Podcasts about Grace United Methodist Church

What does it mean to be a professional Christian? In this episode of the Future Christian Podcast, Loren Richmond Jr. welcomes Dr. Sarah Bereza, a church musician, theologian, and author of Professional Christian: Being Fully Yourself in the Spotlight of Public Ministry. They discuss Sarah's journey from a fundamentalist Baptist upbringing to her current role as a progressive Christian and musician in mainline churches. The conversation explores the complexities of being a "professional Christian"—where your livelihood is tied to your faith—and the challenges of authenticity, power dynamics, and leadership in ministry. Sarah shares insights on navigating purity culture, the pressures of public ministry, and how leaders can balance personal integrity with professional responsibilities. They also delve into the power of music in worship and the importance of fostering community within and beyond church walls. Sarah Bereza holds a PhD and a Certificate in Feminist Theory from Duke University and has focused her research on music and theology in American Christianity. She is the author of Professional Christian: Being Fully Yourself in the Spotlight of Public Ministry (Westminster John Knox Press: 2022). Sarah is a lifelong church musician and currently serves as the Director of Music at Grace United Methodist Church in St. Louis, MO. She shares resources including a newsletter at sarah-bereza.com.    Relevant Links: Sarah-bereza.com https://sarahbereza.substack.com   Presenting Sponsor: Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.  Supporting Sponsors: Restore Clergy If you are clergy in need of tailored, professional support to help you manage the demands of ministry, Restore Clergy is for you! Kokoro  Join in for heartfelt journeys that challenges the way we see ourselves, each other, and the world we share.   Future Christian Team: Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer Martha Tatarnic – Co-Host Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer Dennis Sanders – Producer Alexander Lang - Production Assistant

Wednesday, May 1 was one of the most significant days in United Methodist Church History.  Jane Graner, Senior Pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in Duncanville, Texas and Greg Neil, Senior Pastor at Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa give a wrap up of their 3rd day at the United Methodist General Conference. They talk about what was voted on, and passed, and what it means to the future of the United Methodist Church and our LBGT+ members. Todays vote was monumental! You won't want to miss this episode and stay tuned for more updates to come. 

Tuesday, April 30: Jane Graner, Senior Pastor at Trinity United Methodist Church in Duncanville, Texas and Greg Neil, Senior Pastor at Grace United Methodist Church in Des Moines, Iowa give a wrap up of their 2nd day at the United Methodist General Conference. They talk about several very important items on the Consent Calendar that got passed today. One was the lifting of a prohibition of a rule that prohibited the funding of LGBQ+ missions, affirming ministries of any kind including with food and clothing assistance and teen suicide prevention among other things.  Other regulations were overturned like the ability to file a complaint against a Bishop for performing an ordination of and LBGQ+ person.  They also give us a look a issues being considered at tomorrows conference.  Stay tuned for more updates to come.

In this episode of the Louisiana NOW podcast, we visit with Rev. Fred Wideman.  The 2023 Annual Conference of the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church witnessed a significant development as efforts were announced to address the void left by churches that have chosen to disaffiliate from the conference. In recent months, a number of churches, including 95 this year and 68 last year, decided to leave the denomination due to resistance to LGBTQ inclusion. One area affected by disaffiliation was Ruston, Louisiana, where two United Methodist churches made the decision to leave the UMC. Grace United Methodist Church found itself nearly divided, with numerous members opting to transfer their membership to the conference while embarking on establishing a new congregation. Recognizing the importance of supporting these individuals, the Louisiana Conference Congregational Development team is actively working with the Ruston group to explore various possibilities, and Rev. Fred Wideman has been appointed as their "shepherd."  We discuss what that means and his hope for the future in Ruston and beyond. 

This week we are joined by Drew McIntyre! Drew McIntyre is the Pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in downtown Greensboro, North Carolina. He grew up in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and earned degrees in history and religion from High Point University and a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School. He is an avid reader, writer, and student, and currently serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Religion at Greensboro College. Drew is a self-proclaimed nerd and has projects in progress for the Theology and Pop Culture series on Batman and Game of Thrones. Drew is the host of The God and Whiskey podcast. The podcast features two whiskey-loving pastors who share a fine beverage (review included) and discuss topics related to God, theology, religion, faith, and whatever else comes to mind as the whiskey flows. Drew's Twitter God and Whiskey Podcast Batman and Theology Game of Thrones and Theology Firebrand Articles

December 18, 2022 – Pastor Drew brings today's message. One of Isaiah's best known prophesies is nearly a footnote, one line about a young woman, a virgin, conceiving and bearing a son. It's a miracle, it's true, but its meaning far exceeds its miraculousness. It means God really can bring something out of… nothing. The post In Ex Nihilo Deo appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

December 11, 2022 – Pastor Drew brings today's message: The third Sunday of Advent brings us to the desert where Isaiah calls us to make our hearts and knees strong as we await our rescue, but then, even in the desert, he says streams of water will start to show up. The good news is,… The post Messiah or Mirage? appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

December 4, 2022 – Advent continues this week with a guest preacher, one of our beloved former pastors, Rev. Rudy Tucker. Rudy will preach on a classic Advent text, promising a day when even wolves will lie down with lambs, that's how good God is, and that's what Christ's coming promises!* Please note – you… The post Wolf and lamb, calf and lion, and elephant and dog and… appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

November 27, 2022 – Pastor Drew brings today's message on this first Sunday in Advent: Advent begins in the dark. There's a reason we hang up lights and light candles, it's in acknowledgement that we live in the “shadow of death.” And yet, through the words of the prophets, and the word made flesh in… The post Advent Begins in the Dark appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

Dave Buddin is a serial composer you should know. To quote Brad Cohan, "David Earl Buddin is a beer-swillin' chain-smoking', gloriously prolific pioneer of electronic music". He spent close to 15 years as roommates with Tim, Simon and Dominika Michalowska in Brooklyn. Dave was much more than a pal who helped pay the rent. He was the thought leader of the house who was always suggesting books, artists and projects that broadened horizons, and more importantly, made every day a huge amount of fun. He named the house(s) The Center of Advanced Research which still lives on as a wifi hotspot. In 2012, The Village Voice named Dave New York's best composer. His other musical pursuits include being the ringleader of (quoting Cohan again) "the honky tonkin' trio of high rolling drunkards, American Liberty League". He along with Dominika and Kevin Shea founded the noise trio Nebadon. He also worked a day job as the musical director for Park Slope's Grace United Methodist Church.  Dave founded and was the real editor in chief of the Modern Man Manual. Currently Dave resides in Hilton Head South Carolina where he his working on his extremely entertaining memoirs and writing music. Happy Thanksgiving!

Mitch Album is the author of Tuesdays with Morrie, which, if you have heard of none of his other books, you've likely heard of that one. His collected works have sold over 47 million copies and have been translated into 45 languages and if you've only read Morrie, you owe it to yourself to pick up his others. Check out Have a Little Faith or The Stranger in The Lifeboat to get started.This week, we present a special live conversation between Albom and Carrie Fox, recorded November 2022, on the heels of the book's 25th anniversary. We've been talking about the power of communications to make change this season, and this week, we invite you to think in terms of simplicity. To wit: "[In Morrie] people substitute themselves into the story. They're me, or they're Morrie, or their person is Morrie. If I had a nickel for every time someone would stop me and take out a wallet and say, 'let me show you my Morrie', and they would take out a picture. A teacher, a parent, a grandparent, or something like that. I think there's a universality to it, and that's why it's been picked up around the world the way it has."This is one of Albom's true gifts: to tell stories so deeply personal, so easy to project ourselves into, that we can't help but see ourselves in them. And once we're able to see ourselves in a story, or a pitch, or a release, we capture a spark of empathy to light the flame of change. We're thrilled to be able to share this conversation with you here. Our great thanks to Mitch Albom and Grace United Methodist Church for allowing us to share in the experience. (00:00) - Welcome to Mission Forward

November 20, 2022 – Pastor Drew brings today's message: This Sunday is a major church holiday: Christ the King Sunday. It follows All Saints, and peers over into Advent. On Sunday the church stands between two times: with the past close in memory, and Advent's long wait ahead. It is at this point in the… The post This is My Gospel appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

November 13, 2022 – Pastor Jessica brings today's message: You may have heard that there is a lot of stuff going around right now. Well, I am here to tell you that is true at Grace UMC. A heart of service is contagious. Be careful or you might catch the bug here. Spoiler – we… The post Contagious appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

November 6, 2022 – Pastor Jessica brings today's message: The scripture reading, 2 Timothy 1: 8-14, tells us not to be ashamed of the gospel and yet too often the church has caused people to feel great shame. How do we embrace the cost of discipleship while letting go of the shame of not feeling… The post Do Not Be Ashamed appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

Taught by Pastor Drew, this 4-week class is an introduction to the Bible and what the United Methodist denomination believes about it. Session 1: Is it God's Word? Session 2: What's in it? Session 3: What's the UMC say? Session 4: How Do I Read it? The post PastorClass – Bible 101: Session 2 appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

Taught by Pastor Drew, this 4-week class is an introduction to the Bible and what the United Methodist denomination believes about it. Session 1: Is it God's Word? Session 2: What's in it? Session 3: What's the UMC say? Session 4: How Do I Read it? The post PastorClass – Bible 101: Session 3 appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

Taught by Pastor Drew, this 4-week class is an introduction to the Bible and what the United Methodist denomination believes about it. Session 1: Is it God's Word? Session 2: What's in it? Session 3: What's the UMC say? Session 4: How Do I Read it? The post PastorClass – Bible 101: Session 4 appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

Taught by Pastor Drew, this 4-week class is an introduction to the Bible and what the United Methodist denomination believes about it. Session 1: Is it God's Word? Session 2: What's in it? Session 3: What's the UMC say? Session 4: How Do I Read it? The post PastorClass – Bible 101: Session 1 appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

October 30, 2022 – Pastor Drew brings today's message. We begin a new series in the book of 2 Timothy in which the Apostle Paul writes to a young church leader, Timothy. Timothy is not doing well. Paul‘s words encourage Timothy to remember God's work thus far, and to fan the flame, rekindling the grace… The post Grace, Rekindled appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

Today, we will talk about what's going on United Methodist Church, how it got to this point that's it's splitting in two and what is the future of the church. I'm talking with not one, but two guests. Drew McIntryre is a frequent guest on Church and Main and is the pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. Ben Gosden is the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Methodist in Savannah, GA and this is his second time on the podcast. We had a great discussion that is actually broken up into two parts. The main part is about the United Methodists in General and a smaller part talks about the former Bishop and writer Will Willimon, his role in the UMC and what it means to be an institutionalist. One quick note; Ben had some technical issues, which I tried to fix, but if there are still glitches that's what it is. I hope you enjoyed the episode. Just a reminder that it takes a lot to make great content like this available to you. Consider making donation by going to Church and Main's website at churchandmain.org. 

October 23, 2022: Pastor Drew brings today's message: This trip through the Old Testament ends with one of the Old Testament's most defining episodes: the Exile. In Exile we find despair, grief, guilt, and shame, but that's not all we find. The Exile is also where we find hope in a promise (later a person)… The post Cast-Out: A God Who Is With Us appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

October 16, 2022 – Pastor Drew brings today's message: Our journey through the Old Testament continues with the story of God's people in the promised land, asking for a king to rule over them. The dilemma is clear: whose kingdom are they in, the kingdom of Saul? David? Solomon? Or are they in the Kingdom… The post A God who Reigns appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

October 9, 2022 – Gretchen Ward is our preacher and she'll talk about faith in the midst of strife, and holding on to God's promises even when things don't make sense. The post Faith in the Midst of Strife appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

October 2, 2022 – Pastor Drew brings the message: Our tour through the Old Testament continues with the story of Exodus, of the Hebrews' captivity in Egypt, and their liberation by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who (as it turns out) has a name.. The post Captivity: A God With a Story appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

September 25, 2022 – Guest preacher Rev. Jennifer Coffey brings today's message: God created us in love and because of God's great love for us, continues to stay with us even when we fail and sin repeatedly. In scripture we see this ongoing relationship and unfailing love through God's covenants with God's people. Through covenant… The post The God of Covenant appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

September 18, 2022 – Pastor Drew brings today's message: As soon as God creates humanity we fail. You may know the story of Adam and Eve and the “forbidden fruit,” but in this and several other Biblical catastrophes we are invited to focus not on the shame of humanity's track record, but the miracle of… The post Catastrophe: a God who Stays appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

September 11, 2022 – Pastor Drew brings today's message: We begin our “The Old Testament in 7 Sundays” series with Creation. It may be familiar to you, it may not. Regardless it's the first story the Old Testament tells, and even in the beginning, it's a story that tells us good news about who God… The post Creation: In the beginning, God said… appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

September 4, 2022 – Pastor Drew brings today's message. One of the Bible's most famous verses, John 3:16, comes in the context of a conversation Jesus had in the middle of the night with an old man wrestling with questions of faith, and doubt. Jesus gave him the gospel. He gives it to us too. The post Jesus and an Older Adult appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

August 28, 2022 – Pastor Drew brings the message this week. In this week's scripture Jesus interacts with more than one generation, a man born blind, and his parents too. In this story religious leaders inquire “Who sinned, this man or his parents?” Jesus' response suggests that maybe that's the wrong question to ask. The post Jesus and a Family of Three appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

August 21, 2022 – Pastor Jessica tells the story of Jesus with a young adult – a rich young ruler who learns the hard lesson that there is nothing we can do to earn our way to eternal salvation. Spoiler – this is good news for all of us! The post Jesus and a Young Adult appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

July 14, 2022 – Pastor Drew brings today's message: In this story Jesus encounters a 12-year old at the end of her rope, in fact, it appears she has died, but that changes when Jesus shows up. The post Jesus and the Tween appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

August 7, 2022 – Pastor Drew reminds us that in Jesus' love, nobody gets left out. In fact we have stories of Jesus loving people of every generation. This Sunday we notice the love of Jesus for children, and hear the good news that what belongs to Jesus he gives to them, and to us… The post Jesus and the Little Children appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

July 31, 2022 – Pastor Drew brings today's message: Near the end of Colossians Paul writes to the church with the strange good news that “you have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” He goes on to suggest that the kind of hiding we've been offered is not just for… The post Hidden for Healing appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

July 24, 2022 – Today's message is brought to you by Pastor Jessica: Do you ever feel like your life is falling apart or you're barely able to hold it all together? I feel like that more often than I want to admit. The good news is that Christ offers us freedom from those burdens… The post Clean Your Plate appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

July 17, 2022 – Pastor Drew brings the message today: This week we got to see some of the most mind-blowing images of the cosmos ever captured. Paul's letter to the Colossians goes to great lengths to ascribe all that majesty not just to God in general, but to Christ in particular. In this way,… The post The Cosmos, and the Cross appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

July 10, 2022 – Colossians opens with typical first century letter stuff. “Hi there, I hope you're well” kind of stuff. But then, right at the end of the opening “blah, blah, blah's,” BANG, we get the gospel. The post Blah, Blah, Blah, Bang appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

July 3, 2022 – Worship will include guest preacher Mark Thompson, a certified lay servant at Grace, and Holy Communion. Please join us! The post A Declaration of Dependence appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

June 26, 2022 – We will look at the vision & values of the Acts 2 church as we reflect on the vision & values that Grace UMC is being called to: to reflect the grace of God in how we welcome, love, and serve the world and one another. The post Vision & Values appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

June 19, 2022 – The First Christian sermon continues with a little Bible study on the great King David of Israel's history. But the point of the sermon is clear. David is one thing, but now we have been given David's even greater son, our Lord. The post Both Lord and Messiah appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

June 12, 2022 – In the first Christian sermon, St. Peter points to the past, the present, and the future, connecting the three in a way that is only possible because the Holy One we crucified, God raised. The post Whom You Crucified, God Raised appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

June 5, 2022 – Pentecost is the day we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit. Some even call it the birthday of the church. However we interpret and celebrate it, though. One thing is certain. What happened on Pentecost was an Act of God. The post An Act of God appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

May 29, 2022 – Ascension Sunday is here! Let us hear again the good news revealed in Christ's ascension having completed the work of our salvation. Guest preacher Rev. Jason Micheli delivers a powerful and passionate message for our world today. The post The Good News of the Ascension appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

May 22, 2022 – In the Great Commission Jesus says his final recorded words to the disciples. These final verses include 4 BIG ALL's. We will look at these together and see the ways that ALL means ALL! The post All Means All appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

May 15, 2022 – We may think “being called” is something young people wrestle with – What would God like me to do with my life? Where is my place of service in the world? In truth, Christ's call comes to people of all ages. Together, we will consider how Christ is calling and using… The post Celebrating Senior Adult Ministries appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

May 8, 2022 – The Bible is full of agricultural metaphors for what it means to be created and nurtured by God. Often we can feel so much pressure to flourish, bear fruit, and grow, that we can forget that in every one of these metaphors it is God who gives the growth. The post God Gives the Growth appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

May 1, 2022 – This week's sermon is going to take us from finding God alive and well in Krispy Kreme to the Adventures of Narnia. Come and hear the ways God shows up and asks us to put our faith into action. The post Krispy Kreme and Other Holy Things appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

April 24, 2022 – The disciples were asked to take a leap of faith and believe in Jesus. We are called to do the same. Will we question and doubt or profess and praise? The post Taking a Leap of Faith appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

April 17, 2022 – The women bring spices to the tomb, facing the ground, but then they hear the news.” He is not here. He is risen.” That news alone helps them lift their heads, bringing their gaze up from the ground to see his face. The post The Living Among the Dead appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

April 10, 2022 – Palm Sunday commemorates Jesus' entry into Jerusalem to the cheers of onlookers who welcome him as a new king who would save us. They are ordered to stop, but Jesus makes it clear: if they were silent, the stones would shout out. The post Palms, Cloaks, and Stones appeared first on Grace United Methodist Church.

We are coming up to the 2 year mark since COVID became a daily part of our lives. With little fanfare, America passed 900,000 lives lost to the virus. After two very long years, everyone is tired. We are tried of wearing masks, we are tired of events canceled, we are tired of the culture war- we are just tired. Journalist Barri Weiss recently proclaimed she was “done with COVID.” But is Weiss right? No, says Methodist Pastor Drew McIntrye. McIntyre is the pastor of Grace United Methodist Church in Greensboro, NC and is also the spouse of a doctor. He took to the internet to write a blog post reflecting on COVID and his physician wife. Looking at the pandemic through his wife's experiences gave him a real-time view of the virus and that view is not pretty. We talk about the problem of ignorance passing as knowledge, selfishness as freedom and what it means to be a person of faith in a time of a pandemic. website: enroutepodcast.org Leave a Review: https://ratethispodcast.com/churchandmain Email: reverendpodcast@gmail.com Facebook Twitter YouTube Show Notes: Married to Medicine in a Pandemic by Drew McIntrye Scandal of Jesus and Black Lives Matter Episode with Drew McIntyre God & Whiskey Podcast Drew's Podcast The Problem with COVID Contrarianism by Cathy Young Rise of Omicron Episode with Michael Siegel On the Coronavirus Episode with Michael Siegel Support the Show! https://pod.fan/en-route-journeys-in-faith-and-modern-life