Holy Shenanigans

Are you ready for a road trip - with St. Brigid?

February 1st marks St. Brigid's Feast Day that marks the turning of the winter season to spring. St. Brigid is the feminine patron Saint of Ireland whose life and work centered on caring for the poor and suffering. Some say that she was born on the literal threshold, setting the  path of her work in the move and in the  in-betweens.

For several years, St. Brigid has been the source of many a holy shenanigan, for our host: Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman - and this St. Brigid's Day proves to offer more sacred adventures. Join Rev. Tara as she comes to you, literally, from the road discovering St. Brigid's presence closer than she ever imagined!

Questions For Discussion:
1. What is your favorite St. Brigid story?
2. What Saints are you drawn to? Why?
3. In the thresholds of life, where has love surprised you recently?
4. All too soon, everything changes. How do you navigate seasons of change?
5. What kinds of change do you embrace/wrestle with?
6. In the coming of Spring, what are you most looking forward to?

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 continues her thoughts about spiritual disciplines. This week she talks about pausing aka "filling your cup."

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.

Welcome to a brand new year of sacred (non-stuffy) Holy Shenanigans! This season is exciting, with opportunities for fresh starts, but can be a time of overwhelming pressure to persue perfection. Well meaning resolutions can go sideways - fueled by sales efforts of the “wellness industry” in service to capitalism.

There is another way to engage in new beginnings in ways that feed out hearts, minds and souls. 2024 can be a time to attend to and offer yourself spiritual practices that are supportive, compassionate AND sane!

Join Rev. Tara Eastman, as she shares the spiritual practice of choosing an annual “Star Word” and gentle options for spiritual renewal with special guest, author: Rev. Katy Stenza.

Katy Stenta is a PCUSA pastor, writer, workshop leader and community builder. She is currently vice moderator for Albany Presbytery, regular contributor to Sermonsuite and leads workshops on writing, particularly prayer and liturgy. Her conversational prayers and psalms are used by people and churches all over the world from KatyandtheWord.com and she is all but dissertation for completing her Doctorate in Ministry in Creative Writing as a public theologian at Mr Roger' alma mater Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

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.

Week 4 Advent into Christmas features special guest, Carolyn Whitehead, member of First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown NY, tells why her "aim is love" - in all things

A Poem for Advent: Week Four: Love stuck

The greatest of these four weeks of waiting is: love.

With all the hope waking, peace-making and joy breaking,
I need the glue of love to make this stick.
Please stick.

I don't want these gifts to disappear like grandma's frosted sugar cookies.

But in that case, at least they would be eaten, consumed, and used to empower the making of many snow angels, building of tall Lego towers, or playing marathon sessions of scrabble while sipping tea.

Please stay love, I don't want youto melt like snow drifts above 35 degrees....
be crumpled like old gift wrapping...
or abandoned on the curb like a used Christmas tree.

One candle for hope.
Two candles for peace. (Inhale/exhale)
Three candles for joy. J-O-Y.
Four candles for love. (Please stick, love, please stick.)

This Advent, I hope for peace and joy: emboldened - empowered and eternally stuck in our hearts by the power of love.

Love - stuck!

Light has grown. Four candles are lit. Illuminating the way with hope, peace, joy and the greatest: Love.

You are the superglue we need. 
Please, stick.

Copyright 2018 T.L. Eastman

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.

Special Guests, Lydia and Eve Kushmal, members of First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown NY, share what joy means to them in week three of HSP's 2023 Advent Series.

Poem for Advent: Week Three
JOY: Just, Outrageous, You!

Joy is no wallflower.
She, yes she, is bold , sassy and somewhat fearsome.
Joy bursts into the room and won't stop grooving', till everyone is on the dance floor.
Her name is short, but her actions are memorable; causing laughter to tears in only the best way.
Joy is unstoppable.

You can't ignore her and you must respect her.

She is just.
She is outrageous.
She has one candle for each letter of her name.

Joy will break through all barriers and bring her colorful wonder
to you, and you, and you, and you, and
Y O U...
just, outrageous, you.
Joy!

Copyright December 2018 Tara Lamont Eastman

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.

Welcome to Advent Week 2: Peace with special guest Dr. Chris Dahlie , of First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown, NY. Dr. Dahlie, wrestles with the call to live peacefully, advocates for better communication and recognizes the challenge this presents to humankind. How can authentic peace be pursued?

To follow along with Holy Shenanigans Podcast - and daily posts of #expectantadvent inspiration - visit us at Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

BIO: Dr. Chris Dahlia currently is a visiting assistant professor in the Communication Department in the State University of New York at Fredonia and has been an assistant professor there for the past four years. He is a native of Chautauqua County and a scholar/practitioner in audio production. He has been Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater's Head of Audio for over twenty years, and have worked as a resident audio engineer in New York City, Los Angeles, Auckland (New Zealand) and Chapel Hill (North Carolina). His dissertation at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill was a technological and cultural history of live audio engineering from the mid-1960's to the recent past.

A Poem for Advent, Week Two: Peace call
Peace calls to...
pause, embrace, act, contemplate, and exhale.

Pause.
Storms make me feel like running and hiding, when I'm frantic, can peace be present Peace.

Embrace.
In conflicts and hurt that push people apart, is peace working to break the ice? Peace.

Act.
When anxiety freezes me in inaction, does peace give a warm nudge to move? Peace.

Contemplate.
When swirls of activity tempt me to do, be and see all things at once... will peace slow me down to savor
each 
beautiful     
thing? Peace.

Exhale.
Filling of lungs can only be sweet, when exhale helps me let go of what is no longer of use. Will peace help me to release and fill my heart, mind, and lungs? Peace.

Peace calls to...pause fear.
Peace calls to...embrace a need for people.
Peace calls to... act in life-giving ways.
Peace calls to... contemplate beauty.
Peace calls to... exhale
and trust the oxygen to keep breathing is just on the cusp
of letting goooooooo...

Light one candle to inhale, light another to exhale.
Peace.
Peace.
Peace.
Copyright 2018 Tara L. Eastman

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.

Welcome to Advent Week 1: Hope with special guest Janita Byars, member of First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown, NY. Janita, advocate of hope, shares why this asset is essential for Advent and every season!

To follow along with Holy Shenanigans Podcast - and daily posts of #expectantadvent inspiration - visit us at Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.

A poem for Advent Week One: Hope...
Hope seems as light as a feather, 
but sparks all good, deep things that are yet to come.
Hope is a glimmer of light, in the darkest night. 
Even in the midst of chaos, hope is the new growth of a fig leaf or bud of the cactus plant; 
growing slowly to remind us that Jesus is nearby. 
As the Solstice draws near, days grow darker and colder and a single candle of hope shines. 
A single candle to wake us up to the promise given. 
A single candle to stoke the cooling embers of the heart.
A single candle to give, " confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
A single candle to do the heavy-lifting and give us...HOPE.

Prayer:

Help me to be

Open to

Possibilities

Emerging.

HOPE.

Copyright 2018 T.L.Eastman

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.

Part 3 of HSP's #gratitudematters series features and interview with Mary T. MacDonald (founder of A Children's Place) and current director, Molly Hanft,
of A Children's Place Daycare.

Mary shares the amazing origin story of the longest running daycare, housed in First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown, as Molly tells of how the program has continued to grow for over 50 years.

A Children's Place Daycare is currently holding a fundraiser, "A Place For The Child":
to purchase new napping cots. The daycare and preschool hosts 55 children, ages 6 weeks to 5 years, Monday-Friday from 7:30 am - 5:30 pm.

We are so grateful to Mary and Molly for their work to care for children, keep them safe and help them grow.

To learn more visit:
A Children's Place Daycare/Preschool
Phone: 716-487-2238
Email

(Click Red Text to visit the church website)
A Children's Place is housed at First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown, NY

To make a contribution to, "A Place For The Child" Cot Fundraiser - Click here or call the church office at: (716) 487-1984

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.

Why does gratitude even matter?

In this special Thanksgiving edition of Holy Shenanigans Podcast, Tara talks with her long-time blogging (yes blogging) friend Mary Bogan about the power of observing gratitude practices that began over 15 years ago.

Our shared online gratitude practices  (Click the green preceding text to read our Blog posts.) were sparked by the book, Sleeping With Bread, by Dennis, Shelia and Matthew Linn.

We had no idea that our little Monday shared Blog would change the way we both see the world - as well as our spiritual practices. This little book, and Sleeping With Bread Mondays have changed the course of our lives, and helped us to, "hold on to what gives us life"; over more than 15 years and 2000 miles that separate us.

We invite you to try on a new gratitude practice this November (and the months to come). As a source of consolation in our desolation - and good bread for the body, mind and soul!

If you want to see how Tara is practicing gratitude all of November, follow her on Instagram at: Holy Shenanigans.
To join Mary on her gratitude journey, go to: Quitecontrariantvarientmary

To support this podcast go to: Buy Me A Coffee Tara Eastman

(An introduction to the Linn's Book, Sleeping With Bread)
What is Sleeping with Bread?
During the bombing raids of WWII, thousands of children were orphaned and left to starve. The fortunate ones were rescued and placed in refugee camps where they received food and good care. But many of these children who had lost so much could not sleep at night. They feared waking up to find themselves once again homeless and without food. Nothing seemed to reassure them. Finally, someone hit upon the idea of giving each child a piece of bread to hold at bedtime. Holding their bread, these children could finally sleep in peace. All through the night the bread reminded them, "Today I ate and I will eat again tomorrow." (Linn, Dennis et al, Sleeping With Bread, p.l)

Prompts To Try Your Own Examen Practice: Other Ways of Asking the Question

For what am I most grateful? Least grateful?
When did I give and receive the most love? The least love?
When did I feel most alive? Most drained of life?
When did I have the greatest sense of belonging? Least sense of belonging?
When was I most free? Least free?
When was I most creative? Least creative?
When did I feel most connected? Least connected?
When did I feel most fully myself? Least myself?
When did I feel most whole? Most fragmented?

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.

As we turn the calendar into November we enter a season many connect with Thanksgiving and Gratitude. For years now, I have engaged in a gratitude practice throughout all of November. 

How do I engage in gratitude practices?

I take photos of things I am grateful for.

I share poems that bring me joy and hope.

I share scripture that inspires me.

This week I share my origin story of gratitude practice and how it connects to my appreciation of and writing of poetry. 

Would you like to join me in this month of gratitude practice? 
Here are some prompts to get you started...

What Gratitude practices are meaningful to you?
Where did they first come into your life?
Who introduced you to them?

If you are interested in our monthly enewsletter and joining us for a real-time Zoom gathering this month. Reach out to us at: [email protected]

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.