Pastor Brian Podcast

This past weekend "Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl" was released with much acclaim and fanfare! It is a video game on the Nintendo Switch gaming system and a re-make of the 2006 Nintendo DS role-playing game. 

Never heard of this before? Does it all sound like strange letters and words strung together? Do you not know what Pokémon is?

If so, never fear, our resident pop culture/youth beat expert Hezekiah "Zeke" Jones is here to help you out! Zeke will explain what Pokémon is, the basic story of the franchise (which are not just games, but best-selling television shows, movies, and comic books), what attracts people to Pokémon, where it is going, & his very strong, dry, and sarcastic critiques. If you are trying to figure out Pokémon to better understand your child or grandchild you have come to the right place. If you are already a fan, you will enjoy this romp through the world. If you like hearing funny descriptions and critiques of an international franchise from a tween . . . you have now found your special place. So strap in and enjoy this fun bonus episode which can be listened to during this Thanksgiving Holiday travel!

Welcome to Episode 2 of Season 5! Today we speak with Rev. Dr. Chris L. Pierson, Senior Pastor of Gary United Methodist Church in Wheaton, IL. This summer was the 5th Anniversary of Pastor Chris beginning his pastorate in Wheaton. Today we focus on one particular day: his second Sunday and sermon at Gary Church on Sunday, July 10th, 2016. Even though Pastor Chris had served in various pastorates on the southside of Chicago, cross-racial appointments in Aurora, IL and Roselle, IL, and as Director of Connectional Ministries for the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church for 15 years (right before his appointment to Wheaton) . . . this Sunday was unique.  He was a black man coming to pastor in the predominantly white, wealthy, and western Chicago suburbs. The circumstances of his starting ministry in Wheaton different, but so were the 7 days leading up to that Sunday.  It was a horrible week of bloodshed, death, and hard questions about systemic racism, policing, and revenge. And into all of that hurt and pain, Pastor Chris stepped into the pulpit to preach the gospel to a new congregation. 

• Pastor Chris' Sermon from Sunday, July 10th, 2016
• Luke 10:25–37 
• Revised Common Lectionary for that Week

For a greater context of events from this day in 2016:

• The Killing of Michael Brown and the Ferguson Protests in Ferguson, MO
•  The  Police Shooting of 17 year old black student Laquan McDonald in Chicago 
• The Killing of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, LA in 2016
• The Police shooting of Philando Castile, near St. Paul, MN in 2016
• Man shoots and kills 5 Dallas, TX police officers in 2016 

We begin with a prayer (00:40), our lunch menu (01:43), Rev. Dr. Chris L. Pierson's own story of personal faith and salvation in Christ (02:11), his feelings on a new pastorate in 2016 (06:05), cross-racial appointments (pastorates) and friendship with former Gary Church pastor (and now Bishop) Rev. Dr. Tracy Malone (09:45), the racial context of that time and the events of violence leading up to Sunday, July 10th, 2016 (14:09),  his picking of scripture and  gospel theme for his sermon (22:05), his personal experience of racism, violence, and the police (27:59), advice for young preachers in times of conflict, mourning, and injustice (36:26), Pastor Chris prays for the Church (39:45), final thanks and blessing (41:49).

And finally, the menu for our lunch:

• Braised Chicken with Mustard and Herbs
• Steamed Jasmine Rice
• Skillet-Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Lemon and Pecorino Romano 

Welcome to Season 5! Today we speak with Vickie Austin, president of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce. Vickie is also a business coach who specializes in helping workers discern as well as transition into a vocation that they love. Join us as we have a conversation about faith, vocation, work, transition, the pandemic, and discerning God’s call during all that is happening around us. 

We begin with a prayer (00:40), an introduction to the new season and format (01:20), our lunch menu (04:13), Vickie's own story of faith in Christ (05:33), what drew her to business and career services (07:04), CHOICES Worldwide and why she founded it (12:53), how business and faith inform one another (22:22),   questioning a career transition and tools for discerning during the "Great Resignation" or the "Great Discernment"  (26:07), biggest missteps when making a career change (38:16), and a final prayer and blessing(47:07).


For more information about Vickie and her work:

• President of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce
• Wheaton Chamber of Commerce
• Story on CHOICES Worldwide: Business and Career Coaching
• "Circles of Gold: Honoring Your Network for Business and Career Success" by Vickie Austin

Other books Vickie suggests and are mentioned in this episode:

• “Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want” by Barbara Sher
• “Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic” by Gregg Michael LeVoy

Menu for Today's Lunch with Vickie:

• Pan-fried and Roasted Chicken by Gordon Ramsay
• Roasted Carrots and Paper Steamed Asparagus by Nancy Silverton

Hey y’all . . . I’m so excited that next week at this time we will have our first Pastor Brian episode of Season 5 ready and in your earpods! It has been a long summer, but we are back with new equipment, new format, and new guests.  

In this first episode of Season 5 Vickie Austin, president of the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce and local church member joins us. Ms. Austin is also business coach who specializes in helping workers discern as well as transition into a vocation that they love. In this time of the “Great Discernment” or the “Great Resignation”- this is a timely topic and Vickie brings her own personal experiences from being in the same place.

Join us at Pastor Brian Podcast next week to hear about vocation, work, transition, the pandemic, and discerning God’s call amidst it all. So come on in . . . I’ll look forward to praying with you!

* Pastor Brian Podcast will now be a monthly conversation with new and exciting guests . . . over half being local church members who are making extraordinary differences in their community by the guidance of the Holy Spirit- helping share the gospel of Christ in innovative ways while serving others. Along the way, we hope these conversations help you grow in Christ as well as think of new possibilities God is opening up for you in ministry.*

The music you hear is "Soul-Love" by Ketsa and licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

   Hey y’all! We hope you are having a fantastic, healthy, and blessed summer! We just wanted to give you a small update on the Podcast. Pastor Brian Podcast Season 5 IS coming . . . just a little later than anticipated. There are a couple reasons: 

1) We are waiting on a few important and new pieces of equipment to be delivered to improve Season Five.

  2) The reason why we need new equipment, and this is the big reveal, we are changing the format for the Pastor Brian Podcast!

    As we prayed about the future and heard from folks, a daily or weekly 10 minute prayer did not seem to be where there was the most need. Instead, we will have a monthly conversation with guests. Not only will it feature theologians, scholars, pastors, and writers who help others in Christ, but half of our conversations will be devoted to everyday Christians. The old Church term used is "Laity."  These are people who are so often overlooked, but do most of the ministry of Christ’s mission on earth. We hope to highlight these amazing people! I promise you will be inspired, encouraged, caused to think and question, and called to deeper faithfulness in Jesus Christ. But don’t worry, we will still pray in every episode, just in a new way.  So come on in, join us for Season 5 in few weeks! And as always . . . I will look forward to praying with you!

• “Pray" by Makaih Beats is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). You can find more information about Makaih Beats at www.makaih.com.

Welcome to our Last Drive-In Communion of the year at Gary Church! This is a Supplemental Episode made for the Gary Church congregation taking Holy Communion . . . from our vehicles in the parking lot! The sacraments are a gift God gave to empower us by the Holy Spirit to faithfully live as disciples of Jesus Christ. We made this podcast so folks can still hear the words and prayers of Holy Communion as they are being said at the same time as Pastor Brian and Pastor Chris in the parking lot, even though we are in separate vehicles. If you are not a part of Gary Church you are still welcome to listen to the prayers . . . they are scriptural and powerful. However, as you know, this does not make any bread or juice/wine around you at the time you listen to this the sacrament . . . that’s not how it works! Yet, we would love to partake in this Holy Meal with you if you are ever in Wheaton, IL on a Sunday.

• “Sunnyside" by Ketsa is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). You can find more information about Ketsa at www.ketsa.uk.

Hey y’all! Just a quick Special Announcement! This last episode (20) was the last episode of Season 4 of the Pastor Brian Podcast. The reason why is we are moving! Not out of Wheaton or from Gary Church (praises be to God), just houses in Wheaton. And, as any of you know who have moved, it is going to take much of my remaining hours not at work packing up and finishing up our old house, then moving into the new house with all our kids. So, Pastor Brian Podcast will be taking a break from Memorial Day until mid- July . . . Monday, July 19th, 2021. I am so excited to start Season 5 this summer. Until then, please continue to pray using our previous 215 episodes. Also, we are coming back in mid-summer with new features for Season 5. I think you will love it! Thank you for your amazing support. And as always . . . I will look forward to praying for you!

• “Dusty Hills" by Ketsa is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0). You can find more information about Ketsa at www.ketsamusic.com.

May the Holy Spirit empower you today! Our Podcast includes a: Gathering (00:00), Opening Prayer (00:30), Psalm (01:18), Scripture (03:14), Prayer (04:54), Ben Newell (07:30), Rev. Dr. Amy Laura Hall (08:03), Blessing (09:07), End (09:40). You may find the full daily scripture readings  at Daily Revised Common Lectionary and the scriptures read in this podcast are Psalm 29 and Romans 8:12-17.

If you would like to discover more of Amy Laura's work:

• Kierkegaard and the Treachery of Love
• Conceiving Parenthood: The Protestant Spirit of Biotechnological Reproduction
• Laughing at the Devil: Seeing the World with Julian of Norwich
• Rev. Dr. Amy Laura Hall at Duke University

Welcome to the last week of Easter! Join us as we celebrate by reading scripture, singing, and praying for the world and ourselves! Our Podcast includes an: Introduction (00:00), Gathering (00:20), Opening Prayer (00:50), Psalm (01:36), Scripture (04:55), Prayer (06:02), Zoey Bohmer (8:55), Blessing (09:18), End (09:47), Small House, Big Family, Not Many Places to Record Podcasts (09:48). You may find the full daily scripture reading (Psalm 99; Leviticus 9:1-11, 22-24; 1 Peter 4:1-6) at Daily Revised Common Lectionary. Blessings!

*This episode was originally aired on Monday, May 25th, 2020, Memorial Day, and the last week of Easter in 2020.

May the Lord ascend in all you do! Our Podcast includes a: Gathering (00:00), Opening Prayer (00:30), Psalm (01:20), Scripture (03:14), Prayer (04:49), Mark Bianco (07:30), Dr. Beth Felker Jones (08:08), Blessing (08:38), End (09:09). You may find the full daily scripture readings  at Daily Revised Common Lectionary and the scriptures read in this podcast are Psalm 93 and Luke 25:44-53.

If you would like to discover more of Beth's work:

• Faithful: A Theology of Sex
• Practicing Christian Doctrine: An Introduction to Thinking and Living Theologically
• God the Spirit: Introducing Pneumatology in Wesleyan and Ecumenical Perspective
• Beth's Twitter: @bethfelkerjones