisions to be made, planning to be done, emails to be sent? Yes - if we will pay attention. Here is a practice to help you do just that. Listen in.  Links and Resources from this episode:  An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor The Ministry of Ordinary Places by Shannan Martin Discovering our Spiritual Identity by Trevor Hudson Exodus 3:2-5 (NAS) Find me at Kaley Ehret on Facebook and Instagram. Listen on: Apple Podcasts Podbean Spotify  

David Cole (Brother Cassian) returns to the podcast to talk Celtic Christianity, Lent, and practices from the Celtic tradition that can guide us through Lent. We explore his book Celtic Lent: 40 Days of Devotions to Easter, prayer rhythms, the desert tradition, the importance of practices, and more. You can find out more about David […]

For one generation of Americans, civil and sectarian violence in Northern Ireland was brought into our homes through regular reporting on the nightly news. For a younger generation, it was brought home in the powerful lyrics of the band known as U2.  Tom Kelly and Kevin Hasson of the Bogside Artists are creating street art and murals that remember that era in Northern Ireland's history. Tom Kelly and Kevin Hasson are artists and members of The Bogside Artists, best-known for their outdoor murals called “The People's Gallery” in the Bogside neighborhood of Derry.  Kelly's brother William, now deceased, was the third member of The Bogside Artists.  Kelly is a native of Derry, Northern Ireland.  He leads a Celtic Christian community in the heart of the Bogside that provides spiritual support for those affected by the “Troubles.”  He views art as a powerful tool to bring Protestants and Catholics together, using it to assuage religious conflict long before the cultural elite of Northern Ireland recognized its cathartic and healing power.  Coming from a family talented in visual and musical arts, Kevin Hasson's art has been influenced by his extensive travels.  Apart from his work with the Bogside Artists, he painted many murals across Germany during his twelve-year residency in Frankfurt.  Hasson's boyhood experiences as a member of The International Voluntary Service in Calcutta, India helped him realize the ubiquity of social injustice and its roots. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, Michael talks to John Philip Newell, a Celtic teacher and author of spirituality who calls the modern world to reawaken to the sacredness of the earth and every human being. Together, they discuss Celtic Christianity and the modern-day application of its wisdom. 3:00- Michael asks what the scope of Celtic Christianity is 7:50- Michael asks why this wisdom is difficult to practice together 12:50: Michael reads some quotes and John Philip discusses the divine feminine 20:30: Michael and John Philip discuss the intersection between sexuality and spirituality 29:30: Michael asks John Philip what God isn't 41:00: They discuss distinctions between ego and soul 47:00- Michael asks what the Celtic Christian view of Jesus Christ is

In this special episode of The Greater Heritage podcast we talk with singer-songwriter Joanne Hogg.“Jo” is a Northern Irish singer and songwriter, best known for her work as the lead singer and songwriter with the Celtic Christian progressive rock and pop band Iona. She has also worked on numerous solo projects, including most recently The Map Project Parts 1 & 2, and she is involved in various ministries as well.Throughout the episode, Jo shares about her early years as a missionary child, her transition from med-school to music and memorable highlights from her inspiring career.Other topics of interest include candid conversations on the importance of Biblical literacy, apologetics and advice for young musicians.Specifically, one of the biggest pieces of advice she gives for young artists is that they take responsibility for their choices instead of always trying to figure out what God wants them to do.As she states: “God is less concerned about which thing you choose. He's more concerned about how your attitude is to other people and what your mindset is. Don't stress about the details that you think God might want you to do, because you don't have to change the world to validate your existence.”Throughout Jo also talks about how the recent pandemic caused her to confront what she really believed about Christianity.For her, this involved moving away from defining truth by emotional experiences, subjective feelings, and extra-Biblical revelations and instead learning truth solely from what God says in his word.Ultimately, Jo's story illustrates how Christians need to be equipped to give a reason for the hope they have. (1 Pet. 3:15)Moreover, her insights encourage us to return to God's word as the sole authority for our lives.–You can follow Jo via Bandcamp, email, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and on her website. To listen to more episodes like this Joanne Hogg interview, subscribe. Are you a Christian writer looking to publish? Learn more.Intro and outro music provided by Five Minute Plan.Song excerpts from the album Beyond These Shores (Murlough Bay, Edge of the World, Healing) © Copyright 1993 Word Records. Used with permission. Song excerpts from the album Journey Into The Morn (When I Survey) © Copyright 1994 Alliance Music. Used with permission. 

Episode Summary: Do you ever start reading a book and feel like the author just ripped your thoughts and feelings from your mind and wrote them down much more poetically and eloquently than you could? Then as you read along feel a sense of validation for some crazy, out-of-the-box beliefs you have because someone else was published for sharing them? Ok, so maybe that is just me, but that is how I felt reading The Gift of Wonder. When I reached out to tell Christine Sine how connected I felt to her book and she responded with an offer to join me on my podcast, I was thrilled. I pray you are as encouraged by her creative and playful take on spiritual practices as I am, and that you will be inspired to step out-of-the-box with the ways you connect to God throughout your day. Christine's Bio: “Christine Aroney-Sine is the founder and facilitator for the popular contemplative blog Godspace, (godspacelight.com) which grew out of her passion for creative spirituality, gardening and sustainability. Christine describes herself as a contemplative activist, passionate gardener, author, and liturgist. She loves messing with church traditions and inspiring followers of Jesus to develop creative approaches to spirituality that intertwine the sacred through all of life. She facilitates workshops on contemplative and creative spiritual practices, spirituality and gardening, simplicity and sustainability as well as how to develop a more spiritual rhythm for our lives. She often encourages participants to paint rocks or leaves, plant contemplative gardens, walk labyrinths and create spiritual pathways that draw us into deeper intimacy with God. Christine is inspired by Celtic Christian spirituality, which has opened her eyes to the God who is present in every moment, every experience and every place. She is open to learning from everyone and everything around.” Verses from the episode: Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Luke 18:16 Links from the episode: (This may contain some affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.) Christine Sine's Book - The Gift of Wonder Christine's Blog Christine's Retreat Children of God Storybook Bible by Archbishop Desmond Tutu Playfully Faithful Parenting Podcast is a ministry of CreatedtoPlay.com. For more resources, tips, devotions, and tools check us out online: https://createdtoplay.com . Even though I'm an introvert, I'm social! Let's connect! Instagram: https://instagram.com/createdtoplay Facebook: https://facebook.com/created2play Twitter: https://twitter.com/createdtoplay Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/createdtoplay Did you enjoy the show? Subscribe and leave me a 5-star review on Apple Music and make me giddy. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/joy-wendling/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/joy-wendling/support

Today may be Halloween in our secular culture, but I would like to call us back to the traditional Christian observance of All Saints Day. This day is a call to remember those saints who have gone before us. Who have led us and drawn us into a relationship with Jesus. The Celtic Christians called a space like today a “thin place,” where this world and the next have moved so close together that it was as if one could go from one place to the other. Notes: Daily Readings Ancient-Future Time, by Robert E. Webber Would you consider supporting this podcast? This Road is a production of Worthwhile.Media Music: In Quiet by The Culprit Licensed through soundstripe.com – Use code WORTHWHILE to get 10% off your subscription! (Full Disclosure: Using Soundstripe through this link does give Worthwhile Media a small % – Thank you in advance) --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thisroad/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thisroad/support

Episode 84 In part 14 of our Sinai and Synapses interview series, we are talking with the Rev Dr Eric Elnes. He believes that we are in a sort of spiritual seismic shift that has not been experienced in 2,000 years, and is hopefully optimistic about the future of religion, spirituality, and humanity as we know it. We talk about weird new ways of doing church, what he learned from walking across the country, and what we can glean about God from the Higgs field. Make sure you don't miss this one!    The Rev Dr Eric Elnes  is a biblical scholar, pastor, author, podcaster, and video producer. He is the founder and host of Darkwood Brew which has created and hosts more progressive Christian video resources than anyone else in the world. He is the newly settled pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Portland Oregon and a leading articulator of Convergence Christianity. Find more at https://www.darkwoodbrew.org/   Support this podcast on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/DowntheWormholepodcast   More information at https://www.downthewormhole.com/   produced by Zack Jackson music by Zack Jackson and Barton Willis    Transcript This transcript was automatically generated by www.otter.ai, and as such contains errors (especially when multiple people are talking). As the AI learns our voices, the transcripts will improve. We hope it is helpful even with the errors.    Zack Jackson 00:04 You are listening to the down the wormhole podcast exploring the strange and fascinating relationship between science and religion. This week we are exploring how that relationship gets worked out in real life with one of the current Sinai and Synapses, fellows, Sinai and Synapses is a two year fellowship committed to elevating the discourse surrounding religion and science and where the five of us first met. So without further ado,   Eric Elnes 01:17 Dozens and dozens, yes, but something that I think our listeners might be less familiar with, then even knowing that UCC pastor, is that phrase that I brought up convergence, Christianity, which I think is a term that they may not have heard, but a concept they have almost certainly felt or experienced in the world. So I wonder here if at the beginning, because I know, a lot of your work is colored by this concept and all that goes with it. So could you just take a minute here and unpack that a little bit for our listeners, you sure I can't. And what I'll say is kind of the tip of an iceberg. This goes way, way deep down the wormhole. So if I want to go talk about like how this is, I see this acting and other even other faiths, and beyond the little, you know, puddle of Christianity that we didn't have a habit, I'm happy to talk about that. But really, the whole idea of convergence came when I i and a bunch of progressive political progressive Christians, we walked across the country in 2006, to try to wave a flag say that you're helping people realize there are more than one way to be a Christian. And we had this platform called the Phoenix affirmations, which eventually kind of became kind of a theological backbone for a lot of progressive Christian churches. Kind of 12 points of affirmation about why what makes us excited to be for our faith outlook, we weren't bashing anybody. We're just trying to articulate things like, you know, we take the Bible seriously, but we don't read it literally. We don't. And we acknowledge there are other paths besides Christianity that are legitimate, even as we claim our own path, as Christians, you things like this in claiming environment, environmental responsibility, openness and affirmation of LGBT LGBTQ community things that you would or would not surprise you to find about progressive Christians. But we walked across the country thinking we were waving this banner, and we're going to lead the charge, or at least help help help lead the charge to a greater Christian witness in America, but in more generous spirit. And what we discovered was almost immediately our, our understanding of what was going on in our nation were completely wrong. Or at least at least needed to be significantly rethought because we kept running up and up into two kinds of people. One were people on the other side of the theological swimming pool than we are, you know, more of evangelical Christians who were as frustrated with their own camp as we were. And if he asked them, well, what are your hopes and dreams, they were looking for things like LGBTQ equality, they're looking forward, non literal Reading of the Bible, they're looking for not throwing everybody into hell who wasn't Christian. They're looking for the very things that progressive Christians stood for, really. But we also found from our own camp, progressive Christians who are having a huge problem with with our camp as well, but they weren't looking for a more conservative Jesus, for instance, they were just looking for Jesus, were so much progressive Christianity has basically said, and I very much count myself as a progressive Christian, but with so much progressive Christianity said, whatever, we think that the evangelicals have fundamentals of do badly, we won't do it all. So they do Jesus. Jesus, they do Bible badly, well, will, will not do the Bible. You have to do a prayer badly. We're not gonna talk about prayer and all these things, and there and there are people who are frustrated by that. It's like, I don't want to conserve Jesus. I don't want conservative prayer, but I want those things. I want these classic things, you know, and so and but so but we listen to those those what I would call people who are moving to be post evangelical progressives, and people were becoming you know, post liberal. All progressives. And so what they were looking for was actually found in the other side. So like those, those former evangelicals or becoming former evangelicals still had Jesus, and Bible and prayer only they had, they themselves have moved beyond the conservative, you know, layering of that. So they actually had a gift to bear to these post liberal progressives. And the post liberal progressives have gifts to bear before the post evangelical progressive, because they they were doing things like LGBTQ equality, and you know, pluralism and all these things. And we realized that you both camps, they've grown up to be suspicious one another. And both camps have no idea that the other camp exists. And so every year we asked ourselves, you know, have they found each other yet? Because we knew that if they didn't find each other, they would there just be like this heyday. It's like, Oh, my gosh, you got your chocolate in my peanut butter. I got my peanut butter, your chocolate. I was like, Wow, this is amazing. Yeah, it really felt like like, like, there were two groups of escaped slaves out in the wilderness that Moses, you know, was trying to wrangle together. And if they never get together, they would just like drop everything, the gifts they would that they brought out of Egypt that they could not bear to leave behind. They were the gifts that each other needed. And they could build a new tabernacle in the wilderness based on those gifts that come together as convergence. And so every year we asked ourselves did that, have they noticed each other? And every year? We had to say No, honestly, we'd like to say yes, but we know until this little festival happened in what year was that? About 20? About 2013 2012. In in, in North Carolina called the wild goose festival. And those people they just simply raised a flag saying, are you into spirituality, justice and the arts? If you are come, and what who the people who came were the exact people from those posts, you progressive post liberal progressives and post post evangelical progress they were they just came they they just came and they showed up and they discovered one another. And all what a party that was when they discovered one they're like, What? Wait, you come from an evangelical church? You're talking to this way? What you're coming from a liberal Tricia talking this way. Like, why, why, why why? This is so cool.   Zack Jackson 07:19 And even the performers too, and the speakers they seem Jennifer Knapp up there. That   Eric Elnes 07:24 was that was some special. Oh, she's awesome. Yeah, exactly. So in every year, it just, it's just built until finally other organizations started realizing this and, and I helped, you know, Cameron Trimble and Brian McLaren. We you put together something called the convergence network, just to try to make use of you know, to kind of bring that entity together. And eventually other organizations started to see this happening San Francisco Theological Seminary, you start start going on and made the Phoenix affirmations of primary working document for their cutting edge ministry, unit and, and Random House, even even Random House. They they'd actually been Reading stuff that was on the darker blue reps website. So you know, what, our marketing people have been Reading what you've been writing, and they're saying, This is exactly what we're saying to in our stats. And like, really, it was, yeah, yeah. What do you think's going on? Is it Well, I think it's might be called convergence, you know, and guess what they named their press. Convergence press. I hope you got a cut of that. And no, no, I didn't get a kind of a No, no, but but the point is, is is, is really that there is something going on that is statistically valid. But under the Trump era, it just kind of went all underground, and seemed like we took many steps backward. But I actually don't think we have in, in my Reading of US history, you know, as we're kind of talking about before the podcast began, if you really take a serious look at it, developments of the grassroots and religion tend to precede political developments by about 20 or 30 years, you think it's the opposite, because you look back and look at social developments that were held up by religion, but it really wasn't until the average Christian or person of faith kind of saw a new thing that suddenly there's a tidal wave change, and it works out. It's worse way out politically. And that happens with the abolitionist movement with women's suffrage with with a welcoming divorcees into the light in the mainstream life of society with racial justice all these LGBTQ cool quality even thought was gonna be the one exception to that but but even then, you could argue that it wasn't until the average even evangelical really kind of saw Wait a minute. Maybe God isn't condemning all these people to hell that suddenly there was this this massive SharePoint and we're still not there. You know, we're not start where we need to be. But there was a massive SharePoint, and that the reason why the Trump kind of era even happen is because some of these developments have sunk so deep into the fabric of human society now that the Old Dominion is reacting and is fighting For its life, there's so many developments that have happened to bring us together in this in not just religious convergences. I mean, convergence of faith and science convergence. You'll all have different religions even and not not like a super religion. But I mean, religions recognize the value of each other's pass into the diversity of faith pads actually makes us stronger rather than weaker. There's all kinds of convergences going on, right now that are leading to, I think, to some changes, so profound that literally, I mean, I'm willing to put it on on tape I years from now, I think we'll look back and say, what's happening now is significance as Jesus's own, you know, coming 2000 years ago, we're in a deep shift that, you know, philosophical talks about 500 years shifts that I think is just absolutely right on us, the tectonic shifts in society. They happen it's at least in western monotheistic society, which was the subject of her study, it tends to have a tectonic shift every five years, but then there's followed by season of like, extreme argumentation and violence until a new normal sets in, and I think that, you know, the last time this happened was, you know, the Renaissance than leading to the reformation, the big fight over what's real, and what, what Where's authority, you know, and what happened in the last century in, in western civilization, and really could argue throughout the world, but I'm just going to keep it from my area of expertise to makes the Renaissance look like child's play. I mean, literally makes the Renaissance look like child's play. I mean, in 1900, the first patent on record in the US Patent Office in New York City, was for a paperclip. And we ended the century literally cloning sheet. I mean, seriously. And then, of course, you think about your site, all the science, you would just geek out all day long about the scientific revolution took place in that century. But that's it was way beyond just the scientific. I mean, in 1900, there were 200 countries that legally had legalized slavery or forced labor in some kind. By 2017, that number was three, you know, in 1900 40%, of all children died by the time they were five years old. And now 4%. child mortality, in 1900 200 countries had the death penalty. And now there are under 90, in 1900, you know, only women had the right to vote and just one country in the entire world. Yeah, and now the numbers about 200 countries. And that's not even counting, like in 1851, we ordinating, the first woman, you know, and that's just been, you know, had a revolution. Since it was look at the history of, of the world. You know, that's just, you know, it's crazy the amount of progress we've made. You know, I mean, you just go on and on and on about this adult literacy. 1900 was 20% of the planet. Now it's 90% of the planet. Or 1900, those who lived into democracy accounted for 15% of the planet population. Now it's about 60% of the planet. And we just talked about LGBTQ equality, too. I mean, think about the revolutions happen. They're all these amazing competitors as yours. Yeah. Yeah. All these amazing convergences and, and all those those social changes did not happen in a vacuum. They're, they're real people who made them happen. People who gave her gave her a hoot about about the world. You know, just the fact that like Nicholas Kristof. He writes that article every year except for like, last year, he writes in why 2019 was the best year in human history. Why 2018 2017 2016? You know, the stats he brings out are just amazing. Like, in last decade, about 200,000 people per day emerged from extreme poverty. 200,000 people per day, 300,000 people over 3000 per day gained access to electricity. 300,000 per day gained access to clean drinking water, this is year after year, per day. In just 1919 alone, 650,000 people per day gained access to the internet. You know, so you're the the Renaissance looks nothing compared to this kind of revolution we are experiencing. And and so it also tells us like, okay, there's the tectonic shift is bigger, way bigger than the 500 year mark. I think I think we're, I think it's bigger than 1000 year mark, I think we're at about a 2000 year, kind of tectonic plate shift, which is also why we're in so much danger. Because every time the tectonic plate shifts, then the whole nature of authority and what's real just goes out the window and then there's a free, there's a free for all until there's a new consensus, you know, the only problem is is now that we've democratized the instruments of mass destruction and get increasingly artful the ways of killing each other every day. And now we got global climate change. Also, because twin threats, human, the human civilization has never experienced such an existential threat to its existence in all of human history as well. So if somehow we've got to jump the track of human history, we got to do it history doesn't expect in order to survive this kind of thresholds in time. So it's good news and kind of terrifying news. But to me, and I kind of go back and forth from year to year, which I think is, you know, which, which one is going to win out, you know, we're going to actually survive this or we're going to is it you know, are we truly kind of, in this Doomsday, kind of, like, civilizational collapse, I tend to aside with the former more than the latter and these days and, and have for the last few years actually been kind of went out of a deep funk about where this was headed. And think that actually we are building the capability to jump this track, not without pain, not without a certain amount of violence to be sure, probably our it's going to get a little harder before it gets better. But I think the pandemic actually has really provoked a lot of have is terrible and tragic, as has been, you know, I don't know hardly anybody who has not been touched in some significant way or had significant deaths occur or job loss and so forth. Some of the, the flexibility it's almost like been, it's it's low, it's been like a in Oregon, they have with snow as well, on any coast, they have what's known as a king tide, it's the it's when the the tides go way out, you know, and then and then any rocks that were under the water, you know, close to shore, that might be a danger, the boats, you know, are totally exposed. If now, if you knew what you're doing, you knew those rocks were there all the time. But But you can't Time goes out doesn't matter how much experience you have with the waters, you know, you see the rocks, and it seems like the pandemic has lowered the tide too. So we see the rocks that have been there for a long time that we should have dealt with a long time ago that we haven't, you know, racial justice, obviously, you know, is really showed us how how far behind we still are, you know, and and with respect to health, providing health care for all people about a living wage, we call these people frontline workers and we pay them, you're less than a living wage, seriously, you're all these these these rocks underneath the water, they've been really sinking a lot of boats. For so long. Now, we're all of society, if you have your eyes halfway open, you're seeing these things. You know, it's no wonder that Biden's suggesting this massive, you know, all these massive reforms, cost trillions of dollars, it's like, we finally have the political will to actually say, you know what, we better do something about this, while we still have the ability to do something about this. It's like, wow,   Zack Jackson 17:51 I love your spirit. I love the optimism in your voice at this podcast typically, typically goes somewhere in between the world is ending on Tuesday, and rainbows and unicorns are coming on Wednesday, where we're somewhere in between there, depending on who's on the show at the time. So I'm loving this energy, I'm feeding off of it. We're kind of hopefully, coming over a crest in the United States, in COVID. I mean, obviously, we look at the rest of the world. And we are nowhere near through this thing. But we're starting to feel a little bit better here. I know that some of our educational institutions are starting to go back to something that looks like normal, our churches and places of worship, or lots of them are starting to go back to something that looks like normal. You've talked to me a little bit off the podcast about how you're not sure you want to go back to normal, right? That there are some things that happened during this COVID time that that really stuck, that really exposed something that needed to be exposed and whether it's through technology or just rediscovering some of the essentials. What do you see what what has been made manifest that's good about this COVID time that you're gonna keep moving forward in this new church here a part of   Eric Elnes 19:09 sure I'm having another. Can I preface that with a quote by one of my favorite authors Arundhati Roy who wrote the the God of small things. This is just rocked my world and it really feeds into what you're, you're asking about. She wrote something about the pandemic. And she wrote this way. She said, What is this thing that has happened to us? It's a virus. Yes. In and of itself. It holds no moral brief, but it is definitely more than a virus. It has made the mighty Neil and brought the world to a halt like nothing else could. Our minds are still racing back and forth longing for a return to quote normality, trying to stitch our future to our past and refusing to acknowledge the rupture, but the rupture exists. And in the midst of this terrible despair, it offers us a chance to rethink the doomsday. machine we have built for ourselves, it offers us a chance to rethink the doomsday machine we have built for ourselves, nothing could be worse than to return to normality. Historically pandemics have forced human beings humans to break with the past and imagine their world anew. This one is no different. It is a portal, a gateway between one world and the next, we can choose to walk through it dragging the carcasses of our prejudice and hatred, our avarice, our data bank banks and dead ideas are dead rivers and smoky skies behind us. Or we can walk through lightly with little luggage, ready to imagine another world and ready to fight for it.   Zack Jackson 20:47 Man that'll preach.   Eric Elnes 20:49 Oh, wow. I've actually been using that quote like I've quoted it like five times in the last eight weeks.   Zack Jackson 20:58 I say that that author one more time for our listeners.   Eric Elnes 21:01 Oh, Arundhati Roy, she wrote the the God of small things is one of one of many great books she's written. Okay, thank you. Yeah. Indian author. Yeah. And so yeah, I really one of the one of the great awakenings that I personally he's I had in the pandemic was the glory of doing nothing.   Zack Jackson 21:25 Amen.   Eric Elnes 21:28 Nothing productive anyway. You know, I when the pandemic started, I was like the second person all of Omaha, Nebraska, I can't remember the habit. It was a souvenir I brought back from Spain before the Spain was on the hotlist and my carnation had just coincidentally had made this we had taken a little money to, to grow our church, we were on the try faith comments, were at a synagogue and a mosque and white churches all co located. This is my Omaha church, to move beyond interfaith dialogue into interfaith community. It's just super heady thing, you know, and, and we have taken somebody to then get the word out, hey, we're here, we're open come, and then some of the pandemic hits, and oh, how are we going to grow the church if we have no, we can't, can't even open our doors. And so we decided to, to use that money to buy time on television to broadcast our then electronic worship. And, and so for the first time, in my 25 years of ministry at the time, I literally had all my Sunday work was done by Friday at three because I had to have that worship stuff to the television station. So Sunday morning, my only commitment was literally to roll out of bed a little late to having slept in and make some sourdough pancakes for the family, turn on worship and watch it just be available to chat and then have the afternoon free and easy with my family or friends or if not too much friends in the pantry. But you know, and I realized that, you know, I've been a Sabbath follower, very diligent one for all of my adult life. But once I got into ministry, myself became Mondays because you work on Sunday. And so my wife was working my friends role work, my kids are in school. So I took Sabbath alone. But suddenly, I was take a Sabbath, like back in, like, when I was in seminary, where it's like I was with my families, like, this is like, Oh, I forgot about this, this is this is how it's meant to be, you're supposed to just have fun, and it's the play and pray and recreate and procreate if your character you know, just that's what you should be doing on the Sabbath, you know, and, and it really, for the progressive community that which I'm a part of, we get so fixated on healing the hurts of the world, what's wrong with the world, all the things that are broken with the world, that we're just always dog in that all day long? Every day, we're out there striving for social justice, and to make the world a better place. But we've forgotten that there needs to be at least one day where you fall back in love with the world. And you celebrate what's right with the world. And you don't do a freaking thing that to help anything other than just receipt you receive the world that day, rather than try to change the world. And I started realizing, you know, there's a reason why of the 10 most important thing God says the entire Bible known as the 10 commandments, keep the Sabbath holy in there just a few breaths away, but from do not murder. I mean, that's the level of importance that's placed on the Sabbath. And I realized that in my own community, we we are so activist and we get so angry about all of the things that are broken, that we assume there's no joy in us anymore. there and we're all in the know nothing is ever good enough. And we even begin to resent God or even doubt God, could he possibly exist because there's just so much broken. And it's like, if that's really your attitude, you really do need to check that you really do need to stop worrying. They'd go for a long walk in the forest, or sit beside a river for a day, you know, get out on the lake or do something out in nature, just to remind yourself of just how magnificent This world is, as well as broken up and messed up and, and stuff. But you got to connect to him once at least once a week just to you remember what you're fighting for, you know. And so yeah, post pandemic, I realized I want nothing to do with the church that supports everybody just working their tail off seven days a week, or and always being resentful about what's what's broken. I don't want to turn away from that. I mean, six days a week, we should be about that. We should be working at that at social justice and changing that hurts. But maybe my biggest responsibility as a minister is to help teach my own carnation how to do nothing at all. That's my biggest my biggest responsibility on Sunday is to actually help people understand you have a day, not just come to church for an hour, you know, and call your spirituality, you're done for the week. And for heaven's sakes, don't come to church to do more work. You know, but take a take a day, take some deep breaths, you know. And if you could find God in the mountains, you know better than you can find God in church, well, maybe we ought to change church to allow for that, you know, so one of the proposals you're trying to change is post pandemic, one of the proposals is literally for my carnation here in Portland, is that even when it's okay to get back together again, we're going to get back together on the second Sunday of the month. But every other Sunday, God bless if you want to go out in the mountains do that thing or but we'll we'll offer zoom worship, we'll do electronic worship. And and if you want help you be more intentional about finding God and mounts will provide you some helps, you know, there too, but you so go anywhere you want on Sunday, but make sure your butts in the Pew on the second Sunday, because we're really gonna have a good time of it. And we're going to pull out all the stops that we have special programming, special worship, the choir would have been rehearsing all month long for this, this one Sunday, and we're gonna have a potluck afterwards. By the way, that's going to make you the most foodie person to salivate. You know, we're going to invite people to bring their best stuff not pulled from KFC on the way in, pick up a bucket, you know, unless you're a bad cook, then please come through KFC and do that. But But if you have if you can bring a lot of food because we want not just to share it with others. But we have a lot of people who are homeless, we're right down Center City, in Portland, right downtown, we've got tons of homeless people all around. So once they find out there's a free meal they're going to want to come to and we're only going to invite them and say, Hey, come back next month and invite your friends too. So we want to have enough to send the homeless out with food as well and maybe actually start some relationships over you table fellowship with people too. But so that's that so that we actually help our whole congregation experience, Sabbath. I mean, some of our youngest families actually are some of the greatest supporters of this idea in our congregation, they're like, Oh, my God, because for us, it's like a heck of a lot of work to go to church. Like, we got three kids that are all complaining there, although they want different things all you got to get dressed all this and then you got to go. And you know, we start to follow the habit. And once you fall out of the habit, it's really hard to get back into the habit. But it's like you're talking about once a month, we could commit to that, you know, and and our young families are coming to worship more than they ever have, because they can turn on zoom, you know, on Sunday mornings, too. And the average congregation, not just young family, the average parishioner in my Parish, they live 30 to 40 minutes from our downtown church. And so there they've actually been getting to know each other better during the pandemic than they have in years and years. Because they're able to meet on zoom, they're able to after after worship, we have breakout rooms again and breakout rooms they talk about real stuff instead of just like what the weather is and how good the tea is. It fellas they're actually having real conversations with each other every week, and thriving when they get to know each other, you know, so it's interesting, who knows, in the two months from now you have me back on obviously, oh, yeah, that went disastrously rejected that. Whatever. But but but literally, the pandemic has allowed, even that thought to, to be seriously discussed.   Zack Jackson 29:21 So you something you said really stood out to me that taking taking that day to fall back in love with the world so that you're better equipped to then go go out and save it, like progressive superheroes that we all emphasis on the word think we are you there you go. So it It occurs to me that that is more than anything the value that science has given me personally. I'm thinking back to a conversation we had the beginning of the pandemic with Dr. Scott Samson was on the podcast before and he was talking about inspiring the love of the world into children so that those children grow up to care about the world? Yeah. Right. The environmental movement has to begin with loving the world and being, you know, being curious about this. And so for me, that's a lot of my link between my love of science, my love of God, my love of world, my people. It's, it's in that, yeah, Sinai and Synapses is a fellowship, elevating the discourse between science and religion. And so typically, the the fellows have some foot in, in both the one foot more heavily in one than the other. Where's your connection to the world of science? Where do you see yourself plugging in? And?   Eric Elnes 30:48 Yeah, well, I, before I became a had any notion of being a minister, I thought I was gonna be a solar energy research scientist. So I've always had a science has been, you know, very much in my blood. Of course, we've been talking about science this whole time, but really more like social science, you know, the ways your whole movements of people act over, you know, over time, but I can totally geek out on quantum physics, astrophysics, those kinds of things, too. And the climate change thing is, is a really, really a high importance piece of scientific scientific interest for me right now and sociological interest, I think, you know, we are in great danger. Right now, if we don't pay attention to the science on this and, and it's actually part of my enthusiasm for trying to reclaim Sabbath actually feeds very much directly into what I believe the science is telling us about climate change, that one of the best things we can do actually is actively train ourselves to disengage with a materialistic utilitarian, consumeristic society that we did we unplug from the the fantasy that we need to keep consuming every day of the week, in order to to be happy, that we can actually unplug from that system unplugged from the advertising unplugged from all of the, you know, the, our society gives us so many things to do all week long to keep us distracted from what's important. And the pandemic has taught us anything, it's like, once you stop, slow down from your 65 mile an hour lifestyle to a three mile an hour lifestyle, like a walking pace, you notice stuff that you never noticed before. And we need to we need to not just make that a pandemic reality, we need to make that a weekly reality to notice stuff. And, and to get involved in on those x, those six days a week, say, you know what, the Sabbath day, actually is more real than any of these other days, I want to bring that mentality into the rest of the week, as well that we're going to unplug from all this rampant consumerism, we're going to unplug from this overscheduling of our children and ourselves, you know, we're going to unplug from treating people as commodities. And, you know, and and basically stealing money from their pockets so that we can enrich ourselves by not paying people a living wage and things like this. So it to me the Sabbath, actually, and the cell science and climate change all these things in social justice, they all kind of converge in that way. There's, there's more than one kind of convergence going on. But I think what you know, but if you want more than the harder science stuff, you know, for this podcast, I think that, you know, one of the most intriguing concepts that I've heard in recent years is that what had happened when the Higgs boson field was was proven, then that that energy precedes matter, that it absolutely does, you know, to me, that was just a real sea change, you know, and an important watershed moment, at least in my own life, because, you know, if you were to then take the totally non scientific unprovable assumption that that energy is love, that precedes matter. Now, suddenly, you're looking back at those people known as Celtic Christians, that that exists in flower for so many centuries, that until they're finally put down by the Roman Church, their whole notion that, that that this entire plane of existence, we're on it that all of the creative world is literally the incarnation of God's love. It is literally like, do you want to know what God's love looks like? Tastes like feels like smells like go take a walk in the forest. Go get on the lake, go next. You know, get out in nature, and that and you'll see it you'll smell God's love. You'll hear God's love, you'll feel it. This is what it looks like it's in. It's the incarnation of love. And that feeds them back into my scientific the scientific piece like why every Christian should be like, madly in love with science. Because Science in looking at the net, the created world is really dissecting the way love works. You know, the way love operates, and, and challenges some of our notions of love, you know, to, you know, you can use a piece of steel to make a surgical scalpel to heal somebody or to make a knife that will stab somebody, you know, but it's both using something that is theoretically then a create an incarnation of love. Right? So what does that say? It doesn't say that stabbing somebody is loving, it means that that love has an incredible vulnerability to it. That can actually release its own need for control of you. Because for its own reasons, and love has its own its reasons. But that you run into that you start to reconsider your notions of God even that the God is so gentle with us, you know, it's not the God of, of wrath that the guy you get out of line and you know, one millimeter and suddenly like, you know, this fire and brimstone coming at you but a God that is actually gentle enough to do what Jesus says God does, which is You're the son May God makes God's sunshine on the on the righteous and the wicked, you know, in the rain to fall, that actually we are the every person is so utterly blessed by this creation. And there's no morality test given to give you these blessings, as the Talmud says, The Talmud talks about how even a stolen seed bears fruit. Like, literally, you can steal seeds, like something that's totally immoral. And yet those seeds are still going to grow if you plant them in the ground. You know, there's, there's, there's a vulnerability to love. That is just absolutely astonishing. And I think we can all learn, you all learn from we keep thinking we can only give good gifts to people if they deserve it. You know, and if they're at least a little like it by dessert when they're a little bit like us, or at least a little bit like us,   Zack Jackson 37:16 or if they're broken, they're at least broken in the same ways.   Eric Elnes 37:19 Yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah. But that doesn't seem to be on the agenda of the sacred order of things. And you know, and maybe Jesus was right, and not just naive when he said, you know, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you pray for those who persecute you, all those things that we just think, you know, like we give lip service to, and when we think but when push comes to shove, we say, Well, he's just a naive idealist. Well, now that we've democratized the incidence of mass destruction, is he such a idealist? Or is he a realist? You know, we need to get about that. That vulnerability, that robust rowboat build ability that is willing to gift people who even we, we made, who makes us profoundly uncomfortable, and keep gifting them and keep loving and out love our enemies. Because this whole world is the incarnation of, of love, energy proceeds matter. And we then in a flowing with the material and the spiritual order of things.   Zack Jackson 38:23 So here, as we as we near the end of our time together, you have created dozens of videos, probably hundreds of sermons, maybe 1000s of sermons at this point. Dozens of podcasts for books, I believe. you've walked across the country you've shared at events, you have a lot of important things to say. But I am asking every fellow the same question at the end, which I think is probably harder for someone who has a lot to say to answer. But just if you What is one thing, one thing that you wish that everyone knew about the world,   Eric Elnes 39:23 that the world is an incarnation of a love that loves you personally, personally, beyond your wildest imagination, that everything in this world is oriented toward you, your neighbor, and also other creations and the nonhuman world as well, but it exists in a state that is created out of love. And when you begin to treat it that way, you start to see it that you start to see that more much more clearly. And the more you Pay attention to that reality, the more that reality reveals itself to you, then you don't have to believe in God, I don't think even to benefit from that set that orientation. It's not a it's not a, there's not necessity there just so you pay attention and you start to treat it as if it is, it is a love. That is, I think nature has consciousness. It's our consciousness. But if nature is truly an incarnation of love, then Love is a relational thing. It's not you can't say 12 ounces of love. Right? So all of all creation is inherently relational. We know that if you take humans out, it's inherently relationship, right? So add us back in the equation we're inherently in relationship to and you start to flow without love, you start to flow with creation when you flow with love.   Zack Jackson 40:56 Well, thank you so much for that. Thank you for this past 45 minutes or so of conversation. If our listeners are interested in hearing more about what you have to say, they can check out any of your books, I actually just purchased gifts of the dark wood seven blessings for soulful skeptics and other wanderers. I just the description alone felt like hey, he wrote a book for me, that's great. You can also check out dark wood brew.org dark wood brew.org to check out the videos that they're produced. And there's some more links and information about how to find the podcast, and all kinds of other things that you're doing. there anything else that you would like to let folks know about how they can find you? Or? I think you've done a great job already. More than they need to know about me. No address or cell phone number.   Eric Elnes 41:53 No, but if you're ever in Portland, first Congregational Church of Christ, come come. Well. We are at least get online. You will Yes, physically now.   Zack Jackson 42:02 Maybe the second Sunday. If you're there. There we go. Come to the second Sunday. Bring some KFC and have a good time. All right. Well, thank you so much, Eric. Thank you, sir. It's been a

Sparkling waterfalls. Sacred wells. Talking animals. Is this a fairy tale? Or Celtic Christianity? We love to explore all things Celtic. Celtic prayer services, Celtic Christian art, like the Book of Kells. Celtic pilgrimages. We can get a little romantic about Celtic Christianity. The visual culture. The deep connection to creation. The sense of humor. And of course its wonderful panoply of saints. But what is "Celtic Christianity" actually? Is it helpful, or even correct, to lump together Irish and Welsh Christianity like that? What do we get wrong? What distinctives do we miss? And what is actually unique about what God was up to on those wet, cold, beautiful coasts? And how do Welsh people feel about all this? Well, today we'll be joined by: Dr. Sarah Ward Clavier, senior lecturer in history at the University of the West of England, Bristol, and a scholar of Anglicanism and early modern political culture. Her forthcoming book is entitled, Royalism, Religion, and Revolution: Wales, 1640-1688. We're also joined by her husband, the Rev. Dr. Mark Clavier, residentiary canon at Brecon Cathedral, and the author of Reading Augustine: On Consumer Culture, Identity, the Church, and the Rhetorics of Delight. Our conversation is led by Dr. Hannah Matis, Assoc. Professor of Church History at Virginia Theological Seminary. Now grab your handcrafted Iona coffee mug and hold onto your prayer books -- for this fascinating conversation about the complex and surprising history of Celtic British Christianity! Donate to keep this podcast going. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/living-church/support

Kenneth C. Steven grew up in Highland Perthshire in the heart of Scotland, and now lives in Argyll on the country’s west coast; it’s these landscapes that have inspired the lion’s share of both his poetry and prose. He is best-known as a poet. Fourteen of his collections have been published over the years, and individual poems have appeared in top literary journals across the globe. Much of his poetry is inspired by the wildscape of his native Highland Scotland; much has resulted from his love of the Celtic Christian story whose deepest roots are for him found in the island of Iona off Scotland’s west coast. He and his partner Kristina and lead Celtic Christian retreats each October on the island of Iona seeking to offer a gentle path through the Celtic Christian story. More about them can be found on the website of the Argyll Hotel on Iona.

Kenneth C. Steven grew up in Highland Perthshire in the heart of Scotland, and now lives in Argyll on the country’s west coast; it’s these landscapes that have inspired the lion’s share of both his poetry and prose. He is best-known as a poet. Fourteen of his collections have been published over the years, and individual poems have appeared in top literary journals across the globe. Much of his poetry is inspired by the wildscape of his native Highland Scotland; much has resulted from his love of the Celtic Christian story whose deepest roots are for him found in the island of Iona off Scotland’s west coast. He and his partner Kristina and lead Celtic Christian retreats each October on the island of Iona seeking to offer a gentle path through the Celtic Christian story. More about them can be found on the website of the Argyll Hotel on Iona.

Celtic Christians believed that life is a pilgrimage; there is an external and an internal journey towards a holy location. When we learn the rhythms of faith, we see both sides of the journey clearly.

How might Celtic spirituality help in a pandemic? Tracy Balzer, author of "Thin Places" and "Permission to Ponder" was on hand to talk about the good that God helps us see-- with a little help from the Celtic Christians of long ago.

Transcript: Hello, this is Pastor Don Willeman of Christ Redeemer Church. Welcome to a special-edition series of the Kingdom Perspective. What must we, as the church, do in response to the coronavirus? We must learn from Christians that have gone before us, such as St. Patrick and the Celtic Christians that followed and originated from him. When European civilization was overwhelmed by the barbarian hordes, the recently converted Celtic Christians preserved, and then eventually reestablished Christianity throughout the continent. In the words of author Thomas Cahill “the Irish…saved civilization” (see How the Irish Saved Civilization by Thomas Cahill). Most basically, they did this by starting and nurturing gospel communities (i.e. churches). These churches were not what we tend to think of today as churches, but were essentially monastic-type communities that cared for every aspect of life. They believed that the lordship of Jesus redeems all of life, and they put this truth into practice. However, these “monastic communities” were significantly different from much of what developed in Roman Christianity. As one writer put it: “The…monasteries [in Roman Christianity] were organized to protest against and escape from the materialism of the Roman world and the corruption of the church; the Celtic monasteries organized to penetrate the pagan world and extend the church?” (see The Celtic Way of Evangelism by George Hunter) These Celtic communities were not an escape from “Main Street” or the “public square”, but a mission to “Main Street” and the “public square”. Often these monasteries were set up at the gates of the ancient cities, in order to minister the gospel to these cities. They were, in effect, a “new city” within an existing city—a new society “in but not of” the existing society. For us, this means the redemptive community of the church must become all the more critical. How can we be and live like a distinctively new society in the midst of our existing society that is full of fear? How can we love and care for one another, practically, especially in times of crisis, in such a way that the watching world sees the truth of the gospel on display in each of our communities, through each of our churches? Something to think about from The Kingdom Perspective. We encourage you to continue to give regularly to support the work of the church. All the more in the face of growing needs in our community, we encourage you to give above and beyond your regular giving, by contributing to the church's Benevolence Fund. The Benevolence Fund is used in two main ways – 1) to help those with material needs within our church, and 2) to help those with need in the broader Upper Valley Community. For your convenience here are the links to giving online: Regular Giving to CRC The Benevolence Fund at CRC You may also give by mailing your gifts to Christ Redeemer Church, PO Box 5523, Hanover, NH 03755. To learn more about CRC's charitable work and financial giving policy, please visit us at: http://christredeemerchurch.org/home/resources/financial-contribution/

This podcast episode is a delightful conversation I had with a Celtic Druid named Matthew McRoberts here in Boulder, Colorado. About Matthew... Matthew comes from Ireland and is ordained as both a Celtic Pagan and Celtic Christian priest, as well as in the Grail Bloodline tradition. He is a treasure trove of knowledge and wisdom about Celtic spirituality. We shared a lovely recorded conversation together in his flat and then we met up with my partner for a tea ceremony downtown Boulder. It’s my first recorded conversation live from the road, something I’ve been planning to do since we started our RV trip. I’m looking forward to bringing you more of these conversations from incredible people I meet along the path. An Experience of Celtic Spirituality... Matthew shares some of the tenets of Celtic Spirituality and how closely they are related to Hindu and American Indian pantheons. He illuminates a few Celtic legends and Bible stories, like the Prodigal Son, interpreting them from a Sophionic (feminine/wisdom) perspective rather than the traditional Soteriological perspective (salvation based). He also shares some of own incredible story being born in Northern Ireland as part of the warrior culture there. The Legend of the Morigan... I initially called Matthew because I’d been having visions of The Morigan, the dark priestess of Celtic Spirituality who is often depicted with a crow. I reached out to him because he runs a Celtic Christian and Pagan ministry here in Boulder and he mentioned the Morigan in his opening description. In the podcast he shares the origin story of the Morigan sisters and the significance her archetype can have for our journey into the darkness within. For Access to the Ancestral Healing offer, or to check out Matthew's ministry page: https://www.facebook.com/driaochtgroveministries/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel&eid=ARB6vWRn5sYHQ_YhJFnjE-IEd9ThmZs1XKUJnNDBqES7LeU6Fq65ki5LxMXer58ELQ86NcmdvDJNncRU Matthew’s Coffee Table Books: Echoes of Memory, John O’Donohue Anam Cara, The Book of Celtic Wisdom, John O’Donohue The Morrigan, Courtney Weber The Celtic Golden Dawn, John Michael Greer Benedictus, A Book of Blessings, John O’ Donohue About Matthew Matthew McRoberts (baptised Máta Áltheséir Mac Connachíe) is a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Born to American parents, he first came to the United States at age nine. He spent his first two years in Brooklyn, New York, and then moved with his family to Minnesota where he would spend his remaining teenage years. After a deployment with the US Army in Afghanistan, he spent time travelling the world, seeing much of South America, North Africa, Western and Southern Europe, and portions of the Middle East. Three years ago, he came to Colorado (on a greyhound) to start a new life on the front range. He's been attending Naropa University for his first Bachelor's degree since. In his adult life, much of his education, training, and spiritual focus has bounced back and forth between multiple traditions. In the last year since winning a lifelong battle with substance abuse and alcoholism, he has shifted his focus onto a subject that has long been dear to his heart, and never far from his mind, Celtic (specifically, Irish) Spirituality. Both Christianity and Paganism. He is an ordained Druid, and additionally holds ordination with two other traditions, a Celtic Christian, and Grail Bloodline tradition. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/daughter-of-creation/message

Podcast to God s glory, full episode, teaching by David Cole on the Celtic calendar.

Full episode: poem, devotional and interview of Simon Reed.

Have we become so accustomed to being cautious that it's become a form of laziness? A laziness that's missing out on what Jesus has for us? The Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit – the Wild Goose. It's a contrast from the peaceful dove that's become synonymous with it. However, they considered it to be something untameable.

Since this message was given on March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day, Pastor Jeremie shares a brief history of St. Patrick and the lasting impact of his ministry and mission to the Celtic tribes of Ireland. He then shares ten insights from St. Patrick and his Celtic Christian leaders that we can apply in our lives, to help us have a lasting impact on our culture for the Kingdom of God. Several of these insights include: 1.) Stop trying to make Christians into better Christians; instead, delegate to the people the responsibility for their own development; 2.) Relinquish the myth that merely having a brief daily devotional each morning shapes great souls; 3.) If we seek a powerful Christian spirituality, “learn to pray without ceasing”; 4.) The main purpose in the life of devotion to Christ, is to become like Christ. C. S. Lewis said, “The church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ, to make them little Christs. If they are not doing that, all the cathedrals, clergy, missions, even the Bible itself, are simply a waste of time.” Once we have been equipped for the work of the ministry, it is time to shift gears, stop naval-gazing, and become ministry-minded and missional-minded for the advancement of God's Kingdom. And that is precisely what the Holy Spirit is leading us to move deeper into: the Great Commission of Christ to go into all the world, make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey the teachings of Christ, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. We are challenged to lay down our lives on the altar, and learn submission and obedience to the Father’s will. St. Patrick’s surrender and obedience are what made him extraordinary to God. May St. Patrick's example lead us to also completely surrender and walk in radical obedience the Lord, and thus become extraordinary to God.

Today’s episode is part two of a two-part interview. Click here to listen to part one. Our conversation continues with Shirley Hershey Showalter, the author of Blush: A Mennonite Girl Meets a Glittering World. Singing is to a Mennonite what silence is to a Quaker. For me, singing is a way of bringing silence and voice together. — Shirley Hershey Showalter She grew up "a barefoot girl" on a Mennonite farm near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where her ancestors tilled the soil for generations. Speaking of her childhood, she describes her earliest encounters with silence as embedded in the experience of the vast spaciousness of the farm. Her memoir explored the tension she experienced "in the silence of her own heart" between the traditional culture of the Mennonites and her desire to discover her own voice as a teenager and young woman in the 1960s — ultimately choosing to embrace her Mennonite identity, but very much on her own terms. Being here in the Shenandoah Valley, looking out at the mountains, every morning it's part of my spiritual practice to just sit in my red chair and look at the mountains. — Shirley Hershey Showalter Shirley Hershey Showalter in Glendalough, Ireland Our conversation in today's episode begins with looking at the affinity between Anabaptist/Mennonite spirituality and Benedictine or monastic spirituality, including the spirituality of Celtic Christians. She shares how Irish mystic/poet John O'Donohue wrote eloquently of the contemplative nature of the mountains. She reveals why she came to call her memoir Blushand reveals who her silence heroes are (one living, one from history). She speaks about her most recent joy — encouraging people in their "final third of love" to find joy, jubilation, and a renewed sense of purpose." Find Shirley Hershey Showalter online at www.shirleyshowalter.com. To learn more about Threshold Choirs, visit www.thresholdchoir.org. At a Mennonite conference I heard someone say, "Mennonites try to take monasticism into the family." — Shirley Hershey Showalter Today’s episode is part two of a two-part interview. Click here to listen to part one. Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Shirley Hershey Showalter, Blush: A Mennonite Girl Meets a Glittering World Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation Menno Simon, The Complete Writings Michael Sattler, The Legacy of Michael Sattler Parker J. Palmer, On the Brink of Everything Judith Valente, How to Live: What the Rule of Saint Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning and Community John O'Donohue, Walking in Wonder Susan Cain, Quiet Dacher Keltner, The Power Paradox Willa Cather, Death Comes for the Archbishop Willa Cather, The Song of the Lark Willa Cather, O Pioneers! Marc Freedman, How to Live Forever Isabel Allende, The Sum of Our Days: A Memoir Episode 51: Simplicity and Silence: A Conversation with Shirley Hershey Showalter (Part Two) Hosted by: Carl McColman Guest: Shirley Hershey Showalter With: Cassidy Hall, Kevin Johnson Date Recorded: January 28, 2019

Today’s episode is part two of a two-part interview. Click here to listen to part one. Our conversation continues with Shirley Hershey Showalter, the author of Blush: A Mennonite Girl Meets a Glittering World. Singing is to a Mennonite what silence is to a Quaker. For me, singing is a way of bringing silence and voice together. — Shirley Hershey Showalter She grew up "a barefoot girl" on a Mennonite farm near Lancaster, Pennsylvania, where her ancestors tilled the soil for generations. Speaking of her childhood, she describes her earliest encounters with silence as embedded in the experience of the vast spaciousness of the farm. Her memoir explored the tension she experienced "in the silence of her own heart" between the traditional culture of the Mennonites and her desire to discover her own voice as a teenager and young woman in the 1960s — ultimately choosing to embrace her Mennonite identity, but very much on her own terms. Being here in the Shenandoah Valley, looking out at the mountains, every morning it's part of my spiritual practice to just sit in my red chair and look at the mountains. — Shirley Hershey Showalter Shirley Hershey Showalter in Glendalough, Ireland Our conversation in today's episode begins with looking at the affinity between Anabaptist/Mennonite spirituality and Benedictine or monastic spirituality, including the spirituality of Celtic Christians. She shares how Irish mystic/poet John O'Donohue wrote eloquently of the contemplative nature of the mountains. She reveals why she came to call her memoir Blushand reveals who her silence heroes are (one living, one from history). She speaks about her most recent joy — encouraging people in their "final third of love" to find joy, jubilation, and a renewed sense of purpose." Find Shirley Hershey Showalter online at www.shirleyshowalter.com. To learn more about Threshold Choirs, visit www.thresholdchoir.org. At a Mennonite conference I heard someone say, "Mennonites try to take monasticism into the family." — Shirley Hershey Showalter Today’s episode is part two of a two-part interview. Click here to listen to part one. Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Shirley Hershey Showalter, Blush: A Mennonite Girl Meets a Glittering World Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation Menno Simon, The Complete Writings Michael Sattler, The Legacy of Michael Sattler Parker J. Palmer, On the Brink of Everything Judith Valente, How to Live: What the Rule of Saint Benedict Teaches Us About Happiness, Meaning and Community John O'Donohue, Walking in Wonder Susan Cain, Quiet Dacher Keltner, The Power Paradox Willa Cather, Death Comes for the Archbishop Willa Cather, The Song of the Lark Willa Cather, O Pioneers! Marc Freedman, How to Live Forever Isabel Allende, The Sum of Our Days: A Memoir Episode 51: Simplicity and Silence: A Conversation with Shirley Hershey Showalter (Part Two) Hosted by: Carl McColman Guest: Shirley Hershey Showalter With: Cassidy Hall, Kevin Johnson Date Recorded: January 28, 2019

The rhythm of the Cell and the Coracle saw the Celtic Christians transform Europe from its pagan roots to a Christian empire, without the help of the Romans. Can it do the same for us?

The cradle of Christianity was, literally, in Bethlehem. But within a couple hundred years, "The Way" as Christianity was called, had spread throughout the Roman Empire. By the 300’s AD, a tribe of people known as Celts retreated to the British Isles at the edge of the empire. There they developed their own liturgies, hymns, and prayers. A modern historian describes Celtic Christian theology as, "Trinitarian, incarnational, and cosmic.” You'll notice an emphasis on all three in the liturgy we participate in today. Watch for elements in which we acknowledge God as three in one, as God who took on flesh, and as God who created all things. Our thanks to the members of The Lutheran Ceili Orchestra and its director Joey Schumann for helping us worship this weekend.

This is the last bonus episode for the season of Advent and we're talking about the early Celtic Christians and how their understanding of darkness and light being friends as opposed to enemies led to the formation of the Advent season and can help bring deeper meaning to our understanding of Christmas in 2018. Show Notes: Dr. Alexander John Shaia on the RobCast Dr. Alexander John Shaia on the What If Project Dr. Alexander John Shaia WhatIfProject.net/blog

Acts 2:1-13 Throughout Scripture nothing is as intriguing or confounding as the Holy Spirit. There are whispers of it in from the Prophets, promises of it from Jesus, and the wild reality of it in Acts 2. Listen in as we unpack what Celtic Christians called the Wild Goose, and discover the kind of life we can find when we go chasing after the Holy Spirit.

"The Celtic Christian tradition is not what I would call 'I need a hug theology.' It's deeply grounded in the revelation of Father, Son, and Spirit..."—Ross Lockhart Episode 61 of Spirituality for Ordinary People features an interview with Dr. Ross Lockhart. Ross is Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Missional Leadership at St. Andrew’s Hall.  Ross serves as the Presbyterian Director of Denominational Formation at Vancouver School of Theology as well as an Adjunct Professor of Homiletics at St. Mark’s College, UBC. He also teaches regularly at Regent College. Key Learnings Looking at how faithful witness happened in a pre-Christian culture might help us understand how to witness today in a post-Christian culture. Things to Think About Lockhart quotes Maggie Dawn stating, "The hardest pilgrimage is sitting still and going inside yourself." How do you respond? How might we be courageous in our proclamation understanding that sometimes "no" might be the answer? Spiritual Practices Discussed in this Episode Pilgrimage as Adult Catechesis/learning opportunity Links and Resources: Beyond Snakes and Shamrocks: St. Patrick’s Missional Leadership Lessons for Today by Ross Lockhart Ross Lockhart’s official bio - http://vst.edu/people/rev-dr-ross-lockhart Vancouver School of Theology - http://vst.edu/ St. Andrew’s Hall - http://standrews.edu/ The Accidental Pilgrim by Maggie Dawn   Join others in contributing financially to help pay for hosting and equipment costs.    Follow Spirituality for Ordinary People on Instagram   Subscribe: iTunes | Stitcher | TuneIn Radio | Google Play

Celtic Art has such a unique look to it that most people can easily identify at Celtic, whether it's from the earlier pre-Christian eras or the later Celtic-Christian times. In this style we see a lot of patterns and drawings that look like knots and ropes. As far as abstract art goes, it's a very meticulous, mathematical style- very different than some other types of abstract art. Show Notes:  https://ridgelightranch.com/abstract-celtic-art-podcast-31/

David Armstrong asks the question "What time is it, Redeemer?" and shares insight into the season we are being led int as a community - one of seeking the face of God in prayer. To help with this we remember the ancient way of the Celtic Christians who, instead of forcing their agenda, paid attention to what was already happening and stewarded that... much like a farmer stewards the land in season. (This is the second part of a two part talk). This series ‘Resident Aliens’ explores the idea of the church living in a strange age. Over the six talks we looked at the communal identity of the church, why it matters and what it's for

St Columba @ Botany

Christine Sine is the founder and facilitator for godspacelight.com, which grew out of her passion for creative spirituality, gardening and sustainability. Together with her husband, Tom, she is also co-Founder of Mustard Seed Associates but recently retired to make time available for writing and speaking. She is a contemplative activist, passionate gardener, author, and liturgist. She loves messing with church traditions and inspiring followers of Jesus to develop creative approaches to spirituality that intertwine the sacred through all of life. She facilitates workshops on spirituality and gardening, simplicity and sustainability and how to develop a more spiritual rhythm for our lives. Christine is inspired by Celtic Christian spirituality, which has opened her eyes to the God who is present in every moment, every experience and every place. She is open to learning from everyone and everything around. In a former life Christine trained as a physician in Australia practiced in New Zealand and developed and directed the healthcare ministry for Mercy Ships. She no longer practices medicine but delights in guiding people towards the health and wholeness of God’s new world. Her most recent book is Rest in the Moment. Other books include: Return to Our Senses: Reimagining How We Pray (MSA 2012), To Garden with God (MSA 2010) Light for the Journey (MSA 2010) GodSpace: Time for Peace in the Rhythms of Life (Barclay Press 2006), and Tales of a Seasick Doctor (Zondervan 1996). Christine and Tom also co-authored Living on Purpose: Finding God’s Best for Your Life. (Baker Books 2002).

Thin Places …Rivers Matthew 3:13-17, 6:31-34 Celtic Christians recognized “thin places,” as places where the veil between heaven and earth is very sheer, or tissue paper thin. “Life is this simple: we are living in a world that is absolutely transparent and the divine is shining through it all the time. This is not just a […] The post Thin Places – Rivers appeared first on Middletown Christian Church.

Mark 6:46 NLT 'After telling everyone good-bye, he went up into the hills by himself to pray.' The things we do when tired most likely indicate the things we want to do. Years ago when leading a church, I was attending a conference of like-minded congregations. The next day I was to work with a co-leader on a presentation around the Celtic Christian influence on church-based mission. Historical in part, its primary purpose was to invite churches to adopt critical elements drawn from the Celtic missionary movement and implement them as elements of missional discipleship. Our learning had proved exciting and inspiring. As we stood talking that evening, my colleague reflected on St Cuthbert’s practice of wading out into the sea to stay awake so he might pray to God. Our conference was on the coast so I suggested we follow in St Cuthbert’s footsteps. We talked about it and decided to go to bed. Wanting to do something is essential to its achievement. I question how seriously I wanted to embrace the way of sacrifice from which the missionary exploits of the Celtic missionaries were born. Jesus, after a day of travelling, teaching and ministry, repeatedly made his way to the mountain to pray alone. He wanted to fellowship with his Father. Too often our desires are shaped by our environment. Here it was the platform and the opportunity to speak authoritatively about the Celtic mission to the British Isles that was the real desire within our hearts. I’d failed to grasp that they were missional only as a consequence of their radical devotion and obedience to God. I certainly imagined we might persuade through the quality of our presentation and force of human will within a worship setting. I was wrong. QUESTION: In what way do you most want to grow in your following of Christ? PRAYER: Lord God, you say you give us the desires of our heart. May my deepest desire be for you.

What we see is not all that exists. The physical world is not the only world, and the material doesn’t limit what is manifest. There is more beyond the limitations of our sight, awareness, senses, intellect, dimensions, and finiteness. Celtic Christians called these places “thin places,” where the space or boundaries between heaven and earth, God and man, the natural and the supernatural, are especially thin. Applying the principles from the life of Jesus will give us strength, hope, and power in our daily dealings with the supernatural. http://www.lifehousechurch.org/

What we see is not all that exists. The physical world is not the only world, and the material doesn’t limit what is manifest. There is more beyond the limitations of our sight, awareness, senses, intellect, dimensions, and finiteness. Celtic Christians called these places “thin places,” where the space or boundaries between heaven and earth, God and man, the natural and the supernatural, are especially thin. Applying the principles from the life of Jesus will give us strength, hope, and power in our daily dealings with the supernatural. http://www.lifehousechurch.org/

What we see is not all that exists. The physical world is not the only world, and the material doesn’t limit what is manifest. There is more beyond the limitations of our sight, awareness, senses, intellect, dimensions, and finiteness. Celtic Christians called these places “thin places,” where the space or boundaries between heaven and earth, God and man, the natural and the supernatural, are especially thin. Applying the principles from the life of Jesus will give us strength, hope, and power in our daily dealings with the supernatural. http://www.lifehousechurch.org/

What we see is not all that exists. The physical world is not the only world, and the material doesn’t limit what is manifest. There is more beyond the limitations of our sight, awareness, senses, intellect, dimensions, and finiteness. Celtic Christians called these places “thin places,” where the space or boundaries between heaven and earth, God and man, the natural and the supernatural, are especially thin. Applying the principles from the life of Jesus will give us strength, hope, and power in our daily dealings with the supernatural. http://www.lifehousechurch.org/

What we see is not all that exists. The physical world is not the only world, and the material doesn’t limit what is manifest. There is more beyond the limitations of our sight, awareness, senses, intellect, dimensions, and finiteness. Celtic Christians called these places “thin places,” where the space or boundaries between heaven and earth, God and man, the natural and the supernatural, are especially thin. Applying the principles from the life of Jesus will give us strength, hope, and power in our daily dealings with the supernatural. http://www.lifehousechurch.org/

What we see is not all that exists. The physical world is not the only world, and the material doesn’t limit what is manifest. There is more beyond the limitations of our sight, awareness, senses, intellect, dimensions, and finiteness. Celtic Christians called these places “thin places,” where the space or boundaries between heaven and earth, God and man, the natural and the supernatural, are especially thin. Applying the principles from the life of Jesus will give us strength, hope, and power in our daily dealings with the supernatural.

What we see is not all that exists. The physical world is not the only world, and the material doesn’t limit what is manifest. There is more beyond the limitations of our sight, awareness, senses, intellect, dimensions, and finiteness. Celtic Christians called these places “thin places,” where the space or boundaries between heaven and earth, God and man, the natural and the supernatural, are especially thin. Applying the principles from the life of Jesus will give us strength, hope, and power in our daily dealings with the supernatural.

For centuries, Celtic Christians have identified a "thin place" as a location where the veil between heaven and earth becomes especially sheer; a place where the unseen reality of God’s Kingdom is made vivid to the senses; a place where the Presence of God is unmistakable as it rouses the deepest spaces within the human heart... The post 009: Nearing the End of My Beginning [podcast] appeared first on Become Good Soil.

The Wild Goose - Discovering the Mystery, Significance and Power of The Holy Spirit Celtic Christians had a name for the Holy Spirit–An Geadh-Glas, or “the Wild Goose.” This is a fitting description as the Holy Spirit is often unpredictable and mysterious. Unfortunately, the Holy Spirit is often ignored as well. Central to Christianity is the doctrine of the Trinity; that God exists in a relationship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We hear a lot in church about God the Father and Jesus the Son but not nearly as much about the Holy Spirit. In this series we’ll explore the person of the Holy Spirit, why the Holy Spirit is essential to dynamic faith and how the Spirit is at work in our lives.

David says this about himself: "I am 'Explorer Guide' for The Community of Aidan & Hilda http://www.aidanandhilda.org , a globally dispersed Celtic Christian community. I give spiritual life guidance to members of the Community particularly with reference to following our Way of Life. I am a retreat leader and teach seminars on Christian meditation and contemplative prayer.

Join Jean and Rick as they have a stimulating chat with David Cole.  David says this about himself: "I am 'Explorer Guide' for The Community of Aidan & Hilda http://www.aidanandhilda.org , a globally dispersed Celtic Christian community. I give spiritual life guidance to members of the Community particularly with reference to following our Way of Life. I am a retreat leader and teach seminars on Christian meditation and contemplative prayer.

Brian Hardin. Pentecost Sunday. The early Celtic Christians called the Holy Spirit the Wild Goose. The early church called the Holy Spirit the great Paraclete. In this message Brian discusses our great comforter and our righteous advocate.

Brian Hardin. Pentecost Sunday. The early Celtic Christians called the Holy Spirit the Wild Goose. The early church called the Holy Spirit the great Paraclete. In this message Brian discusses our great comforter and our righteous advocate.

  Celtic Christians in the 5th century referred to God’s Spirit as “An Geadh-Glas” or "THE WILD GOOSE.”  They experienced the Holy Spirit in ways that were unpredictable, untamable, dangerous and wild.  For the next few weeks, we’re going to go on an adventurous chase as we discover the role that the Holy Spirit plays in our lives and also learn about how to better follow Him. You’ll experience God’s presence, wildness, and power in a whole new way!  In this message, we’re going to join Jesus and the disciples in the Upper Room (John 14) hours before Jesus’ death and we’ll listen in to this incredible promise that Jesus gives them – the promise of His counsel and comfort inside them forever in the form of the Holy Spirit. Podcast music: "Just for You" by D5L (courtesy of Podsafeaudio.com)

This episode of Communion Sanctorum is titled – “Into the Middle”Justinian I's reconquest of Italy and liberating it from its brief stint under barbarian control was even briefer.  Soon after Justinian's eastern forces regained control of portions of the peninsula and put them back under the Empire's dominion, yet another Germanic group invaded and put most of Italy under their jurisdiction.The Lombards were a Scandinavian group who'd emerged as the dominant Germanic tribe. In 568, they conquered Byzantine Italy and formed what is known as the Kingdom of Italy, which lasted to the late 8th C when it was brought down by the Franks, though Lombard nobles continued to rule portions of the peninsula until the 11th C.The Lombards conquered Italy during Gregory the Great's term as pope. As the Lombards advanced on the city of Rome, with not a whit of hope of help from the Imperial ruler sitting in Ravenna, Gregory took control in Rome. He secured supplies for the coming siege though both famine and plague were decimating the land. He bolstered Rome's defenses and commissioned new military leaders to lead an army into the field to meet the Lombards. Once these plans were underway, Gregory opened negotiations with the enemy and finalized a peace with them, though made without the Emperor's approval.It's difficult for the modern student of history to understand how the Roman popes managed to wield such political power as they did during the Middle Ages. We tend to layer back onto history the current state of affairs. And as Europe is now firmly ensconced in a post-Christian era where the Pope has little political power, it's difficult to see how he could have been the single most powerful political force for hundreds of years.While the influence of the Pope grew ever since the days of Leo the Great, it was under Gregory the Great that the office of the Pope became a defining role in the History of Europe.Though Gregory was in his senior years and increasingly frail, what he accomplished was simply astounding! At the same time, he was dealing with the Lombards and the daily needs of the city of Rome, he administered the Church. He oversaw its estates, cared for the needs of his flock, provided leaders for the churches of Gaul and Spain, dealt with the ever-present challenge of the church at Constantinople which vied with Rome for pre-eminence, and on top of all that, as we've seen, planned for the expansion of the Faith into new realms like England.Gregory's term as pope marks the transition from the ancient world where Imperial Rome ruled, to the medieval world united by the Roman Catholic Church.The Church played a major, maybe even the most important role, in the shift to the medieval world. It was the one institution that survived and transmitted Roman culture into the Middle Ages.Though altered to fit its unique spiritual emphasis, the Roman church drew its organizational and administrative structure from the old Imperial form. Each city had its own bishop and each region an archbishop. Within each bishop's realm of oversight, called a diocese, there was a staff of assistants that closely resembled Roman civil administration.Church rules, called “Canon Law” were parallel to Roman Civil law. At first Canon Law was defined by Church Councils that met to decide both practical and doctrinal issues. Eventually, Canon Law came to include decisions of the Pope, a form of Imperial edict.Latin became the common tongue, and Roman forms of literature and education spread wherever the Church took hold. Whenever a new church was built, its form was that of the old Roman meeting-hall; a basilica.As we saw at the end of the previous episode, though the Germanic barbarians conquered the Western Empire, it wasn't long until the Church conquered them. While most of the Germanic tribes were Arian, when they moved south into areas controlled by the Roman church, they converted to Catholic Christianity. The Lombards were the last of the Germanic tribes to invade Italy. Part of Pope Gregory's strategy in negotiating with them was to convert them; turning them into brothers in Christ. They too began as Arians, but he supported the Lombard Queen Theodelinda, a Catholic. It didn't take long before the Lombards were firmly planted in the Catholic Faith.Gregory appealed to other Germanic leaders in Western Europe and they shed their Arianism as well. The Visigoths of Spain became Catholic when Gregory's letter reached their leader Reccared.There was only one Germanic tribe to enter the Empire as pagans rather than as Arians – the Franks.  They occupied an area near the Rhine River.  When their king died in 481, he was succeeded by his 15-year-old son: Clovis. 5 yrs later Clovis led his warriors southwest against other Frank tribes. He extended his rule all the way to the Seine. Throughout this time he worshipped and gave credit to the ancient Frankish gods.Clovis' victories moved the rulers of neighboring tribes to attempt negotiations. One of Clovis' envoys returned from a trip to the court of Burgundy, describing his beautiful grand-daughter Clotilda. Clovis sent another envoy to the Burgundian king asking for Clotilda's hand in marriage. The Burgundians were worried what Clovis would do if they balked so they consented and the two were wed.Clotilda was Catholic and shared her faith with her husband but he remained committed to the old gods for the next 3 years. He thought his distrust in the Christian God warranted. After all, hadn't the Roman Empire converted to the new faith over a century before? Why hadn't He protected them from the barbarians? Then a more personal trial struck. Clotilda baptized their first-born child, who died a week later.  While Clotilda's faith was unshaken, Clovis was enraged.Despite his suspicion of baptism, Clovis allowed Clotilda to have their 2nd child baptized. When this son also sickened, Clovis was furious. But the boy recovered at Clotilda's urgent requests to Christ. With all of this freshly before him, Clovis went out to meet what was the Frank's biggest challenge to date, a fierce Germanic tribe called the Alemanni. The battle took place near the city of Bonn. The Franks were losing badly so Clovis called upon his old gods. No help came. In desperation, staring defeat in the face, Clovis cried out to the Christian God saying something like, “Jesus, if you really are the Son of God as my wife tells me, grant me victory and I will believe in you." Certainly, a dubious request and God doesn't bargain with humans. But the fact is, the Franks turned things around and defeated the Alemanni.That day in 496 turned out to be a dramatic turning point for the history of Europe. Clovis was good to his promise. He invited Bishop Remigius of Reims to instruct him in the Faith. Then on Christmas night, he was baptized.Remigius continued to instruct Clovis in the Faith but his understanding lacked something. When Remigius told the story of how Jesus was arrested, tortured and executed, Clovis jumped up and shouted, “If I'd been there with my Franks, I would have avenged Him!”A few thousand of his warriors soon followed their king in baptism. One anecdotal story that comes from this time was that there were so many troops wanting to be baptized they had to do so in mass-baptisms at a river. A dozen of them would enter the water at a time as a priest stood on the shore and blessed them. As they lowered themselves under the surface they lifted their right hands above their heads so they never went under the water. When the priest asked why, the warriors explained; they didn't want to baptize their sword hand. They wanted to continue to make war and didn't want to submit the hand that held the sword to the rule of Christ. Now, to be clear, this story, while attributed to Clovis' troops, is also assigned to other periods of history, especially the Crusaders. Whether it's true or not is in dispute.Clovis was one of the first of the line of French kings known as Merovingians.What this story illustrates is an important feature of medieval society; Adoption of Christianity was, in essence, a royal policy. The ruler's religion decided the religion of his subjects. And queens did much to bring about the conversion of their husbands.Clovis' conversion paved the way for an important alliance between the papacy and the Franks. But it took decades before that alliance altered the way the Franks treated the Church. Throughout most of the 6th and 7th Cs, the Merovingian court-appointed their own bishops to the churches of Gaul.At the end of the 6th C, Pope Gregory began to work with them to alter this but it wasn't until the 8th C that Rome was able to regain control over church appointments.After Gregory, the West entered a difficult period as we chronicled in Episode 34 – The Great Recession. The Western Church suffered abuse from the Lombards and Byzantine rulers. In Gaul, the Merovingians treated the Church as a political tool and the quality of church leaders declined dramatically as church offices were sold to the highest bidder.Until this period, the clergy were men of great learning and intellectual skill. A list of the great thinkers of the 1st thru 6th Cs is dominated by monks and priests. But the political corruption that followed hard on the heels of the demise of the Western Empire led to a decline in the intellectual prowess of the clergy. That decline was slow at first but escalated as the decades passed. That's what happens when church offices are filled by political appointment paying favors rather than gifted and called servants.Bishop Gregory of Tours lived in the late 6th C and is the main source of information about the Merovingians. He describes the sorry state European society had fallen to. He wrote that it was a period when women stood almost alone in maintaining what was left of morality and virtue. Monasteries and convents became lonely islands of true religion set in a sea of moral debauchery and spiritual corruption that included many, if not most churches.This state of affairs continued all the way to the 8th C when revival took root at the instigation of Celtic missionaries from Ireland. Other factors that led to this revival was a renewed papacy and a new Frank dynasty.Celtic missionaries had been at work in Europe since the last half of the 6th C. Most notable of these was Columba. He was born to a noble family in Donegal, Ireland. After schooling, he was ordained a priest and planted churches and monasteries in Ireland. Then, in 563, Columba left his homeland. Why he left is a mystery but it seems it was a kind of self-imposed exile. Columba helped spark a civil war between his and the king's clans. As penance, he left – setting himself to go where ever the winds blew.He was accompanied by a dozen friends. They landed on the tiny island of Iona on the west coast of Scotland where, against all expectations, they established a thriving monastery. Many an objective observer would assume Columba and his companions would have died within in a year due to the harsh conditions. On the contrary, while life was tough, they thrived and the monastery became the focal point for a new movement of God that would reach out to thousands of miles.Missionaries were soon being sent out to found monasteries along the coast of Scotland, back in Ireland, and along the northern coast of Europe from Gaul all the way to Scandinavia.Columba himself was war-like in the way he went about spreading the faith. At his preaching, King Brude of the Picts was converted. Columba's spiritually aggressive posture was necessary because he was dealing with a determined and overtly evil enemy in the form of the Druids who only understood force. A weak and timid brand of Faith would only have provoked them to acts of hideous grotesquerie.Columba's blend of mystic spirituality w/a tough-minded application of the faith in a political and social context, all shaped by a commitment to scholarship and a love of nature, marked him as that rare individual who was the right man at the right time doing the right thing for the right reason. He's the proto-typical example of Celtic Christianity. Columba was the mold the Celtic Christian missionaries were cut from as they sailed across the sea to land in Gaul, carrying the sparks of revival that united to bring Europe out of the Great Recession.

This Episode's title is – “Expansion ”.We're going to spend a little time now tracking the expansion of the Faith into different areas during the Early Middle Ages.We ended last time with the story of the conversion of the Frank king Clovis in 496. When he was baptized on Christmas Day by Bishop Remigius of Rheims {Reems}, 3,000 of his warriors joined him. It was the first of several mass baptism that took place during the Middle Ages in Europe. And it raises the issue of the paganizing of Christianity.The task of Missions usually proceeds in 1 of 2 ways.The first & more common route is that of individual conversion. Though in the NT we find converts being called into immediate baptism, it wasn't long before conversion was followed by a period of instruction before baptism. That time for instruction in the basics of the Faith could be either short or long, depending on the standards of the bishop or community of believers.  This form of missions, that of individual conversion & baptism was the method used by the Church for the first 3 Cs, & by most Protestant missions from the 19th C to today. That's because of the emphasis on an individual change of heart in Evangelicalism. While this certainly finds support in Scripture, it can miss an important dynamic when people convert to Christ out of a pagan culture. Their change in faith almost certainly means being uprooted from that culture; sometimes leading to the need to physically relocate to an area where their faith will not endanger their life or the lives of their family.For that reason, another method of Missions has sometimes been used; that of mass conversion, where an entire group of people make a communal decision to forsake their old religion in favor of Christianity.Now, I suspect some of those listening will respond to this idea of mass conversion with distaste. Evangelicalism has placed such an emphasis on personal salvation that the idea of the conversion of an entire community at once is highly suspect. We often talk of receiving Christ as one's PERSONAL Savior. So the idea that an entire village or tribe would turn to faith in Christ at once seems disingenuous.But consider this: The idea of personal, individual freedom is in many ways a distinctly modern, western & democratic concept. Even in our own time, much of the world has little concept of personal or individual freedom. They understand themselves as part of a family, village, or tribe; as a member of a community of people where autonomous individuality is regarded as dangerous & a threat to the survival of the group. For much of history and a good part of the world, the idea that you would change your religion all on your own while everyone else believed in other gods was simply unthinkable. Conversion would enrage the old gods & so endanger your family & neighbors. This was something several Roman Emperors used as a reason for opposing Christianity.Some Christian missionaries realized the key to the conversion of these communal pagan peoples was to win the leader.  Because his choice was nearly always adopted by the entire tribe. To be sure, these missionaries understood salvation was an individual issue. But they knew the key to being able to work for individual salvations was to win the leader, who would in turn lead his people in a mass conversion. Then they could be free to work the faith into the lives of the people in a more intimate & personal way.The downside to mass conversion is obvious. Many who formally converted by being baptized, never went on to a real faith in Christ. They took the label of Christian without ever being genuinely converted. What made this especially troublesome was when it was the ruler who feigned conversion. Some did for purely pragmatic ends. Submitting to baptism often brought them political & economic gain. Mass conversions might make it easier for genuine converts to practice a new worldview, but it also imperiled the Faith because the unconverted brought with them old superstitions, blending them into Christianity in a syncretistic religious amalgam.This was the case with the Frank king Clovis. He went through the motions of conversion, but Jesus remained little more for him than a divine warlord.Gregory of Tours, who lived a century after Clovis, was his main biographer. Gregory says even after his conversion, Clovis used deceit, cunning, & treachery to expand his kingdom. He sent bribes to nobles and those responsible for protecting a rival king to betray him. He told another king's son if he killed his father, Clovis would support the son's ascent to the throne & make an alliance with him. The son did as Clovis hoped & killed his father. Clovis them promptly announced the son guilty of the heinous crimes of patricide & regicide &  took over his realm.As Dan Carlin likes to point out in his Hardcore History podcast-episode, Thor's Angels,  when you think of the Goths & the Franks of this time, think of a modern criminal biker gang. You're not far off the mark in what these Germanic barbarians were like; in both mindset & appearance. When Clovis submitted to baptism, all he did was trade in his black leather vest for a navy blue one.Among the barely converted Franks & other Germanic tribes, long-dead saints stepped in to replace their numerous deities. Each saint adopted a role the old gods had performed. St. Anthony took care of pigs, St. Gaul looked after hens, Apollonia cured toothaches, Genevieve cured fever, and St. Blaise soothed sore throats. For every human need the Germans posted a saint to take care of it.Many tales circulated about the miraculous powers of these saints. One told of 2 beggars, 1 lame, the other blind. They got caught up in a procession of the devoted who carried the relics of St. Martin. But these 2 beggars made their living off the alms of the pious & didn't want to be healed. Fearful lest they be cured by their proximity to the relics, they quickly struck a deal. The 1 who could see but not walk mounted the shoulders of the 1 who could walk but not see & they tried to exit the procession. They weren't able to get away quickly enough; both were healed. è Such stories were plentiful.As with Constantine the Great in the early 4th C, we can't be certain if Clovis' conversion was real or feigned. Certainly much of his behavior after his baptism is doubtful. But the political benefits of conversion were certainly not lost on him. Clovis was a man of huge ambition. He wanted to be more than a chieftain of the Franks.  He wanted to be king, a chief of chiefs. He knew he needed to distinguish himself among the many competing power centers in Western Europe. By joining the Roman Church he set himself apart from the other Germanic kings who were all Arian. This move secured the support of the Gaelic-Roman nobility throughout Gaul.Clovis was the first leader of the Franks to unite the tribes under one ruler, changing the leadership from a group of chieftains to rule by kings, ensuring the royal line was held by his heirs, known as the Merovingians.Not long after his baptism and the quick following by 3000 of his warriors, Clovis pressed other Frank nobles to convert & join the Roman church. He understood the religious unity of the kingdom was crucial in staving off assault, and to further campaigns to enlarge their borders. Wars of conquest became a means of “liberating other people from the error of Arianism.” And the church at Rome was not at all averse to having an armed force on its side.Clovis wasn't all that successful in expanding his borders south & east into the region of the Burgundians, but he was able to push the Visigoths out of Gaul, confining them in Spain. In the Battle of Vouille {Voo-yay}, the Visigothc King Alaric II was killed. In appreciation for his service in defeating the Visigoths, the Eastern Emperor Anastasius I declared Clovis Consul, a provocative title as it was reminiscent of ancient Roman leaders.Clovis made Paris the new capital of the Frank kingdom & built an abbey dedicated to Sts. Peter & Paul.Not long before he died, Clovis called the First Council of Orléans, a synod of 33 Gallic bishops. The goal was to reform the Church & forge an enduring link between the Crown and Church. The Council passed a little over 30 decrees that brought equality between the Frank conquerors and their Gallic subjects.Clovis died in the Fall of 511, leaving the kingdom to his 4 sons. Unlike Alexander the Great who made no provision for dividing his empire among his 4 generals, Clovis carved up Gaul into 4 regions, one for each son; Rheims, Orléans, Paris & Soissons. Clovis naively thought this would keep them content & result in peace. In truth, it ushered in a period of disunity which lasted to the end of the Merovingian dynasty in the mid-8th C.In Episode 37 we looked at the 5th C Irish missionary Patrick. The Irish had never been a part of the Roman Empire. Though they had frequent contact with Roman Britain, the Irish Celts were culturally, economically, & politically different. When the Roman army abandoned Britain as too costly & difficult to defend, the Church filled the vacuum. The spiritual outreach to Ireland was primarily the work of Patrick, who though British, planted a church in Ireland that remained independent of the Roman Catholic Church.Patrick understood the evangelistic dynamic of the Christian faith & discerned that it alone offered what the native Druids could not: Peace to a land troubled by constant tribal warfare. Patrick's strategy was to win the tribal leaders to Christ. Many local lords became Christians. Because of the way Celtic society was arranged, when rulers converted, so did those they ruled.Ireland was ripe for the message & offer of the Gospel. The religion practiced by the Druids was a brutal, demonic, religious terrorism that many of the common people were eager to cast off. The Gospel was about as OPPOSITE a message & offer from Druidism as one can imagine. There are estimates of as many as 100,000 genuine converts to Patrick's ministry.On the foundation of faith & church life Patrick laid, Finnian of Clonard built a pattern for Irish monasticism in the early 6th C.  Monasteries were founded all over Ireland. As they rose in number and prestige, the ecclesiastical organization Patrick established withered away. By the end of the 6th C the Irish church had become a church of monks. Abbots replaced bishops as the leaders of the Church. From the outset, Irish monks valued scholarship & an energetic spread of the Gospel.Interestingly, there's evidence that the missionary fervor that stands as one of Celtic Christianity's major traits may have been due to their system of penance. In an earlier episode we saw how the early church developed a view of repentance that included penance. The idea was that repentance needed to be demonstrated by some act showing contrition. The theology went like this: Repentance was a heart issue only God could see. But John the Baptist had said, “Bring forth fruit worthy of repentance.”  So, when people repented, their account before God was cleared. But how about restoring them to the Community of faith – fellowship in the Church? While man can't see the heart, he can see the actions that flow from that heart. Penance became a system of works people could perform that would mark repentance. It didn't take long before lists were made of what penance was due for what sins. One of the forms of penance Celtic Christians practiced was exile, banishment from their homes. Some of the intense missionary activity of the Celtic Christians was motivated by this form of penance.Irish scholar-monks ranged far and wide across Europe during the 6th & 7th Cs. This aggressive missionary activity of the Celtic Church eventually caused trouble since it remained independent from Rome. Churches started by Irish missionaries were often located in regions that later came under the control of Rome.In 636, south Ireland decided to fold their church community into the Roman Church. Then in 697, the church in Northern Ireland decided to follow suit. Though most of Celtic Christianity was eventually folded into Roman Catholicism, isolated communities scattered across Scotland, Wales & the British Isles continued their independence for many years.One of the Celtic-English missionaries who had a huge impact in Northern Europe was Boniface.Born Winfrid in the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Wessex in the early 670's, his family was prosperous and sent him to school at a monastery in Exeter. The life of the monks appealed to Winfrid & against his father's wishes, he decided to pursue a religious career. He showed a mastery of the Scriptures & great skill in teaching & organization, traits sought after in monastic life. For further training he moved to a Benedictine monastery in Hampshire. This monastery was led by a brilliant abbot who'd made it an industrious center of scholarship. Winfrid soon became a teacher in the monastery school & at the age of 30 was ordained as a priest. When the abbot died in 716, the logical choice to replace him was Winfrid. In a surprise move, he declined, and left for the region of Frisia, what today we know as The Netherlands.Winfrid had a passion to take the Gospel of Christ were it was yet to be planted. He'd heard of a similarly-minded missionary named Willibrord who worked in Frisia & needed help. They spent a year together but when war broke, both returned home.A year later, Winfrid went to Rome seeking an audience with Pope Gregory II. He shared his vision of seeing the Germanic tribes delivered from their Arian heresy into the Catholic faith. Gregory replied, “You glow with the salvation-bringing fire which our Lord came to send upon the earth.”The Pope renamed him ‘Boniface' after the 4th C martyr Boniface of Tarsus, & appointed him as the missionary bishop for Germania. This meant Boniface was a bishop without a diocese. The realm of his ministry had no churches. It was up to him to carry the light of Christ to the superstitious Germanic tribes. Boniface never returned to England.He focused his work in the regions of Hesse & Thuringia, leading thousands to Christ. He planted scores of churches.While the Germans were nominally Arian, entire regions were in reality still pagan, worshiping the ancient German gods and practicing superstitious rites. Boniface found some supposedly Christian missionaries as he made his way through Germany but they espoused heresy. It was little wonder they'd had little impact. When he confronted them, they resisted. So Boniface had them arrested & confined. He soon gained a reputation for being stern & determined.One story from Boniface's career is legendary. Whether or not it's factual is unknown. It's certainly not difficult to believe that a man who would go to Rome & ask for permission to single-handedly carry the Gospel to heretics & pagans might do something like what we're about to hear.The story goes that Boniface went to Geismar in Hesse where the Donar or Thor's Oak stood. As was common for Germans, they considered trees and forests to hold great spiritual power. Thor, god of thunder, was the chief deity in their pantheon.  The Donar Oak was dedicated to his power and glory. Boniface knew there was no Thor & that there'd be no backlash if he chopped down a tree. Some Germans might protest & take it on themselves to defend Thor's honor. So Boniface called them to gather round, then set them this challenge—let Thor, that mighty god of thunder, defend his tree himself. Certainly a god as great as the god of thunder could deal with a puny little Christian priest. Unless, à there was no Thor & the Christian faith was true. Boniface lifted his axe and began to strike. No lightening followed. No thunder shook the ground. But according to his early biographer Willibald, after Boniface had taken a dozen or so swings at the oak, a strong wind kicked up that knocked it over. It fell & broke into 4 pieces, revealing that it was in fact rotten. The message was clear; the old ways were like that rotten oak. The people were stunned and as though being released from a prison in which they'd long been held, renounced their belief in the old gods & in-mass converted to Christianity. Boniface used the wood from Donar's Oak to build a church.His skill in administration brought a remarkable level of organization to the now rapidly growing German church. In 732 he was made archbishop over Germany. He worked for an educated, disciplined, & pure clergy; something he knew in other part of the Europe was not the case. He tolerated neither laziness nor incompetency among clerics & purged the lingering rites of German paganism from church rituals. The syncretism that had been adopted in many other places, whereby pagans rites were absorbed into church traditions, was not something Boniface allowed. Using missionary volunteers from England, many of whom were women, he advanced organization and structure in the German church and filled it with zeal for obedience, service, and outreach.Along with his administrative and missionary work, Boniface built monasteries throughout Germany. The most influential was at Fulda, the geographical center of Germany.No church councils had been held in the Frankish realm for decades before his arrival. Boniface convened 5 of them between 742 and 747. At his urging these Councils adopted strict regulations for clergy and condemned local heretics.Boniface was a Benedictine monk. The Benedictines emphasized poverty, moral purity, & obedience to Christ. Benedict's Rule was the norm for monasteries throughout Europe at that time. They were places of worship, devotion, prayer, & scholarship—oases of culture & civilization in the midst of godlessness. Monks copied Scriptures and early Christian literature. Monasteries were about the only educational centers during the medieval period. Had it not been for them, there would have been no Renaissance. The monasteries are where all the learning was kept that formed the intellectual base the Renaissance came from. Sadly, over the centuries, many monasteries forsook their spiritual roots & became places of immorality & corruption. Those Boniface founded for the most part remained places of education, hospitality, & missionary outreach.Boniface understood all his work could turn to naught if war came. So he worked to nurture peaceful relations between the Franks, Germanic tribes & the Church. He was crucial in negotiating a treaty between the Pope & the Frank king Pepin that would eventually grow into a powerful church-state alliance later in the Middle Ages.After years of ministry in Central Germany, Boniface again felt Frisia in the North calling him. This was the place where he'd first tried his hand in missionary work. Now, in his late 70's, he resigned his post as the archbishop of Mainz [Mines] to head north once again. He and his followers roamed the countryside destroying pagan shrines, building churches, & baptizing thousands.A group of new converts was supposed to meet Boniface & his 52 companions at Dorkum. While Boniface waited for them, a band of outlaws arrived. In his earlier travels, Boniface went with an armed guard commissioned by the Frank ruler. Now he was in a realm beyond Frank control. At the first council he'd called years before, he'd pressed to disallow the clergy from carrying arms. All he had to defend himself was the large wood-covered book he was reading. He wielded it as a shield. As he batted away the thrusts of the outlaws trying to stab him, I wonder if he regretted his previous position. A book makes a poor shield, even if its cover is quarter-inch thick. Boniface & his entire party were slaughtered there on the shore of a river. When the converts arrived to meet up with him, they found his body, & next to it lay a copy of Ambrose's à The Advantage of Death, with deep slashes in it. The book is on display in Fulda.