Sunspots

Today's episode is part two of a two-part episode of a Sunspots’ Disaster Partnership Conversation. This episode features Jim Kirk, who serves as the Associate for Disaster Response in the U.S. for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and Michelle Muñiz, who serves as the Disaster Recovery Coordinator for the Presbytery of San Juan in Puerto Rico. 

In this episode, Jim and Michelle reflect on how they see resiliency as a critical component of disaster recovery and in the people they’ve to know through their ministries. They also share ways we as Presbyterians across the Synod of the Sun can continue to pray and support one another, particularly before a disaster strikes. 

“Anything that doesn’t kill you and you integrate into your life will make you stronger. Healing camps, emotional spiritual care programs of PDA are all designed to help people integrate just horrible experiences in a way that it gives them meaning and becomes part of their journey, but doesn’t define their journey.” - Jim Kirk 

“We have to be careful how we talk about [resiliency], so we don’t get into the place where we romanticize that people are struggling and somehow figuring it out.” - Michelle Muñiz 

Download SPDR’s 12 Steps to Building Resiliency Guide by clicking the links below:

            English

            Español

            한국인

Reach out to Michelle Muńiz directly to learn more about supporting disaster recovery and volunteering in Puerto Rico by emailing: [email protected].

To learn more about volunteering at PDA host sites in the Synod of the Sun and beyond, go to: https://pda.pcusa.org/page/volunteer-work-teams/

Today's episode is part one of a two-part episode of a Sunspots’ Disaster Partnership Conversation. This episode features Jim Kirk, who serves as the Associate for Disaster Response in the U.S. for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and Michelle Muñiz, who serves as the Disaster Recovery Coordinator for the Presbytery of San Juan in Puerto Rico. 

In this episode, Jim and Michelle share with us how they each came to the roles they now hold in disaster ministry and describe how the gifts of countless Presbyterians given through the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering are empowering congregations and rebuilding the lives and communities of those impacted by disasters. 

“There are those events that are smaller in scale, that do not get a lot of recognition, and that are not federally declared disasters. And we’re able to provide immediate support for church damage and immediate need directly because of the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. So if the only way we could respond is to have an appeal, it would be weeks or months before we could get support into the field, but because of the OGHS we have the infrastructure in place to get emergency grants out the door within days. The real life example is that there are fires burning in the Synod of the Sun as we speak in the panhandle of Texas and in Oklahoma.” - Jim Kirk  

“Through this funding, churches [in Puerto Rico] were able to develop new ways to respond or to actually expand the services that they were already doing, but we also were able to partner with organizations that were not necessarily connected to our church and even with organizations that were working in communities where there are no Presbyterian presence.” - Michelle Muñiz 

Learn more about the PC(USA)’s One Great Hour of Sharing offering and give online: https://specialofferings.pcusa.org/offering/oghs/

Designate a gift to an Active Response area of PDA: https://pda.pcusa.org/page/active-accounts/

Learn more about PDA’s partnership with the Synod of the Sun:  https://www.synodsun.org/spdr-about-us

Reach out to Michelle Muńiz directly to learn more about supporting disaster recovery and volunteering in Puerto Rico by emailing: [email protected].

To learn more about volunteering at PDA host sites in the Synod of the Sun and beyond, go to: https://pda.pcusa.org/page/volunteer-work-teams/

On this episode of Sunspots, Bridge Interim Synod Leader and Stated Clerk Steve Shive talks with Nikki Collins, the Coordinator for 1001 New Worshiping Communities. 

Nikki Collins began serving as the Coordinator for 1001 New Worshiping Communities in June 2018. Previously she served Cherokee Presbytery as Stated Clerk and Mission Coordinator and, before that, as the founder of Bare Bulb Coffee, a rich brew of full-service coffee shop, music and arts venue, and home to a diverse group of disciples committed to shedding light in the world.

Our Tapestry (TikTok) https://vimeo.com/879445541?share=copy

Stoked Life (paddle board) https://vimeo.com/879446563?share=copy

kin•dom campfire chats (LGBTQIA+ camp for youth) https://kindom.buzzsprout.com

This is part two of a two-part episode of Sunspots, featuring Dr. Eddie Moore Jr., Founder and Executive Director of The Privilege Institute, who talks about the upcoming White Privilege Conference that will be held on April 3-6 in Tulsa, OK.

Click HERE to read Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr.'s bio and event details.

Dr. Moore is interviewed by

Natarsha Sanders, who is the Director of Centering the Sacred. Natarsha also serves on the Columbia Theological Seminary admissions team as a Connector.

Kristy Rodgers is a Commissioned Pastor and Director of Children’s Ministry at First Presbyterian Church Bartlesville, OK. Kristi was the Moderator of Synod of the Sun in 2022 and Moderator of the Network for Dismantling Racism

Molly Casteel is a Minister-at-Large for Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery and the Owner of Belonging, LLC, an equity and justice consulting firm. Molly is also a member of the Synod’s Committee on Representation 

https://www.theprivilegeinstitute.com/wpc25

On this first of a two part episode of Sunspots, Dr. Eddie Moore Jr., Founder and Executive Director of The Privilege Institute, talks about the upcoming White Privilege Conference that will be held on April 3-6 in Tulsa, OK.

Click HERE to read his bio and event details

Dr. Moore is interviewed by:

Natarsha Sanders, who is the Director of Centering the Sacred. Natarsha also serves on the Columbia Theological Seminary admissions team as a Connector.

Kristy Rodgers is a Commissioned Pastor and Director of Children’s Ministry at First Presbyterian Church Bartlesville, OK. Kristi was the Moderator of Synod of the Sun in 2022 and Moderator of the Network for Dismantling Racism

Molly Casteel is a Minister-at-Large for Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery and the Owner of Belonging, LLC, an equity and justice consulting firm. Molly is also a member of the Synod’s Committee on Representation 

https://www.theprivilegeinstitute.com/wpc25

On November 9th, Steve Shive welcomed Fran Hilton Shelton to Liminal Conversations. The focus of the conversation was “How is the Diminishing Impact of our Churches and the Death of many Churches Affecting our Presbyteries and Churches Emotionally and Spiritually?”

A founder of Faith & Grief Ministries, Fran leads bereavement workshops and spiritual retreats. She is a preacher and a keynote speaker at conferences.
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For twenty years, Fran served PC(USA) congregations in Texas, primarily in pastoral care and was affectionately called “Funeral Fran” by the love of her life and last husband, Bob. She has the courage to take deep finesses in duplicate bridge, stamina to be a member of four book clubs and a spirit for life that sparks contagious laughter.

You can find her website at frantiltonshelton.com.

Fran has written two books:

No Winter Lasts Forever: A Memoir of Loving Bob and Loathing Alzheimer’s and

The Spirituality of Grief: Ten Practices for Those Who Remain

On October 28, Thomas Riggs welcomed fellow staff member Kathy Lee-Cornell, Director of the Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery.  The focus of our conversation  was "The Church's Vocation Found in Disaster Resilience".

You can read more about the Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery on the Synod's website at: https://www.synodsun.org/spdr-about-us. 

Also, check out the Synod's blog for articles by Kathy about the faces and stories of disaster recover at: https://www.synodsun.org/blog-1

On October 12, Thomas Riggs welcomed Mike Clawson to Liminal Conversations. The focus of the conversation was “What Christians can learn from the Spiritual But Not Religious”

Mike Clawson is the Administrator for Illuman, a non-profit founded by Richard Rohr to promote healthy masculinity through contemplative spirituality and deep inner work. He also co-founded the New Story Festival together with Gareth Higgins, producing transformational events for creativity, community, and the common good. He has a Ph.D. in Religion from Baylor University, has taught at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and was an Emerging Church pastor in the Chicago suburbs. Originally from the northwoods of Michigan, he and his two teenage daughters currently live in Austin, Texas.

Belief Without Borders: Inside the Minds of the Spiritual but not Religious, Linda Mercadante

Church Refugees: Sociologists reveal why people are DONE with church but not their faith, Josh Packard and Ashleigh Hope

Christianity After Religion: The End of the Church and the Birth of a New Spiritual Awakening, Diana Butler Bass

The Great Spiritual Migration: How the World's Largest Religion is Seeking a Better Way to Be Christian, Brian D. McLaren

How to Be a Christian Without Going to Church: The Unofficial Guide to Alternative Forms of Christian Community, Kelly Bean

Everything is Spiritual: Finding Your Way in a Turbulent World, Rob Bell

Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good, adrienne maree brown

How did a radio engineer end up transitioning into a career in disaster ministry? To find out, you’ll have to listen to this Sunspots Disaster Partnership Conversations episode and get to know a very special person named, Kathy Broyard. 

Kathy Broyard is the Executive Director and Emergency Management Specialist of FLAPDAN (what a great acronym, right?). After two years of catastrophic hurricanes in 2004 and 2005 – Charley, Frances, Ivan, Jeanne, Katrina & Wilma – the six presbyteries encompassing the state of Florida began having discussions around, “How can presbyteries support one another during times of disasters?”

On Thursday, September 28th, this conversation was led by Steve Shive, Bridge Interim Synod Leader/Stated Clerk. The focus of the conversation was "Welcome to the Unknown - How do we Live and Lead in this Time of an UnFolding Future?"