The Average Episcopalian

It's time for another Listener Q&A! Your questions had quite the range. We discussed the process of adult confirmation, pondered whether or not the BCP is Benedictine, indulged in visions of grandeur about the future of this podcast, reflected on the beauty of the diversity of worship within the Episcopal church, and even reminisced over the fiction books that shaped our childhoods. We hope you enjoy it!

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More questions? Send us an email: [email protected].

Does the concept of the Holy Trinity ever keep you up at night? Just us? To tackle the Trinity, we brought in our friend the Rev. Matt Rossi, Assistant Rector for Adult Formation at Church of the Incarnation in Dallas, Texas. And we were wise to do so. In this episode, Matt fights through our poor attempts to use analogy and geometry to make sense of the Triune God and reminds us WHY the Trinity matters to our faith. We didn't think it possible, but Matt blew up our obsession with definitions and replaced it with something better: excitement to worship. Buckle up, folks. You're in for a (long) good one. Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian.

When we don’t quite have the words, we Episcopalians turn to the Book of Common Prayer. In this episode, we review 4 of our favorite BCP prayers and discuss how they have carried us through our lives. These prayers teach us the true meaning of optimism, urge us to pursue childlike joy, calm us as we fall asleep, and remind us of God’s changelessness. What are your favorite BCP prayers? Let us know on Instagram: @average.episcopalian.

What makes Episcopalian worship music unique? What’s up with all the chanting? What role does music play in the liturgy-- and in our faith? Mario Buchanan, Director of Music at Christ Church Episcopal in Hudson, Ohio, is here to talk all things Episcopalian music. We discuss the importance of singing in unison, the benefits of children’s choir, what it’s like to grow a music program in a small town, and the vulnerability it takes to sing around others. We hope this episode leaves you singing the descant with pride! Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian.

Our longest episode yet! And of course we’re talking about ourselves… so much for that episode on humility. Today we’re interviewing each other, and we’re not holding back! Topics include: Kate’s experience in a Christian cult, being an Episcopalian in your twenties, how losing our mother impacted our faith journeys, where we encounter God in our daily lives, what setlist we’d play at the Episcopal club… and much more! Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian.

In the world of LinkedIn announcements and Instagram humble brags, does the old-fashioned virtue of humility have anything to offer? Today’s episode uses the framework of St. Benedict’s Ladder of Humility to explore why humility is necessary and life-giving for all who follow Christ. We discover that humility is the true root of confidence, listening plays a critical role in how we love others, and humility is like a lazy river in which we need to just let go. Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian.

Eucharist. Communion. The Last Supper. The Great Thanksgiving. It’s the focal point of our worship service, but what does this bread-breaking really mean? We’ve brought in an expert to discuss. Father Cody Turner is the Curate for Worship at Church of the Incarnation in Dallas, Texas. In this educational and approachable conversation, we talk about what it means to “live into” the sacraments, the meaning of “real presence” in the bread and wine, what Episcopalians believe about communion, why children take communion in our church, and more. Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian.

Whether you were baptized last week or 50 years ago, we all have a lot to learn from the baptismal covenant. In today's episode, Annie & Kate break down the baptism piece-by-piece, discussing in depth what the covenant means to us. Reciting the baptismal covenant as a congregation reminds us of the path we're on, and who we strive to be. In this episode, we talk about the difference between a covenant and a contract, the role of community in baptism, and why "we will, with God's help". Stay tuned until the end for our spicy new segment, "Kate's Controversial Questions", where we discuss infant baptism and more! Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian.

Our culture is obsessed with avoiding suffering at all costs, and a lot of that is enforced by the “wisdom” plastered all over TikTok and other social media platforms. “Romanticize your life.” “Let go of what doesn’t serve you.” “Cut people out of your life.” Do these modern-day sentiments bring us closer or further away from Christ? We attempt to analyze these rules for living, discussing the lack of nuance in short-term video content, why we should depend on one another on purpose, and learning how to embrace the mess. Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian. (Yes, we see the irony in that plug.)

Many of us know “fellowship” to mean sharing donuts and laughs at coffee hour. But what does Christian fellowship mean on a deeper level? Rev. Charlotte Collins Reed is the rector of Christ Church Episcopal in Hudson, Ohio, and she played an instrumental role in creating community in Annie and Kate’s home church. Charlotte is here to share her stories of the priesthood, teaching us about fostering community in a broken church, what community means to Episcopalians, and the importance of community in the world at large. Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian.