Month: December 2024

When Christmas is blue: A meditation of hope

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‘Tis the season for all things merry and bright. Except when you’re feeling sad, lonely and perhaps grieving.

Retired United Methodist pastor and current spiritual director Cindy Serio discusses why Christmas can be a challenging season for some folks and shares a guided meditation that acknowledges that you might feel blue at this time of the year while offering encouragement for finding hope, even on the longest night.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

Have a question or comment? Email us at gysis@umcom.org

Connect with The United Methodist Church by visiting UMC.org.

Seven sisters: A look at the lives of John Wesley’s female siblings

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John Wesley had seven sisters and it’s “overdue that we explore their lives,” says Rev. Dr. Glen O’Brien, author, minister and professor of Christian history and thought at the University of Divinity in Melbourne, Australia. Join Dr. Ashley Boggan, host of “Un-Tied Methodism,” as she and O’Brien delve into the stories of the Wesley sisters, examining both their lives and contributions to Methodism, as well as the importance of understanding Christian history from a female perspective.

Explore the United Methodist General Commission on Archives and History at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory.

Interested in a deep dive into the earliest stories of Methodism? Sign up for a free, online, four-module history course titled “Radicle Methodism: Back to our Roots” at ResourceUMC.org/ArchivesandHistory/Radicle-Methodism.

Listen to other episodes of “Un-Tied Methodism” at UnTiedMethodism.org.

[102] Data, demographics and church growth with Ryan Burge

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It’s a data-driven conversation with Ryan Burge, a social scientist and minister, who explores the intricate factors influencing church growth and decline. Burge sheds light on how external demographics, strategic church planting, and the balance between divine calling and data-driven decisions shape religious communities. The episode also covers clergy satisfaction, positive chaplaincy experiences, the evolving religious landscape, and how Substack fosters meaningful audience engagement. Don’t miss this insightful discussion on the complexities of religion in modern society.

In this episode:
(00:00) Guide pastors to think like social scientists.
(06:39) Churches largely apolitical; misconceptions about religion exist.
(08:18) Context influences church growth more than efforts.
(17:16) Bridging religious and non-religious through impartiality.
(18:45) The numbers readers care about.
(23:45) Email remains essential, resilient against platform changes.
(28:23) Recommended podcast episodes for digital strategies.

Find more notes and connect with MyCom:
www.resourceumc.org/mycom-podcast

#ChurchGrowth #ReligiousTrends #RyanBurge #MyComPodcast #Demographics #StrategicPlanning #ClergySatisfaction #Substack #DataDrivenDecisions #ReligionAndSociety #ReligiousData #Chaplains #CommunityBuilding #AmericanReligion #Podcast

Keywords: church growth, religious trends, Ryan Burge, MyCom Podcast, demographics, church planting, clergy satisfaction, chaplaincy, data-driven decisions, religion and society, Substack, social scientist, religious data.

[147] Revelation’s Real Story: Hope, Justice, and God Amidst Chaos

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Matthew Ian Fleming on Compass: Finding spirituality in the everyday. Matthew dives deep into the enigmatic Book of Revelation, shedding light on its broader message of hope, justice, and new creation, far from its often misinterpreted doom and gloom reputation. Learn about his unique approach to understanding Revelation, anchored by Psalm 139, and its relevance in contemporary society.

Matthew Ian Fleming, author of “The End is the Beginning: Revelation, Hope, and the Love that Lit the Stars,” and leader of Church Anew, discusses his perspective on Revelation as a misunderstood text. Addressing complex themes like the impact of historical contexts, the metaphorical images of a new heaven, city, and garden, and the role of Christians in opposing injustice, Matthew invites us to see Revelation as a source of hope and spiritual introspection.

Discover how worship influenced by Revelation can transform individuals and communities, and revisit the concept of the rapture, challenging its historical roots. This conversation is an invitation to engage deeply with Revelation, seeing it as relevant today, amid modern crises like polarization, climate change, and violence.

Matthew has dedicated his work to helping people find spiritual reflection and justice through understanding Revelation. Join us as we explore these profound themes aimed at rekindling faith and hope.

In this episode:
(00:00) Revelation: new creation, hope, justice, not doom.
(04:01) U2 and a hope and longing for God.
(06:52) The Bible: Witness to God’s diverse, living voice.
(09:42) Christianity’s evolving relevance amid modern societal crises.
(15:07) Let’s talk about the Rapture.
(19:01) Equip people to understand Revelation, prevent misinformation.
(21:19) Psalm 46, Romans 8, and Psalm 139 anchored.
(24:28) Contextualize violence, empire, and Christian subversion.
(30:27) Worship inspires community transformation and unity.
(32:48) Revelation encourages hope, community, and active faith.
(36:21) Podcast resumes January 8, 2025.

Keywords: Revelation, spirituality, Christian faith, Matthew Ian Fleming, theology, hope, justice, new creation, rapture, worship, church, Book of Revelation, contemporary society, Psalm 139, Church Anew, biblical interpretation, eternal hope.

Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications. find more episodes and notes at www.umc.org/compass

Transform your faith: From believing in Jesus to believing like Jesus

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What if, instead of having faith in Jesus, you had the faith of Jesus? Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter, who has integrated the Jewish faith of her birth with her chosen identity as a United Methodist, urges all of us to embrace our inner divinity to live a more purposeful life, one in which we move beyond simply believing in Jesus to believing like Jesus.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

Learn more and/or purchase Simon-Peter’s book, “Believe Like Jesus: Rising from faith in Jesus to the faith of Jesus.”

Have a question or comment? Email us at gysis@umcom.org

Connect with The United Methodist Church by visiting UMC.org.