Family, friends, Church, community, all sound like wonderful ideals, full of lovely and loving relationships. But life isn't always the rose-colored reality we envision. Conflicts and confrontations happen. So, does the Bible have any practical advice about how to "love one another?" You bet it does! Join us for a lively discussion around "jerks," Jesus, and living into love.

This coming Sunday is Trinity Sunday, so join Michelle and Paige this week as we explore...and do our best to explain...what is at it's heart a holy mystery...the Trinity. Three person, one God, a whole lot of questions. 

Sunday is Pentecost, when we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit and the birth of the Church.  A mighty wind, tongues of fire, and descending doves are all ways we talk about the mystery of the Spirit. Join Pastor Michelle and Paige as we try to do just that, as we give thanks for this empowering, inspiring, uniting gift.

Sabbatical Summer is upon us! As you already know, Pastor Aaron has started his sabbatical last week. So, for the rest of the summer, I will be joining forces to co-host with Pastor Michelle McNamara from First Congregational United Church of Christ Downers Grove. This week, we are also joined by her colleague there, Pastor Scott Oberle, just days before the start of HIS sabbatical. We gather to talk about the sacramental moment that is the Christian funeral, about death, and about the hope of life and love everlasting. (Please forgive the audio at the very beginning of the recording...it clears up after a minute.)

Aaron is beginning his sabbatical, and I am left to my own devices! And so, for this first week, I have leaned on my friend and colleague, Laura Bernabei, Director of Children's Ministry at the Congregational Church of Batavia, to talk about children, their place in the Body of Christ, and what they can teach adults. Join us for this fun and important conversation!

We cover a lot of ground this week, beginning with Aaron's upcoming sabbatical (May 23-Aug 23). We take this time to reflect on rest as a pattern of God's creation, as a natural and necessary good, and as (for some) a real struggle in this time and place. And for Paige's Easter Season of sacramental life, we talk sacred commitments: holy vows, abundance and celebration. We yearn for connection, it seems - it's how we're made. And it is a means by which we come to know the flourishing joy that is God's vision for creation. 

We're coming up on the third Sunday of Easter already, and in our scriptures and our worship, Resurrection is real! In Paige's congregation we explore the sacramental moment that is Confirmation, as we celebrate and nurture the gifts of the Spirit that make the Church the Church. And in Aaron's congregation, it is healing and hope, in the story of Christ's reconciliation with Peter by the lakeside. Join us as we continue to talk about the ways we embody our faith, live it out, and witness to the love of God.

It's the Easter Season! And we cover EVERYTHING in 43 minutes...life, death, resurrection, healing, the nature of the sacraments, the power of the Holy Spirit, and Pentecost! Whew. Join us for a recap of Holy Week, a taste of the Easter Season, and a preview of Pentecost, as we celebrate resurrection, rebirth, new life.

"Ah, Holy Jesus, How Hast Thou Offended," is one of the great and traditional hymns of the season. This week, as we explore Palm and Passion Sunday, we talk a little about exactly how he did offend...how we got from shouts of "Hosanna" to "Crucify Him" in one week. Because Jesus was busy that week, provoking and prodding with God's justice, freedom, and radical love. Join us on this episode as we journey with Jesus to Jerusalem.

We're on our fifth week of Lent, and the last of our senses, the sense of Touch. And with that, two wonderful Bible stories about the power of Touch, to heal, to connect, to make whole. But the Church's history with Touch, and our larger culture's is not as simple as these stories, at least on the surface, make it appear to be. Join us this week for the sense of Touch, and a far-ranging discussion on the last of our five senses.