Pod Be With You

Let's reclaim the word "awesome," shall we? This psalm is a love song to a transcendent Creator, a wandering walk through wonder at both the nearness and beyond-ness of God. This God knows us better than we know ourselves, and loves us more than we can imagine. Do we really believe it? 

This episode was born out of many different spontaneous conversations that we wanted to capture as one. So here, Michele Clark, Digital Media Coordinator at FCC Dundee, interviews me (Aaron) with some big questions: What is it like being a pastor in changing, divisive times? How do you decide what to say in a sermon? What's it like being a pastor and a parent? Is church itself going to survive?

Let's see how this goes . . . 

This week, a story of an impossible yes, and love finding a way. When the good news shows up looking like bad news, the ferociously faithful Mary says, "Let it be" - and began a world-changing story. With a week until Christmas, this is the right story to hear!

We hope you enjoy the audio from our recent Jazz concert here at FCC Dundee. Bill O'Connell and his ensemble offered a collection of sacred and secular favorites for the season. Whether you're running errands or just need a great soundtrack for wrapping presents, this should do the trick!

Video of the concert can be seen on our YouTube channel and Facebook page. 

In a Christmas story too often by, for, and about men, our story lingers this week on two women: one expecting and the other expectant, embracing in love and joy. They had the faith to see their story - their fulfilled promises - as part of God's story. Can we? 

This conversation with Rev. Leah Robberts-Mosser focuses on Jubilee Cafe - a weekly, free, restaurant-style meal served as a ministry of Community United Church of Christ in Urbana-Champaign, IL. Even as they adapt to COVID restrictions, this meal helps those struggling with food insecurity and social isolation. Perhaps most of all, in bringing together what are often fractured segments of our society, this ministry offers a foretaste of the heavenly feast - a joyful vision for this week. Find out more at https://community-ucc.org/jubilee-cafe/

On this second Sunday of Advent - our Sunday of Peace - we had the joy of welcoming a string quartet, composed of Ray Ostwald, Joe Malmquist, Wendy Evans, and Mark Kuntz. They offer four pieces in this service: wonderful arrangements of some of our Advent and Christmas favorites. A short sermon - a reflection on what it means to be a peace-maker - begins at about 14:45. Thank you for listening!

Please welcome our first guest! Nicole Havelka is an ordained minister and yoga instructor, whose consulting practice focuses on leading individuals and institutions through change with mindfulness, resilience, and purpose. Which sounds like exactly the kind of expertise we could use right now. This conversation took us to fascinating and helpful places - thanks, Nicole!

This is a time for waiting and preparation - and sometimes the waiting is easier. But peace requires action, preparation - real work. So even as we celebrate peace, experience peace, and wait on the fullness of peace, we are also called, with John the Baptist, to prepare the way. This is a time to be peace makers. 

This week's sermon on decision fatigue and defiant hope begins at about 9:45. Also, don't miss Linda's wonderful offering of "Of the Father's Love Begotten" just before - about 7:20 in. Thanks for listening!