Resilient Faith

What if embracing your unique 'weirdness' is the key to experiencing God's glory? Take a leap of faith with us as we draw inspiration from the strength and endearing awkwardness of pop icon, Taylor Swift, to explore a faith journey that's anything but ordinary. We speak straight from our hearts about embracing God's glorious diversity, the beauty of being fearfully and wonderfully made, and the calling to be a beacon of God's light in the world. Together, we ponder on the empowering question- do you let your faith paint you a shade of brilliant 'weird'?

Let's take a radical detour from societal norms and discover how adopting the path of Jesus Christ can revolutionize our values, priorities, and relationships. We uncover the resilience of the Jewish people and their authentic faith journey, challenging the church's inadvertent support for conformity. We reflect on the freedom to be ourselves in the church and how it enables us to express our faith uniquely. As we wrap up, we invite a thoughtful conversation with God, as we contemplate on how our faith-tinged 'weirdness' can glorify Him. So, dare to be different, dare to be 'weird'. God's glory awaits!

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Wondering how Taylor Swift's music can intersect with the Gospel? Join our Pastors Lora East and Dave Carpenter, along with our music director, Nancy Reeves, unpack the surprising and insightful journey of our recent unconventional sermon series - the Gospel According to Taylor Swift. We'll shed light on why this series was chosen, the divine timing around it, and how it sparked deep, meaningful conversations within our worship community. In this faith-filled exploration, we'll also discuss the importance of embracing current pop culture phenomena like Taylor Swift's music to connect with the younger generation and make our services more relatable.

With new concepts come controversies, and we'll share how we navigated through these waters. But it's not all about challenges - we'll also look at the positive influence of integrating elements of modern culture into our faith discussions. Using themes from Taylor Swift's music as a springboard, we encourage dialogues that push boundaries, accept varying perspectives, and create space for discomfort - because growth often happens outside our comfort zones. We passionately believe that these conversations, although tough, have the potential to enrich our faith community's understanding and acceptance. So tune in to hear how our church, with its unique qualities, has become a welcoming space for people of all faith backgrounds and perspectives. Don't miss this episode, for it promises to be as enlightening as it is surprising.

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How does collective grief impact our faith and resilience? In our recent heart-stirring episode of Resilient Faith, Pastor Laura East candidly explores this profound question. She paints a vivid picture of the shared pain and loss we all experience, emphasizing our interconnectedness during times of turmoil. Our conversation journeys into the inspiring pages of the book 'Lives we Actually have 100 Blessings for Imperfect Days' and shares a powerful blessing designed to comfort us during internal and external trials.

Pressing onward, you'll find solace as Laura invokes a prayer for God's mercy and peace in the face of overwhelming violence and destruction. Her encouraging words prompt us to lean on our faith community for comfort, reminding us that we are not alone in our struggles. The icing on the cake is the thrilling announcement of a six-week series based on their popular sermon series, 'The Gospel according to Taylor Swift'. We also shed light on the Brentwood Presbyterian Church's online services, allowing you to join our Sunday service virtually. Tune in to this episode and find your strength, motivation, and solace amidst adversity.

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Have you ever experienced the tranquil peace of a forest at night? Captivated by the melody of rustling leaves, the hooting of owls, and distant wildlife activities, we journey through a serene forest landscape, opening up an auditory treasure trove of nocturnal peace. As city dwellers, we may not all have access to a forest, but we show you how to create your own oasis of tranquility, whether that's in your backyard, on your patio, or just next to an open window. 

Welcome to Resilient Faith, a podcast dedicated to finding calm in chaos and connecting with God through the quiet moments life offers. This episode, we invite you to listen to the hum of the city as it slows down for the night, to the distant barking of a dog, or the muted sounds of evening traffic. We guide you to breathe deeply, release the demands of the day, and find calm in the quiet. As we journey together in search of resilience and peace in a busy world, we hope you'll join us in exploring the calming effect that nature and the night can bring.

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Ready to embark on a journey of resilience and faith? What if I told you that in the ebb and flow of life and its trials, there's an unwavering presence that accompanies us? I'm Pastor Lora East and in this touching episode of Resilient Faith, I share an insightful undertaking of my summer experiences, teeming with travels, connections, and introspective moments, all under the compassionate aura of God. A soul-stirring poem 'For Summer's Ending' from the book 'Ash and Starlight' forms the backbone of our discussion, casting a gentle reminder of the sublime constancy of God in our lives.

Drawing from my own experiences, we explore the essence of resilience in faith through times of adversity and change. As we transition from the warmth of summer to the crispness of fall, I urge each one of us to offer gratitude for our past while holding onto hope for the future. God’s love remains steadfast, even as we oscillate between complacency and sacrifice. Engage in this heartening episode, and let your faith, resilience, and an understanding of God's ceaseless presence be your guiding light.

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Thank you for tuning in to Brentwood Presbyterian Church’s ‘Resilient Faith
Podcast’, where each week a meditation, a prayer, or quotes and discussion take
place to ponder and consider….. I hope you can gleam something, even a little
something from today’s listening… a prayer….. about us, our bodies, those
miraculous things that hold our lives together with each breath we make, and with
each breath we make.

Dear God-
Thank you for each breath we take that gives us sustenance.
Thank you for each breath that gives us.
Thank you for each breath that gives.
Thank you for each breath.
Thank you.

Amen

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By the seventh day, God had finished his work. On the seventh day he rested from all his work”.

These ancient words are reflected in the fourth commandment; Exodus 20:8-10, “Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Work six days and do everything you need to do. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to God, your God . . .” 

·       Bring yourself into God’s presence. Give thanks for God’s great love for you. 

·       Pray for the grace to see and understand God’s work in your life. As you have listened to this Sabbath topic, what has been your reaction? Have you felt any resistance? Be honest with yourself and God. 

·       Review a typical week in your life. Be specific. Do you have a rhythm between work and rest? If not, why not?

·       Reflect on all that emerges from your review. What feelings arise? What feels positive? Negative? What possibilities for a personal Sabbath practice do you see?

·       Look towards the future. How might you collaborate with Spirit’s leading regarding a Sabbath practice? Take these next moments to pray either the Lord’s Prayer or a prayer of your own. 

“There is more to life than merely increasing its speed.”

“You are not made for the Sabbath; the Sabbath is made for you.”

May we slow down and receive this gift from God. May it be so. 

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Dear God, 

As I attempt to slow down my breathing with each breath that you've given me, 

As I try to stop my feet from running with errands and side-trips and dropping off and picking up, 

As I pause my brain to refresh and take in …slowly… all that I see and hear and is wondrous around me…

Be with me this week…. 

Be with me and all of my messy mistakes, all of my tripping, all of my stumbling, 

Be with me and all of my wrong words, my wrong turns. 

Be with me and all of my bad decisions, my poor judgments, my weak moments. 

 Be with me and all of my losing my patience, misplacing my keys,  mis-judging someone else.

Help me to remember all of the good of all of my family,  all of my friends, all of my things I have… Even all of the things I have  - and don’t need. 

Help me to remember that some don’t have anything… some seem to have it all… and I have been given what I need. 

Be with me as I navigate this path called life….. the one that I get tangled up in every once in awhile… the life I get caught up in… all the good, and all the bad.  All the gifts I have been given… and all that I need to be forgiven for. 

The path that sometimes seems smooth sailing… and other times hits me in the gut like a wretched storm in the deepest and darkest of seas.

 The path that sometimes sees the best in other people, and  sometimes shows off the worst of me. 

Be with me as this path called life brings me utterly to my knees when I am in awe of an evening sunset and the glow everlasting  -not on the horizon ,but in my heart…. Be with me on this path called life when shock and sadness literally takes my breath away in pain and in  disbelief.  

Be with me on this path called life.. when I pause, and give thanks for all that I have, all that I am, and all that has been given to me.  The bad, the good, the lessons, the losses, the prizes, the tears, and oh of course the laughter… the love, the light, and the grace that somehow seems to always find me…even when I am hiding in the deepest of crevasses; or standing high on a mountaintop reaching for the galaxies above…..however and wherever I am on that path  - surround me. 

Thank you for this slowing down moment in time… thank you for this slowing down with gratefulness… thank you for this moment in time .. with gratefulness. AMEN

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Trees have been an important part of my life from my beginnings and during the pandemic they provided a welcomed presence and peace that I had not ever experienced in quite that way. I was raised in the hills of rural Ohio among many different kinds of trees. I have climbed them, eaten their fruit, hiked and walked among them, watched their autumn and spring transformations, enjoyed their dormant beauty in winter, day dreamed under them, inhaled their fragrance, marveled at the grandeur of so many, been thankful for their cool, shady canopy, and am very grateful for their life giving function of “breathing in” carbon and “breathing out” oxygen for the survival and well-being of all living things. 

Research has shown and continues to reveal just how amazing trees are. Among other things, trees communicate underground through fungi. These play an extremely important role in tree health and survival, and also in the soil biology and chemistry surrounding them. Fungi contribute to a vital support system, a life giving community, for all trees and especially young ones. To know more, and there is so much more, Suzanne Simard relates her lifelong love of and important research on trees in her national bestseller titled, Finding the Mother Tree, Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest.

 And then there’s the Heart Math Institute in Boulder, Colorado, where research on the energetic life of trees is beginning in an effort to explain the feelings of calm and well-being we experience when we spend time in their presence. We come away feeling less stressed and more centered. Researchers at Heart Math want to know why and how this happens. Fascinating stuff! 

 And then there’s the happy fact that trees inspire writers and poets. My favorite tree poem is by Wendell Berry, titled “I Go Among Trees”. It can be found in his poetry collection titled This Day, Collected and New Sabbath Poems. It can also be found online. The Simard book, the Heart Math Institute and the Berry poetry collection are referenced in the show notes. 

 I want to share the poem with you now and invite you to engage with it in a kind of lectio divina. Though usually associated with scripture, lectio divina can be used with any inspirational writing. So, we will use it with this poem.

 Let’s begin by taking three deep breaths allowing the exhale to be longer than the inhale. Consciously relax your body and bring yourself fully into the present moment. 

 With the first reading, listen to become acquainted with it. Let the words sink into your being, body, mind and spirit. 

 In the second reading, become aware of images the words create. What images come to you as you hear the words? 

 In the third reading, become aware of the feelings and sensations the words and cadence stimulate in you, paying attention to your body’s reactions. 

 As we complete the readings, you might want to write about your experience, the images and feelings that came to you. Allow time to explore the effects of the words as a kind of meditation.  

 Genesis 2:8a and 9 reads, “Then God planted a garden in Eden... God made all kinds of trees grow from the ground, trees beautiful to look at and good to eat.” This is an understatement given what we are learning about just how important trees are to life on this planet! May we give thanks for the life force they share with us.

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Close your eyes and find a comfortable position, allowing your body to relax. Take a deep breath in, and as you exhale, let go of any tension or distractions.

Today, we will focus on forgiveness and faith—a powerful combination that can bring profound healing and peace to our lives.

Begin by reflecting on the concept of forgiveness. Consider any lingering resentments or grievances that weigh upon your heart. Visualize them as heavy burdens, weighing you down with their negative energy.

Now, take a moment to acknowledge the pain these burdens have caused you. Understand that forgiveness does not mean condoning the actions or forgetting the hurt. Instead, it is a choice to release the grip these emotions have on you, freeing yourself from their hold.

Imagine yourself standing at the edge of a vast ocean. With each breath, feel the waves gently washing away your pain, carrying it out to sea. Allow the cool breeze to soothe your spirit, reminding you that forgiveness is a journey towards inner liberation.

As you forgive others, remember to extend that same compassion and understanding to yourself. Recognize that you are human, capable of making mistakes. Embrace self-forgiveness as a transformative act of self-love and growth.

Now, let us turn our attention to faith—a profound belief in something greater than ourselves. Faith can provide solace, guidance, and the strength to overcome life's challenges.

Picture yourself in a serene garden, surrounded by nature's beauty. In this tranquil space, feel a gentle presence—a guiding force that watches over you. This force is your faith, whatever form it may take—a higher power, the universe, or your inner wisdom.

Allow your faith to fill you with a sense of hope and trust. Feel its warmth flowing through your veins, permeating every cell of your being. Let it remind you that you are never alone, that there is always light even in the darkest of times.

Now, bring forgiveness and faith together in your heart. As you forgive, trust in the transformative power of forgiveness to heal wounds and mend broken relationships. Let faith be your anchor, reminding you that forgiveness is a courageous act of love and strength.

Take a deep breath in, feeling forgiveness and faith infusing your entire being. As you exhale, release any remaining doubts or fears. Embrace the freedom and peace that forgiveness and faith bring.

When you're ready, gently open your eyes, carrying the essence of forgiveness and faith with you. May they guide you on your journey of healing, liberation, and inner peace.

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