Both of the churches we serve are doing something a little bit different this week in terms of worship and liturgy, or literally, "The Work of the People." And so this prompted a conversation about worship itself, the brick and mortar buildings we call "church," faith and action and how those two things intersect, and what it means to have a God who does not dwell in houses built by human hands,

It's in the mid to high 80's out, the perfect time to celebrate Christmas! So put on your favorite ugly sweater, get a cup of cocoa, and join us for an exploration into the heart of the incarnation...what it is, what it means, and what it doesn't...we'll figure it all out in 30 minutes or less. (Yeah, right.) But truly, the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ is not just for Advent and Christmas, but something to be celebrated and lived into all year round.

We have another one of the wonderful parables of Jesus today, the story of The Great Banquet, a tale of welcome, hospitality, ang grace upon grace. Pretty straightforward, right? Well, if that were true, it wouldn't be a parable, now would it? Join us as we dive into Jesus' "Dinner Party Advice," and get another small glimpse of the Kin(g)dom of God.

The Parable of the Talents is well-known, and also notoriously difficult and disturbing. Two pastors, one parable, and a whole lot of exegesis! Let's do it, people...dive in, and see what might really be going on in Jesus' Parable of the Generous Lord!

In this episode of Pod Be With You, we tackle the hot potato that is HELL. Pastors Paige and Michelle dive into the history and scriptures behind this particular piece of Christian theology, and rethink its place in our doctrine. (Because God is Still Speaking, and we can do that.) Join us for an interesting journey into Sheol, Gehenna, and Dante's Inferno, as we ask the question, "What is Hell? And do I have to be afraid of it?"

At the core of the Christian faith is the call, as declared through the prophet Zechariah, to "administer justice." But what does that mean? One organization in the Chicago area is taking that call at face value, and providing legal aid for folks in need. Join us for an interview with Judy Miller of Administer Justice, who tells us how we, as the local church, can help make legal help accessible to all.

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.)