Perspectives: First Church San Diego Pastors Podcast

Join Rev. Trudy and Rev. Brittany as they kick off Season 3 with a fresh conversation series: “What We Really Mean When We Talk About …” Each week, the female pastors of First UMC of San Diego will be looking at different aspects of the Christian faith and breaking it down using a progressive theological lens.

For this first conversation, they’re talking about the image of God, suggesting that instead of using the label “omnipotent” it would be more accurate to use the label “empowering”. It’s an interesting topic that uncovers the real challenge of describing God due to our personal biases, cultures, and language. They muse that humans tend to label and mislabel God in a way that boxes God in and diminishes its full complexity.

As they move through the conversation, they discuss the various labels and images of God that irk them, talk about how they experience and see God, and end with the question of: What understanding of God is needed for the future?

It’s a rich, complex topic that has so much to explore. We invite you to continue the conversation by our weekly in-person Convergence discussion group or heading over to our Patreon channel to discuss the following questions with others:

Our Patreon community is open to all – no matter where you align in your spiritual beliefs. It’s free to join and connect over the weekly episode questions. There is also an optional paid membership that unlocks additional content. Check it out at https://www.patreon.com/fumcsd!

Join Rev. Trudy and Rev. Brittany as they wrap up Season 2 of our digital Bible study podcast by leaning into Hebrews 13 to talk about courage and its connection to radical hospitality.

The two female pastors of First UMC of San Diego discuss the complicated history behind the New Testament book of Hebrews. It’s scripture written to the early church at a time where Jewish Christians living within the Roman empire faced immense persecution. As a religious sect, they had no favors or freedom allowed by the government. So, the text was written to build a bridge between the traditions of old and to create continuity as they explored this new religion.

With that history in mind, the Reverends look at the concept of hospitality and when and why it takes courage to continue to act. The conversation includes concepts of:

The scripture and topic have so many themes to explore. You can keep the conversation going by joining our weekly in-person Convergence discussion group or heading over to our Patreon channel to discuss the following questions with others:

Our Patreon community is open to all – no matter where you align in your spiritual beliefs. It’s free to join and connect over the weekly episode questions. There is also an optional paid membership that unlocks additional content. Check it out at https://www.patreon.com/fumcsd!

Join Rev. Trudy and Rev. Brittany as they wrap up Season 2 of our digital Bible study podcast by leaning into Hebrews 13 to talk about courage and its connection to radical hospitality.

The two female pastors of First UMC of San Diego discuss the complicated history behind the New Testament book of Hebrews. It’s scripture written to the early church at a time where Jewish Christians living within the Roman empire faced immense persecution. As a religious sect, they had no favors or freedom allowed by the government. So, the text was written to build a bridge between the traditions of old and to create continuity as they explored this new religion.

With that history in mind, the Reverends look at the concept of hospitality and when and why it takes courage to continue to act. The conversation includes concepts of:

The scripture and topic have so many themes to explore. You can keep the conversation going by joining our weekly in-person Convergence discussion group or heading over to our Patreon channel to discuss the following questions with others:

Our Patreon community is open to all – no matter where you align in your spiritual beliefs. It’s free to join and connect over the weekly episode questions. There is also an optional paid membership that unlocks additional content. Check it out at https://www.patreon.com/fumcsd!

Rev. Trudy and Rev. Hannah wrap up the conversation series – “The Christ-Like Journey” – in this episode of First United Methodist Church of San Diego’s Perspectives Pastors Podcast. It’s a multi-episode series where the female pastors and the audience have learned from the most difficult things Jesus had to do during his time on Earth. And in this episode, it’s perhaps the hardest thing of all: Jesus Forgave.

It's a digital Bible study that’s by Luke 23:33-43, the crucifixion portion of The Passion story. Through the conversation, the women explain how forgiveness is central to Christianity, especially as portrayed through the Gospel of Luke. But they also note that there are some nuances that they feel people often misinterpret:

The scripture and topic have so many themes to explore. You can keep the conversation going by joining our weekly in-person Convergence discussion group or heading over to our Patreon channel to discuss the following questions with others:

Our Patreon community is open to all – no matter where you align in your spiritual beliefs. It’s free to join and connect over the weekly episode questions. There is also an optional paid membership that unlocks additional content. Check it out at https://www.patreon.com/fumcsd!

Rev. Trudy and Rev. Hannah wrap up the conversation series – “The Christ-Like Journey” – in this episode of First United Methodist Church of San Diego’s Perspectives Pastors Podcast. It’s a multi-episode series where the female pastors and the audience have learned from the most difficult things Jesus had to do during his time on Earth. And in this episode, it’s perhaps the hardest thing of all: Jesus Forgave.

It's a digital Bible study that’s by Luke 23:33-43, the crucifixion portion of The Passion story. Through the conversation, the women explain how forgiveness is central to Christianity, especially as portrayed through the Gospel of Luke. But they also note that there are some nuances that they feel people often misinterpret:

The scripture and topic have so many themes to explore. You can keep the conversation going by joining our weekly in-person Convergence discussion group or heading over to our Patreon channel to discuss the following questions with others:

Our Patreon community is open to all – no matter where you align in your spiritual beliefs. It’s free to join and connect over the weekly episode questions. There is also an optional paid membership that unlocks additional content. Check it out at https://www.patreon.com/fumcsd!

This week on Perspectives podcast, the conversation on The Christ-Like Journey continues, this time examining how it comes with being misunderstood. Rev. Brittany leads the digital Bible study and is joined by Meghan Claussen, Communications Director of First UMC of San Diego, who is charged with digital evangelism and has seen first-hand how pursuing and voicing divine justice often receives a response of disbelief, skepticism, and misunderstanding.

The conversation is inspired by Mark 15:1-5, the passage of the gospel where Jesus is brought before Pontius Pilate under accusations of sedition, an offense that was punishable by death. But instead of arguing his case, Jesus responds with silence. A response that was astonishing to Pilate and would be even more unbelievable today.

The two women break it down to examine how individuals and churches can use Jesus’ ministry example when challenged by naysayers and skeptics.

You can keep the conversation going by joining our weekly in-person Convergence discussion group or heading over to our Patreon channel to discuss the following questions with others:

Our Patreon community is open to all – no matter where you align in your spiritual beliefs. It’s free to join and connect over the weekly episode questions. There is also an optional paid membership that unlocks additional content. Check it out at https://www.patreon.com/fumcsd!

This week on Perspectives podcast, the conversation on The Christ-Like Journey continues, this time examining how it comes with being misunderstood. Rev. Brittany leads the digital Bible study and is joined by Meghan Claussen, Communications Director of First UMC of San Diego, who is charged with digital evangelism and has seen first-hand how pursuing and voicing divine justice often receives a response of disbelief, skepticism, and misunderstanding.

The conversation is inspired by Mark 15:1-5, the passage of the gospel where Jesus is brought before Pontius Pilate under accusations of sedition, an offense that was punishable by death. But instead of arguing his case, Jesus responds with silence. A response that was astonishing to Pilate and would be even more unbelievable today.

The two women break it down to examine how individuals and churches can use Jesus’ ministry example when challenged by naysayers and skeptics.

You can keep the conversation going by joining our weekly in-person Convergence discussion group or heading over to our Patreon channel to discuss the following questions with others:

Our Patreon community is open to all – no matter where you align in your spiritual beliefs. It’s free to join and connect over the weekly episode questions. There is also an optional paid membership that unlocks additional content. Check it out at https://www.patreon.com/fumcsd!

In this week’s digital Bible Study, Rev. Trudy and Rev. Brittany continue to explore the costs and risks of following Jesus, this time by examining Luke 17:11-19, the story of Jesus venturing into the borderlands to touch (and heal) unwell people.

Their in-depth and insightful conversation uncovers the risks we must all take to travel to, see, interact with, and touch those on the margins to help them access what they need to live a full and healthy life. As well as the risks we must take in order to be touched by others to change our lives for the better.

The two female pastors of First UMC of San Diego have a lot to say, breaking down:

And that’s just the beginning of the wisdom that’s available to unpack! You can keep the conversation going by joining our weekly in-person Convergence discussion group or heading over to our Patreon channel to discuss the following questions with others:

Our Patreon community is open to all – no matter where you align in your spiritual beliefs. It’s free to join and connect over the weekly episode questions. There are also two additional membership levels that allow you to unlock additional content. Check it out at https://www.patreon.com/fumcsd!

In this week’s digital Bible Study, Rev. Trudy and Rev. Brittany continue to explore the costs and risks of following Jesus, this time by examining Luke 17:11-19, the story of Jesus venturing into the borderlands to touch (and heal) unwell people.

Their in-depth and insightful conversation uncovers the risks we must all take to travel to, see, interact with, and touch those on the margins to help them access what they need to live a full and healthy life. As well as the risks we must take in order to be touched by others to change our lives for the better.

The two female pastors of First UMC of San Diego have a lot to say, breaking down:

And that’s just the beginning of the wisdom that’s available to unpack! You can keep the conversation going by joining our weekly in-person Convergence discussion group or heading over to our Patreon channel to discuss the following questions with others:

Our Patreon community is open to all – no matter where you align in your spiritual beliefs. It’s free to join and connect over the weekly episode questions. There are also two additional membership levels that allow you to unlock additional content. Check it out at https://www.patreon.com/fumcsd!

This time on Perspectives FUMCSD Pastors podcast, Rev. Brittany and Rev. Hannah continue the conversation about “The Christ-Like Journey” by discussing how Jesus relied upon strangers, and so should we. It’s a concept that many of us dismiss but through the Gospel of Luke, the two female pastors demonstrate how we must rely upon strangers (who often become our friends!) as we journey through life.

The digital Bible study starts with the reading of Luke 10:38-42, the account of Jesus accepting hospitality from Mary and Martha for the first time. It’s a well-known story (though we often get it confused with the account from the Gospel of John!).

Rev. Brittany and Rev. Hannah take the opportunity to pack quite a few theories around the need for hospitality from strangers, including:

And that’s just the beginning of the wisdom that’s available to unpack! You can keep the conversation going by joining our weekly in-person Convergence discussion group or heading over to our Patreon channel to discuss the following questions with others:

Our Patreon community is open to all – no matter where you align in your spiritual beliefs. It’s free to join and connect over the weekly episode questions. There are also two additional membership levels that allow you to unlock additional content. Check it out at https://www.patreon.com/fumcsd!