Perspectives: First Church San Diego Pastors Podcast

Join Rev. Hannah and Rev. Brittany for this episode of Perspectives Pastors Podcast, as they wrap up the multi-episode of Everyday Saints. This time, they turn the examination inward, pulling inspiration from Paul’s words in Romans 12:9-12.

As Rev. Hannah notes, on the surface level, this scripture feels very generic. But once you dig in and apply it to our Western ideals, there is a lot we can start to glean from the text – especially as you consider how we tend to apply God’s grace and love.

The discussion is all about turning away from our natural instinct to be in competition with each other and instead focusing on caring for each other. When approaching the scripture from a communal context, you’re able to focus on the greater good of the community – including the so-called “black sheep.”

We invite you to continue this exploration by connecting with others through our weekly Convergence discussion groups, which meet in person, as you consider these questions:

Join Rev. Hannah and Rev. Brittany for this episode of Perspectives Pastors Podcast, as they wrap up the multi-episode of Everyday Saints. This time, they turn the examination inward, pulling inspiration from Paul’s words in Romans 12:9-12.

As Rev. Hannah notes, on the surface level, this scripture feels very generic. But once you dig in and apply it to our Western ideals, there is a lot we can start to glean from the text – especially as you consider how we tend to apply God’s grace and love.

The discussion is all about turning away from our natural instinct to be in competition with each other and instead focusing on caring for each other. When approaching the scripture from a communal context, you’re able to focus on the greater good of the community – including the so-called “black sheep.”

We invite you to continue this exploration by connecting with others through our weekly Convergence discussion groups, which meet in person, as you consider these questions:

In this episode of Perspectives Pastors Podcast, Rev. Trudy and Rev. Brittany continue the discussion of “Everyday Saints” – looking \ to find the commonalities between the traditional Christian saints and who we are today.

This week, they’re inspired by the recently named Millennial Saint, Carlo Acutis. They tie back St. Carlo’s youthful impact to that of the prophet Jeremiah, who received his calling from God at a very young age.

The two pastors discuss the challenge that comes with responding to God’s call, how being the deliverer of God’s message comes with immense struggles, and the difficulties they face as pastors in modern times.

How do you honor tradition, experiences, and memories – carrying them forward and applying them to new settings and making them relevant today? It’s a heavy task and one that Rev. Trudy and Rev. Brittany think is suited for today’s younger generations who bring energy, innovation, open mindedness, and an inclusive spirit.

It’s a lot to consider. We invite you to connect with others through our weekly Convergence discussion groups, which meet in person, as you consider these questions:

In this episode of Perspectives Pastors Podcast, Rev. Trudy and Rev. Brittany continue the discussion of “Everyday Saints” – looking \ to find the commonalities between the traditional Christian saints and who we are today.

This week, they’re inspired by the recently named Millennial Saint, Carlo Acutis. They tie back St. Carlo’s youthful impact to that of the prophet Jeremiah, who received his calling from God at a very young age.

The two pastors discuss the challenge that comes with responding to God’s call, how being the deliverer of God’s message comes with immense struggles, and the difficulties they face as pastors in modern times.

How do you honor tradition, experiences, and memories – carrying them forward and applying them to new settings and making them relevant today? It’s a heavy task and one that Rev. Trudy and Rev. Brittany think is suited for today’s younger generations who bring energy, innovation, open mindedness, and an inclusive spirit.

It’s a lot to consider. We invite you to connect with others through our weekly Convergence discussion groups, which meet in person, as you consider these questions:

Join Rev. Brittany and Rev. Hannah as they continue the Perspectives Pastors Podcast multi-episode series on Everyday Saints. This week, they’re focusing on the unknown martyrs, Perpetua and Felicity – two newly converted Christian mothers who were martyred together in northern Africa in the early 200s. One was a slave, the other had social standing. But both braved the sentenced death instead of renouncing their Christian convictions.

The two pastors tie this heroic story back to Romans 12:1-2, where Paul urges the early Christians of Rome to present themselves “as a living sacrifice that’s holy and pleasing to God.” But they warn that the definition of “holy” and “pleasing” may be different than is often applied by Christians today who demonstrate pious practices while ignoring what’s going on inside.

Listen as Rev. Brittany and Rev. Hannah discuss:

It’s a lot to consider. We invite you to connect with others through our weekly Convergence discussion groups, which meet in person, as you consider these questions:

Join Rev. Brittany and Rev. Hannah as they continue the Perspectives Pastors Podcast multi-episode series on Everyday Saints. This week, they’re focusing on the unknown martyrs, Perpetua and Felicity – two newly converted Christian mothers who were martyred together in northern Africa in the early 200s. One was a slave, the other had social standing. But both braved the sentenced death instead of renouncing their Christian convictions.

The two pastors tie this heroic story back to Romans 12:1-2, where Paul urges the early Christians of Rome to present themselves “as a living sacrifice that’s holy and pleasing to God.” But they warn that the definition of “holy” and “pleasing” may be different than is often applied by Christians today who demonstrate pious practices while ignoring what’s going on inside.

Listen as Rev. Brittany and Rev. Hannah discuss:

It’s a lot to consider. We invite you to connect with others through our weekly Convergence discussion groups, which meet in person, as you consider these questions:

Rev. Trudy and Rev. Brittany are back for this week’s episode of Perspectives Pastors Podcast. And they’re examining Matthew 7:15-20 where Jesus warns against false prophets, setting forth the idea that there are those who guide us in the right direction and others who lead us far away from God.

It’s the second of our episodes devoted to the topic of Everyday Saints, looking at the character of the Church’s saints and considering how we can apply that to our lives.

The two pastors use this episode to talk about the grey areas of life and how our historical and political perspectives sometime mislead our understanding of who’s “good” and who’s “bad.” Take Joan of Arc, who was burned at the stake for heresy but later declared a saint. And Adolf Hitler and the anti-Nazism theologian and pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

These points raise the question of how do you know who is a false prophet or which beliefs lead you away from God? How do you know if someone is a sinner or a saint?

It’s a lot to consider. We invite you to connect with others through our weekly Convergence discussion groups, which meet in person on Sundays, as you consider these questions:

Rev. Trudy and Rev. Brittany are back for this week’s episode of Perspectives Pastors Podcast. And they’re examining Matthew 7:15-20 where Jesus warns against false prophets, setting forth the idea that there are those who guide us in the right direction and others who lead us far away from God.

It’s the second of our episodes devoted to the topic of Everyday Saints, looking at the character of the Church’s saints and considering how we can apply that to our lives.

The two pastors use this episode to talk about the grey areas of life and how our historical and political perspectives sometime mislead our understanding of who’s “good” and who’s “bad.” Take Joan of Arc, who was burned at the stake for heresy but later declared a saint. And Adolf Hitler and the anti-Nazism theologian and pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

These points raise the question of how do you know who is a false prophet or which beliefs lead you away from God? How do you know if someone is a sinner or a saint?

It’s a lot to consider. We invite you to connect with others through our weekly Convergence discussion groups, which meet in person on Sundays, as you consider these questions:

Join Rev. Trudy and Rev. Brittany for this episode of Perspectives Pastors Podcast, as they kick off a new multi-episode topic: Everyday Saints. They’re deconstructing the saints of the church – seeing what made them special but also the ways they’re like us – hopefully to inspire us all to continue with a faith journey that will bring new life to us and those around us.

They start with a deep dive into St. Paul of Tarsus, also known as the Apostle Paul. While Paul is a renowned saint, he also started as a renowned sinner. And listeners who have been with us for a while know that Paul isn’t one of Rev. Brittany’s favorite apostles. So the two pastors start by examining some of Paul’s weaknesses and the ways that others have misused his words to justify the ill treatment of others.

They then investigate Paul’s journey to forgiveness and repentance, and how that redemption story can bring hope and inspiration to us today, as we seek to right the wrongs of our past actions – as individuals and a church.

If you’d like to explore this topic deeper, we invite you to join one of our weekly Convergence discussion groups – available in person on Sundays. We’ll be considering these questions:

Join Rev. Trudy and Rev. Brittany for this episode of Perspectives Pastors Podcast, as they kick off a new multi-episode topic: Everyday Saints. They’re deconstructing the saints of the church – seeing what made them special but also the ways they’re like us – hopefully to inspire us all to continue with a faith journey that will bring new life to us and those around us.

They start with a deep dive into St. Paul of Tarsus, also known as the Apostle Paul. While Paul is a renowned saint, he also started as a renowned sinner. And listeners who have been with us for a while know that Paul isn’t one of Rev. Brittany’s favorite apostles. So the two pastors start by examining some of Paul’s weaknesses and the ways that others have misused his words to justify the ill treatment of others.

They then investigate Paul’s journey to forgiveness and repentance, and how that redemption story can bring hope and inspiration to us today, as we seek to right the wrongs of our past actions – as individuals and a church.

If you’d like to explore this topic deeper, we invite you to join one of our weekly Convergence discussion groups – available in person on Sundays. We’ll be considering these questions: