Compass Podcast: Finding the spirituality in the day-to-day

We’ve taken several of the most-read articles from the Rethink Church page (www.umc.org/rethinkchurch) and brought them to you in audio form, so you can now get tips on spiritual practices, ideas on social justice interventions, and perspectives on healthy living wherever you listen. In this initial edition of the Rethink Church AudioMag: “5 ways to … Continue reading "Rethink Church AudioMagazine for January 2022"

It’s year-end reflection time! Hosts Ryan Dunn and Pierce Drake review the moments they felt like God “showed up” in 2021. How did you see God showing up in your midst?

Amy Julia Becker is helping us disrupt the cycles of division in our society. Overcoming systems of injustice feels overwhelming for one single person, we don’t feel like our efforts could make a difference. Amy Julia shares her experience with those doubts and committing to justice anyways. Amy Julia Becker is an award-winning writer and … Continue reading "Healing our divides with Amy Julia Becker"

It’s easy to exist in an echo chamber these days. But the holidays, and Jesus’ story, remind us that beloved community neither begins nor exists in spaces where everyone else is just like us. Beloved community begins when we are intentional about participating in settings where we may not have much in common with some … Continue reading "Who is at your table?"

Jacqui Lewis shares how a fierce love that starts with loving ourselves well will change the world. We are fully who we are–fully human–when we realize that we belong to each other. Everyone’s success depends on everyone’s success. So we are called to love one another as we love ourselves. Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis is … Continue reading "Bonus: Fierce Love with Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis"

We all have questions about faith. Sometimes those questions are so burning that they start a proverbial fire that threatens to burn our whole system of belief down. Brian Zahnd joins the podcast to share about the ways God is revealed through both the fire and the daily workings of life. Brian Zahnd is the … Continue reading "Reconstructing burned out faith with Brian Zahnd"

What is God doing when bad things happen? In this episode, we discuss this question and the place of hope in the midst of our messy lives with Bishop Jake Owensby. Hope is not merely wishful thinking. Hope digs deeper and moves us in a way that wishful thinking cannot. There is hope because we … Continue reading "Hope when life gets messy with Jake Owensby"

Feeling a bit disconnected? Utilizing a reading plan helps us connect in community and feel connected to the Divine. In this episode, Pierce and Ryan outline simple plans, note the benefits of investing in reading scripture, and offer a special invitation!

One of the marks of monastic communities is that they establish a rhythm of life that calls attention to the holy.  Sister Joan Chittister, who is herself part of a Benedictine monastic community, has translated a number of these practices into everyday life for us. You may have heard of Sister Joan–she’s a well-known activist … Continue reading "Simple life rhythms for balance and peace with Joan Chittister"

Why did Jesus say some of the things he said? What do we make of these tough teachings today? Amy-Jill Levine provides some tools for processing. Do we need to sell everything we own? Must we hate our mothers and fathers? At different points in his ministry, Jesus suggested to some people they do those … Continue reading "Wrestling with the tough sayings alongside Amy-Jill Levine"