Talking Joy Podcast

To be a contemplative is to experience an event fully, in all aspects, practicing the presence of the God. Contemplation is about waking up and becoming more conscious of your life! Join Pam for an exploration and meditation.

Inspired by, The Spiritual Disciplines Handbook by Adele Calhoun.

Music by Charity Wicks

Draw Near 2025 Advent Devotional by Teri McDowell Ott. Advent Week 4, LOVE

Join us this Advent season reading or listening to week 3, day 1 of Draw Near an advent devotional from Presbyterian Outlook by Terri McDowell Ott.

Each day of Advent, this devotional offers a gentle invitation to draw near — to Scripture, to stillness, and to the heart of God. Following the traditional Advent themes, you'll light the way week by week with hope, peace, joy and love, preparing not just for Christmas, but for Christ’s presence among us.

Alongside daily reflections we invite you to the practice of Lectio Divina, a prayer practice of sacred reading with the eyes and ears of the heart. Listening just beneath the surface of things, for depth and meaning. Perhaps a word or phrase captures your attention and you can carry it with you for the day.

LINKS: https://www.instagram.com/rodriguez00matthew/?__d=1

-Draw Near audio KICKSTART Day 1 with Pam Robertson narrating, music by Charity Wicks

-Purchase Draw Near printable daily advent devotional: https://pres-outlook.org/2024/08/2024-advent-devotional-recommendations/

Draw Near 2025 Advent Devotional by Teri McDowell Ott. Advent Week 3, JOY

Join us this Advent season reading or listening to week 3, day 1 of Draw Near an advent devotional from Presbyterian Outlook by Terri McDowell Ott.

Each day of Advent, this devotional offers a gentle invitation to draw near — to Scripture, to stillness, and to the heart of God. Following the traditional Advent themes, you'll light the way week by week with hope, peace, joy and love, preparing not just for Christmas, but for Christ’s presence among us.

Alongside daily reflections we invite you to the practice of Lectio Divina, a prayer practice of sacred reading with the eyes and ears of the heart. Listening just beneath the surface of things, for depth and meaning. Perhaps a word or phrase captures your attention and you can carry it with you for the day.

LINKS: https://www.instagram.com/rodriguez00matthew/?__d=1

-Draw Near audio KICKSTART Day 1 with Pam Robertson narrating, music by Charity Wicks

-Purchase Draw Near printable daily advent devotional: https://pres-outlook.org/2024/08/2024-advent-devotional-recommendations/

Draw Near 2025 Advent Devotional by Teri McDowell Ott. Advent week 2, Peace

Join us this Advent season reading or listening to week 2, day 1 of Draw Near an advent devotional from Presbyterian Outlook by Terri McDowell Ott.

Each day of Advent, this devotional offers a gentle invitation to draw near — to Scripture, to stillness, and to the heart of God. Following the traditional Advent themes, you'll light the way week by week with hope, peace, joy and love, preparing not just for Christmas, but for Christ’s presence among us.

Alongside daily reflections we invite you to the practice of Lectio Divina, a prayer practice of sacred reading with the eyes and ears of the heart. Listening just beneath the surface of things, for depth and meaning. Perhaps a word or phrase captures your attention and you can carry it with you for the day.

LINKS: https://www.instagram.com/rodriguez00matthew/?__d=1

-Draw Near audio KICKSTART Day 1 with Pam Robertson narrating, music by Charity Wicks

-Purchase Draw Near printable daily advent devotional: https://pres-outlook.org/2024/08/2024-advent-devotional-recommendations/

ADVENT DEVOTIONAL

Join us this Advent season reading or listening to day 1 of Draw Near an advent devotional from Presbyterian Outlook by Terri McDowell Ott.

Each day of Advent, this devotional offers a gentle invitation to draw near — to Scripture, to stillness, and to the heart of God. Following the traditional Advent themes, you'll light the way week by week with hope, peace, joy and love, preparing not just for Christmas, but for Christ’s presence among us.

Alongside daily reflections we invite you to the practice of Lectio Divina, a prayer practice of sacred reading with the eyes and ears of the heart. Listening just beneath the surface of things, for depth and meaning. Perhaps a word or phrase captures your attention and you can carry it with you for the day.

LINKS: https://www.instagram.com/rodriguez00matthew/?__d=1

-Draw Near audio KICKSTART Day 1 with Pam Robertson narrating, music by Charity Wicks and Matthew Rodriguez

-Purchase Draw Near printable daily advent devotional: https://pres-outlook.org/2024/08/2024-advent-devotional-recommendations/

Join Pam for a guided meditation as we reflect on 2024 and write goals for the New Year, 2025. What could you use more of in your life? What could you use less of in your life? What is your word for 2025? There is a blank canvas on the road before you, follow along and write your goals and intentions as a spiritual practice.

www.talkingjoy.org

Pam guides us through a visualization meditation for self-awareness including quotes by Mark Nepo and Thích Nhất Hạnh. Grab a pen and paper, find a quiet place and indulge in some time for yourself.

Join Pam Robertson for a guided Advent meditation focusing on these themes: hope, peace, love and joy! Listen along to a Christmas story about being present followed by suggestions from author Joyce Rupp on how to cultivate more presence for yourself this holiday season. Finally a list of where to find the Christmas story in the Bible. 

Podcast Music by Adam Gilbert

Resources:

Opening: Matthew West that invites readers to return to God during the Christmas season in his book, Come Home for Christmas.  

Where is the Christmas story in the Bible?

Prophecy-Isaiah 9 notably v. 6-7

Mary & the Annunciation Luke 1: 26-38 (announcement from the Angel Gabriel)

Joseph & visit from the angel in a dream-Matthew 1: 18 - 25

Mary visits Elizabeth & Mary's Magnificat (song of praise) -Luke 1:39-56 The birth of Jesus-Luke 2: 1 - 7

Shepherds and angels-Luke 2: 8 - 20

Visit of the Magi-Matthew 2: 1-12

Story: A Christmas Miracle, Family Circle, Dec.2013 by Glennon Doyle Melton

Suggestions for giving the present of presence by Joyce Rupp.

When teacher Anne Sussman started to meditate every day, the trajectory of her life took off! She started to sleep through the night; was far less anxious; and she started to hear that small voice in her heart that said, “quit your job, because you’re miserable,” louder than she heard the chatter in her mind that said “what are you crazy? You can’t quit your job!” The more she meditated, the clearer it became. become a certified meditation instructor, learning the trademarked method of SEED - Simple Easy Every Day meditation. She then went on to become a Mindfulness@Work trainer, so she could share the tools that helped change her life so profoundly. She went back to school to become a certified meditation instructor, learning the trademarked method of SEED - Simple Easy Every Day meditation. Join us as she guides us through a meditation.

www.talkingjoy.org

Connect with Anne:

https://www.mindfulnessmeetingplace.com

For Love of the Broken Body is a beautiful, surprising, honest memoir about Sister Julia's journey to Franciscan sisterhood. At the age of 25, just a month into her novitiate as a Franciscan Sister, Julia Walsh fell from a cliff and became disfigured. While working toward healing, she felt pulled to religious community life, but also toward unresolved feelings regarding her own sexuality, identity, and injustice.For Love of the Broken Body is a story of pain, questioning, recovery, and discovery. Join host Pam Robertson for an inspiriting conversation with Sr. Julia about her new book. www.talkingjoy.org

To purchase the book: https://bookshop.org