PCOM Podcast

Pastor Courtney is bad at waiting. How about you? How the Lenten school for patience can shape, form, and hearten us. Plus: wisdom from Charles Spurgeon, Jim Elliott, Edna Hong, and Psalm 37 on God's presence with us in the ache of longing.

Lent is commonly a time when Christians turn to spiritual practices. Some fast from a particular food or another comfort item, others take on a spiritual discipline like prayer journaling. Why do faith leaders encourage the practice of Lent, and how might we enter into this season in a special way during this odd year?

Plus: a short, simple prayer to start you on your way.

What is Lent and why do we practice it? What role do rhythms, rituals, and rest have for our spiritual growth? Join us as we prepare together for the 40 days of Lent.

Plus: a story from a beloved college professor on Lent's abundant lessons of grace and frailty

New books. Is there anything better? Fiction and nonfiction releasing in 2021. Plus: Pastor Courtney's next book and the spiritual delight of waiting for a "bird from the Lord." (No, that isn't a typo.) 

Esau McCaulley's Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope

Makoto Fujimora's Art & Faith

Tish Harrison Warren's Prayer in the Night: for those who work or watch or weep

Heidi Barr and Ellie Roscher's 12 Tiny Things

Shawn Smucker's The Weight of Memory

Susie Finkbeiner's The Nature of Small Birds

Pastor Courtney's newest book: Happy Now: Let playfulness lift your load and renew your spirit

Looking for a devotional read for 2021? We've got you covered! From topical Bible studies to artistic expressions of faith, you've come to the right place.

Paul J. Pastor's The Listening Day

NT Wright's Philippians for Everyone

Kludt and Jenkins' Field Guides for the Way

A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants

Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent and Easter

Michelle van Loon's Growing Sage

(That's just, like, your OPINION, man!)

PCOM members share their love of story + award-winning author Susie Finkbeiner pops in to say hi.

PCOM Readers' Faves

Mudlarking by Lara Maiklem (Lauren Popkowski)

Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano + The Other Americans by Laila Lalami (Elaine Pappas-Puckett)

We Are Called to Rise by Laura McBride + Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist (April Lehman)

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson (Heidi Galloway)

Pastor Courtney's Faves

All Manner of Things by Susie Finkbeiner

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Ordinary Grace by William Kent Kruger

Art & Faith by Makoto Fujimara

Endurance by Alfred Lansing

All Shall Be Well by Catherine McNiel

The Color of Compromise by Jemar Tisby

The Way Up is Down by Marlena Graves

This Too Shall Last: Finding Grace When Suffering Lingers by KJ Ramsey

Jeff talks trees, Easten's namesake and the poetry of Langston Hughes 

The tragic, hopeful story behind It Came Upon the Midnight Clear. (Also: did you know it was "the" and not "a" Midnight Clear? It was news to Pastor Courtney!). How God's peace meets us beside the weary road with the singing of angels.

A brief history of God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Pastor Courtney's favorite reminder from 1 Kings on God's grace when we reach our exhausted end, and exciting news about our upcoming January podcast series. 

Hear the carol from a variety of different voices:

Nat King Cole

Keith & Kristen Getty