Pastor Courtney shares some stories of whimsy and an invitation to join God in holy play. How do you play best?

Bluey on Disney +

Big Nate books

Books by Kate DiCamillo

Recommendations for adults:

Ted Lasso on Apple TV

The Cornell Bird ID app

Change is hard! How do we embrace positive change and also name, normalize, and grieve the losses change entails? When is change too much? How can we love one another well in seasons of change? Plus: why Pastors Courtney and Daryl sobbed as they drove away from their wedding reception. (Hint: it's NOT that they were sad they married each other!)

Resources:

The Leaders Journey podcast: Two Feet Walking

Disquiet Time, edited by Jennifer Grant and Cathleen Falsani

Jesus is in the boat! Mark 4:35-41

Life Index Change/Stress Scale from Dartmouth

May the Lord bless you and keep you, make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. 

May the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. 

God has not abandoned you. God will not abandon you. Amen. 

Hear from Pastor Daryl on what God has been doing in and through PCOM over the past year. Plus: hear how YOU can be part of what God is doing!

Renew video

Congregational stories about vaccines from Pastors Jackson & Daryl, Clayton Simon, Dwight Woodruff, Elaine Pappas-Puckett, Mary Smith, April Rudge, Kristy Vetter, Heidi Galloway, Jon Mooney, Jon Saur, and Vicki McRobbieralls.

Hesitant about the COVID vaccine? Have no fear, we've got your back! Check out these resources, from people far wiser than us in the area of epidemiology:

Commonly asked questions about the vaccine

Invitations versus commands, angelic arrivals, the answer of presence, and the gift of more information.

What are you afraid of?

Deciduous trees, evergreen trees, and sleeping babies in between. 

Here is a link to the image of our Floss silk tree (Ceiba speciosa): 

https://imgur.com/a/CVAK00A

Frederich Buechner on how life will be both "beautiful and terrible." The heartbeat of the Gospel meeting us in our sin, brokenness, and sadness with the merciful grace of God.

What makes a great story? Tips from Jesus - and from Pixar! Plus: how enjoying and telling great stories can draw us closer to one another.

A few of Pastor Courtney's storytelling favorites:

Gettysburg (based on Michael Shaara's book The Killer Angels)

Inside Out (Pixar)

Singin' in the Rain (Gene Kelly)

Good stories shape our appetites. Can movies draw us closer to Jesus? Can they help us love our neighbors well? What is the role of empathy in the Christian life, and how can film grow our compassion? Plus: favorite movies from our pastors.

Christ and Pop Culture's Mission Statement: Christ and Pop Culture exists to acknowledge, appreciate, and think rightly about the common knowledge of our age. Our mission is to edify the Church, glorify God, and witness to the world by encouraging and modeling a biblical presence within culture that is characterized by nuance and appreciation while resisting the extremes of thoughtless condemnation and uncritical embrace. We stand on the gospel and exist for the Church.

Movie favorites:

Pastor Jackson - The Usual Suspects

Pastor Daryl - National Treasure

Stephanie Cleye - Twister & Love, Actually

Jeff Given - Black Panther

Pastor Courtney - The Peanuts Movie, Hotel Rwanda, Lincoln, Miracle, The Greatest Showman, Hidden Figures