Sunspots

On this episode of Sunspots, we visit with Rev. Pepa Paniagua of kin·dom community, a 1001 New Worshiping Communities in North Texas. Enabling the dream of friends Andy Hackett and Garrett deGraffenreid, they created kin·dom camp, an opportunity for LBGTQIA+ youth to come and experience a week of affirmation, celebration and fun at Camp Gilmont. They talk about how the camp came to be, what happened as a result of this camp, and what's in the future.

kin·dom community - https://kindomcommunity.org
kin·dom camp - https://kindomcommunity.org/camp-in-2023

On this edition of Sunspots, we listen in on a conversation between Kristy Rodgers, 2022 Moderator of the Synod of the Sun and Brian Ellison, Executive Director of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians. 

As they talk about the upcoming Covenant Conversation to be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City on August 27th, they dig into the welcome that LGBTQIA+ persons likely don’t feel when they enter and become acquainted at church. 

Find out more about the August 27th Covenant Conversation via the link below:
 https://covnetpres.org/event/covenant-conversation-oklahoma/

In light of the recent decision by the SCOTUS overturning Roe v Wade, guest host Rev. Elizabeth Brinegar talks with Rev. Natarsha Sanders and Rev. Sarah Leer about recognizing the thread of bondage that’s existed since the beginning of our nation.

In understanding that "if you are not practicing your theology, you're not actually studying God", we are called to recognize the ‘long game’ of oppression, to instruct the elders to tell the story of those not only in bondage, but those who put them in bondage, and to discover what we can do in our own lives to remove the thread of bondage.

On this episode of Sunspots, we proudly and officially welcome Rev. Kathy Lee-Cornell as the Director of the Synod Partnership for Disaster Response. Valerie interviews Kathy about her dreams for this new position and how she'll bring her experience as a pastor, social worker, and disaster site coordinator to this new position.

You can read the full press release of her announcement HERE.

On this week’s episode of SunSpots, we’re going back to January of this year and we’re gonna listen to a Meditation presented by Synod Leader/Stated Clerk Valerie Young at the Called Synod Meeting. At this meeting, the Synod voted to become a partner in the Synod of the Sun Partnership for Disaster Recovery, or SPDR.

Valerie talks about how the SPDR and its Director will be a resource for churches and mid-councils to pivot in the midst of and after a natural disaster, enabling them not only to take care of immediate internal needs, but also to powerfully reach out beyond themselves into their communities.

In part three of their continuing conversation, Sarah Leer, Natarsha Sanders, and guest host Elizabeth Brinegar explore the tension of when to be silent and when to use your voice. Using Proverbs 21:23 as a touchpoint, they talk about the how and when of speak out and when to listen deeply.
Find their previous conversations, entitled The Educated Life and We Belong to Each Other, on your podcast application.
https://buff.ly/3sljTFW

On this episode of Sunspots, we brought together Zoë Garry and Ezequiel Herrera, both of whom lead New Worshipping Communities in very different settings in the Synod of the Sun.

Zoë Garry is the Director of NOLA Wesley, an affirming campus ministry for the students of Tulane and Loyola Universities in New Orleans, which includes The Labyrinth, a pay-as-you-are-able coffee shop.

Ezequiel Herrera is the Rio Grande Valley Evangelist for Mission Presbytery. He is Pastor of the New Worshipping Community called New Life Faith Community/Comunidad de Fe Nueva Vida in McAllen.

Although their ministry settings are quite different, Zoe and Ezequiel find a great deal of commonality as they talk about the unique joys and challenges of leading a New Worshipping Community and how what they do requires a great deal of energy, patience, creativity, and lots of love. 

This week's episode is a collection of poetry readings from her extensive collection of poems by Christianne Chase and musical adaptations of hymns and songs by pianist Brett N Wilenzick, both Ruling Elders from Cimarron Presbytery.  

Please enjoy this inspirational and entertaining podcast from your friends at Sunspots!

Have you ever wondered about discernment—what it is and how to do it? Wondering what God is saying you today? Join Rev. Michael Vinson, a Teaching Elder in the Presbytery of Arkansas, and guest host Elizabeth Brinegar as they explore the themes of spiritual discernment and health.

What’s does it mean to belong to one another? Does it mean to invite someone or does it mean something more?  Join Sarah Leer, Natarsha Sanders, and guest host Elizabeth Brinegar as they explore these themes and more in part two of their conversation on the latest episode of Sunspots.

Find their previous conversation, entitled The Educated Life, on your podcast application or go here to learn more: https://conta.cc/3LBNWkI