Coastal Theology

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In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Gordon T. Smith to explore what it means to live faithfully in the here and now.

Gordon invites us to move beyond nostalgia and “what ifs,” and instead pay attention to the real circumstances of our lives—the places where God is already at work. Together, we talk about vocation as something deeper than career, the challenge of saying no, the importance of self-knowledge, and why learning to be present might be the most important spiritual practice of all.

We also reflect on how our calling unfolds over time—not as a straight line, but as a thread that runs through every season of life.

This conversation is both grounding and freeing—especially if you’re navigating transition, wrestling with purpose, or trying to discern what faithfulness looks like in your everyday life.

Gordon will be joining us in Victoria for the Called and Formed conference alongside Mark Buchanan on May 8–9.

👉 Learn more and register 

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Coastal Theology Podcast theme performed by Mark Glanville

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In this episode of Coastal Theology, Andy Withrow and Vanessa Caruso sit down with pastor and author Mark Buchanan (The Rest of God) to explore how Sabbath, vocation, and trust belong together.

As VISTA prepares for its May 8–9 conference “Called and Formed”, Mark reframes Sabbath as more than a productivity break—it’s a practice that retrains our souls for patience, presence, and interruption, especially in a culture formed by convenience and distraction. The conversation moves from the dignity of ordinary work (as participation in God’s creative purposes) to the spiritual danger of “losing the plot” when work feels disconnected from meaning.

Mark also shares the surprising story of New Story Community, a ministry he and his wife began during COVID—living in close, life-on-life community with First Nations women navigating complex trauma. Together, they reflect on how spiritual disciplines (like fasting, silence, and Sabbath) don’t just soothe us—they form resilience and prepare us for the callings we never would have chosen.

Plus: Mark previews his new novel releasing March 17.

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Coastal Theology Podcast theme performed by Mark Glanville

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Author and pastor Jodi Spargur joins host Vanessa Caruso and poet Matthew Church to explore her new book Mend—a gentle yet challenging invitation for the Church to move beyond “fixing” toward true repair and reciprocity with Indigenous peoples.

They talk about what it means to mend rather than fix—embracing slowness, humility, and generational commitment to right relationship. Along the way, the conversation weaves through stories of Indigenous hospitality and generosity, reflections on Zacchaeus and kintsugi (the art of golden repair), and the surprising presence of joy at the edge of lament.

Together they ask:

• What does “land back” really mean for local churches?
• How can reconciliation become a shared spiritual practice rather than a political project?
• What would it look like for faith communities to stay in the work of mending for generations to come?

Jodi shares how Mend grew from her encounters with Indigenous elders and the question that first sparked the book: “Where is the Church?”—a challenge and an invitation to show up with love, humility, and courage.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed or unsure where to begin with reconciliation, this conversation offers a hopeful path forward: an invitation to join the long, beautiful work of mending together.

**VISTA is thrilled to be hosting a book launch celebration for Jodi Spagur and several other local authors**

Save the Date!

VISTA is thrilled to be hosting a book launch celebration for Mend by Jodi Spagur, published by New Leaf Network! Mend: An Invitation from Jesus to Return to Land-based Repair.

Plus — we’ll be highlighting several local authors and their brand-new books. It’s going to be an inspiring evening of stories, conversation, and community.

James Prette- Five Invitations

Vanessa Siemens Maher- 50 States of Grief

Randy Hein- From Where We Stand

Matthew Church- Through Darkness

Kyla Ward- Under the Sky

Copies of all the books will be available for purchase at the event

Friday, November 21 | 7:00–9:00 PM Church of Our Lord, hosted by The Table Church

TICKETS HERE - Cost $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

This collaborative event is brought to you by Vista: The Vancouver Island School of Theology and the Arts and New Leaf Network.

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Learn more about the Vancouver Island School of Theology and the Arts

Credits:

Coastal Theology Podcast theme performed by Mark Glanville

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"You want it darker? We killed the flame." These haunting words from Leonard Cohen capture the spiritual emergency of our times—and might be his most important message for today's church, according to theologian Dr. Brian Walsh.

In this profound conversation, we explore how Cohen's music creates a bridge between ancient biblical imagination and contemporary spiritual hunger. Walsh's new book "Rags of Light" examines Cohen not merely as a poet or musician, but as a modern-day psalmist whose work functions within "the landscape of the Bible."

The grandson of a renowned Talmudic scholar, Cohen's Jewish heritage infused his art with covenantal themes that Walsh unpacks with remarkable insight. From "Suzanne" to "Hallelujah," Cohen's catalog reveals a sophisticated theological imagination that embraces both prophetic judgment and priestly surrender. His unflinching articulation of human complicity in suffering creates authentic space for grace—what Cohen himself called "a manual for defeat" that paradoxically opens us to redemption.

Walsh shares his fascinating experience crafting worship liturgies around contemporary artists like Cohen, where songs become prayers and eucharistic responses. These services revealed a profound spiritual hunger among diverse attendees, many drawn not by religious affiliation but by the resonance of Cohen's artistic voice. When the line "there ain't no cure for love" becomes a communion response, something powerful happens—sacred and secular boundaries dissolve into genuine encounter.

What emerges is a vision of faith where arguing with God becomes an act of devotion, where sexuality and spirituality intertwine as expressions of the same fundamental longing, and where even our darkest articulations can become pathways to light. Join us for this illuminating conversation that will transform how you hear Cohen's music and might just rekindle your imagination for what worship could be.

Don't miss Dr. Walsh's upcoming workshop "Liturgy, Contemporary Music and Liberating the Imagination" on September 20th in Victoria, where he'll explore how contemporary artists can enrich our spiritual practice and communal worship.

LINKS:

Dr. Brian Walsh Bio and Empire Remixed Website

A Glad Footnote - Dr. Brian Walsh's piece on Walter Brueggemann

Wine Before Breakfast Community

Rags of Light - Spotify Playlist according to the book

If It Be Your Will - The Webb Sisters with Leonard Cohen

If It Be Your Will - Antony

Hallelujah - Favorite version of Dr. Brian Walsh

I'm Your Man - Leonard Cohen Documentary

The Traitor - Performed by Martha Wainwright

VISTA website

Rags of Light Cr

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Learn more about the Vancouver Island School of Theology and the Arts

Credits:

Coastal Theology Podcast theme performed by Mark Glanville

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What if the church's greatest strength isn't in repeating what's worked elsewhere, but in learning to improvise within our unique contexts? Dr. Mark Glanville, jazz pianist and Old Testament scholar, invites us to discover a more vibrant way of being church through the art of improvisation.

Join us for this fascinating exploration of how churches can become more authentic, contextual, and vibrant by learning the art of spiritual improvisation. Then experience it firsthand at the upcoming "Blessed Are the Undone" workshop with Dr. Glanville on June 6-7 in Victoria.

Links:

• Register for Blessed Are the Undone: Conversations about Faith Deconstruction and Hope in Canada - June 6 - 7,  2025 - Victoria, BC
• Find out more about Dr. Mark Glanville
• Listen to Mark's Podcast, Blue Note Theology

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Learn more about the Vancouver Island School of Theology and the Arts

Credits:

Coastal Theology Podcast theme performed by Mark Glanville

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Vanessa Caruso and Andy Withrow introduce a new podcast for the Vancouver Island School of Theology and the Arts (VISTA) and promote an upcoming conference titled "Blessed are the undone," featuring keynote speaker Angela Reitsma Bick and pre-conference lecturer Peter Schuurman. The conference, scheduled for May 15 and June 6-7, 2025, will explore the book "Blessed are the undone: testimonies of the quiet deconstruction of faith in Canada," co-authored by Bick and Schuurman. The book discusses the phenomenon of faith deconstruction in Canada, using canoe camping as a metaphor for the spiritual journey. Bick emphasizes the importance of addressing the triggers for deconstruction and the need for reconciliation within the church.

Links:

Blessed Are the Undone Pre-Conference Lecture w/ Peter Schuurman - May 15, 2025

Blessed Are the Undone Conference w/ Angela Reitsma Bick - June 6-7, 2025

https://www.vistacanada.org/

Support the show

Learn more about the Vancouver Island School of Theology and the Arts

Credits:

Coastal Theology Podcast theme performed by Mark Glanville