Podcasts about shape us

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grandparents can play so many roles in each of our lives, and so often they are pivotal in shaping who we become as people. Today, our producer Kieran, read to us a letter written to his grandad and it's safe to say that what he had to say had the whole team (and likely all our listeners) crying as he spoke. Consider this a love letter to all grandparents who have impacted our lives ❤️ And if you're lucky enough to have yours nearby, make sure to tell them you love them and give them a hug xxxSubscribe on LiSTNR: https://play.listnr.com/podcasts/carrie-and-tommySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Family Policy Matters, host Traci DeVette Griggs welcomes Morgan Morin, a contributing writer for the Institute for Family Studies, to discuss the roles that stories can play in shaping culture for both good and bad.  All of Morgan Morin's views are her own and do not necessarily represent the views, policies, or positions of the Institute for Family Studies.

This week Bill Kittrell resumes our sermon series, "Romans: The Greatest Letter Ever Written" with this week's message titled "The Lord Keeps His Promises".

This week Bill Kittrell resumes our sermon series, "Romans: The Greatest Letter Ever Written" with this week's message titled "The Lord Keeps His Promises".

In a moment where more people than ever are feeling the weight of "the system," or even losing faith in individual self-determination, how do we reclaim agency within this system?rnrnIn Liberated Mind: A Guide to Black Clarity, author Dr. Timothy D. Goler examines how inequality becomes embedded not only in institutions but also in perceptions and the internalization of stereotypes. "For generations," Goler notes, "Black people have been taught to cope, adapt, survive. We learned to shrink in rooms that weren't built for us. To silence ourselves before speaking. To call exhaustion 'strength' and suppression 'discipline.' We mistake the weight we carry for who we are. But what if that weight was never ours to begin with?"rnrnDr. Timothy D. Goler is a nationally recognized social psychologist and educator whose work examines how people come to understand themselves under pressure. His scholarship bridges medical sociology, social psychology, and culturally grounded approaches to community life, with a particular focus on how structural racism, intergenerational strain, and life course stressors shape the mental and emotional realities of Black people. Dr. Goler is also the founder and former CEO of the HBCU Preparatory Schools Network in Cleveland; and a co-founder of PolicyBridge, a public policy think tank connecting academic insight with applied practice.

For many of us, our relationships with our siblings are the longest of our lives. They shape our earliest experiences of love, rivalry, identity and belonging. Yet despite their lasting influence, they are often overlooked in favour of relationships with parents, partners or children. In this episode, journalist and critic Mythili Rao speaks with broadcaster Catherine Carr about the overlooked significance of sibling relationships. Together they explore how these lifelong bonds shape who we become, from birth order and family dynamics to estrangement, grief and the challenges of caring for ageing parents. Why do we place so much weight in birth-order stereotypes? Are only children really different? And what happens when sibling relationships break down? Drawing on personal stories, psychological research and expert interviews, Carr challenges familiar assumptions and examines how changing family structures, falling birth rates and longer lives are reshaping what it means to be a sibling today. Catherine Carr is a broadcaster and journalist. She is the author of Who's the Favourite?: The Loving, Messy Realities of Sibling Relationships. Mythili Rao is a journalist, critic and podcaster whose work explores literature, culture and society. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Leadership has a way of humbling us. Many of us spend years chasing titles, promotions, and the resume job, only to discover that fulfillment is found somewhere else entirely. In this special campfire conversation of the Credit Union Leadership Podcast, Scott Anderle turns the microphone around and interviews co-host Scott Albrecht about the experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy. From health challenges and career pivots to discovering his purpose in training and development, Scott shares why authenticity matters more than titles and why the best leaders focus on replacing ineffective behaviors with effective ones. If you want to lead with greater purpose, build stronger relationships, and create lasting impact, this episode is for you.  In this episode we talk about and answer these questions:  Why do titles and career achievements often fail to create lasting happiness? How can leaders discover opportunities to live out their purpose in any role? What does it mean to replace ineffective behaviors with effective ones? Why are confidence, competence, and collaboration essential for leadership success? What lessons have five years of podcast conversations taught us about great leaders? Why do the stories behind the leader often matter more than the strategies they share? Click Here to Submit Your Questions  Links from show:  Coaching for Performance Workshop  Subscribe to ServiStar Leadership Podcast on your favorite streaming service 

In this episode of Crossing Channels, Richard Westcott talks to Sander van der Linden from the University of Cambridge and Marion Hoffman from the Toulouse School of Economics about how social connections shape our lives. They explore how relationships form, why having many connections does not necessarily protect people from loneliness, and how online and face-to-face interactions influence wellbeing, trust and access to information. The conversation examines how algorithms, likes and echo chambers shape what people see and believe, why some social groups mix while others remain separate, who is most vulnerable to online manipulation, and what schools, policymakers and technology companies can do to create safer and more inclusive spaces for connection.Season 5 Episode 9 transcriptListen to this episode on your preferred podcast platformFor more information about the Crossing Channels podcast series and the work of the Bennett School of Public Policy and IAST visit our websites at https://www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/ and https://www.iast.fr/Follow us on Linkedin, Bluesky and X. With thanks to:Audio production by Alice WhaleyAssociate production by Burcu Sevde SelviVisuals by Tiffany Naylor and Pauline AlvesMore information about our host and guests:Richard Westcott is an award-winning journalist who spent 27 years at the BBC as a correspondent/producer/presenter covering global stories for the flagship Six and Ten o'clock TV news as well as the Today programme. Last year, Richard left the corporation and he is now the communications director for Cambridge University Health Partners and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, both organisations that are working to support life sciences and healthcare across the city.Marion Hoffman is an Assistant Professor at the Toulouse School of Economics. Her research aims at furthering statistical methods for the analysis of social networks and social groups. Her work has particularly focused on the development of relational event models and exponential family models tailored for social group data. She has also worked on empirical studies devoted to understanding the role of depressive symptoms and socioeconomic attributes in the emergence of social interactions. She received a PhD from ETH Zürich in Switzerland before joining the IAST and TSE.Sander van der Linden is Professor of Social Psychology in Society and Director of the Cambridge Social Decision-Making Lab in the Department of Psychology at the University of Cambridge. He is ranked among the top 1% of highly cited social scientists worldwide and has published over 200 research papers. He is the author of Foolproof: Why We Fall for Misinformation and How to Build Immunity (2023). He was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in 2025 and received the BPS President's Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychological Knowledge.

What makes stories so powerful?In Episode 11 of Beyond the Page, Steve sits down with author, artist, educator, and award-winning poet Darlene Franklin Campbell for a thoughtful conversation about fantasy, mythology, identity, and the enduring importance of storytelling.Darlene discusses how her love of Southern fiction eventually led her back to the science fantasy series she'd been developing for nearly three decades, explores Carl Jung's ideas about identity and the shadow self, and explains why mythology continues to resonate with readers across generations.They also talk about worldbuilding, poetry, teaching, creativity in the age of AI, and why authentic human stories are the stories we come back to generation after generation.Whether you're a fantasy fan, a writer, or someone fascinated by the power of stories, this episode offers plenty to think about.Guest: Darline Franklin-Campbell https://www.darlenefranklincampbell-author.com/Featured Books: The Zhandarian Chronicles https://www.darlenefranklincampbell-author.com/the-zhandarian-chroniclesPage Chewing BlogBecome a Page Chewing MemberPage Chewing ForumJoin Captivate.fmJoin PodMatchSend a message via SpeakPipePodcast equipment used (Amazon Affiliate links):Rodecaster DuoRode PSA1+ Professional Studio ArmRode Procaster Microphone

Margo is joined by Amy Wilderson, Brenda Olson, and Katy St. John—three artists whose distinct creative practices come together in Objects Through Time: Connection, Story, and Legacy, an exhibition exploring memory, heritage, and the unexpected stories hidden within everyday objects. Amy is a multi-media visual artist whose metalsmithing and wirework transform forgotten treasures into meaningful jewelry and sculpture. Brenda is an illustrator, mixed media artist, and founder of Blueberry Road Cards, whose work celebrates storytelling, community, and creative connection. Katy is a Minneapolis-based photographer whose imaginative images blend artistry and narrative to capture what lies beneath the surface. Together, the three discuss how collaboration across disciplines has challenged, inspired, and transformed each of their creative practices. They share how family heirlooms, found objects, and personal histories became the foundation for this exhibition, why vulnerability is essential to meaningful collaboration, and how art can preserve stories that might otherwise be forgotten. Margo and Amy, Brenda, and Katy discuss: How three artists from different creative backgrounds came together to build a shared exhibition. Why ordinary objects often hold extraordinary stories of family, identity, and legacy. The role of trust, vulnerability, and honest conversation in successful creative collaboration. How working across different artistic mediums expanded each artist's perspective. The balance between honoring the past while creating something entirely new. Why taking small creative risks often leads to the biggest breakthroughs. How they hope visitors will reflect on their own treasured objects and personal histories. The power of art to spark conversation, connection, and a deeper appreciation for the stories we all carry.   Connect with Margo: www.windowsillchats.com www.instagram.com/windowsillchats www.patreon.com/inthewindowsill Connect with Katy, Brenda, and Amy: www.amyajewelry.com www.instagram.com/amyajewelry www.brendaolsonart.com www.instagram.com/brendaolsonart www.saintphoto.org www.instagram.com/_saintphoto    

Have you ever wondered how God uses the unexpected pivots of life to accomplish His will? From the excitement of new beginnings to seasons that leave us questioning what comes next, His plan doesn't always unfold the way we imagine. Yet every step—even the difficult ones—can become part of a story that reveals His faithfulness.In this episode, Tracie welcomes Pam Triplett to share the first part of her remarkable testimony. From finding Christ and learning to follow His leading, to navigating unexpected turns and discovering God's grace through life's changing seasons, Pam reflects on the lessons that shaped her faith in her childhood and early adult years. Her story is an encouraging reminder that even when we cannot see where the next pivot will lead, we can trust the God who is faithfully directing every step. Be sure to join us next week for the Season 12 finale as Pam shares the rest of her remarkable story of resilience through life's storms—and the faithfulness of God through it all.If you know of someone who can be helped by listening to the Abundant Living Podcast, please share this episode with them. Please let us know what you think by rating and reviewing this podcast in your podcasting app! We love hearing from our listeners, whether through comments on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our Instagram ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠or messaging us on our website, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠christianladiesfellowship.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. You may also apply to be a part of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠our private Facebook group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, but be sure to answer all the questions and agree to the group rules when you click to join.You can also email Tracie directly at tburns@immanueljax.org. Thank you for being part of this uplifting and encouraging community of ladies who want to live abundantly for the Lord!

July 26th, 2026 | Speaker: Emery Whitmarsh Explores the power of the questions we ask each other, and how technology and social fear often get in the way of real conversation. Looks at Matthew 6:24-34, where Jesus uses questions to ground people, speak truth, and lovingly challenge them in their worries. Closes with a call to ask others intentional, caring questions, and to have the courage to invite others to ask them of you.

Jake Cronin concludes our sermon series, Scriptures that Shape Us in 1 Kings 18:20-40 with this week's message titled "The God Contest".

Jake Cronin concludes our sermon series, Scriptures that Shape Us in 1 Kings 18:20-40 with this week's message titled "The God Contest".

To mark National Friendship Month, this week's episode of Celebrate Your Story is dedicated to the incredible reflections shared by our Celebrations Pulse community. Spanning decades, these stories show how the bonds we build are often our deepest sources of strength and joy. The letters include stories about childhood friends who feel like family, the healing power of showing up when life gets tough, and how creative sparks like music can keep people connected over a lifetime. I also share a few thoughts on why authentic human connection will only grow more valuable as AI and remote work redefine our daily routines. If someone special comes to mind while listening, reach out and share this episode with them. To catch every Celebrate Your Story conversation, be sure to subscribe!    

July 19th, 2026 | Pastor Caitlin Garrett & Cindy Limbrick We all have questions for God, especially in seasons of uncertainty. This week, we explore how bringing our honest questions to Him can deepen our faith and remind us that God is with us through it all.

Bobby and JD are back to talk about childhood upbringing, learning to address fears, the lost purity of stand-up, and a crazy story of Prison Rambo. B.L.A.C.K. Label Art   https://blacklabelart.shop/You can read more about Bobby and prison reform on our website:   notesfromthepen.com

What if art isn't simply something we admire, but something that asks something of us?In this episode, Stephen Roach sits down with acclaimed printmaker, educator, and storyteller Steve Prince for a conversation about the vocation of the artist. Drawing from history, faith, family, and lived experience, Steve shares how his work seeks to preserve memory, confront injustice, and create spaces where genuine transformation can begin.From the legacy of the Civil Rights Movement to the power of oral storytelling, from New Orleans kitchen tables to ambitious community art projects, Steve reveals why he believes artists are called to help us "remember to remember" and to imagine a more hopeful future together.Together they explore:Why artists are called to be truth-tellersHow history shapes both our imagination and our responsibilityThe role of beauty in confronting difficult realitiesWhy storytelling is essential to healing divided communitiesSteve's Kitchen Table project and its vision for reconciliationCreating art that challenges, invites, and transformsFaith, social justice, and the spiritual calling of creative workHelping the next generation of artists embrace both courage and adaptabilityWhether you're an artist, educator, historian, or simply someone longing for deeper conversations in a fractured world, this episode offers a vision of art as an act of hospitality, remembrance, and hope.Quote from the Episode"The artist helps us remember to remember.""Art isn't made to divide us, it creates a pathway toward who we could become.""Every table has something to teach us." - Steve PrinceResources MentionedSteve Prince's Kitchen Table community art projectTrinity City graphic novel initiativeHoward ThurmanMartin LutherMedgar EversEmmett TillRosa ParksMartin Luther King Jr.If this episode encouraged you, please consider sharing it with a friend, leaving a review, or supporting the work of Makers & Mystics through Patreon.Produced by Stephen Roach.Music by Some Were at Sea.Keep Creating. The World Needs Your Art. Send us Fan MailSupport the showSign Up for Our Newsletter! http://eepurl.com/g49Ks1Connect with Makers & MysticsWebsite: https://makersandmystics.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/makersandmysticsInstagram: https://instagram.com/makersandmystics

July 12th, 2026 | Pastor Christy Penley Often, evil uses questions to distract us from what we need to focus on, and to lead us to question what we would otherwise know to be true. Learn about what those questions sound like, and how to deal with them.

Zach Varnell continues our sermon series, Scripture that Shapes Us in Luke 15:11-32 with this week's message titled "God's Joy in Redemption".

Zach Varnell continues our sermon series, Scripture that Shapes Us in Luke 15:11-32 with this week's message titled "God's Joy in Redemption".

A sermon preached by Rev. Ginger E. Gaines-Cirelli with Foundry UMC, June 28, 2026, fifth Sunday after Pentecost. “We Know Who We Are” series. ​​​ Texts: Romans 6:3-11; Luke 24:28-35​​​​   Humans are storytelling creatures. Our stories help us understand who we are and how life works. They teach us how people have lived and thought and loved and struggled through the ages. They give us a framework for how to be in relationship. Humans are also ritual-making creatures. Just as the stories we tell shape our sense of identity and reality, so too rituals shape our actions and the way we embody our values. Every culture has stories that shape human imagination and understanding. Every culture has rituals that shape human desires and loyalties. While powerful, formative, and often positive, we know stories can be told in ways that distort truth and do harm. And rituals can include habits that are unhealthy or destructive to persons or communities. Consumerism tells a certain story and has its rituals. White Christian Nationalism tells a certain story and has its rituals. Political tribes tell their own stories and have their rituals. Social media…well… All these things and more tell us who we are and what matters most. Christians also tell a story and practice rituals—it's a story of God's grace, mercy, and liberating love. And the rituals? Water. Bread. Cup. A few weeks ago, as we began focusing on the United Methodist way of living the Christian story, we thought together about the means of grace and the practices that shape us. We reflected on how we are all being formed by something. The question is: What is forming us? What stories, rituals, and practices are shaping our imagination, our desires, and our values? The sacraments are among the primary ways God shapes us into the people we are called to be. And because these rituals are so familiar, it is easy to participate in them without ever stopping to ask what they mean. Why do we call themsacraments? What do United Methodists actually believe is happening when we baptize someone or come to the Lord's Table? These are important questions to ask. Because if we are going to know who we are, then we need to understand the practices that have formed Christians for centuries and the theology that stands behind them. Let's begin with the word sacrament itself. United Methodists define a sacrament as “an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.” In other words, sacraments are the places where the invisible grace of God takes visible form. I could reasonably argue that, with that definition, every act of beauty, love, tenderness, and justice are sacramental acts. But the two liturgical sacraments recognized by our tradition are those Jesus specifically commanded his followers to practice in the stories recorded in scripture: baptism and communion. Here again, our rituals are embedded in our stories and our stories are embedded in our rituals. Stories and rituals belong together. In many cultures, stories are not merely told. They are enacted. Danced. Sung. The story becomes part of the people through repeated actions that connect memory to the body. Christians do something similar. We do not merely tell the story of God's grace.We enact it. We embody it. In baptism, we tell not just one story, but many: the story of dying and rising with Christ, of being washed by grace and mercy, and of being claimed and named as God's beloved and part of the Body of Christ. The beauty of sacrament is that it can hold multiple meanings at once. And we don't simply talk about those things. We pour water. We listen for the sound of the flow. We feel the water on our skin. In communion, we tell the stories of Christ's sacrificial, self-giving love, of God's provision and faithfulness; we reaffirm the story of God's mercy—of forgiveness, reconciliation, and belonging. But we do not simply describe those things. We break bread. We share the cup. The story is embedded in these rituals. The rituals carry the story. And over time, the story carried by the ritual shapes the people who practice it. One United Methodist resource describes the sacraments as God's “show and tell.” I love that image. If you've ever watched a child during show and tell, you know that simply describing something isn't the same as holding it in your hands. God doesn't simply tell us that grace is real. God shows us. Think about it: God showed us by drawing near in flesh, in Jesus of Nazareth. Andthat is just the most extraordinary way God has revealed a willingness to work through physical things. The God who came to us in a body still meets us through tangible signs: Water. Bread. Cup. So let's linger with some of the stories our sacraments tell. First, baptism tells the story of grace that comes before our response. In many churches, baptism is understood primarily as a public declaration of faith—as a person's decision to accept God's love and to follow Christ. There is truth in that. But United Methodists begin somewhere else. We begin with God's action. Before we choose God, God chooses us. Before we respond to grace, grace is already at work in our lives. Before we seek God, God is seeking us. That conviction lies behind one of the practices that often raises questions: infant baptism. Why do we baptize babies who cannot yet profess faith for themselves?Because baptism is first and foremost a story about God's grace, not our achievement. It is a visible reminder that grace comes first. Before a child can speak a word, God has already spoken a word over them: Beloved. Of course, each person must eventually respond to God's grace for themselves. But regardless of age, baptism reminds us that the first move always belongs to God. Baptism also tells the story of belonging—to God and to one another. In baptism, God claims me. And God joins us. When we baptize someone, we are not simply celebrating an individual spiritual experience or handing someone a ticket to heaven. We are welcoming a new member into the Body of Christ. That is why the congregation makes promises. We promise to nurture, encourage, teach, pray, and journey alongside one another. Baptism tells us who we are—beloved children of God. And baptism tells us who we are together—a people, a community, a body, a family bound together by grace and by a shared story. Baptism also tells the stories of forgiveness and liberation. The waters are a sign of God's mercy and cleansing, assuring us that nothing we have done or will do lies beyond God's capacity to forgive, that we are not bound to the worst things in our past or present, but freed for better things in our future. And the waters tell yet another story. Paul tells us in Romans that in baptism we are united with Christ in his death and resurrection. We die to an old way of being.We are raised into new life. Baptism is not simply about where we have been. It is about who we are becoming. It's about claiming the freedom and power God gives us to live a new kind of life. So baptism is the sacrament that initiates us into the Christian life both as persons and community. And Communion is the sacrament that nourishes us along the wayand continually reconnects us to Christ, to one another, and to our neighbors. We call it the Lord's Supper because Christ is the host. We call it Holy Communion because we are united with God and one another. We call it Eucharist (from the Greek word for thanksgiving) because it is an act of thanksgiving. But perhaps the most important thing to understand is that communion is more than remembering a dead prophet. It is being present with a living Christ. Certainly, we remember Jesus at the table. But United Methodists believe something more is happening—that communion is more than merely symbolic. We believe Christ is truly present. We call it a holy mystery precisely because we don't claim to fully understand how. But we trust that Christ meets us here and offers grace through the sacramental meal. Once again, as with Baptism, the sacrament is both personal and communal. At thetable Christ invites, forgives, and nourishes me. At the table Christ forms, nourishes, and sends us. Personally, we come seeking grace, forgiveness, strength, comfort, courage, and renewal. But communion is never merely about “me and Jesus.” Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 10 that because there is one bread, we who are many are one body. At the table we practice belonging to one another. We remember that our lives are bound together. We learn gratitude, humility, reconciliation, and love. The table does not simply feed individuals. It forms a community. This conviction also helps explain why United Methodists practice an open table.You do not have to be a member of this church, or a United Methodist, or to have everything figured out, or even to be baptized. The invitation belongs to Christ our host. And because grace comes before worthiness, Christ's table remains open. I will never forget the moment when a committed atheist who had been attendingthe congregation I served with her fiancé for more than a year, presented herself in line to receive the elements saying, “I have no idea why I am here, but I just felt that I needed to come.” People might encounter Christ for the first time in the midst of the gathered Body of Christ around the Table. Because sometimes people are moved to respond before they have language for what is happening. Sometimes grace reaches us before we understand it. John Wesley strongly encouraged frequent communion because he believed it was one of God's most powerful means of grace. Early American Methodists often received communion only quarterly because circuit-riding preachers and ordained elders were scarce. What began as necessity became habit. The church I grew up in still practiced quarterly communion! But in recent decades we have reclaimed Wesley's conviction that we need all the sacramental grace we can get! And so we return again and again to water, bread, and cup. Simple, ordinary things.Yet through them the story of God's grace is told, embodied, and practiced.Through them God reminds us who we are. Through them God reminds us whose we are. And through them God continues to shape us—both as individuals and as a community—into the likeness of Christ. Because over time, the stories embodied in our rituals become the lives we learn to lead. Thanks be to God. Thanks be to God.

Mike Plewniak continues our sermon series, Scripture that Shapes Us in John 15:4-11 with this week's message titled "Our Union With Christ".

Mike Plewniak continues our sermon series, Scripture that Shapes Us in John 15:4-11 with this week's message titled "Our Union With Christ".

Writing has been a guiding force in Nancy Morgan's life, woven together with her love of language, travel, and cross-cultural learning. Across a career in teaching, curriculum design, media production, and study-abroad leadership, writing has remained at the heart of her work.Now retired, Nancy has turned more deeply to writing as a way to explore life's complex and difficult questions. Drawing on personal experience, she writes fictionalized accounts about the impact of dysfunction, homelessness, and mental illness on family relationships. Curious about the emotional truths beneath the surface, Nancy strives to “get into the soul of her characters.” Homelessness, a central theme in her writing, is also at the heart of her volunteer work and social commitment.At the center of Nancy's life is family. She describes her husband, two daughters, and seven grandchildren as her greatest source of joy and grounding. Today, Nancy says simply and gratefully, “I love the life I am living.”“Stories can help us understand what families often struggle to say out loud.” - Nancy MorganConnect with NancyEmail: nancybattistamorgan@gmail.comThanking our Platinum Sponsor—AARP Illinois, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to empowering people 50 and older to choose how they live as they age. With nearly 1.7 million members in Illinois, AARP volunteers advocate for better health, financial security, and stronger communities. Visit AARP.org/IL to learn more. Shining the light on Age-Wise Collective—check out Boomer Banter with Wendy Green—it's in a new chapter, with shorter solo episodes focused on her personal caregiving journey and the search for purpose in later life. Going deeper, her Substack, Thriving Through Time, by Boomer Banter is where she really opens up. Find everything on Wendy's website, heyboomer.biz.

Jake Simmons continues our sermon series, Scripture that Shapes Us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 with this week's message titled "Tempted and Kept".

What does it take to turn a house into a home? For Christophe Carpente – the French-born, Swiss-trained architect behind some of the world's most considered luxury interiors – the answer lies in chemistry, trust, and the willingness to let go.In this episode of House Guest, Carpente joins Carole from his Notting Hill studio to reflect on nearly 30 years of practice: from designing flagship stores for Cartier, Burberry and De Beers, to the deeply personal work of building homes for their owners. Sponsored by Aqualisa Showers.

560. 'Daddy issues' gets thrown around as a punchline — but the psychology underneath it is serious, well-researched, and affects people of every gender. This Father's Day week, Dr. Judy Ho reclaims the term and unpacks what paternal attachment wounds actually are, how they shape adult relationships and self-worth across all genders, what 'good enough' fathering looks like neurologically, and three tools for healing — whether your father is still in your life or not.Have a mental health question? Email Dr. Judy's team at at psychologist@quickanddirtytips.comFind Savvy Psychologist on Facebook and subscribe to the newsletter for more psychology tips.Watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@SavvyPsychologistMore from Dr. Ho on her other channels:Dr. Ho's website, Substack, LinkedIn.Savvy Psychologist is a part of Quick and Dirty Tips. Find a transcript at QuickandDirtyTips.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.