Re-listen: Meet Bishop Thomas Bickerton

In this re-release of a 2020 ‘Meet a Bishop’ episode  of Get Your Spirit in Shape, Bishop Thomas Bickerton of the New York Episcopal Area and now President of the Council of Bishops talks about his knowledge of glass, his interest in every person’s story and his love for his work.

Relisten: Finding the Divine in the everyday with Kaitlin Curtice

We’re revisiting a conversation with Kaitlin Curtice. We talked with Kaitlin back in 2018. She is an award-winning author, poet-storyteller, and public speaker. Kaitlin presents on the intersections of spirituality and identity and how that shifts throughout our lives.

In this episode we really focused on how she uses everyday moments as instances of awareness and appreciation–everything from doing the dishes to dealing with a nasty situation. Could such moments present Divine disruption? That’s what we got into with Kaitlin Curtice.

The spiritual antidote to injustice with Leah Wandera

Leah Wandera, the first United Women in Faith deaconess in Africa, is working to bridge The United Methodist Church and the global community through her work in social justice advocacy and public health.

Spirit-filled: Rethink Church audiomagazine summer 2022

This is the June/early July 2022 edition of the Rethink Church audiomagazine presented on the Compass podcast.

Throughout June of 2022, our content focused on being Spirit-filled. What does that mean? Well, we have some great posts about encountering and moving with the Holy Spirit. In this edition of the audiomag, we’ll hear:

  • “Pigeons, boundaries and the Holy Spirit” by Joseph Yoo
  • “5 powerful practices to reclaim your spiritual flow” by Madison Myers
  • “The kingdom of God is like the Force” by Nathan Webb

New episodes resuming in August

We’ll be back with some deep topics in August:

  • How do sit with being Christian when we don’t agree with everything being done in the name of Christianity?
  • Whether or not there’s a reason for our hardship in our lives.
  • The sacred represented in the natural world.

And more, of course!

Navigating dementia: A guide for loved ones with Elizabeth Schulman

Loneliness, grief, anger, exhaustion and a longing for peace. United Methodist pastor and author Elizabeth Shulman says these emotions frequently surround families dealing with dementia. In her new book, Finding Sanctuary in the Midst of Alzheimer’s: A Spiritual Guide for Families Facing Dementia, Shulman offers steps for how caregivers, as well as members of the church community, can find and offer support for one another.

Relisten: Does everything happen for a reason?

This was a conversation with Kate Bowler, who, at the time of original recording, was a well-regarded but not-so well-known college professor and author. She was on the verge of releasing a book called “Everything Happens for a Reason and Other Lies I’ve Loved…” which then blew up.

The book came out of Kate’s cancer diagnosis. At the time, it was a stage 4 diagnosis… which is a pretty bleak diagnosis. The book details her wrestling with the idea that God might have made this happen. And it’s somewhat ironic because as an academic, Dr. Bowler researched the prosperity gospel–the idea that faith makes good things happen.

It’s an internal conflict as old as belief. So this episode is timeless

Find wholeness and balance with the Enneagram with Suzanne Stabile

United Methodist and Enneagram master Suzanne Stabile shares how she uses the Enneagram to feel closer to God and how it can help us achieve more balance and wholeness in our daily lives.

85: Do UFOs and extraterrestrials have anything to do with faith and theology?

Deep in the media vaults of the United Methodist denomination are old radio shows all about UFOs and extraterrestrial life. It would seem odd that a religious organization would be so invested in that topic. Meanwhile, NASA has funded theological projects and several faith leaders have invested in the astro-sciences.

What is going on? Do UFOs and extraterrestrials have anything to with faith and theology?

Let’s dive into the relationship…

This episode features excerpts from “Night Call”–a radio production from the late 1960’s. The show was produced by a predecessor of United Methodist Communications and discussed cultural issues of the day, including racial justice, Vietnam, the sexual revolution… and UFOs.

Also appearing on this episode (from the modern day) are Drs. Lucas Mix and David Wilkinson. Rev. Dr. Lucas Mix is a writer, Episcopalian priest, consultant for NASA, project coordinator at Equipping Christian Leadership in an Age of Science (ECLAS), and the Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology, Exploration, and Scientific Innovation. Dr. Mix hosts the Space on the Page podcast for the Library of Congress. Reverend Professor David Wilkinson is a professor in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University and has PhDs in astrophysics and systematic theology.

The need to be a well-informed church with Tim Tanton

People of faith cannot be effective and relevant in the world today if they are not well informed, says Tim Tanton, who oversees UM News. On today’s episode of “Get Your Spirit in Shape,” Tim shares details about the news agency of The United Methodist Church and shares why UM News is an important ministry in the church, one that can be trusted as a reliable source of information.