Holy Shenanigans

Chasing Goodness is a podcast where speaker, storyteller and author Matt Kendziera finds incredible people using their faith and life as a catalyst for goodness in this world. In this episode, pastor, poet, and podcaster Tara Lamont Eastman joins the show to discuss the future of faith and how the arts play an important role in our connection with the divine.

Like what you hear? Head on over to Chasing Goodness to be inspired to discover your own goodness in order to make your life, family, community and world better.

Thanks, Matt for allowing Holy Shenanigans to share this episode with our listeners!

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Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman is a pastor, podcaster and host of Holy Shenanigans since September of 2020.  Eastman combines her love of ministry with her love of writing, music and visual arts. She is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary’s Theological Education for Emerging Ministry Program and the Youth and Theology Certificate Program at Princeton Seminary. She has served in various ministry and pastoral roles over the last thirty years in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of America).  She is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Warren Pennsylvania. She has presented workshops on the topics of faith and creativity at the Wild Goose Festival. She is a trainer for Soul Shop Suicide Prevention for Church Communities.

The Order of Saint Hildegard is an expansive, dispersed intentional community centered on the healthy and whole development of its members and chaplains. During the Wild Goose Festival, Tara sat down with its director and founder, Frances Cutshaw, who shares how the life of Saint Hildegard empowers her own calling and has led her to lift up others who are seeking the Sacred.

Poem of the Week: Woman, Thank You

Woman - Thank you.

For bringing life to light

and carrying it within you.

Woman - we thank you.

For your leadership, nurture, wisdom and challenge -

Woman - we thank you.

For walking with us, redirecting our steps,

and teaching us to care for one another.

Woman, we thank you.

For your intellect, your grace and the millions

of ways you empower the world to love...

Woman, we thank you.

Sage, Friend, Strength-giver.

Healer, Leader, Preacher.

Parent, Chef, Dancer.

Creative, Life-giver, Godbearer.

Woman.

You are impossible to define and life would be impossible without you.

Woman, we thank you.

Tara L. Eastman Copyright 2017

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Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman is a pastor, podcaster and host of Holy Shenanigans since September of 2020.  Eastman combines her love of ministry with her love of writing, music and visual arts. She is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary’s Theological Education for Emerging Ministry Program and the Youth and Theology Certificate Program at Princeton Seminary. She has served in various ministry and pastoral roles over the last thirty years in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of America).  She is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Warren Pennsylvania. She has presented workshops on the topics of faith and creativity at the Wild Goose Festival. She is a trainer for Soul Shop Suicide Prevention for Church Communities.

Come take a seat at the campsite with Tara and guest Joy Crawford, a spiritual director with a deep connection to the natural world. You're in for a thought-provoking conversation about Eco-Spirituality, the Divine Feminine, and finding balance in life.

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Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman is a pastor, podcaster and host of Holy Shenanigans since September of 2020.  Eastman combines her love of ministry with her love of writing, music and visual arts. She is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary’s Theological Education for Emerging Ministry Program and the Youth and Theology Certificate Program at Princeton Seminary. She has served in various ministry and pastoral roles over the last thirty years in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of America).  She is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Warren Pennsylvania. She has presented workshops on the topics of faith and creativity at the Wild Goose Festival. She is a trainer for Soul Shop Suicide Prevention for Church Communities.

Tonyah Dee teaches about finding ways to daily increase inner strength, stability and confidence through practicing spiritual disciplines and healthy habits.  Tara sat down with Tonyah during the Wild Goose Festival to talk about love, serenity, and finding purpose in life.

Tonyah Dee is a registered dietitian, Christ-centered life coach, and master meditation teacher, making her perspective deep yet broad. She teaches evidence based lifestyle tips integrated with spiritual practices, believing it is important to feed body, soul and spirit. Tonyah creates devotional chant music, and scriptural contemplations to go with her Christ-centered meditation and prayer practice. She is the founder of Yahlight, a movement to ignite and empower the Light within. For more visit: https://yahlight.com or go to Tonyah Dee's YouTube: Yahlight

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Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman is a pastor, podcaster and host of Holy Shenanigans since September of 2020.  Eastman combines her love of ministry with her love of writing, music and visual arts. She is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary’s Theological Education for Emerging Ministry Program and the Youth and Theology Certificate Program at Princeton Seminary. She has served in various ministry and pastoral roles over the last thirty years in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of America).  She is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Warren Pennsylvania. She has presented workshops on the topics of faith and creativity at the Wild Goose Festival. She is a trainer for Soul Shop Suicide Prevention for Church Communities.

Today's podcast comes to you from the Wild Goose Festival in Union Grove, North Carolina. Tara sits down for a conversation with Brian Allain, the creative force behind Writing For Your Life, Publishing in Color, Compassionate Christianity and Heal Our Divides. For Brian's full bio and link tree, go to: https://writingforyourlife.com/brian-allain/

Today's poem: God of Change

God of change, 
Blow a cool breeze my way. Focus my attention on love.

Love that welcomes all.

Love that is diversity.

Change moves me, you, we into God’s dance of love - 

That spins us around, swirls our colors so that the gazing eye sees a picture of diversity - that is BEAUTY.

Changing love, make us a swirling masterpieces.

Make us ONE and you are ONE.

Copyright 2022 T.L. Eastman

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Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman is a pastor, podcaster and host of Holy Shenanigans since September of 2020.  Eastman combines her love of ministry with her love of writing, music and visual arts. She is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary’s Theological Education for Emerging Ministry Program and the Youth and Theology Certificate Program at Princeton Seminary. She has served in various ministry and pastoral roles over the last thirty years in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of America).  She is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Warren Pennsylvania. She has presented workshops on the topics of faith and creativity at the Wild Goose Festival. She is a trainer for Soul Shop Suicide Prevention for Church Communities.

Tara reminisces about theologian, writer and mentor Phillis Tickle and how she offered an oasis of encouragement to keep her going in her spiritual journey.

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Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman is a pastor, podcaster and host of Holy Shenanigans since September of 2020.  Eastman combines her love of ministry with her love of writing, music and visual arts. She is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary’s Theological Education for Emerging Ministry Program and the Youth and Theology Certificate Program at Princeton Seminary. She has served in various ministry and pastoral roles over the last thirty years in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of America).  She is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Warren Pennsylvania. She has presented workshops on the topics of faith and creativity at the Wild Goose Festival. She is a trainer for Soul Shop Suicide Prevention for Church Communities.

Tara muses about distractions and rest. She tells a story about how a word of encouragement can help cut to the heart of what really matters. 

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Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman is a pastor, podcaster and host of Holy Shenanigans since September of 2020.  Eastman combines her love of ministry with her love of writing, music and visual arts. She is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary’s Theological Education for Emerging Ministry Program and the Youth and Theology Certificate Program at Princeton Seminary. She has served in various ministry and pastoral roles over the last thirty years in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of America).  She is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Warren Pennsylvania. She has presented workshops on the topics of faith and creativity at the Wild Goose Festival. She is a trainer for Soul Shop Suicide Prevention for Church Communities.

Tara is traveling this week and she audio journals about one of the most well-known road trip stories of all time: the Good Samaritan. Wherever you find yourself on the map today, there are always opportunities to be a good neighbor.

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Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman is a pastor, podcaster and host of Holy Shenanigans since September of 2020.  Eastman combines her love of ministry with her love of writing, music and visual arts. She is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary’s Theological Education for Emerging Ministry Program and the Youth and Theology Certificate Program at Princeton Seminary. She has served in various ministry and pastoral roles over the last thirty years in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of America).  She is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Warren Pennsylvania. She has presented workshops on the topics of faith and creativity at the Wild Goose Festival. She is a trainer for Soul Shop Suicide Prevention for Church Communities.

In Episode 95 of Holy Shenanigans Podcast: Smile Up To Your Eyes, Tara tells a story about human hunger of body, mind and spirit  calls us to actions to feed one another - but the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. How do we see God in the face of all we meet? How can we to honor the humanity of each human? How can we smile up to our eyes and feed whatever hunger must be fed?

 Because the harvest is plentiful, but the workers, the workers are few…

With Original Song by T.L. Eastman "Beyond the Silver Moon"

"Take a step, make it two time is moving so are you. Changes come oh so soon, I'm moving on for you. Times are tough, life is rough, we got some work to do. The journey’s on oh so long, my only grace/strength is you…

I will fly through the midnight sky, sing by the moon, I will go to where they’ve gone before, beyond the Silver Moon."

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Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman is a pastor, podcaster and host of Holy Shenanigans since September of 2020.  Eastman combines her love of ministry with her love of writing, music and visual arts. She is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary’s Theological Education for Emerging Ministry Program and the Youth and Theology Certificate Program at Princeton Seminary. She has served in various ministry and pastoral roles over the last thirty years in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of America).  She is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Warren Pennsylvania. She has presented workshops on the topics of faith and creativity at the Wild Goose Festival. She is a trainer for Soul Shop Suicide Prevention for Church Communities.

Dancing with God is an invitation to show up as we are - where we are - and stop looking back. Would you like to take a turn on the Holy Shenanigans dance floor? Let’s go - and try a new step forward!

Today's special ending theme is Creative Commons Music by Jason Shaw on Audionautix.com.

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Support the show

Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman is a pastor, podcaster and host of Holy Shenanigans since September of 2020.  Eastman combines her love of ministry with her love of writing, music and visual arts. She is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary’s Theological Education for Emerging Ministry Program and the Youth and Theology Certificate Program at Princeton Seminary. She has served in various ministry and pastoral roles over the last thirty years in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of America).  She is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Warren Pennsylvania. She has presented workshops on the topics of faith and creativity at the Wild Goose Festival. She is a trainer for Soul Shop Suicide Prevention for Church Communities.