December 2022 – UMC.org Podcasts

99: Disrupting 10 Christmas myths

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Happy Advent! Let’s prepare for the UPCOMING Christmas season by looking at the history and practices of the holiday.

Why is the date of Jesus’ birth celebrated on December 25? Why do we sometimes call Santa Claus “Saint Nicholas”? Was the Grinch based on a real person? We’re doing a short but deep dive into Christmas traditions and practices.

In this episode:
(00:00) Rethinking Christmas traditions
(00:59) Myth 1: Christmas is the most important Christian holiday
(04:06) Myth 2: Christmas is just an adaptation of a pagan festival
(06:06) Myth 3: Jesus was born on December 25
(07:52) Myth 4: There’s a new modern war on Christmas
(10:33) Myth 5: Writing “Xmas” is disrespectful or sacrilegious
(12:11) Myth 6: Santa Claus is Saint Nicholas
(15:33) Myth 7: Mary rode a donkey to Bethlehem
(17:02) Myth 8: A star shone directly above the birth scene
(18:05) Myth 9: Three kings were present at Jesus’ birth
(18:37) Myth 10: December is the Christmas season

Slam Poetry & Mary: An unconventional Christmas pageant

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St. Francis of Assisi is credited with presenting the first Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve in the early 1200s. Fast forward to the 21^st century when Christmas pageants haven’t veered too far from the 13^th century version with Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and a few animals.

Inspired by slam poetry, Rev. Katy Shedlock, United Methodist clergy, church planter and co-pastor at The Creator’s Table in Spokane, Washington, decided to change it up. In the “Deleted Scenes Christmas Pageant,” Shedlock puts the spotlight on Mary, filling in the unknown parts of the traditional story with an unconventional narrative that highlights Mary as a powerful, fierce teen woman.

Let’s talk about bishops

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Earlier in November, 13 new bishops were elected to serve The UMC across the U.S. Learn when bishops first became part of the denominational narrative, why Francis Asbury changed their title from general superintendent and more episcopal history when the Rev. Dr. Robert J. Williams, former general secretary of Archives & History, joins this episode of “Un-Tied Methodism.”

[98] Pastors of TikTok

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Divine disruptions are happening on TikTok every day. Kelley Finch, Joseph Yoo and Sarah Tevis-Townes tell their stories of coming to TikTok and finding some beautiful relationships and community.

Find Pastor Kelley at @pastorkelley

Find Rev. Joseph at @joseph.yoo

And Pastor Sarah at @disorganized.religion

MyCom podcast Ep. 080: Lessons from 2022 / Predictions for 2023

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On this episode of the MyCom Church Marketing podcast, Dan is going to share with 3 lessons he learned in 2022 and 3 predictions he has for 2023.

For more info about Dan, our host: https://www.defininggrace.com/

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Stories behind the songs of Charles Wesley with Paul Chilcote

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“Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” is indisputably one of the most popular Christmas hymns of all time. When Charles Wesley penned the lyrics, however, the opening line read, “Hark, how all the welkens ring!” World-renowned Wesley scholar Paul Chilcote shares fun and interesting insights about a selection of Wesley hymns and explains how all of the 9,000 hymns written by The United Methodist Church’s most enduring and prolific hymn writer centers on one theme: love.

Learn more about this episode at https://www.umc.org/en/content/stories-behind-the-songs-of-charles-wesley-get-your-spirit-in-shape-ep-130

Have questions or comments? Send an email to gysis@umcom.org.