Join Rev. Sarah Howell-Miller as she follows Jesus in the wake of his first act of public proclamation in Luke 4:21-30 and asks why the good news of liberation for the poor and oppressed is so hard for people of privilege to receive.

Transcript available here: https://surj.org/our-work/surj-faith/twir/

Join Rev. Jean Jeffress as they explpore Paul's weird anatomy lesson in 1 Corinthians 12:12-31. Paul calls for unity in discipleship - we are all one in Christ. But unity is hard - find out why in this episode.

Transcript available here:

https://surj.org/our-work/surj-faith/twir/

It's our 5th birthday here at The Word Is Resistance! And incredibly, the gospel reading is about a party! Mary insists that Jesus liven up the party at a wedding banquet. Is this a frivolous magic trick, or was Mary on to something important? Join Rev. Anne Dunlap for this take on John 2:1-11.

Join us for our first-ever virtual meet-up! Register here: https://bit.ly/twirmeetup

Transcript available here:

https://surj.org/our-work/surj-faith/twir/

Gathering, healing, restoring, calling: God’s love and compassion are not just abstract concepts or ideas or feelings. Join Rev. Kelsey Beebe as she explores why it matters that God loves through embodied actions.

Transcript available here:

https://surj.org/our-work/surj-faith/twir/

What would be good news to low-wage workers in first-century, occupied Palestine? This Christmas, join Rev. Margaret Ernst as she reflects on the news of Christ's birth from the standpoint of the shepherds, and why it’s okay to have the Christmas blues.

To get involved with SURJ Faith’s Community Safety for All campaign in 2022, visit https://surj.org/our-work/surj-faith/cs4a/

To listen to Pastor Margaret’s “Sadvent” playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5XHk1HJ1BqCvt5AzHtqN5g?si=e716aef130904e25

Transcript available here: https://surj.org/our-work/surj-faith/twir/

On this week's Advent episode, Rev. Seth Wispelwey looks at The Magnificat and examines specifically what place, if any, (white) men have there. Why might it be good news for (white) men to be sent away with nothing, as Mary's exultant song says is God's holy purpose and plan for the powerful? Living in a system of violent patriarchy means men have hard questions to face about our "place" in the Christmas story. Indeed, in our sacred texts, Advent tells us solidarity looks like silence...

"Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape."

―bell hooks

Transcript available here: https://surj.org/our-work/surj-faith/twir/

What all is happening at the Jordan River when John the Baptist baptizes the crowds and preaches with such, shall we say, intensity? Join Rev. Anne Dunlap with special guest Rev. M Barclay as they talk about Luke 3: 7-18. And don't worry, we don't call anyone a brood of vipers!

Transcript available here: https://surj.org/our-work/surj-faith/twir/

Suddenly! Something’s coming. Something good. "Suddenly" is always right there, in the next moment, if we are willing to join in the heavenly host—the conspiracy of all that is—if we are willing to undergo the vulnerability we have been avoiding, if we are willing to step into the refiner’s fire.

Join Nichola Torbett for this dive into Malachi 3: 1-4 for the 2nd Sunday of Advent.

Transcript available here: https://surj.org/our-work/surj-faith/twir/

What if apocalyptic texts aren't about the world ending, but about the world turning? God is breaking in, disrupting things, and creating something new.

Join Rev. Kelsey Beebe in an exploration of this "apocalyptic" text from Luke 21 for the first Sunday of Advent.

Transcript available here: https://surj.org/our-work/surj-faith/twir/

Call to Action:

Support BLOC: Black Leaders Organizing for Communities:

https://www.blocbybloc.org/

How are we as white Christians questioning what has been told to us about, well, everything? Who are we listening to to build more liberatory futures? Join Rev. Sarah Howell-Miller as she digs into the questions around Christ the King Sunday, and where those questions can lead us as white Christians.

Transcript available here: https://surj.org/our-work/surj-faith/twir/