Dr Katie Penry is a clinical psychologist and founder of A Friendly Affair, a parenting blog and resource filled community supporting parents of infants and young children. In today's podcast, Katie opens up about the challenges she endured as a young woman growing up in the church, her deep desire to become a priest, and the highs and lows of being in relationship with the church.

We talk about her time at Wheaton College studying clinical psychology, and how the liturgical church really held space for her during that season.

We talk about contemplative Christianity and the spiritual life of children as well as her love of liturgy, rhythms, structure, and mystery, and how these practices inform her work and family life. 

Katie reminds that "what we are doing is giving our children a faith that will last beyond a question." 

Views and opinions expressed in the Dance With God podcast are not necessarily those of Apostles Eastern Shore.  This is a space where discussion, doubt and wondering are welcome.

In episode 3, Julie Wilkins interviews Laurin Karadimos on her journey to become an end of life doula. In this conversation, we take a sensitive look at death and dying, and how we can design the end of life experience to be an embrace of the sacred.

Laurin is a Fairhope, Al native, single mom of two young boys, Godly Play storyteller, yoga teacher, and friend. Laurin has recently received her end of life doula training through INELDA under Henry Fersko-Weiss, author of the book, Caring For The Dying. 

Make sure to subscribe as our next episode will be released in early July!

As always, the views and expressions in this episode and all episodes of Dance With God, are those of the individuals and not necessarily our home church Apostles Eastern Shore in Montrose, Alabama. This is a space where discussion, curiosity, wonder, and doubt are welcome.

In Episode Two, Jessica Deese sits down with Gertrud Nelson, author of the Podcast’s namesake, To Dance with God.  In addition to sharing the story of how the book originated, Gertrud provides insights into how we might transform the ordinary moments of our lives by developing a contemplative lens.  We talk about the importance of connecting to nature, establishing sacred rhythms, and slowing down enough to see the holy in the ordinary.  

Nelson's book, To Dance With God, shows how to use ritual and celebration throughout the church year by creatively combining rites and folk customs to celebrate sacred mysteries. 

"The paradigm of where God is has shifted. We are seeing God under our feet more than ever before. It makes us face this earth we've been given, and how we in turn, need to be in holy cycles with the seasons."  

Views and opinions expressed in the Dance With God podcast are not necessarily those of Apostles Eastern Shore.  This is a space where discussion, doubt and wondering are welcome.

For our podcast launch, Julie Wilkins sits down with Ruth Seawell. Ruth discusses the inspiration for the liturgical arts collective, and the challenges of bringing the arts into the church. We hear the story of Ruth's discovery of Nelson's resource, To Dance With Go, which re-directed her spiritual life in a profound way. We talk about the power of wonder and mystery, and how creativity is an important aspect of our spiritual lives.

Views and opinions expressed in Dance With God podcast are not necessarily those of Apostles Eastern Shore. This is a space where discussion, doubt, and wondering are welcome.

A podcast inspired by one of our favorite resources, Gertrud Mueller Nelson's book To Dance With God.

Developed in collaboration with our home church, Apostles Eastern Shore in Montrose, AL, we hope to create an evolving platform offering inspirational interviews, discussions, and other resources for liturgical practices and contemplative living.

Views and opinions expressed in Dance With God podcast are not necessarily those of Apostles Eastern Shore. This is a space where discussion, doubt, and wondering are welcome.