Podcasts about United Church of Christ

Bruce Epperly has served as a congregational pastor and university chaplain, university and seminary professor and administrator, and is a prolific author and lectionary commentator. With over forty years joining pulpit and classroom, Bruce recently retired from congregational ministry after serving eight years as Senior Pastor of South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Centerville, MA […]

Episode 118. In this episode I am joined by Thomas Bradshaw, a former ISM priest and now UCC congregant. We talk about the intersectionality between the Independent Sacramental Movement and Mainline Churches such as the United Church of Christ. Links: Alexandrian Community. St. John's United Church of Christ, Massillon Ohio.

Bruce Epperly has served as a congregational pastor and university chaplain, university and seminary professor and administrator, and is a prolific author and lectionary commentator. With over forty years joining pulpit and classroom, Bruce recently retired from congregational ministry after serving eight years as Senior Pastor of South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Centerville, MA […]

EELP Senior Staff Attorney Hannah Perls speaks with the Attorney General of Massachusetts, Andrea Joy Campbell, and Vernice Miller-Travis, Executive Vice President and Environmental Justice Lead at the Metropolitan Group. They discuss the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle federal environmental justice and equity programs, funding, and priorities, and what those changes mean for critical infrastructure, toxics-free housing, access to clean air and clean water, and more. They also discuss what states and community-based organizations are doing in this moment to safeguard public health and environmental protections in Massachusetts and nationwide. Transcript: https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/CleanLaw_EP103-Transcript.pdf Links: Multi-State Guidance Concerning Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Employment Initiatives, from 16 state attorneys general, Feb. 13, 2025 https://www.mass.gov/doc/multi-state-guidance-concerning-diversity-equity-inclusion-and-accessibility-employment-initiatives/download Toxic Wastes and Race in the United States, a report from the United Church of Christ's Commission for Racial Justice, 1987 https://www.ucc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/ToxicWastesRace.pdf Searchable map of facilities invited by EPA to apply for presidential exemptions from air pollution limits, compiled by EDF, April 30, 2025 https://www.edf.org/maps/epa-pollution-pass/

Bruce Epperly has served as a congregational pastor and university chaplain, university and seminary professor and administrator, and is a prolific author and lectionary commentator. With over forty years joining pulpit and classroom, Bruce recently retired from congregational ministry after serving eight years as Senior Pastor of South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Centerville, MA […]

Bruce Epperly has served as a congregational pastor and university chaplain, university and seminary professor and administrator, and is a prolific author and lectionary commentator. With over forty years joining pulpit and classroom, Bruce recently retired from congregational ministry after serving eight years as Senior Pastor of South Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, Centerville, MA […]

John's monologue this time features Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan who was arrested by the FBI on two felony counts for interfering with an ICE operation. Last week, Dugan sent away ICE agents who entered her courtroom to arrest a Mexican man during a separate trial. Then, Dugan allowed the man to use another exit instead of handing him over to the Trump-stapo. Dugan had asked for a judicial arrest warrant and just like in the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, the ICE agents did NOT have a judicial arrest warrant, only an administrative warrant which carries far less weight and legal obligation. Then, he welcomes back the Rev. Barry Lynn who is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and for a time served as the executive director for Americans United for the Separation of Church and State. They discuss what the bible says about migrants and the death of Pope Francis. And finally, TV's Frank Conniff joins the crew to talk with listeners about the latest news and current trends.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This Earth Sunday, we celebrate not God's gift of the earth to us, but God's gift to us of our interconnected relationship with the earth, God's wider, deeper, higher, and altogether “very good” creation of which we are a part. Our guest preacher will be The Rev. Dr. Chris Davies, one of the executive ministers of our Southern New England Conference of our United Church of Christ denominational family… and an avid beekeeper! She will share with us spiritual lessons for our current moment she's gleaned from caring for bees and the way bees care for each other.About our guest preacher:  The Rev. Dr. Chris Davies is a Celtic spiritualist, Christ-follower, organizer, queer femme, visionary, beekeeper, and liturgist.  An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, she loves faith deeply, and is committed to finding ways to continue to bring the gospel into the world, past this generation and into those to follow.  Chris attended Smith College for her undergrad work and Andover Newton for both a Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry, focusing on queering proclamation.  She is passionate about justice and Jesus, works as the Executive Minister of Programs and Initiatives in the Southern New England Conference of the UCC.  Chris serves on the foundation board of Preterm, an independent abortion Clinic in Cleveland, OH.Join us for worship Sundays @ 10am EDT, on-site & online via Zoom. Connect at www.NeedhamUCC.org—-The Congregational Church of Needham strives to be a justice-seeking, peace-making, LGBTQ+ affirming, radically inclusive congregation of the United Church of Christ in Needham, MA. www.NeedhamUCC.orgChurch is the practice.Love is the point.

At last we arrive at Easter Sunday. But oddly enough, Matthew's version of the story of the resurrection begins on Good Friday, with what sounds at first like a ghost story about tombs being opened and the dead walking. But it's a reminder that Easter doesn't belong just to the church and resurrection doesn't belong only to Jesus. Resurrection is for everyone, for the whole wide world, all the dry bones, all the walking dead, all the helpless and hopeless, even for us. (Matthew 27:45, 50-54) Join us for worship Sundays @ 10am EDT, on-site & online via Zoom. Connect at www.NeedhamUCC.org—-The Congregational Church of Needham strives to be a justice-seeking, peace-making, LGBTQ+ affirming, radically inclusive congregation of the United Church of Christ in Needham, MA. www.NeedhamUCC.orgChurch is the practice.Love is the point.

Our purpose in this Lenten series has been to slow down and spend significant time reflecting on each step of the story of Jesus' last days during what we call Holy Week. But he dies on Good Friday. So what happens, if anything, on Holy Saturday? What even can happen? Or should we just jump ahead to the Easter we know, 2000 years later, is coming on Sunday? Our special guest preacher, The Rev. Dr. Mary Luti, will help us sit with those questions and those feelings.This service is part of our "Step by Step: A Slow Walk Through Holy Week" series for Lent where we're spending an entire Sunday with each of the days of Holy Week, listening not just for the "what" happens to Jesus by the "whys" that take him there. This Sunday represents "Holy Saturday."Join us for worship Sundays @ 10am EDT, on-site & online via Zoom. Connect at www.NeedhamUCC.org—-The Congregational Church of Needham strives to be a justice-seeking, peace-making, LGBTQ+ affirming, radically inclusive congregation of the United Church of Christ in Needham, MA. www.NeedhamUCC.orgChurch is the practice.Love is the point.

Peter Panagore Thursday, 4-17-2025 Topic: He Made A Huge Mistake Returning After His NDE BIO: Living in Boothbay Harbor, Peter is a husband, father, grandfather, a two-time near-death experiencer, storyteller, ordained pastor, writer, best-selling book author, entrepreneur, public speaker, tv talent, producer, and more. I earned my Master of Divinity at Yale University with a focus on the classics of western mysticism. MINISTER He served eighteen years as a Congregational community minister in the United Church of Christ, primarily along the coast of Maine. TELEVISION For fifteen years (2003-2018), Peter had the honor and privilege to broadcast ( a daily two-minute spot on two NBC TV stations with Daily Devotions (brand) just before the morning's weather. Through this program, he reached thirty million viewers annually on TV (Nielsen Ratings) and uncounted listeners on FM and AM across Maine and New Hampshire, and around the nation.

#351 In this episode, Guy welcomed back Peter Panagore, an acclaimed author, mystic, and former TV personality, who shared his extraordinary insights on mystical experiences, near-death experiences, and the nature of consciousness. Peter discussed the impact of his own near-death experience, the study of mysticism at Yale Divinity School, and the broader implications of these experiences on our understanding of reality. He delved into the suppression of mystical insights through history, the importance of meditative practices, and the role of chakras in elevating consciousness. This episode is a deep dive into the profound spiritual journey of seeking and experiencing the divine, addressing the complexities of spiritual growth, the importance of love, and the evolving collective awakening happening in the world today. About Peter: Reverend Peter Panagore, M. Div., Yale, is the author of two best-sellers, “Two Minutes for God,” a 7/365 collection of inspirational devotions that aired daily for fifteen years on two NBC News stations in Maine and New Hampshire, and ‘Heaven Is Beautiful: How Dying Taught Me That Death Is Just the Beginning”, an audible best seller that is available globally. His upcoming third book tells true tales of modern mystics in the classical tradition, in the high hopes that he can inspire more people to come out and share their own mystical experiences.  – He previously served as a United Church of Christ minister and pastor in Maine and Connecticut. He now speaks from pulpits, stages, and on national and international media about Near Death Experience, the Reality of God, Christian mysticism, meditation, and prayer.  – Reverend Peter Panagore, M.Div (Yale) has had two near-death experiences, the first while ice climbing in 1980 and the second in 2015 due to a heart attack. In this episode, he recalls his near death experience in March 1980 when he went ice climbing along the Ice Fields Parkway in Alberta Canada with an experienced ice climber. He shares their countless misfortunes on their descent, how he was overcome by exhaustion and hypothermia. He recalls being in a proverbial tunnel and in those minutes, he has experience hell, forgiveness, and unconditional love. He also has encountered God. – He has kept his Near Death Experience while ice climbing a secret for twenty years. When Rev. Peter died on the side of mountain along the Ice Fields Parkway in Alberta Canada, his life was forever changed. Panagore's death experience resulted in an intense spiritual journey that has continued for decades. The experience compelled him to pursue a master's degree at Yale Divinity School, focusing on systematic technology and Christian mysticism. Key Points Discussed:  (00:00) - Why Everything You Believe About Reality Is Wrong (01:01) - Welcoming Peter Pango: A Mind-Blowing Story (01:27) - Diving into Mysticism and Suppression (02:40) - Peter's Journey and Studies in Mysticism (05:07) - The Nature of Mystical Experiences (12:57) - Facing the Shadow Side and Spiritual Growth (24:29) - The Ultimate Healing and Understanding (30:28) - Exploring Infinite Versions of Ourselves (32:52) - The Great Awakening and Near-Death Experiences (37:38) - Radiant Energy and Spiritual Practices (39:42) - Biological and Mystical Connections (44:52) - The Power of Chakras and Meditation (52:14) - The Role of Prayer and Intention (55:06) - Final Thoughts and Where to Find More How to Contact Peter Panagore:www.peterpanagore.love   About me:My Instagram: www.instagram.com/guyhlawrence/?hl=en Guy's websites:www.guylawrence.com.au www.liveinflow.co

GUEST PREACHER: REV. DR. KATHERINE GEORGIA A. THOMPSON The Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson is the General Minister and President and the Chief Executive Officer of the United Church of Christ. Rev. Thompson is the first woman and first woman of African descent to serve as leader of the denomination. She is a writer, poet and theologian who has contributed to numerous publications. Her book of poetry Drums in Our Veins was published in 2022. Prior to this call, Rev. Thompson served in the national setting of the United Church of Christ for 14 years – two years as Minister for Racial Justice, eight years as Minister for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, and four years as the Associate General Minister for Wider Church Ministries and Co-Executive for Global Ministries. She was elected as Associate General Minister in 2019. As General Minister and President of the UCC, Rev. Thompson is the head of communion and the spiritual leader of the church, as well as the executive leader of the church. Her passion for justice and equity moved her work on behalf of the UCC into a global context when she served as Minister for Racial Justice. This passion for justice was a catalyst for her global advocacy to reduce the marginalization experienced by African descendant peoples and other communities globally. She continues to participate globally bringing her leadership to addressing a variety of issues including global racial justice, gender justice, and human rights. Before joining the national staff in 2009, Rev. Thompson served in the Florida Conference United Church of Christ as a Pastor and on the Conference staff as the Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery. She also worked in the nonprofit arena for over 10 years in leaderships positions. Rev. Thompson earned a Bachelor of Arts from Brooklyn College in New York, a Master of Public Administration from North Carolina Central University in Durham, NC, and a Master of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary in New York. She also studied Public Policy at Duke University and earned her Doctor of Ministry at Seattle University. She was awarded an honorary doctorate from Heidelberg University in 2023.

Lammers (she/her) is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and a third-generation clergy after her mother and grandfather – a fact that still surprises her more than anyone else! She has been a local church pastor, a divinity school administrator and adjunct faculty member, a hospital chaplain specializing in trauma and palliative medicine, and a student affairs administrator at several colleges and universities. Her professional and theological interests include the practice of public theology, social justice and radical inclusion, and encouraging individuals to use their theological imaginations to better connect with God. She has a passion for making church relevant and fun!

A guided meditation:  Did you know that before there was a Last Supper, there was a First Supper, when Jesus was prepared to endure the terrible events of the rest of Holy Week by the love of his friends. In particular, one woman anointed him with costly perfume, tears and laughter, intimacy and grief mingling together as it ran down, and the house was filled with the odor of holiness, of love. It's good to remember as we face our own hard choices, our struggle for justice is fueled best not just by righteousness but by love. Who do you love so much? (Mark 14:3-9)This service is part of our "Step by Step: A Slow Walk Through Holy Week" series for Lent where we're spending an entire Sunday with each of the days of Holy Week, listening not just for the "what" happens to Jesus by the "whys" that take him there. This Sunday represents "Holy Wednesday."Join us for worship Sundays @ 10am EDT, on-site & online via Zoom. Connect at www.NeedhamUCC.org—-The Congregational Church of Needham strives to be a justice-seeking, peace-making, LGBTQ+ affirming, radically inclusive congregation of the United Church of Christ in Needham, MA. www.NeedhamUCC.orgChurch is the practice.Love is the point.

Jesus continues to wear out his welcome in Jerusalem. The various power blocs within the religious leadership of the day pepper him with questions, often trick questions, hoping to discredit him and his disciples in the eyes of the faithful without drawing the attention of the occupying Romans. But Jesus is never one to shy away from controversy for the sake of a larger and more loving Gospel, which angers those powers enough they begin to look for a way to shuffle him off the public stage, permanently. (Mark 11:27-12:40)This sermon for "Holy Tuesday" is part of our "Step by Step: A Slow Walk Through Holy Week" worship series for Lent, where each Sunday in Lent we focus on one of the days of Holy Week, Jesus' last week on earth... before Easter. Join us Sundays for worship, LIVE! on-site and online via Zoom @ 10am ET. Connect at www.NeedhamUCC.org.---The Congregational Church of Needham strives to be a justice-seeking, peace-making, love-affirming, LGBTQ-welcoming, radically-inclusive congregation of the United Church of Christ in Needham, MA.Church is the practice.Love is the point.

Most Americans go to church expecting to hear about salvation, morality and scripture. They don't anticipate hardball political endorsements. But some churches thrive on delivering politics from the pulpit. Sure, pastors are citizens, too. And so in other venues, such as op-eds, blogs, books, and other places of influence, a pastor may speak his mind. Even so, he must jealously guard that influence and always speak winsomely. As a gospel minister, he shouldn't make politics more important than his pastoral duties. The tax code prevents religious institutions from serving as political machines, a concept in keeping with the separation of church and state our founding fathers envisioned. Pastors cannot make declarations to favor or oppose any candidate from the pulpit. They cannot take money from the collection plate and give it to support a candidate. And if they want to participate in any partisan activity in their personal capacity, they must make sure it is done in a manner indicating it is separate from their religious institution.The Rev. Dr. Timothy C. Ahrens began his ministry as Senior Minister of First Congregational Church, United Church of Christ in downtown Columbus on January 23, 2000. A church known for its witness to social justice since its birth as an abolitionist congregation in 1852, Rev. Ahrens is the fifth consecutive senior minister from Yale Divinity School and is a lifelong member of the United Church of Christ. Rev. Ahrens is a 1980 graduate of Macalester College with a double major in Religious Studies and Political Science. Since January 2000, under his leadership, First Church has doubled in membership during an era when seven downtown churches have closed their doors. Rev. Ahrens earned his Doctor of Ministry degree from Chicago Theological Seminary in May 2015. His thesis was entitled: “Young and Growing Stronger: Creating a Model of 21st Century Prophetic Witness Leaders with a New Generation.” He is currently working on two books.

Welcome Our Guest Preacher: Rev. Dr. Chris S. Davies! A visionary, organizer, and queer femme faith leader, Rev. Dr. Chris brings a powerful message of TRANSfiguration (Luke 9:28-36, 37-43a). Rev. Dr. Chris S. Davies is a Celtic spiritualist, Christ-follower, organizer, queer femme, visionary, pastor, and liturgist. An ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, she loves faith deeply, and is committed to finding ways to continue to bring the gospel into the world, past this generation and into those to follow. Chris attended Smith College for her undergrad work and Andover Newton for both a Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry, focusing on queering proclamation. She is passionate about justice and Jesus, works as the Executive Minister of Programs and Initiatives in the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ, where nearly 600 local churches are encouraged to join a new initiative: FindHopeNow.org; highlighting hope in their communities. Through SNEUCC, Chris also leads Project Proclaim: a compelling preaching initiative. Come for the music, stay for the message, and leave inspired!

Today's episode is about the joys and challenges of coming out later in life.  My interview is with two women who both realized something about themselves after long term marriages and children.   My guests are Anne-Marie Zanzal and Barbara Rowlandson; they are the team from Lotus Group Coaching and they both came out later in life as lesbians.   Anne-Marie was 52 and Barb was 46 when they came out.  No, they are not a couple but work colleagues.  Anne-Marie is a graduate of Yale Divinity School, an ordained minister in the progressive United Church of Christ, a hospice chaplain, a bereavement counselor, a coming out expert, and a divorce coach.   Learn more: https://suzyrosenstein.com/podcast/ep-396-the-joys-and-challenges-of-coming-out-later-in-life-with-anne-marie-zanzal-barbara-rowlandson/

For Black History Month, we are going back through the archives and listening to the voices of some of the incredible Black Women who have been on the show.Rev. Mahogany Thomas: A New Love Ethic“To know God in this moment is to be grounded in a love that surpasses us and that truly shifts how we interact with the world, and that then brings us hope and healing.”Transforming what she calls the “spiritual malpractice” of harmful theologies of sin, Rev. Mahogany redefines sin as the absence of love. Too often, the theology of sin has been used to abuse and oppress people - telling them they are inherently bad, inherently unlovable. Ultimately, it has been used by people in power to keep them in power. But by redefining sin as the absence of love, Rev. Mahogany invites us into a theology that leads us towards freedom, equity, and grace.About Rev. MahoganyRev. Mahogany S. Thomas is a native of Columbia, Missouri and an ordained minister of the United Church of Christ. She has served churches around the country, from Connecticut to Chicago to San Francisco, and she has even preached in the Garden of Gethsemane in Jerusalem.Rev. Thomas is a graduate of Yale Divinity School (YDS), where she received her Master of Divinity. Her scholarship at YDS included Homiletics, Womanist Theology, and Practical Theology at the intersections of the Black Church. She was the recipient of both the Andover Newton Seminary Diploma Program and Black Church Studies Certificate. Rev. Thomas received her Bachelor of Arts from Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri and graduated summa cum laude. Her undergraduate studies focused on Religious Studies with an emphasis on sex and gender in the Christian tradition.In both her teaching and radical proclamation, Rev. Thomas is passionate about serving God and God's church. She brings gifts of administration, wisdom, and passion to her work. Ministry for Rev. Thomas is defined far beyond the pulpit as she believes in radiating the love of Jesus through both her joy and witness.Connect with us!Donate today and support our work!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Join our FREE bookclubCheck out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook

The Outer Realm - Fan Favourite Peter Panagore Returns Hosts: Michelle Desrochers, Amelia Pisano Date: January 23rd, 2025 Episode: 515 Discussion: Peter was an early guest on the show, and shared the story of his unbelievable NDE. We have asked him to return and share it again ! Our listenership/viewership has grown so much over the years, that we wanted to formally introduce you all ( re-introduce for some) to Peter. His Journey has been and continues to be one of inspiration and growth. - Peter Panagore went ice climbing with his partner on the world-famous Lower Weeping Wall, along the Ice Fields Parkway in Alberta, Canada. On their descent, they became trapped on the side of the mountain. As the sun set, he was overcome by exhaustion and hypothermia. He died on the side of that mountain. And in those minutes on the other side, he experienced hell, forgiveness, and unconditional love. Heaven was beautiful. Contact for the show - theouterrealmcontact@gmail.com Rumble: TheOuterRealm X - MicheleDerocher Website: www.theouterrealmradio.com Please support us by Liking, Subscribing, Sharing and Commenting. Thank you all!! About Our Guest: Rev. Peter Panagore was recruited to TV as the fifth minister of America's oldest religious broadcast. Peter's two-minute spot aired for 15 years just before the morning weather on NewsCenterMaine on two NBC stations reaching 80k viewers a day. Previously, Peter served in New England as a United Church of Christ minister. His Audible Best Seller, Heaven Is Beautiful, has been optioned for a film. His first book, Two Minutes for God, is a nondenominal devotional drawn from his 1700 TV stories. He is working on his third book build around his talk and provides mentoring to spiritual seekers worldwide. BOOKS: Heaven Is Beautiful: How Dying Taught Me That Death Was Just The Beginning Two Minutes for God: Quick Fixes For The Spirit (2008) (Anthology) Chicken Soup For The Veterans Soul: Stories to Stir the Pride and Honor the Courage of Our Veterans WEBSITE/LINKS: https://www.peterpanagore.love/ TWITTER: @pbpanagore BEYOND The Outer Realm UNCENSORED - Guest: Micah Dank Hosts: Michelle Desrochers Date: January 21st, 2025 Episode: 513 Discussion: Exploring the hidden world of Symbolism . Micah picks up where his dear friend Jordan Maxwell left off. (RIP) Micah is continuing Jordan's research and today will be speaking about Symbols. Symbolism is a huge art of Society and our every day life. Many are hidden in plain sight, often going unnoticed. There is so much that we don't know, and Micah will be blunt and thorough. Things are NOT what the seem. He will also talk about his incredible friendship with Jordan Maxwell. Contact for the show - theouterrealmcontact@gmail.com Rumble: TheOuterRealm X - MicheleDerocher Website: www.theouterrealmradio.com Please support us by Liking, Subscribing, Sharing and Commenting. Thank you all About Our Guest: Micah T. Dank was born in 1983 in Oceanside New York. From a young age he had wanted to be a writer, coming from a family of writers. His father was a producer and radio news editor at CBS News in Manhattan and his grandfather was a Producer at CBS News. Micah was an actor in High School and became interested in writing from his 12th grade English teacher Russell Reid. From there he majored in English at SUNY Albany and transferred down to CUNY Hunter College in Manhattan to earn his Bachelors degree in ‘Language Literature and Criticism'. It wasn't until he moved to Boston for a new job that he became interested in all the esoteric sciences including the astrology and astrotheology prevalent through his book series Links: WEBSITE: https://www.micahdank.com/

Interview and discussion with Giselle from the YouTube channel -  @seekthegospeltruth  We discuss the Roman Catholic Church, its rites, rituals, religion, sanctification, God's Grace, true salvation, being Born Again, the Holy Spirit, Catholic catechism. We also talked about the United Church of Christ, the Progressive churches, and much more! ---------------------------- Apologetics, Debate, Bible Discussions, Evangelism, and much more To know more on how to be saved, what are the requirements and such, please see our playlist on the Gospel and Eternal Security (assurance of salvation) - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3pJdCnnwrEeCQOCTTmDW1GjUYxpd44DG&si=_rT-lThl0klHt5Cd A Bible study on personal works and fruit bearing - "The mystic fruit bowl" Mark 7:5-23 - https://youtu.be/kw7QiLQMQ_M?si=eSOYcF1Ffco6-inI (Discussing discipleship) Bible study on Luke 9:60-62 "Let the dead bury the dead" - https://www.youtube.com/live/BkWtkOrEs-Q?si=y-zyqNGfWi3kzVu2 Our Ministries Website - https://christiancoffeetime.ca/ 1John 5:20) "And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life."

REPLAY!! The Outer Realm welcomes Rev. Peter Panagore Hosts: Michelle Desrochers, Amelia Pisano Date: December 25th, 2024 Episode: 504 Topic: Peter will delve further into how his NDE changed his life. Truly an inspirational journey. Contact for the show - theouterrealmcontact@gmail.com Rumble: TheOuterRealm X - MicheleDerocher Website: www.theouterrealmradio.com Please support us by Liking, Subscribing, Sharing and Commenting. Thank you all About Our Guest: Rev. Peter Panagore was recruited to TV as the fifth minister of America's oldest religious broadcast. Peter's two-minute spot aired for 15 years just before the morning weather on NewsCenterMaine on two NBC stations reaching 80k viewers a day. Previously, Peter served in New England as a United Church of Christ minister. His Audible Best Seller, Heaven Is Beautiful, has been optioned for a film. His first book, Two Minutes for God, is a nondenominal devotional drawn from his 1700 TV stories. He is working on his third book build around his talk and provides mentoring to spiritual seekers worldwide https://www.peterpanagore.love/ BOOKS: Heaven Is Beautiful: How Dying Taught Me That Death Was Just The Beginning Two Minutes for God: Quick Fixes For The Spirit (2008) (Anthology) Chicken Soup For The Veterans Soul: Stories to Stir the Pride and Honor the Courage of Our Veterans If you enjoy the content on the channel, please support us by “Liking, Subscribing, Sharing and Commenting: Thank you All A formal disclaimer: The opinions and information presented or expressed by guests on The Outer Realm Radio are not necessarily those of the TOR Hosts, Sponsors, or the United Public Radio Network and its producers. We will however always be respectful and courteous to all involved. Thank you, we appreciate all

In his new book Honest to God, Rev. John Hamilton provides us with an intimate look at the spiritual journey of an individual who has experienced life from many corners. From the carefree life of a rock n' roll musician, to a "Madmen" style of life on Madison Avenue to being ordained in the United Church of Christ. In this episode he discusses not only his sacred search, but also the state of Christianity and institutional religion in general. It's a prophecy of both hope and a bit of trepidation, as religious leaders face a demand for significant change by many who have left the pews. Bio from publisher's website: John Hamilton was born into a spirited Irish-American family of singers and storytellers. Breaking with his strict Catholic upbringing, he embarked on a career in music that immersed him in the colorful but dangerous world of drugs, alcohol, and rock clubs. A debilitating onset of panic disorder abruptly halted his musical pursuits, propelling him into the business world where he thrived as a creative director in advertising. Despite professional success, Hamilton's persistent quest for the transcendent led him to seminary and, eventually, to two decades of parish work as a pastor. In “Honest To God,” he eloquently chronicles the collapse of the mainstream Christianity, his loss of connection to the transcendent and his walk into the wilderness to search for it again.

Just in time for Christmas 2024, we have two ministers who are associated with Progressive Christianity, a growing movement that runs counter to fundamentalism and the mainstream churches whose attendance continues to decline. Together, they present a vision of a different kind of Christianity.  Rev. Nicole Lamarche has been an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ since 2005 and now serves as pastor of Community UCC in Boulder, Colorado. She believes that “communities of faith can be powerful places for personal and social transformation.”  Rev. Jim Burklo is the pastor of the UCC church in Simi Valley, CA, and also serves as Executive Director of Progressive Christians Uniting.  Formerly the Associate Dean of Religious and Spiritual Life at the University of Southern California, he's the author of seven books on Progressive Christianity, the latest of which is Tenderly Calling: An Invitation to the Way of Jesus.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of this election's seismic shift, we're spending time grounding ourselves once more in the core message of 1 Corinthians 13:13—“Now faith, hope, and love abide, these three”—in ways that speak to our current situation, beginning with faith. This week it's hope. We talk about having hope, which sounds lovely... until you lose it. Then what are we supposed to do? But as peoples who've lived through the end of their own worlds--and still are--remind us, hope is something we do, something we make. What's revealed in apocalyptic moments (apocalypse means "revealing") is that the hope we forge, the vision we cast, together, into the future is what gives the present meaning and purpose beyond our present troubles. In a very real way, hope has us, not the other way around. (Mark 2:1-12). Join us Sundays for worship, LIVE! on-site and online via Zoom @ 10am ET. Connect at www.NeedhamUCC.org.---The Congregational Church of Needham strives to be a justice-seeking, peace-making, love-affirming, LGBTQ-welcoming, radically-inclusive congregation of the United Church of Christ in Needham, MA.Church is the practice.Love is the point.

John discusses the sketchy history of Trump cabinet picks Matt Gaetz for Attorney General and RFK Jr. for the Dept. of Health and Human Services. Then, he chats with Reverend Barry Lynn who is a long-time activist, civil liberties lawyer, and an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and served as the executive director for Americans United for the Separation of Church and State until his retirement in 2017. Next John talks with Ward from Florida about the notion that Christian Nationalism is the foundation behind apartheid. And finally he interviews Skye Perryman who is President and CEO of Democracy Forward, a nonpartisan, national legal organization that promotes democracy and progress through litigation, regulatory engagement, policy education, and research. Perryman took the helm at Democracy Forward a few months after January 6, 2021, in the midst of rising extremism in courts across the country.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rev. Carol Allman-Morton is the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire, and her husband, Rev. Tadd Allman-Morton, is the pastor of the First Congregational Church of Great Barrington, United Church of Christ. They met at Andover Newton Theological School, where Carol was awarded the James Luther Adams Award for excellence in the study of liberal theology” and Tadd was a member of the Jonathan Edwards Honors Society. We talked about their early spiritual experiences, their motivation for seeking ordination, the decline in church participation and doctrinal belief, and what the marriage of ministers of different theological orientations is like.  Read this article in the Berkshire Edge about Rev. Tad Allman-Morton Find out more about Philip Goldberg here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The gospels are full of miraculous stories of  Jesus healing people, but they're never told from the point of view of the people he heals. The (temporarily) able-bodied Church today is only beginning to understand how problematic that really is, whether we take these stories literally or metaphorically. Because nobody's body is just a metaphor, and, as disability justice advocates like author Amy Kenny remind us, nobody's body is just a prayer request. Our disabled God loves all our bodies just as they are.  (Mark 10:46-52)Originally preached 10-27-2024Join us Sundays for worship, LIVE! on-site and online via Zoom @ 10am ET. Connect at www.NeedhamUCC.org.---The Congregational Church of Needham strives to be a justice-seeking, peace-making, love-affirming, LGBTQ-welcoming, radically-inclusive congregation of the United Church of Christ in Needham, MA.Church is the practice.Love is the point.

“God's love and kindness will shine upon us like the sun that rises in the sky” (Luke 1:78-9, CEV). A celebration more than a decade in the making! Come join us for a special worship service dedicating the new solar panel array on our sanctuary roof. This giant leap forward was made that much more possible through donations given in loving memory of Deb Baldwin, a founding member of our Environmental Ministries Team and a prophetic voice for climate action, following her death in the spring of 2023. Rev. Maddie Foster, preacher. (Matthew 5:13-16)Join us Sundays for worship, LIVE! on-site and online via Zoom @ 10am ET. Connect at www.NeedhamUCC.org.---The Congregational Church of Needham strives to be a justice-seeking, peace-making, love-affirming, LGBTQ-welcoming, radically-inclusive congregation of the United Church of Christ in Needham, MA.Church is the practice.Love is the point.

*With apologies for the poorer than usual audio quality. A subtitled video is available at https://youtu.be/QOpgyCGCVf8In Mark 10:17-31, an insider--the rich young ruler--and an outsider--Simon Peter--both ask Jesus essentially the same question: "What must we do to be saved?" Jesus' answer disappoints them both. He's not interested in what will set either man apart in God's eyes but what will bring them together here on earth. While the would wants to divide and subtract, the Gospel is all about addition and multiplication. God's will is to take all our pieces and stitches us up together in one "seamless garment of destiny" (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.)Originally preached October 13, 2024Join us Sundays for worship, LIVE! on-site and online via Zoom @ 10am ET. Connect at www.NeedhamUCC.org.---The Congregational Church of Needham strives to be a justice-seeking, peace-making, love-affirming, LGBTQ-welcoming, radically-inclusive congregation of the United Church of Christ in Needham, MA.Church is the practice.Love is the point.

In the wake of this election week's seismic shift, we're going to spend the next three Sundays looking to ground ourselves once more in 1 Corinthians 13:13—“Now faith, hope, and love abide, these three”—in ways that speak to our current situation.Faith isn't a laundry list of six impossible things we have to believe before breakfast. Faith is trust (literally, in the New Testament Greek), and the basis of trust is truth. The Church has to be willing to embrace the truth of our and our neighbors' pain, fear, anger, and grief in this moment, our why should anyone trust us or the God we preach? Saccharine may be sweet, but it's artificial. (1 Corinthians 13:13)Join us Sundays for worship, LIVE! on-site and online via Zoom @ 10am ET. Connect at www.NeedhamUCC.org.---The Congregational Church of Needham strives to be a justice-seeking, peace-making, love-affirming, LGBTQ-welcoming, radically-inclusive congregation of the United Church of Christ in Needham, MA.Church is the practice.Love is the point.

In the fourth part of this series, Dr. Obery Hendricks, Dr. Charlene Sinclair, and Peter Laarman continue their deep dive into what white Christian nationalists actually worship: power, wealth, and whiteness.This FRONT ROW podcast features Dr. Obery Hendricks, Dr. Charlene Sinclair and Peter Laarman.Dr. Obery Hendricks is a lifelong social activist, and one of the foremost commentators on the intersection of religion and political economy in America. He is the most widely read and perhaps the most influential African American biblical scholar writing today. His recent book, Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith (Beacon Press, 2021) has gathered wide acclaim.Dr. Charlene Sinclair is an organizer, thinker, and writer whose work centers on the intersection of race, gender, economy, and democracy. Strongly influenced by the pathbreaking thought of the late James Cone, founder of Black Liberation Theology, Dr. Sinclair is committed to fashioning strategies that embrace a liberationist approach to faith and spirituality in the context of popular struggles for racial, economic, and gender justice. The Reverend Peter Laarman is a retired United Church of Christ minister and activist who led Judson Memorial Church in New York and Progressive Christians Uniting in California. He is currently involved with the King & Breaking Silence webinar project of the National Council of Elders and with the development of a new formation called Social Ethics Energizing Democracy. 

Episode 79.  In this conversation, Cassidy and I talk about her evolving, contemplative spiritual expression and identity as a queer Christian. We also touch on her view of scripture and incorporating various theologies and poetry as she finds comfort in paradoxes. Thanks go to the Elevate Podcasting Summit recently hosted by BYU Radio, where we met and recorded this conversation.  Highlights:·       Cassidy Hall's Spiritual Journey and queer Christian spirituality.·       Exploration of Faith: Embracing spiritual paradox; seeking expansive belonging.·       Influence of mystics and desert elders·       Contemplative spirituality: Silence holds paradox, presence, absence.·       Engagement with Queerness in Christianity·       Cassidy's evolving faith practice·       Acceptance of uncertainty and communal prayer river.Bio: Rev. Cassidy Hall (she/her), MA, MDiv, MTS, is an author, award-winning filmmaker, podcaster, ordained in the United Church of Christ, and author of Queering Contemplation: Finding Queerness in the Roots and Future of Contemplative Spirituality. She is the cohost of the Encountering Silence podcast and the creator of the Contemplating Now and Queering Contemplation podcasts. Her films include In Pursuit of Silence and Day of a Stranger. Cassidy is widely published and currently resides in Indianapolis, where she is studying for her doctorate degree. You can learn more about her at cassidyhall.comSocial Media links for Cassidy: Website – www.cassidyhall.comBook – Queering ContemplationInstagram – instagram.com/casshallSocial Media links for Méli:Website – Talking with God Project LinkedIn – Meli SolomonFacebook – Meli Solomon Transcript:  Follow the podcast!The Living Our Beliefs podcast offers a place to learn about other religions and faith practices. When you hear about how observant Christians, Jews and Muslims live their faith, new ideas and questions arise:  Is your way similar or different?  Is there an idea or practice that you want to explore?  Understanding how other people live opens your mind and heart to new people you meet. Comments?  Questions? Email  Méli at – info@talkingwithgodproject.org The Living Our Beliefs podcast is part of the Talking with God Project – https://www.talkingwithgodproject.org/

*** SURVEY ALERT! We care about YOU, our listeners and readers! Please take a moment to fill out our Messy Jesus Business audience survey so we can get to know you better. You could win a signed copy of For Love of the Broken Body by Sister Julia! Click here to respond to the survey. Thank you! *** Episode 82 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe:  Email | RSS | More "I think when we're playing we're participating in the playfulness of God." -Mark Longhurst IN THIS EPISODE In the latest episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh FSPA chats with Mark Longhurst, author of the newly released book, The Holy Ordinary: A Way to God , a member of a new monastic community, and "ordinary mystic." They discuss Mark's journey from a young Evangelical to UCC pastor to social justice ministry, and eventually to mysticism. "I would say that my journey is just one of constant failure and suffering," Mark says, "and then finding greater depth and God's presence in the midst of it." Mark and Sister Julia discuss the old beliefs they have had to "unlearn," including atonement theology, and the peace and playfulness found in growth. They also delve into integrating contemplation and mysticism into an "ordinary" life, and different styles of parenting. Name Drops: JesusRichard RohrDostoevskyHildegard of BingenJames BaldwinMirabai StarrDC TalkMichael W. SmithJars of ClayPearl JamCelticsCommunity of the Incarnation Topics Discussed: Evangelicalismmysticismmainline Christianitycontemplationdeconstruction and reconstructionatonement theologyparentingplayfulnessdiscipleshipmessiness of Gospel living Books Mentioned: the BibleThe Brothers KaramazovThe Holy OrdinaryOrdinary Mysticism Mark Longhurst ABOUT THE GUEST Mark Longhurst is a writer and “ordinary mystic.” He is a member of the new monastic “Community of the Incarnation” and works as the Publications Manager at the Center for Action and Contemplation. A former pastor, he served United Church of Christ churches for ten years and worked as a faith-based social justice activist in the Boston area for ten more. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School, and a longtime yoga-practitioner, he runs two Substack newsletters at marklonghurst.substack.com. Mark lives in western Massachusetts with his family. MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is hosted by Sister Julia Walsh.  Produced and edited by Colin Wambsgans. Email us at messyjesusbusiness@gmail.com BE SOCIAL:https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Twitter: @messyjesusbiz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messyjesusbusiness SUPPORT US: https://www.patreon.com/messyjesusbusiness

If you've been listening to this podcast for any length of time you've undoubtedly heard me say that midlife is the chapter of Authenticity.  It's  about letting go of who the world wants or expects us to be and becoming more of who we really are.  In this episode I'm chatting with Anne-Marie Zanzal about her journey to finding herself in her 50's including coming to terms with her sexuality, and getting divorced.  Anne Marie shares that finding oneself later in life and coming to terms with our truth can be uncomfortable process but being in true alignment is key to living life of happiness and peace.  We explore the challenges of self discovery including navigating fear, deconstructing societal norms and expectations and self-trust. We also dive into self-love, regret and  the power of mindfulness and self-compassion in finding true happiness and peace. The key message in Anne Maries courageous  journey is that honouring the truth of who you are is an incredible gift of self love.   It's a deep and inspiring conversation that shares many insights on the importance of being our authentic selves to live a life of joy and fulfilment.   ------- With a background rooted in group work, healthcare training, and spiritual leadership, Anne-Marie Zanzal, M.Div. has dedicated her career to supporting individuals through life's transitions. Anne-Marie is a graduate of Yale Divinity School, ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, hospice chaplain, coming and divorce support expert, and certified as a Compassionate Bereavement Provider. She brings a unique blend of empathy, expertise, and spirituality to their work. Anne-Marie's personal journey of coming out later in life profoundly shaped her understanding of the challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community, particularly those navigating these experiences often after a heteronormative marriage and children.  Through individual coaching and group work, Anne-Marie empowers individuals to embrace their authentic selves with courage and confidence.   Later in life workshop: https://comingoutsupport.net/  Join our weekend in Provincetown: https://wingwomenweekend.com/  Download your free coming out guide: https://annemariezanzal.com/  

This is the 3rd episode in our season on Christians Against Christianity. This FRONT ROW podcast features Dr. Obery Hendricks, Dr. Charlene Sinclair and Peter Laarman.Dr. Obery Hendricks is a lifelong social activist, and one of the foremost commentators on the intersection of religion and political economy in America. He is the most widely read and perhaps the most influential African American biblical scholar writing today. His recent book, Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith (Beacon Press, 2021) has gathered wide acclaim. Dr. Charlene Sinclair is an organizer, thinker, and writer whose work centers on the intersection of race, gender, economy, and democracy. Strongly influenced by the pathbreaking thought of the late James Cone, founder of Black Liberation Theology, Dr. Sinclair is committed to fashioning strategies that embrace a liberationist approach to faith and spirituality in the context of popular struggles for racial, economic, and gender justice. The Reverend Peter Laarman is a retired United Church of Christ minister and activist who led Judson Memorial Church in New York and Progressive Christians Uniting in California. He is currently involved with the King & Breaking Silence webinar project of the National Council of Elders and with the development of a new formation called Social Ethics Energizing Democracy. 

In this episode, Rev. Jeni Markham Clewell shares her church's courageous decision to break from the United Methodist Church to embrace a more inclusive future with the United Church of Christ. From her lifelong commitment to justice and music to navigating the challenges of transition, we explore how faith, love, and community can shape a more welcoming world for all. Join us for a heartfelt conversation on spiritual growth, courage, and the power of inclusion.

In this episode, Loren Richmond Jr. welcomes Rev. Dr. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi, who delves into her recent research, including the Latino Congregations Trends from the Faith Communities Today (FACT) study and the Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations (EPIC) study. She highlights key findings on the state of Latino congregations in the U.S., including challenges related to building ownership, generational wealth, and reliance on fundraising. Kristina also shares insights from her book, Unraveling Religious Leadership, which examines the Eurocentric norms in theological education and the need for a more inclusive approach to ministry. Rev. Kristina Lizardy-Hajbi, Ph.D. (she/her/ella) is Associate Professor of Leadership and Formation and Faculty Director of the Office of Professional Formation at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. In addition, she co-directs the Doctor of Ministry in Prophetic Leadership at Iliff and coordinates the Certificate in Latinx Studies for the Iliff/DU Joint PhD in Religion. Her teaching and research interests include organizational leadership, liberative and decolonial approaches to ministry, intersectional pedagogical practices, and applied research methods. Kristina is the author of Unraveling Religious Leadership: Power, Authority, and Decoloniality (Fortress, 2024), author of the report "Latino Congregations: Trends from the Faith Communities Today (FACT) and Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregations (EPIC) Studies" (Hartford Institute for Religion Research, 2023), and co-editor of Explore: Vocational Discovery in Ministry (Rowman & Littlefield, 2022). She is an Ordained Minister in the United Church of Christ.   Episodes Referenced: Scott Thumma: https://futurechristian.podbean.com/e/understanding-the-impact-of-societal-changes-on-congregational-dynamics-insights-from-dr-scott-thumma/   Presenting Sponsor: Phillips Seminary Join conversations that expose you to new ideas, deepen your commitment and give insights to how we can minister in a changing world.  Supporting Sponsors: Restore Clergy If you are clergy in need of tailored, professional support to help you manage the demands of ministry, Restore Clergy is for you! Future Christian Team: Loren Richmond Jr. – Host & Executive Producer Martha Tatarnic – Guest Host / Co-Host Paul Romig–Leavitt – Associate Producer Dennis Sanders – Producer Alexander Lang - Production Assistant  

 "To me the value is in making sure people know that they are loved and they are created exactly as they are meant to be." On this week's episode of Called to be Bad, I talk with the Theology Queen, Marge Erin Johnson who is a minister, entrepreneur and drag queen. You can read her full bio and see all of her socials in the podcast/youtube description. Marge unravels what is Drag, what is Drag church, how/why she started drag during seminary, how drag can be spiritually healing, and why she doesn't need to reconcile drag with her faith (and why you don't either). Resources: Marge/James's Full Bio: Hey there, my fabulous friends! I'm James Admans (they/them). I am a minister, entrepreneur, and drag queen (Marge Erin Johnson, she/her). I am ordained pending call in the United Church of Christ. I graduated from Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York (unceded homelands of the Lenape Nation) with a Master of Divinity degree in interdisciplinary Biblical studies, social ethics, and queer theology. During my last year in seminary, I was honored to receive the prestigious Malcolm Boyd Veritas Award for my advocacy and social justice work on behalf of the queer and trans community.I am also the editor of the recently published Beyond Worship: Meditations on Queer Worship, Liturgy, & Theology, a queer worship anthology featuring thirty-three contributions by LGBTQIA2S+ theologians. The book was awarded a 2023 Independent Publishers Bronze Medal in the category of religion.As my drag alter-ego, Marge Erin Johnson, I lead a vibrant drag ministry, preach, and lead worship. You can connect with me and follow my journey on Instagram (@theology.queen).Marge's socials: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theology.queen/Website: https://www.theologyqueen.com/aboutWhere to book Marg for Drag Church: https://www.theologyqueen.com/drag-churchOther resources mentioned: An article on what is a Drag "thing": https://thetyee.ca/Culture/2019/09/04/Hello-Drag-Things/The Church of Fabulosity: https://churchoffabulosity.org/Books: The Read Good Church: How Our Church Came Back from the Dead and How Yours CaSupport the showFollow us for more ✨bad✨ content: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calledtobebad_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calledtobebad Website: https://calledtobebad.buzzsprout.com/ Want to become part of the ✨baddie✨ community? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/calledtobebad Have a ✨bad✨ topic you want to talk about on the show? Get in touch with host, Mariah Martin at: calledtobebad@gmail.com #ctbb #podcast #podcastersoffacebook ...

Welcome to Part 2 of our episodes responding to your questions. This episode continues the conversation from the previous episode responding to listener questions from Season 1 of Everything Belongs. About the guest: Cassidy Hall (she/her/hers) (MA, MDiv, MTS) is an author, award-winning filmmaker, podcaster, ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, and leading voice in contemplative spirituality. She is the cohost of the Encountering Silence podcast and the creator of the Contemplating Now and Queering Contemplation podcasts. Her films include In Pursuit of Silence and Day of a Stranger. Her forthcoming book, Queering Contemplation, Finding Queerness in the Roots and Future of Contemplative Spirituality is set for release in May of 2024. Cassidy is widely published and currently resides in Indianapolis, where she is studying for her DMin degree. Resources: A PDF of the transcript for this episode is available here. Grab a copy of the newly revised version of Falling Upward, with a new foreword by Brené Brown here. To learn more about Cassidy Hall, visit her website here. Grab a copy of Cassidy's book, Queering Contemplation, here.

Special GuestsThis FRONT ROW podcast features Dr. Obery Hendricks, Dr. Charlene Sinclair and Peter Laarman.Dr. Obery Hendricks is a lifelong social activist, and one of the foremost commentators on the intersection of religion and political economy in America. He is the most widely read and perhaps the most influential African American biblical scholar writing today. His recent book, Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith (Beacon Press, 2021) has gathered wide acclaim. Dr. Charlene Sinclair is an organizer, thinker, and writer whose work centers on the intersection of race, gender, economy, and democracy. Strongly influenced by the pathbreaking thought of the late James Cone, founder of Black Liberation Theology, Dr. Sinclair is committed to fashioning strategies that embrace a liberationist approach to faith and spirituality in the context of popular struggles for racial, economic, and gender justice. The Reverend Peter Laarman is a retired United Church of Christ minister and activist who led Judson Memorial Church in New York and Progressive Christians Uniting in California. He is currently involved with the King & Breaking Silence webinar project of the National Council of Elders and with the development of a new formation called Social Ethics Energizing Democracy. 

In this season finale of Everything Belongs, we're diving into the final chapter of Richard Rohr's book Falling Upward and responding to as many listener questions as we could across three parts. Joining Corey, Mike, and Paul for these special episodes is our dear friend Cassidy Hall, the author of Queering Contemplation. Together, we're exploring how her work relates to the themes of Falling Upward and the paradoxical journey of spiritual growth that comes along with it. This episode was recorded during a particularly memorable moment, as a brood of ducklings hatched in Richard's front yard, creating a scene of pure joy and wonder that mirrors the themes of new beginnings and unexpected grace that ran throughout this season. We hope you enjoy it

This Sunday, I continue my sermon series, Speaking the Truth in Love, with Part 2 - "Watch What God Does," based on Ephesians 4: 25-5:2. The biblical text concludes with this clear instruction, "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love." I deeply appreciate it when the Bible is clear and direct with advice like this. Whether you are Presbyterian or Pentecostal, Disciples of Christ or United Church of Christ, Methodist or Mennonite, this word speaks to all of us on how to live each day: Walk in love! The instructions are easy to understand, but walking in love can be a difficult challenge. These days, loud and raging voices, ones filled with fear-mongering and worse, dominate our airwaves, the internet, and print media, too. The temptation to forget about God's ways, to give up following Jesus, and to join in with the meanness is strong. Paul's advice here, though, calls on us to live as children of God regardless of what is happening around us. We are to be the ones who live in love and speak the truth. Jesus once said, "The truth shall make you free," but many preachers since then have added, "but not before it gets you in trouble." Truth-telling is not easy, but truth leads to true freedom. I'm looking forward to sharing this message with you. I know it is one I need to hear, and I am sure it will also be a hopeful word for you.

In this episode of Called to Be Bad I talk with Sarah Werner. Sarah is an editor, writer and pastor living in Columbus, Ohio. You can find Sarah's full bio in the description. Sarah is the author of the book, Rooted Faith: Practices of Living Well on a Fragile Planet. In this episode we discuss Sarah's book, in particular the idea of Animism and how it relates to the Christian faith. We talk about how all of creation is alive, including rocks! And how connecting and respecting everything wild around us–is both biblical and beneficial to our daily lives. There is lots of talk of squirrels, birds, and of course chickens. There is special mention of divine pigeons, so watch out for that. Sarah's Bio: Sarah Werner is an editor, writer and pastor living in Columbus, Ohio. She is the Communications Coordinator for Central District Conference in the Mennonite Church USA and the leader of Olentangy Wild Church. She teaches ecotheology and biblical studies courses at PATHWAYS, a theological education program affiliated with the United Church of Christ. She has a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University and a PhD from the University of Florida in Religion. In her free time she enjoys wandering in the woods and backyard bird watching. Click HERE for her blog.Resources Mentioned: Sarah's Book: Rooted Faith: Practices for Living Well on a Fragile Planet https://www.mennomedia.org/9781513813165/rooted-faith/Other books: An Altar in the World: A Geology of Faith by Barbra Brown Taylor  https://www.amazon.com/s?k=altar+in+the+world&hvadid=409960988344&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=1017117&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=14373506741575625760&hvtargid=kwd-11416552781&hydadcr=24657_11410751&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_97d507hy7p_eBecoming Animal: An Earthly Cosmology  by David Abram https://www.amazon.com/Becoming-Animal-Cosmology-David-Abram/dp/0375713697Becoming Rooted: One Hundred Days of RecoSupport the Show.Follow us for more ✨bad✨ content: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calledtobebad_podcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/calledtobebad Website: https://calledtobebad.buzzsprout.com/ Want to become part of the ✨baddie✨ community? Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/calledtobebad Have a ✨bad✨ topic you want to talk about on the show? Get in touch with host, Mariah Martin at: calledtobebad@gmail.com #ctbb #podcast #podcastersoffacebook ...

In the first part of this series, Dr. Obery Hendricks, Dr. Charlene Sinclair, and Peter Laarman lay out the beliefs of the ideologues who want an America ruled by a vengeful strongman. They ask if this movement can be fought by speaking in biblical terms, by seeing “loving your neighbor as yourself” as a struggle for the common good.  Do these authoritarians care about what is right or only what serves their interest? Will their value of domination win out over repentance? Can a return to ethics and justice stave off their ascent? Churches have a choice: They can embrace the radical power of Jesus of the gospels or slowly lose ground to an evangelical movement that worships at the strange altar of whiteness. Obery M. Hendricks Jr. is a lifelong social activist, and one of the foremost commentators on the intersection of religion and political economy in America. He is the most widely read and perhaps the most influential African American biblical scholar writing today. His recent book, Christians Against Christianity: How Right-Wing Evangelicals Are Destroying Our Nation and Our Faith (Beacon Press, 2021) has gathered wide acclaim.Dr. Charlene Sinclair is an organizer, thinker, and writer whose work centers on the intersection of race, gender, economy, and democracy. Strongly influenced by the pathbreaking thought of the late James Cone, founder of Black Liberation Theology, Dr. Sinclair is committed to fashioning strategies that embrace a liberationist approach to faith and spirituality in the context of popular struggles for racial, economic, and gender justice. The Reverend Peter Laarman is a retired United Church of Christ minister and activist who led Judson Memorial Church in New York and Progressive Christians Uniting in California. He is currently involved with the King & Breaking Silence webinar project of the National Council of Elders and with the development of a new formation called Social Ethics Energizing Democracy.

Ronald T. Evans and his wife of 59 years (Janet), reside at Pilgrim Place. He served overseas with the International Y.M.C.A. in East Africa and Geneva; taught in New England prep schools and Yale, and served as Senior Minister of two United Church of Christ congregations, 10 years in Massachusetts, and 25 years in Connecticut. Along the way he has been a rated sports official, volunteer fire fighter, Fire Department Chaplain, steeple jack, storyteller, NPR commentator, perpetual fund raiser, and occasional fun raiser.

June 7, 2024 PETE HEGSETH, Army National Guard officer who has been awarded 2 Bronze Stars for his service in Iraq & Afganistan, co-host of the FOX News Channel program “FOX & Friends Weekends”, author & passionate advocate for Classical Christian Education, AND ED BOYLE, who served in the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) in Operation Desert Storm, the 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), as an antiterrorism operations officer for U.S. Army Europe in Germany, & later served as the Operations Officer (S3) for a multifunctional logistics brigade during the Iraq War. Today he pastors Trinity Christian Church in New Bloomfield, PA, a conservative, independent, Reformed congregation that withdrew from the Leftist, woke & apostate denomination, the United Church of Christ. who will both address: “The WAR ON WARRIORS: BEHIND the BETRAYAL of the MEN WHO KEEP US FREE”   Subscribe: iTunes  TuneIn Android RSS Feed Listen:

"Whether your body is small or large, aged or young, disabled or abled, toned or soft, lithe or stiff--or somewhere in-between--anti-fatness affects us all, because it is intended to. Fat Church critiques anti-fat prejudice and the Church's historic participation in it, calling for a fatphobic reckoning for the sake of God's gospel of freedom."- from the back cover of Rev. Anastasia Kidd's book, Fat Church: A Gospel of Fat Liberation. All year long we hear messages of anti-fatness. At the beginning of the new year, goals of losing weight; not eating chocolate during Lent; prepping our "summer body"; not eating too many treats over the holidays. It's relentless, and those messages seep into our church pews, too. Rev. Anastasia Kidd invites us to bring the conversation around to understanding how anti-fat bias shapes our culture, and how we, especially as Christians, can work to change that. She invites us into a liberation rooted in God's love for us. About AnastasiaRev. Anastasia Kidd (she/her) is a lecturer and director of enrollment at the Boston University School of Theology. She was ordained by the Metro Boston Association of the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ and previously served as the Chair of the Leadership Development Commission of that Conference.

Witnessing the war in Gaza can make us feel hopeless and like there's nothing we can do. Dr. Peter Makari (he/him), a Global Relations Minister for the Middle East and Europe, shares with us today a message of hope, justice, and peace. He offers important background information in relationships in the Middle East and lifts up voices of Palestinian partners who are on the ground doing important work. Peter reminds us to recall Jesus' message of "who is my neighbor" and how that neighbor is not just the person next door, but our global neighbor as well. This is an important conversation and we hope it encourages you to utilize the links below to continue learning and connecting, and turning hope into action.About PeterDr. Peter E. Makari (he/him), PhD, serves as Global Relations Minister for the Middle East and Europe with the Common Global Ministries Board of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), a position he has held since July 1, 2000.He serves on the National Council of Churches' Interreligious Convening Table, of which he is a co-convener, and has been an active participant in national Jewish-Christian and Muslim-Christian dialogue initiatives.  He represents the UCC and Disciples on the Faith Forum for Middle East Policy, of which he is a co-convener, and on the board of Churches for Middle East Peace.  He also represents the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) on the Steering and Executive Committees of the Shoulder to Shoulder Campaign.An Egyptian-American, Peter has lived in the Middle East, where he worked with the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services (CEOSS) in Cairo, Egypt (1991-1994), and then with the Middle East Council of Churches, based in Limassol, Cyprus (1997-2000). Peter earned an M.A. in Middle East Studies from the American University in Cairo (1993) and a Ph.D. in Politics and Middle East Studies from New York University (2003).  He is the author of Conflict and Cooperation: Christian-Muslim Relations in Contemporary Egypt (Syracuse University Press, 2007).Peter is a member of West Park United Church of Christ in Cleveland, OH.Important Links to Learn MoreGlobal Ministries' Middle East and Europe Homepage: https://www.globalministries.org/regions/mee/Resources, including recommended reading (under “Bookshelf”): https://www.globalministries.org/resource/mee_resources_index/Our UCC and Disciples response page to the current crisis in the Middle East: https://www.globalministries.org/the-disciples-and-ucc-address-the-crisis-in-the-middle-east/Connect with us!Sign up to receive a little Gospel in your inbox every Monday Morning with our weekly devotional.Check out our website for various resources - including devotionals, journaling prompts, and even curriculumGet some Lady Preacher Podcast swag!Connect with us on Instagram and Facebook