Podcasts about This Little Light

Elaine Heath is the abbess of Spring Forest, a new monastic community in Hillsborough, North Carolina. Spring Forest centers around communal prayer and meals, a vibrant farm, refugee support, and other ministries you can read about here. You can learn more about Elaine's work as an author and speaker on her website, or in articles like this one from the Center for Action and Contemplation.Many thanks to Elaine and her husband Randall for welcoming Ron and I and our audio producer, Colin, to the farm last June. Besides relishing the good company of our hosts, we enjoyed harvesting cabbage, feasting and praying with the Sunday evening group, walking through the woods, and petting some good-natured goats.Dr. Elaine HeathOn the farm.Someone had to help harvest the cabbage, so Ron and Colin and I pitched in.Elaine, husband Randall, and I in their lovely home.TRANSCRIPTElaine Heath If you are nurtured by traditional church—or let's say, conventional church—keep doing it, but also realize that for other people that's not nurturing. It feels dry and lifeless, and it's clear the Spirit is doing something new. So instead of insisting everybody stop doing the new thing, and everybody has to come and do the conventional thing, you can be conventional in your worship and bless and make space for others so that we have a plethora of experiments going on.Debra Rienstra Welcome to the Refugia Podcast. I'm your host, Professor Debra Rienstra. Refugia are habitats in nature where life endures in times of crisis. We're exploring the concept of refugia as a metaphor, discovering how people of faith can become people of refugia: nurturing life-giving spaces in the earth, in our human cultural systems, and in our spiritual communities, even in this time of severe disturbance. This season, we're paying special attention to churches and Christian communities who have figured out how to address the climate crisis together as an essential aspect of their discipleship.Today, I'm excited to introduce you to Dr. Elaine Heath. Elaine is founder and abbess of Spring Forest, a new monastic community centered on a 23-acre forest and farm property near Hillsboro, North Carolina. The farm supplies a CSA and supports food security for refugees and serves as the setting for outdoor programs for kids, cooking classes, potlucks, forest walks and more. But the Spring Forest community is a dispersed network of people who move in and out of the farm space in a variety of ways. They live on the farm for a time, they visit often to volunteer, or they simply join the community online for daily prayer. We got to visit the farm last spring, and I can tell you that Elaine's long experience with new monasticism, trauma-informed care, and contemplative practice make her an ideal curator of refugia space. The vibe on the farm is peaceful, orderly, and full of life. It's a place of holy experimentation in new ways to form Christian community and reconnect with the land. Let's get to it.Debra Rienstra Elaine, thank you for talking with me today. It's really great to be with you.Elaine Heath Yeah, I'm glad to be with you too.Debra Rienstra So you served in traditional parish ministry and in religious academia for many years, and then in 2018 you retired from that work to found Spring Forest. Why a farm and a new monastic community? What inspired and influenced this particular expression of faith?Elaine Heath I've always loved farms and forests. But actually, my dream to do this started about 25 years ago, and my husband and I bought a 23 acre property in North Central Ohio, right when I was right out of my PhD program and I got my first academic job at my alma mater, which is Ashland Theological Seminary. So I went there to direct the Doctor of Ministry program, and we bought this beautiful property. It had a little house that looked like the ranger station, and it had a stream and a big labyrinth cut in the field, and it had beautiful soil to grow, you know, for market gardening. And what we planned to do was gradually develop retreat ministries there. My husband was going to build some hermitages up in the woods, because I did a lot of spiritual direction with pastors who were burned out and traumatized, and we felt like that, you know, as I got older and phased out of academia, that would be something we could do together.So we were there for a couple years, and then I was recruited to go to Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University. And we were very sad to leave our property behind, but we were clear that we were being called to Texas. So we bought a home in the city in a sort of mixed income, racially diverse neighborhood in Garland, and it was a big house with a nice yard, and soon after starting to teach evangelism—which, I kind of created my own path for how to teach evangelism, because I don't believe in selling Jesus or any of those kinds of colonizing things. So I was teaching about living a contemplative life and practicing social and environmental justice and being good news in the world, and being good neighbors to all our neighbors, and thinking of our neighbors as us and not them. And I had them reading Shane Claiborne and the people writing with the emerging church movement at the time, and pretty soon, I had students in my class coming to my office every week. It was a different student, but the same tears and the same kind of narrative: “Dr. Heath, I think I'm going to have to leave the church to answer my call. Tell me what I should do.” And it was because they were being called to do innovative, new monastic ministry, missional, new monastic kinds of things. But our denomination in particular didn't quite get it, even though early Methodism was very much like that.So I realized fairly quickly that this was God calling me through these students to focus my research and writing and my teaching in the area of emergence. Emergence theory, what's happening in the world. How do these currents of emergence intersect with what's happening politically and environmentally, and what's happening, you know, in the economy and with the church. So pretty soon, I don't know, it wasn't very long, I felt God was calling me to gather students and start some experiments outside, out in the city. And so I had a prayer partner, and we were praying for a house to come available, so that we could start a new monastic house. And she came to me one day and she said, “I saw the house coming. It'll be here soon.” And I said, “Okay.” I had no money for a house. You know, kind of a lowly professor, didn't make that much. And within two weeks, one of our neighbors came to me, who didn't really know me well at all, and said, “Hey, my mom has a rental property. It's been in our family for a long time, and we wondered if you might have some students that would like to live there. We won't even charge rent, just pay their utilities and not have drug parties or whatnot.” And I said, “No, that's unlikely,” you know. So I said, you know, I could throw the phone down and ran down to get in her car and go over to this house with her. And we were driving over, and she says, “You know, it's not the best neighborhood.” I said, “Perfect!” But we got there, and it was a really great little three bedroom house in a predominantly Latina neighborhood, and that was our first new monastic house. So I asked three of the students who'd been crying in my office, “Would you be willing to break your leases wherever you live and come and live here for a year?” And I can assign a spiritual director to work with you, and I can write a curriculum for an independent study on the theory and practice of new monasticism. And we can develop a Rule of Life based on our United Methodist membership vows. And they all immediately said yes, and so that's how we got started with our first house.Elaine Heath And then right around the same time, I started a missional house church that was quickly relocated into the neighborhood where most of the refugees are resettled in Dallas, because one of my students brought six Congolese men to our little house church worship, and that that was the beginning of realizing we were called to work with refugees.Debra Rienstra Oh, I see.Elaine Heath So that all got started around 2008. And by 2009, there was a student who came to Perkins who had been a commercial real estate banker on Wall Street. And he came to Perkins as a student. He was an older man. And we were going on my very first pilgrimage to Iona, Northumbria, and Lindisfarne, and Michael Hahn was with us too. He and I team-taught this class, so it was my first one. But it turned out that Larry Duggins, the student, had come to seminary because he really wanted to be equipped to help young adults who were feeling disillusioned with the church but wanted to be out in the world doing good work. And he started describing what he was called to, and I'm like, “Well, that's what I'm doing with these students.” So we joined forces and created a nonprofit called Missional Wisdom Foundation, and within three years, we had a network of eight new monastic communities across the metroplex. They were all anchored at local churches. Some of them were parsonages that weren't being used. And we wove into the expectations and sort of the lifestyle of those houses, urban agriculture.Debra Rienstra Oh, I was waiting for the farm to come back into it. Yeah, because I'm seeing these threads of experimentation and monasticism and place. We're sitting here today on your current farm land. So it's really interesting to hear all these threads being developed early on in an urban context.Elaine Heath Yes, it was quite something. These houses were all in different social contexts. There was one house, the Bonhoeffer house, that was in East Dallas, in a neighborhood that was not only mixed income and racially diverse, but also used to be where the mayor lived. And now there are people who are unhoused living there, and there are also people with nice houses living there. So it was a very interesting neighborhood. So that house, we learned quickly that you needed to take a year to get to know the neighborhood before you try to figure out how you're going to support whatever justice work needs to happen in the neighborhood. But that house got really close with the unhoused community and did a lot of good ministry with the guys and a few women. Then there was one for undocumented workers, the Romero House, and just different social contexts. But all of them had a backyard garden or, you know, some type of growing food kind of thing. And I used to take students to this farm that was an urban farm in DeSoto, which is just south of Dallas, where it was quite small, but these were former missionaries, the type that have crusades and show the Jesus film and everything in sort of poor countries. And then they had an awakening that happened, and they realized they were being called to help people in orphanages learn how to grow their own food in a sustainable way and raise the living standard for the whole village. So they had this little farm, and I would take students there every semester to experience the conversion of thought that this couple had over what mission is, and to experience the beauty and joy of tilapia that provide food for the lettuce, that provide for the bees, you know. So this closed system. So that also affected my imagination about what I really wanted to do in the future.And so gradually, the years—we were there for 11 years, and we lived in community the whole time that we were there. By the time we came here for me to work at Duke, we had a very clear picture of what we wanted to do here. And so we looked for the property back when we had to sell that first farm, when we were so sad about selling it, I had an experience in prayer where I sensed God was saying to me, “Don't give up on this dream. It's sacred, and it will happen in the future on a better piece of property, at a better time in your life for this.” And so when it was time to move here, I said to Randall, “This is the time. Let's look for that property.” So that's how we landed here.Friendly, very contented dairy goats, hanging out in the afternoon.Debra Rienstra Yeah. When talking about your students, you mentioned yesterday that you like to “ruin them for fake church.” So what do you mean by fake church, and how exactly do you ruin them for it?Elaine Heath Well, you know, church is really the people and not the building. You all know that. It's the people and we're called to be a very different kind of people who are a healing community, that neighbor well, that give ourselves away, that regard our neighbors—human and non human—as part of us, whether they think they're part of us or not. We have this sort of posture in life. And when I think of how Jesus formed the church, Jesus had this little ragtag group of friends, and they traveled around and did stuff and talked about it, and they got mad at each other and had power struggles and drama and, you know, and then Jesus would process the drama with them. And he would do these outrageous things, you know, breaking sort of cultural taboo to demonstrate: this is what love really looks like. And so we don't get to do much of any of that, sitting in a pew on Sunday morning, facing forward while the people up in the front do things. And so many churches—maybe you've never experienced this, but I certainly have. The pastor's sort of the proxy disciple while people kind of watch and make judgments and decide whether or not they want to keep listening to those sermons.Debra Rienstra Oh yes.Elaine Heath So when you experience Christian life in a community where it's both natural, it's just the way you live in the world, and it's also liturgically rich, and the life is a contemplative life, and it's also a life of deep missional engagement with the world— that other version of church, it's like oatmeal with no flavoring in it. It makes you, I mean, it's about the life together. It's how we live in this world. It's not about sitting somewhere for an hour once a week and staring forward.Debra Rienstra Right. Yeah, so I would, you know, of course, I would describe what you're describing as refugia, being the people of refugia. You know? Not that I'm—we'll come back to traditional worship and traditional forms of faith and religion. But it seems like what you're doing is living into something you say on your website that we are in the midst of a new reformation in the church, and I certainly sense that too. I think the evidence is all around us, and the research bears out that we've reached this inflection point, and it's a painful inflection point that a lot of people think of as decline, because living through it feels confusing and bewildering and dark and full of loss. So what is your sense of when we are, in this point in history, in particular, for those of us who've been part of church communities, where are we finding ourselves? Why is it so confusing?Elaine Heath I really believe we're in a dark night of the soul as the church in the West and perhaps places in the East too. I know we've exported a capitalist version of church all over the world, sadly. But I believe we're in a dark night of the soul, you know, classically understood, where it's spirit-breathed. It's not that the devil is doing something to us. It's spirit-breathed to detach us from our sort of corporate ego that thinks we get to show up and boss the world around and act like we own the joint.Debra Rienstra We call that church of empire.Elaine Heath Yeah. And so I think that's what's happening. And when, you know, if you study the literature, if you work in spiritual direction, and you're looking at what happens with the dark night of the soul. That's a real dark night, not a clinical depression or something like that, but an actual dark night. You have to go through it. You can't bypass it. You can't work your way out of it. You can't talk your way out of it. And what happens is you find yourself increasingly hungry for simplicity, for a simple but clear experience of God, because it's like God's disappeared. There's a deep loneliness, even a sort of cold hell, to being in a dark night of the soul. And so there's a restlessness, there's a longing for actual experience of God. There's a feeling of futility. Things that used to work don't work anymore. So you know the threefold path? The purgation, illumination and union is one way that we've learned to think about what happens. The purgation part is— we're there.Debra Rienstra We're being purgated.Elaine Heath We're being purgated, yeah. And at the same time that we're having these flashes of intuitive knowing, this sort of illumination is coming. “Oh, let's pay attention to the saints and mystics who lived through things like this. What gave them life? What helped them to keep showing up and being faithful?” And we're having moments of union too, when we feel like, “Oh, discipleship means I make sure that the trees are cared for and not just people. Oh, all living things are interconnected. Quantum physics is teaching us a spiritual truth we should have known already.” So the three parts of that contemplative path are happening simultaneously. But I think what feels most forward to a lot of people is the purgation piece where you're like, “Oh, things are just dropping away. Numbers are dropping. Things that used to work don't work. What's going to happen now?” Sort of a sense of chaos, confusion. Tohu va bohu, yeah.Debra Rienstra Yeah, do you want me to explain what that is?Elaine Heath Yeah, chaos and confusion. From the beginning of time.Debra Rienstra It's the realm out of which creation is formed. So the idea that the spirit is drawing us into this dark night is actually really reassuring. We are where we're supposed to be. And even though it feels confusing and painful, there are these moments of wisdom—that's so reassuring. In fact, one of the things you write: the new reformation is all about the emergence. So this emergence is happening of a generous, hospitable, equitable form of Christianity that heals the wounds of the world. What is your vision about what the church needs to release and hold and create right now?Elaine Heath We need to release everything that even slightly has a hint of empire, that we have thought of as what it means to be the church, because that completely reverts what church is supposed to be about. So giving up empire, we need to take up the great kenotic hymn of Philippians two and actually live it.Debra Rienstra The self emptying hymn.Elaine Heath The self emptying. And it's not—I know that that can be problematic when we're thinking of women or, you know, groups that have been forced to empty themselves in an exploited way. But that's not really what that's all about. It's about showing up to God, paying attention, seeing what God's invitation is, then cooperating with that and just releasing the outcome. That's what that's about, and really finding out, what am I in this world for? What are we in this world for? And being about that and not about something else.Debra Rienstra Yeah, it's hard to release the ways that we have done things. Well, you have a congregation, you have a pastor, you have a sanctuary, you have programs, you want the kids to come, you need tithes, all of those systems. And actually, what you're doing here at Spring Forest—let's talk about that. What you're doing here at Spring Forest doesn't have any of that. Sunday services. There's no church building. You have barn buildings, you have farm buildings. No Sunday school, no adult ed, no choirs, organs, praise bands, any of that stuff, right? Do you think of Spring Forest as a new model for church? Perhaps one among many?Elaine Heath It's one among many. We're definitely shaped by traditional monasticism. We're shaped by early Methodism. We're influenced by the Catholic Worker Movement, and definitely Bonhoeffer's work and a number of others: the Clarence Jordan and Koinonia farms. And so we're influenced by all of those. We do have music sometimes at Forest Feast, if we have someone that can lead it, and, you know, do a good job. But the backbone of our worship life is morning and evening prayer. And that is so wonderful. You were here last night for Forest Feast, and we use the same structure we use for morning and evening prayer, and we have a group of about six people who are writing the liturgies for us, who have been writing for a year and a half now.Debra Rienstra Who are those people?Elaine Heath Well, there's Steve Taylor is our lay leader, and his wife, Cheryl, and then there's Donna Patterson, who's—none of them were here last night. They all had to go somewhere. But some of them are lay people. Some of them are clergy.Debra Rienstra And they don't live here?Elaine Heath No, they live— well, some of the people that write live far away, and they're in our digital community. But, yeah, Steve and Cheryl live in Lumberton, which is, you know, almost two hours away. But they're beautiful. I mean, if you go online and look at some of the last month, look at the prayers and see the—they're just truly beautiful, and they reflect our spirituality of our community.Debra Rienstra Yeah. So the community, it seems to me, you have had people living on the farm itself, but your community, like the Iona community, is both located here on this land, but also dispersed. And so you have that interaction, that conversation between this residential life. So let's try to describe for listeners: there's the farm. You live here with your husband. You have interns from Duke. You have a farm. What do you call Larry?Elaine Heath He's our farm coach.Debra Rienstra Coach, yes, I love that. They have the farm coach who has the farming knowledge that you all sort of follow. You have chefs. They don't live here either, but they come in. So you have a lot of people coming in and out on this farm. And you do regenerative farming. You have programs for kids, you have refugee support, and you can talk about that, trauma informed rest for spiritual leaders. And then a number of other things. The farm produces vegetables and those go to a CSA, and also a lot of it is donated. Why this particular assembly of activities? How does it all fit together? And what are the theological principles beneath each of these endeavors?Elaine Heath The overarching principle is that the Holy Spirit gives gifts to every believer and to every person, let's just be honest. And the job of the pastor, the pastor teacher, is to fan those gifts into flame, to help them have the support they need to use their gifts and that the ministries should be shaped by the gifts of the people, which means you can't use a cookie cutter. And we have numerically a small community, but incredibly high capacity of people. So we have these gifts that they have, and then the ministries are emerging out of those gifts. And it might seem like, why do you have refugee support? And you know, just name anything else we're doing. How does this fit together? The organizing principle—okay, so you have the foundation. These are gifts given by the Spirit. Our ministries are emerging from our gifts. And the organizing sort of a cohesive piece is our rule of life that ties everything together. And so our rule of life is prayer, work, table, neighbor and rest. And that rule of life came about after we lived here for a year, when we first started Spring Forest with—there was another pastor that co-founded it with me, Francis Kinyua, who's from Kenya, and he was my student in Dallas, and did all those other things with me. So we invited him to come. We had to work with three different bishops to kind of make it work. But it worked, you know. Anyway, we just waited for a year to see. We had lots of work to do with getting the farm ready to go and Francis and I went to Church World Service right away to say, “Hey, we have a lot of experience supporting refugees, and we would like to do that here as well.” So we got started with that, but we waited a year and then just articulated, what are the practices that we do that are keeping us grounded here and keeping us right side up. And it was those things, so we named it.Debra Rienstra Okay, you were just doing it, and then you named those things.Elaine Heath Instead of creating sort of an aspirational rule and tried to live into it, we named what was actually working, what was actually grounding us and felt life giving.Debra Rienstra Hi, it's me, Debra. If you are enjoying this podcast episode, go ahead and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you have a minute, leave a review. Good reviews help more listeners discover this podcast. To keep up with all the Refugia news, I invite you to subscribe to the Refugia newsletter on Substack. This is my fortnightly newsletter for people of faith who care about the climate crisis and want to go deeper. Every two weeks, I feature climate news, deeper dives, refugia sightings and much more. Join our community at refugianewsletter.substack.com. For even more goodies, including transcripts and show notes for this podcast, check out my website at debrarienstra.com. D-E-B-R-A-R-I-E-N-S-T-R-A dot com. Thanks so much for listening. We're glad you're part of this community. And now back to the interview.Debra Rienstra You do partner a lot with, you know, “regular church folk.” It's that sort of in-and-out permeable membrane. How do you think about the relationship of what you're doing here, with Spring Forest, with the work of sort of standard congregations, is there like a mutuality? How do you think about that?Elaine Heath It's just like traditional monasticism. You've got a community that have this rule of life they follow. People who are not living in the community can become Oblates to the rule of life and have a special relationship. And usually those people go to church somewhere else. Part of our ethic here is we want to resist competition between churches, so we don't meet on Sundays to do things like programmatically. We usually just rest on Sundays and watch a movie and eat popcorn, you know.Debra Rienstra That's a spiritual practice.Elaine Heath But also, so there's that sort of historic piece, and people from churches come here for retreats. Lead teams come for retreats. People come—pastors, we have a lot of pastors who come here for a retreat. But also we are a mission community, so we're very active with supporting refugees. We're very active with the food programs that we have, and that gives people from a church—lots of churches don't have things like that going on. They don't have the resources for it, or they haven't figured it out. But that way, we can partner with churches and people can come here and they can actually get their hands in the soil, and they can teach somebody to read, and they can see little children learning where food comes from. They can help the chef with her kitchen things, you know. So it's a wonderful way to provide spiritual formation and missional formation to congregations that don't have those resources. And we can do these things together.Debra Rienstra Yeah. And that's that's premised on this being a place, an embodied place, a refugia space that people can come to. Yeah. I think that's a wonderful model. Do you yourself ever feel a sense of loss for “the old ways?” And I'm just thinking of this because at the beginning of your book, God Unbound, which is about Galatians, you write about how Paul challenges the Galatians to let go of their tight grip on the past, and you write about how you, reading that, felt yourself like a little bit of a traditionalist, you know, sort of defending, “But what about the past? What about the old ways?” Which you have loved too, right? So, how would you counsel people who have loved traditional church despite everything, and really do feel this sense of loss and wonder anxiously about what's next?Elaine Heath Yeah, I feel empathy. You know, something was going on in the Middle East at the time. I can't remember exactly the situation. There's always something going on, but it had to do with people's culture being wiped out and being told that what they believed didn't count and wasn't right and everything. And I was feeling such grief for them, and then all of a sudden, you know, I'm in Galatians, and think, “Well, that's how those people felt.” And even myself, there are things in my own daily practice that are—they're precious to me. My way of praying in the morning, the facing into the forest, you know, and things like that, that are rituals for me. And thinking, you know, if somebody told me “that doesn't matter,” how hard that would be. So I think in the spiritual journey, we come to the place, if we keep maturing, where we realize, in Merton's words, that so often we think it's the finger pointing to the moon, we think the finger is the moon. And it's that way about rituals and all sorts of things that we do, and we get to a place where we realize that intellectually and even spiritually, in an emotional way. But you can't force people to get to that point. This is something that happens as we grow and mature as life goes by. So what I have said to many people is, “If you are nurtured by traditional church, or, let's say, conventional church,”—because which traditional church are we talking about? One, right here, middle class, white, are we talking about Brazil? —”So if that nurtures you, keep doing it. But also realize that for other people, that's not nurturing. It feels dry and lifeless, and it's clear the Spirit is doing something new.” So instead of insisting everybody stop doing the new thing, and everybody has to come and do the conventional thing, you can be conventional in your worship and bless and make space for others so that we have a plethora of experiments going on. Because we're in a time of great emergence, as Phyllis Tickle wrote, and we need lots of experiments.Debra Rienstra Yeah. I appreciated what you wrote about trial and error. It's a time of trial and error, and it's okay to try things and have them not work. And that fits the refugia model too, really, really well. I mean, refugia don't always work. They just sometimes fail. Let's talk about a couple of key metaphors that I've noticed in your writings and in the website for Spring Forest too. One is that metaphor of the mycelial network, so the underground fungus that connects the creatures, the beings, the plants, the trees of the forest. I think is a wonderful metaphor too, for the way that faith and climate people, people who are worried about the climate crisis, and also people of faith—it's a great metaphor for how they're finding each other and connecting and building this sort of cultural and spiritual soil where the seeds of the future can grow. How is that metaphor meaningful for you here at Spring Forest?Elaine Heath Well, it means a lot in terms of the first of all, the diversity of expressions of ministry that are even here on the property, but also, especially in our dispersed community, through following the rule of life together, which—we are a practice-based community, rather than a dogma-based community. So as people are practicing those practices where they live and work and play, then they are forming community in a very specific, contextual way where they are. I think of Steve and Cheryl again, the friends I mentioned earlier. He's our lay leader. They live in a, I think a working class neighborhood in Lumberton, which is the land of the Lumbee here in North Carolina. And they have developed a wonderful, just neighborhood ministry there with—and they've been able, through potluck dinners and front yard barbecues and remembering people's birthdays and things like this, they've developed this friendship network in the neighborhood with people that are on complete opposite sides, politically, racially, and this is in the South, where you've got all sorts of issues. And they've taken the sort of ethic of Spring Forest here, but it's caused a mushroom to bloom there that looks really different from here. They don't have a farm, they don't have a forest, they've got this neighborhood. But the neighboring, the praying, the tabling, resting, all of those things are part of how they live there. And so it's fruiting there. And it's the same in other places in the world where we have people that live there.Debra Rienstra It's a good example, too, of how eating together is sacramental, both here and in these other networks that are connected to you. The Garden of Eden and the vision of the New Earth in Revelation are both important to you, that that whole long scriptural arc begin in a garden, end in a garden city, and then the Tree of Life is also your symbol, your logo. So how would you situate our work today as people of faith in that long arc of history, from the garden to the Garden City, and how does the Tree of Life fit into that for you?Elaine Heath There's a way in which the whole story is happening simultaneously. Does that make sense?Debra Rienstra Yeah.Elaine Heath It's all happening beyond time, sort of simultaneously. So sometimes we're living in the garden and we've been deceived, and now we have to figure out what to do, and sometimes we're rebuilding the wall, and sometimes we're on our way to Bethlehem, and sometimes we're in the garden of the new creation. And we can see it, and we're living that truth even while there's still the wall being built. There's a simultaneity to it all. But for me, I think especially of the theology of Julian of Norwich. That's why we have her icon here. There's this vision of love making all things new, that God, Christ, the risen Christ, says in Revelation 21:5, “Behold, I make all things new.” All things, not just a handful of people who get the right doctrine, not just—no, all things: horses and amoeba and all things are being made new in mysterious ways that we can't completely know.Debra Rienstra And that's Colossians one and Romans eight as well.Elaine Heath It's this thread that comes through scripture, and we get to participate in that, even while we don't see all the things completely made new, we get to be part of that. And to me, that's what it means to follow Christ. That's what it means to be a disciple. And to be the love of God enfleshed in this world is to keep participating in the making of all things new. This is why healing has such a central role in my theological vision and my practice, is it's making all things new.Debra Rienstra Healing land, healing people, healing communities.Elaine Heath Yeah, yeah. Healing theology. Theology has been so damaged by patriarchy and philosophy and all sorts of things, you know, and racism.Debra Rienstra Colonization. Yeah, so that embodiment is important even theologically, because we're not aiming for some abstract doctrinal perfection. We're not aiming to become disembodied creatures. We're aiming for this embodied redemption. And so working on the farm, healing, you know, getting muddy, walking through forests, harvesting veg, and you're able to invite people into that embodiment. Little kids doing yoga, I think that's wonderful. You know, just finding this kind of rest in their own little bodies. Eating—one of the most embodied and kinship-with-creation things we do, right? Taking it inside ourselves. And that, I think, is condensed in ritual. So I know that you have been playfully experimenting with rituals. I was able to be a part of the Forest Feast last night with my husband Ron and our friend Colin. And it was this beautifully curated event where we shared table together and then went through this prayer sequence that you described, and it was beautifully participative. I noticed you do a blessing of the animals too on the farm. So good thing these are blessed chickens and blessed dairy goats, blessed dogs and cats. What other sort of liturgical shenanigans have you tried to help people live into this embodied faith practice?Elaine Heath We do so many things. It's so much fun. It's never boring. It's never boring. We have a ritual in the fall, in late November, where we tuck the farm in and put it to bed for the winter, and we have the children come, we get some compost. You know, we've cleared out the beds, and they're gonna rest now. And so the children put some compost in. And we have a liturgy that we use. We light candles, and we thank Mother Earth for the food, we thank God for the opportunities. And so this is one of the things that we do ritualistically. We also have a spring ritual. It's very Hebrew-Bible like, right? With these seasons and the crops and the things with the liturgical seasons, we also have done a bunch of things. My favorite one so far was for epiphany, and this was two years ago. And so I had the interns from Duke Divinity School do the bulk of the planning. I just gave them a little bit of guidance about the four-fold order of worship and just some things like that. So we had a journey through the forest. It started here. We went on the forest trail. Of course, it was dark outside, and they had gone ahead and set up fairy lights at certain places where we're going to stop. And one of the interns' fiance was a musician, so he had his guitar, and he had one of those things where you can play the harmonica and play the guitar at the same time, but he was our troubadour, and all of us were the Magi. So there's this troop of Magi, and we would stop at each station along the way, and there were prompt questions that we would take five minutes, and people could respond to these questions. There would be a scripture reading, and we respond to the question, we go to the next station. And it was so amazing. People shared from their lives in a very deep way. It surprised me how quickly they went deep. Well, it was dark, and there were these twinkle lights, and there was the troubadour. Then we finally got up to the Christ child, and we went into the goat barn. And honestly, I get chills every time I even remember this. But the students had set up in the goat barn—and the goats were in the barn. Okay, they were behind a little chain link thing so they didn't step on the icons and everything. But they had set up an altar at the base of the feeding trough with a big icon of Mary with the Christ Child, candles, and some other things there. There were different icons and some fairy lights. And we went in there, and we all crowded in and began to sing. We sang “This Little Light of Mine,” we sang some Christmas carols, and finished the story. And then we came back to the house and had some snacks and talked about what kind of wisdom was given to us since we were Magi. We were going to be people seeking wisdom and seeking—it was the most beautiful thing. And we've done lots of things like that. We see the land here is a primary text to learn from and to listen to and to observe, not as a metaphor, but as, it's actually a conversation partner. So we do things like that.Debra Rienstra That playfulness is so exciting to me, this sense of using our tradition, using our scriptures, using the skills that we've honed as people of faith over generations, singing together, praying together, but experimenting with those things in new contexts and new ways, in new forms of embodiment that are just faithful and yet playful. And so, as you say, people go deep because they're sort of jarred out of their habitual ways, and that can be such a great formational moment and bonding moment too, and it's very memorable. We remember that in ways—you know, you had such joy on your face as you're describing that. What would you say as you look back over the last, well, let's see, it's been almost eight years? Seven, eight years here at this location. What would you say has given you the most anguish and what has given you the most joy?Elaine Heath Oh, anguish. Which story should I tell?Debra Rienstra Yeah, I don't want to make it sound like it's all been beautiful and romantic and perfect.Elaine Heath Whenever you have community, you have drama. Well, you know, at your typical church, you're gonna have drama sometimes. But what we've found a few times, and it's pretty predictable. This happens in traditional monasteries too, which is why they have novitiate periods that are sometimes quite lengthy and sort of staggered, like you put your toe in the water. People of very high capacity who are deeply grounded spiritually and have a real vision for the gospel, are attracted to community life like this. People who are really hurt, who've had a lot of brokenness, especially from religious institutions or abusive situations, trauma that that is unresolved, that has a lot of unhealed wounds, are also attracted to places like this, often with a sort of utopian hope, because of, you know, life's deficits.Debra Rienstra And they feel that this is a place of healing, and they're right about that.Elaine Heath They're right about it. And so what actually happens is sometimes with the person, the second category of person, will come and join in and just be so full of gladness, because, “Oh, these, these are real people, like they're really doing things in the world. This is what I've longed for.” But then, as relationships form, and we're doing life together, and we all bump up against each other at times, the unhealed wounds fester. And the way I see it is, God's bringing them to a place where, if they'll just do their inner work now, now that it's clear what's the next step—if they'll take the next step, whether it's get some therapy, stay on your meds, get some support for your addiction recovery, whatever the things are—if you'll take the next step, then this is a very supportive community that can help you. It's a village that can be around you and you will heal here in the context of this village. But sometimes people are not willing or not able, or it's not time in their own sense of what they can do, and so then they'll leave. Sometimes when people leave, this happens in traditional churches, for whatever reason, this is a common sort of psychological reaction, they'll create some sort of chaotic drama to be the excuse for leaving, rather than have to face the fact that it was time for me to take the next step, and I was too scared. Because that takes a lot of self awareness, you know, to come to realizations about things like that. So I know from talking to people, from, you know, friends that are in traditional monasteries and convents that this is a common thing that happens there. So it happens here sometimes, and it's never easy. It's always painful and always challenging, you know, but with God's help, we get through it. And so that's the anguish, when those kinds of things happen. We've had a time or two where, over the last 20 years, really, where a person would come in, usually a young adult who's very idealistic, and they're like, “This isn't a new monastic community. You're not forcing people to pray three times a day!” You know, whatever the thing is that they have in their head that is supposed to be, because we're pretty gracious, you know.Debra Rienstra You don't get up at three in the morning.Elaine Heath Yeah, that's not us. We can't do that because, especially if you've got families with children and, you know, you've got to get up and go to work in the morning. So sometimes there will be somebody that figures they know more than everybody else in the room, and they want to take over and run the joint. You know, that's not going to happen. So then that sometimes creates some anguish. What about the joy? The joy is—and there's so much to give me joy. I really, really love seeing people come alive, like I really love seeing people who have, especially people who have been harmed by religion, because of their identity or because of anything, and they find deep spiritual friendship. They find how to connect, in Buechner's words, their deep passion with the world's great need, and start a new thing. And it gives them so much joy. And it's actually helping people. It's helping the world. And just sort of fanning that flame, that gives me a lot of joy. I have so much joy being in touch with the land and the animals. I just really experience them directly mediating God to me. I feel the divine life in them, and I feel, I guess I get a lot of dopamine hits when I'm out there harvesting and when I'm, you know, brushing the goats and talking to the chickens and whatnot.Debra Rienstra They are blessed chickens!Elaine Heath They are blessed chickens.Debra Rienstra What advice would you give to church people who, even though they love their church and their community, recognize that something needs to change, but they don't know where to start? What advice would you give?Elaine Heath To start in their own home, if at all possible, start in their own neighborhood. Start having neighbors over for dinner. Do not tell them we're going to have a Bible study now, because that's—it's not to have a Bible study. It's to form friendships with our neighbors. Start neighboring well. Figure out who lives on my street. Who lives across the street? Invite them for dinner. Have neighborhood potlucks. We did this in Texas, right after we moved there, I think they're still going. We'd have 50 people in our house sometimes. But just invite the neighbors for dinner. Have a potluck. Get to know them. Remember their birthdays, go to their kids' graduation. When you find out their mother died, go to the funeral. It's so simple. It's just such basic neighboring. That's where to start. It's not a church program. It's not making you stop going to church somewhere, to go to church over here. What you're actually doing is living church in your own neighborhood. Start doing that.Debra Rienstra Elaine, it's been such a pleasure to be here on the farm with you and to talk with you, get to know you a little bit. Thank you for what you do, and thank you for spending some time with me today.Elaine Heath It's been a joy. Thank you for the interview.Debra Rienstra Thanks for joining us for show notes and full transcripts, please visit debrarienstra.com and click on the Refugia Podcast tab. This season of the Refugia Podcast is produced with generous funding from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Colin Hoogerwerf is our awesome audio producer. Thanks to Ron Rienstra for content consultation as well as technical and travel support. Till next time, be well. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit refugianewsletter.substack.com

Most of us were raised singing the little song of “This Little Light of Mine, I'm Gonna Let It Shine”

"This Little Light of Mine" is an African-American spiritual with arrangement by Mark Patterson. It was presented as an offering of music at First UMC - Gainesville, FL on 14 September 2025 by the Chancel Choir and accompanied by Lynn Sandefur-Gardner on piano.

This week, Jeanette sits down with Angie Giltner—a powerhouse master business coach, best-selling author, and unapologetic disruptor of the status quo—for an honest and deeply inspiring conversation on faith, funnels, and following God's lead in business. From walking away from a toxic job where she was told, “That's all you're worth,” to launching a wildly successful coaching business and publishing her second book God Is the CEO of Your Business, Angie shares how obedience to God opened unexpected doors—and how you can walk in that same boldness. If you've ever felt undervalued, overlooked, or unsure how to merge your faith and your business, this episode will breathe fresh fire into your soul. We talk about business strategy, prophetic obedience, faith-based entrepreneurship, and why custom sales funnels (not cookie-cutter templates) are the way to go. ✨ “You're not too much—you were just made to shine bright.” ✨ “God told me to write the book…and not tell a soul.” ✨ “If you can't find the space God is calling you to—go build it.” In This Episode: - Why cookie-cutter business advice doesn't work—and how to build your God-given funnel - How obedience to God's whispers leads to overflow (and books!) - The power of prophetic assignments in your business - Real talk on walking away from toxic spaces and reclaiming your value - Why you don't need permission to disrupt the status quo

Mini: Let's review the Fiery Furnace with the songs: "This Little Light of Mine", "Them That Honor Me", "O, Friend Do You Love Jesus", and our memory verse Dan.3:17 "Our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us." Recorded and produced by: Ashley B. Larson Don't forget to check out the coloring pages that go along with each lesson! https://startingwithjesus.com/spb-cp/ If you have enjoyed this program and would like to know more, go to our website: www.startingwithjesus.com The Bible and nature story material used in today's devotional podcast has been used with permission from My Bible First. If you would like your own copy, please visit their website-or call 1-877-242-5317. If you would like to purchase your own Memory Verse CD or Songbook, go to Ouachita Hills Store (https://www.ouachitahillsacademy.org/store?page=1&store_category_id=0&sort_by=title&is_ascending=1&search=). Songs from: Little Voices Praise Him, SDA Hymnal, Sabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, New Sabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, Memory Verse Verse Songs for Cradle Roll, Children's Songs For Jesus, and Scripture Songs and Little Lessons All Bible verses are from the NKJV. Singers for this Quarter: Tory, Caleb, and Enoch Hall, Hudson Reeves, Michael and Amy Nelson Editing assist: Dillon Austin and Josh Larson Music Recording and Editing: Rachel Nelson and Kristy Hall Coloring Pages: Rachel Lamming, Lily Canada, and Evie Rodriguez Theme Music: Lindsey Mills- www.lindseymillsmusic.com  God: who gives talents for us to use for Him

Send us a textIn this episode, we take a little detour and look at the timeless children's Christian songs, "Jesus Loves Me," and "This Little Light of Mine." Both were meant to be God-glorifying, Gospel centered hymns, but have been changed, misused, and taken out of context so often, sometimes, they barely resemble the original version. Join us as we follow the journeys of both of these classics. Their stories may surprise you!Jesus Loves Me -By The Vagel Brothers - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD1_CPqJusgThis Little Light of Mine - By Sonia Selbie - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOUObNuZLukThanks for tuning in! Be sure to check out everything Proverbs 9:10 on our website, www.proverbs910ministries.com! You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Rumble, YouTube, Twitter, Truth Social, and Gettr!

You ever heard the song, This Little Light of Mine?In this message, Pastor Kevin shows us different ways that God calls us to shine our light. The world is waiting on your light so live what God has called us to do.

We often say that the road to a successful opera career can be a winding one—and we've got the receipts to prove it! Join Key Change co-hosts Anna Garcia and Olga Perez Flora as they discuss career trajectories, academic journeys, and artistic life with two legendary performers and educators: Kristin Ditlow, Associate Professor of Vocal Coaching and Opera Conductor at the University Of New Mexico, and James Flora*, acclaimed American tenor and Lecturer in Voice and Opera, also at UNM. Our conversation sets the stage for an exciting collaboration between Santa Fe Opera and UNM. “The position that I have (at UNM) has evolved with me,” says Kristin, who has worked around the world as a conductor and a pianist. “That's a testament to a healthy place that's willing to grow along with its faculty and allow them to grow in a position.” It's also a verdant artistic environment where raw talent is refined, and practice leads to proficiency.   Jamie hopes that the next generation of opera professionals will bring the art form's epic storytelling and staging to a broader audience. “I'd love for opera to step away a little bit from exclusivity,” he says, reflecting on how the perceived cliquishness couldn't be farther from the true experience of a live opera. “A lot of people who grew up in small towns like I did didn't understand the opera was for them,” he says, adding, “Opera's for everyone!” *That surname is no coincidence. Jamie also holds the title of spouse to our very own Olga. KEY CHANGE RECOMMENDED PLAYLISTS Catch up on the full story of Hometown To The World: Season 1, Ep 6: Hometown to the World: Discovering Postville Season 2, Ep 9: America Is Impossible Without Us Season 3, Ep 3: Responding to the World Season 3, Ep 8: Bridging Communities with Carmen Flórez-Mansi Season 4, Ep 1: This Doesn't Happen Without Audience; The Hometown to the World Premiere Season 4, Ep 2: Influence and Inclusion: The Impact of Hometown to the World with Youth Chorus Season 4, Ep 8: Hometown to the World Debuts on Broadway Hear the evolution of This Little Light of Mine: Season 2, Ep 7: Mother of a Movement: This Little Light of Mine BONUS: Is This America?  Season 3, Ep 4: Singing A Call to Action: Is This America?  Season 3, Ep 5: Making a Choice With Conviction: A conversation with Jeri Lynne Johnson Season 3, Ep 6: Building a Better Society with Florida International University Music Students Season 3, Ep 7: Lighting a Fire: The Legacy of Fannie Lou Hamer Season 4, Ep 6: A Day in the Life Before a World Premiere Season 4, Ep 7: Telling Hard Truths FEATURED IN THIS EPISODE Kristin Ditlow James Flora MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE IMSLP - Petrucci Music Library for scores in public domain Apprentice Program for Singers | Santa Fe Opera Cold Mountain | Santa Fe Opera The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs | Santa Fe Opera Hometown to the World | Santa Fe Opera This Little Light Of Mine | Santa Fe Opera Der Rosenkavalier | Santa Fe Opera The Turn Of The Screw | Santa Fe Opera Die Walküre | Santa Fe Opera La bohème | Santa Fe Opera Rigoletto | Santa Fe Opera A Midsummer Night's Dream | Santa Fe Opera Little Women | UNM Opera Oberlin Conservatory of Music Westminster Choir College Boston Symphony Opera BSO | Tanglewood San Francisco Opera | Merola Opera Program Arizona Opera The Glimmerglass Festival Pittsburgh Opera Central City Opera Kentucky Opera Metropolitan Opera This is Spinal Tap New Jersey Opera Theater Opera Steamboat The Three Feathers Benjamin Britten Star Wars Psycho Opera Company of Middlebury *** Key Change is a production of The Santa Fe Opera, Department of Community Engagement & Education. Share your favorite opera moments and questions with Community Engagement: agarcia@santafeopera.org Produced and edited by Andrea Klunder at The Creative Impostor Studios Hosted by Anna Garcia & Olga Perez Flora Audio Engineering: Collin Ungerleider & Kabby at Kabby Sound Studios in Santa Fe Technical Director: Edwin R. Ruiz Production Support from Alex Riegler Show Notes by Lisa Widder Theme music by Rene Orth with Corrie Stallings, mezzo-soprano, and Joe Becktell, cello Cover art by Dylan Crouch This podcast is made possible due to the generous support of the Hankins Foundation, Principal Education Sponsor of the Santa Fe Opera. To learn more, visit SantaFeOpera.org/KeyChange.  

"The Earth Brings Us Life and Joy" April 20, 2025 Easter Sunday lands right before Earth Day this year, so it seems fitting that we celebrate nature in its joyful renewal. Order of Service - Service Leader: John Sproule Chimes Welcome, Land Acknowledgement, Announcements Prelude - pianist: Andrew Glover Chalice Lighting "Alleluia!" by Jeanne Lloyd Hymn 21 "For the Beauty of the Earth" Sharing our Abundance: charity for April: Child Haven International - childhaven.ca Sung Response: Hymn 402 "From You I Receive" Offertory "Blue Skies" – Andrew Glover and Andrea Graham Service Leader Reflection John Sproule Hymn 61 "Lo, the Earth Awakes Again" Activity: Presenting new name tags Musical Presentation - Andrew Glover Minister Reflection - Rev Rosemary Chocolate Communion Candles of Joy and Concern Hymn 118 "This Little Light" Extinguishing the Flame "This Joyful Game" by Rev Scott Tayler Benediction Postlude - Andrew Glover "Carry the Flame" Musical Presentation - "Sweet Georgia Brown"– Andrew Glover and Andrea Graham

Theme From Sunday's Sermon: Sanctification: Growing in Holiness On this edition of One Single Story, Pastors Stephen Mizell, Sheryl Daughety, and Wendy Korbusieski discuss the following questions: I noticed in the reading today that God used a song to teach Israel about keeping His teachings. What are some Christian songs you learned as a child that taught you Godly principles that helped you in life? (e.g. Jesus Loves Me; Amazing Grace; This Little Light of Mine; etc.) How much responsibility should one generation take for the actions of the next generation? Are you concerned about the future generations of America? The reading for the day is: Deuteronomy 31:1–32:27 Luke 12:8-34 Psalm 78:32-55 Proverbs 12:21-23

Motorcycling offers more than escape—it provides a path to mindfulness and purpose through our interactions with others on the road. George Bernard Shaw's century-old wisdom about living for something greater than ourselves perfectly captures the spirit of what it means to ride with intention and community consciousness.A simple wave or nod to a driver who makes a mistake can transform how all motorcyclists are perceived.  Kind interactions with drivers may make them more likely to watch for and respect motorcyclists in the future.  The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride exemplifies how our passion for motorcycling can support important causes.  Shaw's quote reminds us not to be "a feverish, selfish little clod of ailments and grievances" but to live with purpose.  Motorcycling forces us to be present, letting everyday grievances fade away.  The community of motorcycling creates a brotherhood/sisterhood united by our love of riding.  Like the song "This Little Light of Mine," we're called to shine brightly and make a difference through our riding

Guest:Robin HamiltonWebsite: https://www.aroundrobin.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinhamilton123/_____________________________Host: Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast & Audio Signals PodcastWebsite: https://www.marcociappelli.com_____________________________Episode Title:

Guest:Robin HamiltonWebsite: https://www.aroundrobin.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinhamilton123/_____________________________Host: Marco Ciappelli, Co-Founder at ITSPmagazine [@ITSPmagazine] and Host of Redefining Society Podcast & Audio Signals PodcastWebsite: https://www.marcociappelli.com_____________________________Episode Title:

✨ This Little Light of Mine... ✨ Hunny, where is Princess Paua?!

✨ This Little Light of Mine... ✨ Hunny, where is Princess Paua?!

Evil always dresses in a garment of light. It hides in plain sight. It smiles. It's friendly. It's comforting. It's dishonest. It appears as something it's not.Take, for example, that seemingly innocuous campfire song all your children have been taught to sing at your silly church camps: “This Little Light of Mine.” Like a mother who possesses children; like a tribe that possesses land; like those who refuse to let go of what God destroys—or worse, those who wickedly imagine they can compensate for God's will by loving their neighbor—like a spoiled child clamoring for a toy.Yes, this little hymn of the Antichrist twists the teaching of the Gospel of Luke into a fascist anthem that leads, at worst, to genocide—and at best, to a mind-numbing theology of the cult of self: the worship of money, human reason, community, and ultimately, state power.“This little light of mine?”Are you kidding me? Do you really think the place men dared not tread is now yours to share? Do you know what you're talking about? Do you really believe the light upon which Moses dared not gaze is yours to adorn with coverings, like a pet?Think. No—do not think. Hear.To what did Luke refer in chapter 8 when he said lampstand? Container? Cover? What do any of these things have to do with you and your church camps?He who has ears to hear, let him hear.This week, I discuss Luke 8:16.Show Notesἅπτω / נ-ג-ע (nun-gimel-ʿayin) / ن-ج-ع (nūn-jīm-ʿayn)Greek: to set on fire. Hebrew: to touch, strike violently, reach, or afflict. The Arabic cognate نَجَعٌ (najaʿ) refers to 1. the effect of the action, 2. being effective, or 3. having an impact or benefit—for example, a statement or teaching; in modern usage, a medicine. In a nomadic context, it signifies the departure or migration of people or animals in search of pasture or sustenance.λύχνος / נ-ר (nun-resh) / ن-و-ر (nūn-wāw-rāʾ)Light, lamp. The Arabic cognate نُور (nūr) functions as “light” or “illumination.”καλύπτω / כ-ס-ה (kaf-samek-he) / ك-س-ى (kāf-sīn-yāʾ)Cover, conceal, clothe, drape, forgive. The Arabic verb كَسَا (kasā) means “to clothe” or “to cover.” Its triliteral root is ك-س-و (kāf-sīn-wāw). كسوة الكعبة (kiswat al-ka'bah) denotes the cloth that covers the Kaaba in Mecca.σκεῦος / כ-ל-י (kaf-lamed-yod) / ك-ي-ل (kāf-yāʾ-lām)Vessel, implement, tool. The Arabic word كيل (kayl) refers to a measure of grain. It denotes measuring, weighing, or apportioning something in quantities. The root is also related to the Hebrew function כול (kul), which can function as comprehending, containing, or measuring. In Arabic كُلّ (kulu) indicates all.κλίνη / מ-ט-ה (mem-ṭet-he) / م-ط-ط (mīm-ṭāʾ-ṭāʾ)Couch, bed, to incline, stretch downward, extend. The Arabic مَطَّ (maṭṭa) "to stretch" or "extend" shares a common Proto-Semitic root (m-ṭ-) with Hebrew:Hebrew מ-ט-ה (m-ṭ-h);Arabic م-ط-ط (m-ṭ-ṭ); Aramaic מטא (mṭʾ); Akkadian (maṭû)λυχνία / מ-נ-ר (mem-nun-resh) / ن-و-ر (nūn-wāw-rāʾ)Lampstand, light, menorah. The Arabic cognate of מְנוֹרָה (menorah) is منارة (manārah), which means candlestick, lighthouse, or minaret (the tower of a mosque), the lighthouse from which the call to hear scripture is announced to all. The triliteral root in Arabic pertains to light, illumination, or shining.اللَّهُ نُورُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ(allāhu nūru as-samāwāti wa-al-arḍi)”"God is the light of the heavens and the earth.”(Surah An-Nur 24:35) ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

This Little Light of Mine This Little Light of Minea sermon by Rev. J. Christy Ramsey DOWNLOAD A LIVE RECORDING Audio from worship at the 10 AM Worship Service December 29, 2024at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Carson Cityedited from a flawless transcription made by edigitaltranscriptions all errors are mine. John 1:1-18 Sermons also available free on iTunes Akron, Ohio, my hometown, has a Main Street that follows the river. It was a river, and then it was a canal, and then it was road. Then came a flood, and then became a river again because you’ll have that. Goes through – Main Street goes through the lowest part of town because that’s where the river was. That’s where commerce was. That’s where the canal was. And so Main Street goes right like this all the way through town, and it’s the lowest part of town. Over here we have Goodyear Heights. And it’s high. It goes right up. It’s like in the middle of the valley. Goodyear Heights is over here. That’s where the factories are. That’s where the rubber was made, the smokestacks, the work crews, all are up here. And it’s high. It is high up. And in the space of about a mile or two, 10 blocks, you can see it. It goes down to Main Street, and then it goes up to the outside. The outside is West Hill. West Hill’s on the other side of Main Street. Market connects the two. You could, up at West Hill, you can see, and see the whole town. West Hill was where all the rich people lived, the factory owners, the management, because, you know, smoke was all over there, and in the valley it didn’t get up to West Hill. So that’s where West Hill was. Now, my family, my grandma, grandpa, and my brother, my uncle, good people, they were the factory people. They lived over here on the East Side, on Goodyear Heights. And over here is where we moved on up, you know, like that song, “Movin’ On Up” to the West Side. So we moved over here. So we were constantly going from the West Hill down the valley on Market. [Indiscernible] to go visit the family and connect up in church and all that. And so we did that a lot. At one time, I don’t know, late ‘60s probably, we were just at the crest of West Hill where we could see the entire traffic of Akron. We could see Main Street going along the canal. We could see Market Street. And Market, busy, busy throughfare. And I remember one day we were at the crest of the hill, looking down, and we stopped. We pulled over to the side of the road. And I looked, and all through Market Street, 10, 20 blocks, down to Main Street and back up, traffic was frozen. Everything was moved up to the side of the road and stopped. I thought, well, that’s odd. But then I looked, and I saw the flashing lights of a fire engine coming down Market Street. And everybody had stopped and got out of the way and made way for those flashing lights. Fast-forward 30 years, and some of you here know what that’s like. You know, you turn around, suddenly it’s 30 years later? Thirty years later I’m driving those flashing lights on the fire engine, faking it till I make it because no one else would get in the seat, so I did. I’m driving. And I’m learning about flashing lights and about fire department. They tell me, you know, you’re not allowed to go through red lights in a fire truck in Ohio. It’s against the law. You know you don’t have the right of way in Ohio with the flashing lights and sirens. All that is, is a request for the right of way. All that light and shining big red truck is just saying, please, please let us go by. It’s just please, it’s just a request. And we are responsible as firefighters to be driving with due regard as opposed to the rest of the people that have reasonable care. They just have to be reasonable. We’ve got to have due regard. And so they don’t have to get out of the way. They can just go on with their life. They can ignore the light. You know, that light says someone’s in trouble. Someone needs help now. Could you move out of the way? Could you stop just a moment thinking of yourself and of where you’re going and what you need to do? Can you stop, give way, so somebody else could get the help they need? It’s just an ask. And I was new guy there, even though I was older than most of those guys. Oh, that was not – they were very kind to me, you know. But, yeah, on the training events, you know, where they did training, they assigned me the role of “guy who died.” And so they would put me out in a field, and they’d come rescue me so I could just, you know, relax, kind of chillin’. So, but, you know, I try to measure my questions. You’ve been in a new job, you don’t ask every question the first day. I mean, that’s just annoying. You know, you just try to get what you need to get through the day. But there was this one thing, right here in the firehouse garage, right back here, you know, seven feet up, or eight, I don’t know, right here. There was, you know, one of those old metal box light switches like you’ve got in a garage. It was rusty. You remember those things? The conduit came down, it wasn’t pretty. And it was a switch, and there was this old, yellow, brown, moldy paper curled up over it, and you could just make out it said this, in big block letters: “DO NOT USE.” Don’t you want to? Don’t you want to? So I asked one of the old guys, I said, “Hey, what is that? Roger, Roger, what’s with that switch?” He goes, “Oh, that switch. That switch turns every traffic light in town red.” I go, oh. “But we don’t use that anymore.” Yeah, yeah, I saw the sign, yeah. He goes, “Yeah, the right turn on red, nobody stops anymore.” No one follows the lights. They just keep moving. Christ the light of the world came into the world. And what does light do? Light shows you there’s other people beside yourself. Light can show you, reveal that there’s more people than just you here. And sometimes, yes, sometimes those people need help that you don’t need, but they need. You know, when I think back at that time in Akron, that really impressed me, to see all the traffic in the city stopped because some stranger somewhere was in trouble, and everyone agreed that that traffic mattered. Not all traffic mattered. That traffic mattered because they needed help. And because they were in trouble, and because they were hurting, we could step by and allow them to get the help they need. I had a hard time with the sermon today because you know I’m going to be political. You know what the difference between political is for – political is other people. When it affects me, that’s morality. That’s important. When it affects other people, well, that’s politics. I don’t have to worry about that. Don’t talk or bother me about it. I only want to talk about me, me, me. That’s morality. That’s right and wrong. Did you know that fire trucks and fire engines and fire departments used to be politics? Fire insurance the politics in that. Because you see, back in the day, I know it’s hard to imagine, but see if you can wrap your heads around this concept, that lifesaving care of the fire department was dependent on insurance companies. I know, who would have thought such a thing? If you did not have insurance, your house burned down. You could die. Your possessions were gone. If you didn’t have any a fire insurance mark. Such a thing shouldn’t exist. If you go to some old fire departments, maybe even here in Carson, you can see what they called fire insurance marks, a metal plaque. What they were, they were these big metal plates, usually some kind of star shape, was fastened on the front of the house displaying which insurance company the fire department covered for this house. And if you didn’t pay your money, you didn’t get signed up during open enrollment, had a pre-existing conditions, you can’t pay the fire department at the fire. They’ll come for the fire, would put out your neighbor’s fire that had insurance, but you just burned down. You could be out there crying, offering to pay. No. No, you didn’t buy the insurance. You just burned down. That’s the way it is. That’s the way it is. That’s fair. That’s law. That’s the rules. That’s the way it is. Back then there’s no other way to imagine. Luckily, we thought that was silly. We thought that was immoral. We thought people that were in trouble, people that were going to go bankrupt, people that were facing financial ruin from fire’s destruction, we think, no, that will not be dependent on whether or not they paid their insurance premium. They’re our neighbors everybody here needs to be safe, regardless, so their house doesn’t burning down from a neighbors fire, or if they’re not safe, at least there’s help on the way. And we’re not going to check the insurance rolls and get preauthorized approval before we put wet stuff on the red stuff. No matter who you were, no matter what your morals were, no matter where you were in the country. When I was on the fire department, if you were in trouble, we came, and we did all we could to save your life and your property. We came with those lights that showed that there’s other people in the world that need help, that there’s other traffic that mattered. Those lights that showed that there are some people hurting. Can you please just get out of the way and let us help them? I don’t know what’s coming up. No one knows what’s coming up. But I’m going to say there’s going to be a lot of fights over light. Over light. We’re not the light. We’re not Jesus Christ. We’re not the light of the world. We bear witness to the light. We say Lord Jesus Christ comes to bring light to the world. Everyone. We’re not going to keep things in the dark because that’s not what our Christ says. Our Christ is the light of the world, not the dark of the world. So when people said, we’re not going to report maternity deaths anymore, we’re not going to report them, we’re going to put them under the dark, we’re going to [indiscernible] light of the world. We want to know about those people. We want to know if they need help. We want to turn on the light and go to them if they need it with sirens blazing, no matter who they are, [indiscernible] been, what the color of their skin is, what their nationality is, how much their income is, what their employment status. Turn on the lights. Christ is the light of the world, and we don’t abide by keeping people in the dark. I’ve only been in the ministry for 40 years. I can remember, I remember when there was a school shooting, everything stopped. We had special church services, and we had special prayers, and we knew the names, and we said the names, and we prayed for the people. We even wrote, in one church I had, to the people that were there. And I also remember that a church I was in, when someone stood up a couple years later to pray for the latest school shooting, and the leader says we can’t pray for that. That happens all the time. It’s not special. The number one killer of children in America, our country, is gun violence. Number one. If anyone from a foreign country or any other force came and killed our children like guns are, we would stop it the next day. But it’s in the dark. Did you know it’s illegal for Congress to spend money to study gun violence as a health issue? It’s not allowed. Keep that stuff in the dark. We’re not people of the dark. We’re people of the light. And we say the light comes to everyone of the world, not just some people in the world. It comes to all. It’s right there in John. We read it today. We believe it. We’re the ones that are going to come out and say, oh, no. We follow the light of the world. You’re not going to cover up all these things in the dark. We’re here to tell you. And if someone needs help, we’re at least going to get out of the way. And we might even be on that truck with lights and sirens. Get out of our way. We’re helping people that need help. And no, we’re not checking their insurance cards. That’s what it means when the light of the world comes into the world. Now, it’s not without controversy and upsets and changing this back to the way things were, you know, and that’s it. That’s the only thing that can happen. Not even from other Christians. Have you heard about Westboro Baptist Church and Fred Phelps? They’ve kind of not been around as much. But it used to be a big thing. They’d go to funerals and protest and curse people at funerals of veterans, and veterans coming home. They go to churches and demonstrate. They go everywhere and demonstrate and make things about how terrible and awful the people were who were trying to go to a funeral or trying to have a service. They went to Chicago to the Trinity UCC Church, who are unashamedly Christian and magnificently black [indiscernible], that’s their motto up there. Trinity UCC Church, a great history. And Dr. Morris was there, and Moss was there, and comes to church. I don’t know if he walked the labyrinth before church, or maybe they gave him a key, I don’t know. Could happen. But he was there early, and they were there, Westboro Baptist Church, cursing people going to church, calling them horrible awful names. Imagine, if you will, coming to church, coming to the official church, and it’s kids, it’s old ladies and good people and maybe some people that are hurting. Who knows? People come to church when they’re hurting, sure. And they get cursed at. They get damned. They get yelled at on the way. And Dr. Moss, like a lot of good pastors do in big churches, went to the choir because that’s where you go because you know the choir, they’re kind of the zealous of the church. If you had a choir, you would know this. Don’t be messin’ with the choir. You know. These are the shock troops of the church. And he went to the choir, and they had a hundred people in the choir, robed choir, hundred people. They rocked and rolled it. And he told them there’s people out there cursing our people coming into church. They’re cursing the small children, the little children. They’re yelling at the old ladies. They’re making things – they’re going through hell, and they need protection. They need help. I want you to go out there. I want you to robe up. And I want you to go out there, and I want you to sing so loud that they cannot hear those curses. I want you to sing so loud that they come in to praises and not to curses. I want you to sing “This Little Light of Mine.” This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine. This little light of mine, I’m gonna to let it shine, Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. And they sang that song and overwhelmed the chants, and people coming to church were protected. People that were vulnerable were shielded from the hate and from the awfulness that was there. And they didn’t just do it and ignore the people that were saying the curses and the things. They offered to pray for them. And when they were turned down, you don’t get in the way of the choir. When they were turned down, the choir went ahead and prayed for them anyway, right there out in front, so it was in the midst of the cursing and the damnations and the awfulness and the racial things was prayer and praise. That’s light. That’s light. When someone’s hurting, when someone’s vulnerable, when someone’s being attacked, the people of the light are there. It could be a choir singing “This Little Light of Mine.” It could be people on the fire truck with lights and sirens. It could be people in the courtroom saying we want to know how the health of our mothers are doing and whether what we’re doing is killing them. We want to know what’s going on in our schools and our children and are they safe, and what’s going on with that? Why do they die so much, and no other nation has this trouble? Don’t sweep it under the rug. Shine the little light on it. We’re going to be light shiners. We’re going to be looking for those that are in the dark and bring them into the light and say we are here to help you. You don’t have to. You don’t have to give out the right of way. But man, it’s great when we can look out for one another and refuse to accept a city that’s on fire because someone didn’t pay their insurance, because someone didn’t have the right placard up. We said no, we’re not going to let you lose everything and die because you didn’t pay the insurance premium. You know, that’s one step away from “A nice little house you got here. Too bad if anything would happen to it.” Little protection money over there. Friends, we can be different. John says the world is different because Jesus Christ came into the world. The light came into the world, and darkness fled. Let us be the little light. Let us be the light that helps those that are in the dark and are hurting. Amen.

Jesus came to us as a baby at Christmas time. And Jesus still comes intimately close to us now. Sometimes He comes into the darkness reminding us that He is the Light of the World. Steve Norman of Winning at Home & host of The New Norm Podcast has written a devotional to help us ready our hearts to celebrate Jesus’ coming. It’s called Countdown to Christmas. At a time when he was sitting in physical darkness and feeling ashamed, Jesus came to Steve through the words of his 4-year-old son singing, “This Little Light of Mine.” As Steve was hitting the wall in the 17th mile of a marathon he was ill-prepared to run, Jesus ran next to him through words of encouragement from fellow runners. Jesus comes and meets us where we are. Eugene Peterson says in The Message “The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.” Jesus is Immanuel, God with us!Donate to Moody Radio: http://moodyradio.org/donateto/morningshow/wgnbSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If women truly knew our collective power, all the nonsense would have stopped a long time ago!Robin Hamilton is an Emmy-award-winning TV Host, Producer, Filmmaker, Moderator, and Speaker specializing in creating impactful narratives that inspire transformation. As the founder of ARound Robin Production Company, she produces compelling films for non-profits, enhancing their fundraising and marketing efforts. Robin's documentaries, such as "This Little Light of Mine" and "Odessa's Reign," highlight social justice and resilience. It's time we get real about the struggles women face in media, filmmaking, and business. Robin shares her raw journey—from fighting for an agent's attention to carving her own path and creating impactful content. But here's the truth... it's not just about working harder or being "smart enough." It's about getting that leg up—whether it's an inheritance, a connection, or just finding someone who believes in you. And the system often isn't built for us to win.Robin talks openly about the challenges she faced in the media and filmmaking industries, and how women often struggle with a lack of support and access to opportunities. There are systemic issues that create barriers for women, especially women of color, everywhere. Her key is storytelling to boost the business and boost our values.The power is in our hands to create a different system. Women need to collaborate, share openly, and support each other more. It's about helping each other rise, not competing. When it comes to business, know your worth and double it. If you don't stand up for your value, the world won't either!  Let's not just break the glass ceiling—let's shatter it. Together. Show Notes:

Mini: Lessons in song help to review the stories about Paul: "Fuzzy Wuzzy Bear", "We are HisHands", and "This Little Light of Mine." We review our memory verse Mark 16:15, "Go into allthe world and preach the gospel."Recorded and produced by: Ashley B. LarsonDon't forget to check out the coloring pages that go along with each lesson! https://startingwithjesus.com/spb-cp/If you have enjoyed this program and would like to know more, go to our website:www.startingwithjesus.comThe Bible and nature story material used in today's devotional podcast has been used withpermission from My Bible First. If you would like your own copy, please visit their website-orcall 1-877-242-5317.If you would like to purchase your own Memory Verse CD or Songbook, go to Ouachita HillsStore (https://www.ouachitahillsacademy.org/store?page=1&store_category_id=0&sort_by=title&is_ascending=1&search=).Songs from: Little Voices Praise Him, SDA Hymnal, Sabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, NewSabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, Memory Verse Verse Songs for Cradle Roll, Children's Songs ForJesus, and Scripture Songs and Little LessonsAll Bible verses are from the NKJV.Singers for this Quarter: Tory, Caleb, and Enoch Hall, Hudson Reeves, Michael and Amy NelsonEditing assist: Dillon Austin and Josh LarsonMusic Recording and Editing: Rachel Nelson and Kristy HallColoring Pages: Rachel Lamming, Lily Canada, and Evie RodriguezTheme Music: Lindsey Mills- www.lindseymillsmusic.comGod: who gives talents for us to use for Him

En el audio de hoy, viene de invitado el psicólogo Pablo de Lorenzo creador del podcast "La mente y sus cicatrices" para hablarnos del trauma complejo.  Podcast La mente y sus cicatrices: https://www.ivoox.com/podcast-mente-sus-cicatrices_sq_f11787046_1.html Imagen: Melancholy by Munch Música:  This Little Light of Mine by Alessandro Ricciarelli.

Watch Gaby Giffords Sing “This Little Light of Mine”In this moving video, Gaby Giffords, who survived a traumatic brain injury, sings This Little Light of Mine. Her recovery through music therapy is a powerful example of how music can heal the brain and help reconnect us to the world. It's a reminder of music's ability to help us find our voice, even in the most difficult circumstances. https://youtu.be/tiJ9X_wLSWM?si=BoAwWEx3SGhKTQxt Make sure to subscribe and follow me for updates, tips, and more ways to stay in the flow! You can connect with me on:• Instagram: @flow_network__• YouTube: @flow_network__• TikTok: @theflownetwork• LinkedIn Newsletter: Daily Flow Stay tuned for more great content, and as always, stay in the flow!

Trey's Table Episode 147: This Little Light of Mine In this episode, I explore the similarities between the African-American struggle for reparations and the Māori struggle for reparations in New Zealand. New Zealand Prime Minister delivers apology to Māori tribe for past violations of the Treaty of Waitangi - JURIST - News How New Zealand Is Modeling Reparationshttps://youtu.be/7ZOIIk9A6-8?s...https://youtu.be/bsSJdH6wdzU?s...

This is a special musical presentation of This Little Light of Mine with the Chancel Choir at Faith Lutheran Church in Okemos, Michigan.

Let's review the Fiery Furnace with the songs: "This Little Light of Mine", "Them That Honor Me", "O, Friend Do You Love Jesus", and our memory verse Dan.3:17 "Our God, whom we serve, is able to deliver us."Recorded and produced by: Ashley B. LarsonDon't forget to check out the coloring pages that go along with each lesson! https://startingwithjesus.com/spb-cp/If you have enjoyed this program and would like to know more, go to our website: www.startingwithjesus.comThe Bible and nature story material used in today's devotional podcast has been used with permission from My Bible First. If you would like your own copy, please visit their website-or call 1-877-242-5317.If you would like to purchase your own Memory Verse CD or Songbook, go to Ouachita Hills Store (https://www.ouachitahillsacademy.org/store?page=1&store_category_id=0&sort_by=title&is_ascending=1&search=).Songs from: Little Voices Praise Him, SDA Hymnal, Sabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, New Sabbath Songs For Tiny Tots, Memory Verse Verse Songs for Cradle Roll, Children's Songs For Jesus, and Scripture Songs and Little LessonsAll Bible verses are from the NKJV.Singers for this Quarter: Tory, Caleb, and Enoch Hall, Hudson Reeves, Michael and Amy NelsonEditing assist: Dillon Austin and Josh LarsonMusic Recording and Editing: Rachel Nelson and Kristy HallColoring Pages: Rachel Lamming, Lily Canada, and Evie RodriguezTheme Music: Lindsey Mills- www.lindseymillsmusic.com God: who gives talents for us to use for Him

RATE! REVIEW! SUBSCRIBE! Email me your thoughts, comments, and questions at caniberealpodcast@gmail.com Show Notes: ○ Romans 15:14-33 & Romans 16: 17-20, 25-27 ○ Lesson 12: "This Little Light of Mine" ○ Read Romans 15:14-33 and Romans 16:17-20, 25-27 ○ Read Inspiration from book ○ Paul position is to lead by example- he preached the Good News, and we are called to do like wise. § To be a light, to love our neighbors, to spread the gospel, to be like Christ Jesus! ○ He gives us both warnings and encouragements to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus! ○ Read Matthew 5:13-16 ○ Matthew 28: 18-20 ○ 2 Corinthians 2:14-17 ○ 1 Peter 3:15-16 ○ 1 Peter 4: 7-11 ○ Read Life Lessons from book --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rachel398/message

As we think about the tables and churches where we gather, what can we do to find unity among ourselves? Fr. Dan Riley, ofm, invites us to set the world on fire with love and peace. Music, "This Little Light of Mine," by Kim and Reggie Harris (used with permission). Produced May 27, 2024. Podcast #290. For more information about Mt. Irenaeus, visit www.mountainonline.org.

Pastor Bobby shares part two of the message “This Little Light of Mine”. The post This Little Light of Mine (part two) first appeared on Grace Baptist Church Knoxville, Tennessee.

Pastor Bobby shares a message from Luke 8:16–21, “This Little Light of Mine”. The post This Little Light of Mine first appeared on Grace Baptist Church Knoxville, Tennessee.

Brad tells us how one line from This Little Light of Mine being stuck in his head turned out to be God reprimanding him about hiding His Light.

Christa Brown is a self-described Baptist clergy sex abuse survivor.  But she's so much more. Christa has devoted years of her life to shining a light on the widespread systemic problem of clergy sex abuse and church coverups in what she calls "Baptistland". That's the title of her new book, which was released earlier this week. Christa also wrote "This Little Light", and I had the honor of speaking with her so that we could let more people find ways to make their churches safer physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  "According to Child USA, a leading think tank for the rights of children, fifty-two is the average age of a person bringing forward a report of childhood sexual abuse. I was fifty-one. The mental hurdles are huge. Many child sex abuse victims wait until after the perpetrator has died, and many never disclose their childhood abuse. Many never even recognize that what they experienced was abuse." - Christa Brown Highlights from this episode include: Exploding the myth that "that doesn't happen in MY church" Why churches should not try to handle child sexual abuse issues "in-house" Should forgiveness always lead to restoration Visit my website to access more episodes. If you would like to contact me about booking me as a speaker, or ask about my consulting services, please email me at lori@theunlovelytruth.com.    Ways you can support the work of The Unlovely Truth: Share the episode  Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn  Check out my Amazon Author Page to find resources on personal safety, and safety training for churches.  Christa's Substack site: https://christabrown.substack.com/   Christa's webpage with links to columns she's published about clergy sex abuse: https://christabrown.me/columns/   Child USA's webpage on statute of limitations reform: https://childusa.org/sol/   Christa's handle on X (formerly Twitter) is: @ChristaBrown777   Buy Christa's new book    

Join Leah C. Murphy, CEO and founder of Career Gems for the Journey, as she introduces the "Triumph Together Challenge," a unique interactive reading and discussion experience based on the anthology "Triumph in the Trenches: Navigating Success for Black Professionals." This episode serves as a kickoff to the challenge, inviting listeners to participate in weekly readings and live discussions every Tuesday @ 12pm EST on LinkedIn and YouTube Overview of the Challenge:

Join us for a heartfelt Easter service, a celebration of spiritual renewal and inner transformation. This episode is an invitation to reflect on the essence of the Easter story, a powerful metaphor for our personal spiritual journeys. We discuss the concept of Christ consciousness and how embracing this divine love within us can liberate our spirit. Together, with the musical accompaniment of our Singing as a Spiritual Practice Choir and our special Easter ensemble, we experience prayer, music, meditation, and the rich symbolism of transforming a bare cross into a blooming one. I also delve into the poignant practice of anointing, an optional act of reflection for those inspired to participate.Listen in as we contemplate the profound connections between God, love, and spirituality. This conversation encourages you to be present, free from distractions, and to embrace the movement of spirit through us. We explore the kingdom of God within and amongst us, and I guide you through a moment of mindfulness to align with your heart chakra. We examine the metaphysical interpretations of Christian scripture, seeking a deeper understanding of our existence as spiritual beings. Our creed, recited together, acknowledges God as love, our shared humanity, and the oneness that binds us.Concluding with a message of hope and unity, this episode calls upon you to acknowledge the transformative power of love and belief in shaping personal and collective identity. As we affirm "I am" and recognize ourselves as agents of change, we discuss the importance of embracing love within us and in the wider world. We end with a chorus of "This Little Light of Mine," reflecting on the joy and positivity that music can bring into our lives. I invite you to let your light shine boldly, to embrace your role in making a positive impact, and to celebrate the spirit of community and shared destiny. So tune in, be inspired, and let's rise up together in love.

Sermon Title | "This Little Light of Mine"

It is February, and it is Black History Month! Today we're sharing music we love by black artists of the 20th century. Hello, by Ella Jenkins Hello hello hello and how are you I'm fine I'm fine and I hope that you are too Sing this song with any variation you can think of, soft, loud, humming, whistling, la la la-ing! Ella Jenkins has been dubbed the “The First Lady of the Children's Folk Song.” Here is a playlist of some of our favorites, but be sure to check her out with your kids, we think you'll love her music as much as we do. To watch a mini class where Ms. Elizabeth and her 5 kids share 3 Ella Jenkins songs click here: https://www.clapforclassics.com/blog/ellajenkins This Little Light of Mine This little light of mine (tap knees), I'm gonna let it shine, (arms: up down up down) This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. (dance in a circle) This iconic American gospel song has been energizing and uniting diverse groups of people for nearly a century. It's impossible to sing this song without moving your body and feeling a spark of excitement and purpose. It is a great song to sing with kids because the words are so repetitive, and the message is so positive! We've added some simple actions to each verse, and suggested a flashlight activity for the second time through -- kids and flashlights always seem to be drawn to each other, right? Don't miss these incredible renditions of this song by these famous black artists. Aretha Franklin Sister Rosetta Tharpe Fannie Lou Hamer Maple Leaf Rag Scott Joplin Performed by Stefano Ligoratti. Recording used with permission. https://musopen.org/music/43164-maple-leaf-rag/#recordings You don't want to miss this recording of Scott Joplin performing this piece himself! Join our All Access Membership for access to activities like the ones found on this podcast. The membership includes: Over 250 engaging and educational music lesson videos. Comprehensive music courses organized by theme, for example: "Carnival of the Animals", "Peter and the Wolf," "Rhymes and Games," etc. Printable resources, including lesson plan ideas, parent programs, instrument and animal puppet printables, coloring pages, and more! Extensive "Notes to the Grown-ups" for each lesson, so that you can see exactly what your child is learning, with ideas on how to adapt and extend the lessons. Downloadable audio tracks of the classical music as well as the activities, so that you can listen off screen. Get signed up at: www.clapforclassics.com/join Use the code “LION” for 50% off your first month! Help more families find out about this podcast by leaving us a review wherever you listen. To leave Forte and I a message or a joke please record it here: http://www.speakpipe.com/clapforclassics. We love to feature our listeners on the podcast! Classical music tracks are licensed for our use by Classical.com

Sunday, February 4, 2024 | This Little Light of Mine: Reclaiming the E-Word & De-Busheling Our Light | Pastor Michelle continues in our winter 2024 sermon series This Little Light of Mine, a series about reclaiming and redefining evangelism in the church and living lives of invitation, with "Light on Our Lips," focusing on Mark 1:29-39.

Grab a tube sock for your privates: it's time to pit the Red Hot Chili Peppers against Weird Al! Before Mark makes the pun that drives our listenership numbers off a cliff, we're discussing the omnipresent Chilis hits "Under The Bridge" and "Give It Away"; how many songs Weird Al might have tried to fit his Flintstones joke set into before settling on these; the five items '90s dorm rooms had to contain lest their occupants risk expulsion; and the difference between "sexy" and "just always naked all the time." Hashtag justice for the Bee Girl: it's an all-new episode of MASTAS! Our intro is by David Gregory Byrne, and our outro is by Queens of the Stone Age. For more information/to become a patron of the show and hear all episodes of this season, visit patreon.com/mastas. SHOW NOTES "What...is this thing?" Start at the beginning! The "Under The Bridge" video The "Give It Away" video The "Bedrock Anthem" video ...and of course Blind Melon's "No Rain" That Rolling Stone cover story, in which Anthony Kiedis talks about the birth of "Under The Bridge" Flea's podcast, This Little Light

Welcome back guys!! We have missed you! This week we cover THE most famous cryptid ever - Bigfoot. Who he is, where he hails from, is he real, is he just a hallucination from the marijuana field in Humboldt - we break it all down! We also have decided he should heretofore be called "Blobsquatch." Pass it on. We also make an announcement about the future of the show! One that we are very happy, grateful and excited about! Please check out Carrie's new skincare business, This Little Light of Mine Skincare! It's a crystal and Reiki energy infused skincare made to raise your skin's hydration and your soul's vibration! Join the mailing list, online shop opens in April! thislittlelightofmineskincare.com

Sunday, January 28, 2024 | This Little Light of Mine: Reclaiming the E-Word & De-Busheling Our Light | Pastor Michelle continues in our winter 2024 sermon series This Little Light of Mine, a series about reclaiming and redefining evangelism in the church and living lives of invitation, with "Light on the Line," focusing on Mark 1:21-28.

The Rich Zeoli Show- Hour 3: Michael Ruiz of Fox News writes: “A federal judge in New York has ordered the unsealing of dozens of documents naming people linked to the disgraced financier and sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein. The documents are expected to identify more than 180 people, including associates, victims, investigators and journalists who covered the case.” You can read the full article here: https://www.foxnews.com/us/jeffrey-epstein-scandal-federal-judge-unseal-180-previously-redacted-names In an editorial for DailyMail, Fox News' Kennedy writes: “White House dime bags, a crack-engorged First Son, topless trans activists...and now a lurid Senate sexcapade. America is overrun by fetishist weirdos and whackjobs—and we all know who's to blame!” You can read the full editorial here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12881455/KENNEDY-senate-sex-tape-staffer.html During a television interview with Pix11, Mayor Eric Adams was asked to describe New York City's 2023 in just one word—his response could not have been worse. Adams bizarrely explained: "This is a place where every day you wake up you could experience everything from a plane crashing into our Trade Center to a person celebrating a new business…which is why it's the greatest city on the globe.” During a holiday celebration, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was being shouted down by pro-Palestinian protesters while trying to address those in attendance. To combat the protesters, Mayor Bowser began singing “This Little Light of Mine” at the top of her lungs! Pennsylvania Senate Bill 140 was passed with bipartisan support and signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA)—providing the state with prosecutorial authority over crimes that occur within 500 yards of a SEPTA location. During a press briefing denouncing the legislation, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said that “this is an attack on democracy” and “an erasure of Philadelphia votes” claiming it was the work of Donald Trump and MAGA extremists despite support from Democrats. Rich Zeoli hosts The Mark Levin Show!

The Rich Zeoli Show- Full Episode (12/19/2023): 3:05pm- Lori Ann LaRocca of CNBC writes: “Attacks by Iran-backed Houthi militants on ships in the Red Sea have already rocked global trade. And there could be more disruptions and price increases to come for shipments of goods and fuel. Several major shipping lines and oil transporters have suspended their services through the Red Sea as more than a dozen vessels have come under attack since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in early October.” How much will this disruption of supply chains impact American consumers? You can read the full article here: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/12/18/how-houthi-attacks-in-red-sea-threaten-global-supply-chain.html 3:30pm- In an editorial for DailyMail, Fox News' Kennedy writes: “White House dime bags, a crack-engorged First Son, topless trans activists...and now a lurid Senate sexcapade. America is overrun by fetishist weirdos and whackjobs—and we all know who's to blame!” You can read the full editorial here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12881455/KENNEDY-senate-sex-tape-staffer.html 3:45pm- In his latest piece for Politico Magazine, editor David Siders notes that, perhaps surprisingly, a large number of Mexican-Americans are excited to vote for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in a hypothetical presidential election rematch against President Joe Biden in 2024—citing the former president's hardline immigration policies. You can read the full article here: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2023/12/19/road-trip-el-paso-2024-00131703 3:50pm- On Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 4 which would make entering the country illegally a crime in Texas—allowing the state's law enforcement to arrest and deport migrants who enter the U.S. unlawfully. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned the legislation. 4:05pm- Congressman Guy Reschenthaler— Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania's 14th district & House Republican Chief Deputy Whip—joins The Rich Zeoli Show to discuss the ongoing chaos at the U.S. Southern border. Yesterday, a record-setting 12,000+ migrants crossed the border unlawfully. Perhaps most alarmingly, Reschenthaler explains, is that there have been an estimated 300 people who have been caught crossing the border illegally that were on the U.S. terror watch list—but how many other terror watch-list suspects weren't caught and successfully entered the country unlawfully? 4:25pm- Rich and Henry play Christmas music requests from the audience. Matt sulks because he has been banned from selecting music after advocating for Mariah Carey's “All I Want for Christmas is You.” 4:30pm- While speaking with the media, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg credited the Biden Administration with spurring an “economic recovery.” 4:35pm- While appearing on CNN with anchor Jim Acosta, Democrat pollster Stanley Greenberg warned that President Joe Biden is “losing ground every month” due in large part to the country's economic underperformance. 4:40pm- Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson said he would not vote for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump if he selects Nikki Haley to be his Vice President. 4:50pm- The Philadelphia Eagles lost to the Seattle Seahawks on Monday Night Football—what the heck happened? 4:55pm- Adam Sabes of Fox News writes: “An alleged congressional staffer who filmed an explicit sex tape inside a Senate hearing room could face criminal charges, one lawyer argues. The U.S. Capitol Police told Fox News they were aware of an amateur pornographic video published by the Daily Caller on Friday, which shows someone identified as a congressional staffer, engaging in sex with another man in Hart Senate Office Building room 216… Posts on social media claimed the alleged staffer worked for Sen. Ben Cardin's office. Hours after the story broke, Cardin's office announced that a legislative aide had been dismissed but did not address reports linking a member of his staff to the sex tape.” You can read more here: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senate-sex-tape-congressional-staffer-allegedly-seen-leaked-video-could-face-charges-lawyer-says 5:05pm- Michael Ruiz of Fox News writes: “A federal judge in New York has ordered the unsealing of dozens of documents naming people linked to the disgraced financier and sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein. The documents are expected to identify more than 180 people, including associates, victims, investigators and journalists who covered the case.” You can read the full article here: https://www.foxnews.com/us/jeffrey-epstein-scandal-federal-judge-unseal-180-previously-redacted-names 5:15pm- In an editorial for DailyMail, Fox News' Kennedy writes: “White House dime bags, a crack-engorged First Son, topless trans activists...and now a lurid Senate sexcapade. America is overrun by fetishist weirdos and whackjobs—and we all know who's to blame!” You can read the full editorial here: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12881455/KENNEDY-senate-sex-tape-staffer.html 5:20pm- During a television interview with Pix11, Mayor Eric Adams was asked to describe New York City's 2023 in just one word—his response could not have been worse. Adams bizarrely explained: "This is a place where every day you wake up you could experience everything from a plane crashing into our Trade Center to a person celebrating a new business…which is why it's the greatest city on the globe.” 5:25pm- During a holiday celebration, Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser was being shouted down by pro-Palestinian protesters while trying to address those in attendance. To combat the protesters, Mayor Bowser began singing “This Little Light of Mine” at the top of her lungs! 5:45pm- Pennsylvania Senate Bill 140 was passed with bipartisan support and signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro (D-PA)—providing the state with prosecutorial authority over crimes that occur within 500 yards of a SEPTA location. During a press briefing denouncing the legislation, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said that “this is an attack on democracy” and “an erasure of Philadelphia votes” claiming it was the work of Donald Trump and MAGA extremists despite support from Democrats. 5:55pm- Rich Zeoli hosts The Mark Levin Show!

Discouragement can be hard to overcome if you feel like the eternal impact you're having on your students is minimal. This can be particularly true for teachers in public schools, but can be a struggle for those in private schools as well. If you're like many Christians, you might tend to think you've only made an eternal impact if you've helped someone move from unsaved to saved. Listen to this week's podcast episode to hear Linda explain why this is a limited understanding of the impact you have on your students' spiritual lives. Be encouraged as you listen to this episode and start to gain a more complete picture of the fruit you're producing as a Christian & how God's using you daily in your students lives for their spiritual benefit... even in a public school. This episode is part of the series This Little Light of Mine: Shining for Christ in the Classroom. Check out the full series at www.teach4theheart.com/shine.

Even though God created us for relationships, that does not mean having relationships is easy. In fact, building connections with our students is some of the hardest work we ever do. This podcast episode is a great chance to look at the way the gospel not only reconciles us to God, but also allows us to be reconciled to one another. Using the framework of the gospel, the fruits of the spirit, and practical teaching techniques, Linda will walk you through how to build deeper relationships with your students. Want to live out your mission to shine the light of Christ in your school? Listen in for practical ideas and the encouragement you need to keep going! This episode is part of the series This Little Light of Mine: Shining for Christ in the Classroom. Check out the full series at www.teach4theheart.com/shine.

What keeps us from shining God's light in our classroom? For teachers, some common reasons are stress, discouragement, and feeling overwhelmed. In this podcast episode, we will look at how to combat these obstacles with both spiritual and practical tools. Be inspired and equipped as we explore four essential questions to strengthen our spiritual foundation, hear practical tips to reduce feelings of being overwhelmed and stressed, and gain a renewed perspective that God is on this mission with us. This episode is part of the series This Little Light of Mine: Shining for Christ in the Classroom. Check out the full series at www.teach4theheart.com/shine.

Do you have a passion to reach others for Christ? Developing your credibility where He's placed you can have an immensely poweful impact! When you're good at your job, you increase your credibility... which God can and will use for eternal benefits! Listen to this week's podcast for ideas on how to improve your foundational teaching skills for His benefit, and at the same time avoid some common traps. If you find it hard to strike a balance between being complacent with your level of teaching expertise and striving toward unattainable perfection, this episode's for you. Listen now to hear Linda's perspective on seeking and finding that balance while increasing your workplace credibility! This episode is part of the series This Little Light of Mine: Shining for Christ in the Classroom. Check out the full series at www.teach4theheart.com/shine.

Hosted by Flea, founding member and bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, This Little Light is a podcast about falling in love with music. Flea interviews musical guests from all genres to discuss the teachers who guided them, the influences that inspired them, and how the lessons they learned as young musicians have shaped their creativity, resilience, and careers. This Little Light, a production of Cadence13 and Parallel, available now with new episodes dropping weekly, is available for free wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Flea, founding member and bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, This Little Light is a podcast about falling in love with music. Flea interviews musical guests from all genres to discuss the teachers who guided them, the influences that inspired them, and how the lessons they learned as young musicians have shaped their creativity, resilience, and careers. This Little Light, a production of Cadence13 and Parallel, available now with new episodes dropping weekly, is available for free wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Flea, founding member and bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, This Little Light is a podcast about falling in love with music. Flea interviews musical guests from all genres to discuss the teachers who guided them, the influences that inspired them, and how the lessons they learned as young musicians have shaped their creativity, resilience, and careers. This Little Light, a production of Cadence13 and Parallel, available now with new episodes dropping weekly, is available for free wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Flea, founding member and bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, This Little Light is a podcast about falling in love with music. Flea interviews musical guests from all genres to discuss the teachers who guided them, the influences that inspired them, and how the lessons they learned as young musicians have shaped their creativity, resilience, and careers. This Little Light, a production of Cadence13 and Parallel, available now with new episodes dropping weekly, is available for free wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hosted by Flea, founding member and bassist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, This Little Light is a podcast about falling in love with music. Flea interviews musical guests from all genres to discuss the teachers who guided them, the influences that inspired them, and how the lessons they learned as young musicians have shaped their creativity, resilience, and careers. This Little Light, a production of Cadence13 and Parallel, available now with new episodes dropping weekly, is available for free wherever you get your podcasts. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices