Holy Shenanigans

Happy Birthday Holy Shenanigans! This week we ponder a Jesus story about identity, calling and the power of setting boundaries, hear a birthday story about a stolen cupcake, get some advice from the poet Rilke on how to live into doubts, and hear an original song by Tara called Cross Roads. As we stand on the threshold of the autumn season and all the changes it brings, let's take a minute to fill in our blanks of “Get behind me _____, so we can get on down the road.”

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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.

Content warning: This episode is about suicide prevention. If you or someone you love is considering suicide, help is available from the National Suicide Prevention Line at 800-273-8255 (voice) and 741-741 (text).

Tara is joined this week by Michelle Snyder, the primary workshop presenter for Soul Shop, an organization that equips faith communities to minister to those impacted by suicide.

Also mentioned in this episode is the Semicolon Project, a non-profit organization that “envisions a world where all people affected by mental illness live healthy, fulfilling lives supported and inspired by a community that cares.”  

Send Tara a Text Message

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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 tells a story of singing nurses, her childhood guitar and how these gifts led her to discover a space of contemplation and prayer - by way of music. She encourages us to listen to the call of Jesus us to look at our hearts, and spend some time wrestling with the questions: Do the words we speak align with sincerity of heart? How do we live with sincerity and authenticity? Simon de Voil, a Scottish sacred musician, interspiritual minister and singer songwriter shares his song, Magnificat, from the album Canticle of Creation as this week's creative offering. To explore more of Simon’s music, check out his website and Patreon.

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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 wraps up the "bread of life" series of Jesus stories with a message that his followers find hard to swallow, a story about the Island of Misfit Toys, and a prayer borrowed from St. Patrick. In this episode, Tara references two books: Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving and Finding the Church by Rachel Held Evans and The Celtic Way of Evangelism by George G. Hunter III.

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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 continues her exploration of the “bread of life” with a challenge to serve and partake of nourishing things that satisfy the deep hungers in our lives and communities. She is joined this week by the Reverend Kwame Pitts, cohost of the Opposite Ends podcast and pastor of the Community of Good Neighbors, Oasis & LuMin in Buffalo, NY.

Send Tara a Text Message

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.

Put your dancin' shoes on! Keith Secola performs his song referenced in last week’s episode, Fry Bread! To learn more about this seven-time Native American Music Award winner’s music, tour schedule and merchandise go to www.secola.com.

Send Tara a Text Message

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.

Whatcha hungry for? Tara reminisces about music making and community building with Keith Secola. You can purchase music by Keith at www.secola.com. Learn more about the history of fry bread at perpich.mn.gov. This episode of Holy Shenanigans is dedicated to Cassie and the Smith Family. Rest in peace, Cassie.

Send Tara a Text Message

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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.

Send Tara a Text Message

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.

We all need to take a break… Press the pause button… To rest and recharge… Tara tells a Jesus story about a search for Sabbath. She shares the poem “Shoulders” by poet Naomi Shihab Nye. For more on Naomi's work, follow her on Twitter or visit her page at https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/naomi-shihab-nye . The book referenced in this episode is Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer.

Send Tara a Text Message

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.

Tara tells a story about the power of dance, for foolishness or love, and shares an original song based on a speech by Martin Luther King.

Send Tara a Text Message

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.