In today's episode of "Remote Pastoral Care," we get what is quite possibly the greatest crossover event in denominational history! Ok...at least the greatest crossover event in the history of Unfinished Community, at any rate.

This week we we are joined by both our regular contributors, Courtney Fraley and Steve Augustin, as well as Rev. Dr. JJ Flag of the United Church of Christ, and Chaplain Emmie Arnold of the Presbyterian Church, USA. We start with the general question of why the church has historically been so hateful towards our friends in the LGBTQUA+ community...and then the conversation takes on a life of it's own; you really have to see it (or at least hear it) to believe it!

In fact, we all talked so long that today's episode got divided into TWO FULL EPISODES, with the second coming next week! Tune in next Friday for part 2 of this exciting conversation!

Of course, if you're hungry for more, come join us on Discord! As an online church community, our Discord server is the place where we all come together, 24/7, in fellowship and interaction with each other around the globe. There's threads on just about every topic imaginable, including a running Bible study (starting a new topic next week!), prayer-chains, general geekery, and even a place for angry, irreverent ranting. You can find the link to the server at our website below, and if you run into any problems, feel free to send Pastor Don an email directly ([email protected]) and he'll get you sorted.   See you out there!   WEBSITE: pastorkuma.wixsite.com/unfinished

Working out of Romans 8:22-27, we spend our time today meditating on just what it means to encounter the Holy Spirit when we don't feel like big, flaming pageantry. What does God need with big, bold miracle stories anyways, and why are we always so fixated on this one miracle story, when God isn't about the big show of force anyways? Join us for a conversation about the quiet Spirit this Pentecost instead!

As always, today's sermon is meant to be the start of a conversation, not the whole thing. The conversation continues on our community Discord server throughout the week, and you're welcome to join in! No matter who you are, where you are, or when you are, you're totally welcome in our community. We'd love to see you in the conversation!

For the link to the Discord server, or for more information, check out our website at http://www.pastorkuma.wixsite.com/unfinished  You can also find sermon manuscripts there, links to our YouTube channel, and more!

(Or send an email to [email protected], and I'll get you sorted myself!)

See you out there!

In today's episode of "Remote Pastoral Care," Courtney and I start the process of breaking down a big issue, and one that really weighs on a lot of hearts: sin, predestination, and the question of why there is evil in the world if God truly plans out every last detail. At the heart of this discussion is the story of Judas Ischariot, and just...what's up with that guy.  

It was a good conversation, if a bit difficult, and the first of several we hope to do in a series on this particularly difficult topic. I hope you'll give it a listen, and join us for next week as well!  

Of course, if you're hungry for more, come join us on Discord! As an online church community, our Discord server is the place where we all come together, 24/7, in fellowship and interaction with each other around the globe. There's threads on just about every topic imaginable, including a running Bible study (starting a new topic next week!), prayer-chains, general geekery, and even a place for angry, irreverent ranting. You can find the link to the server at our website below, and if you run into any problems, feel free to send Pastor Don an email directly ([email protected]) and he'll get you sorted.   

See you out there!

WEBSITE: pastorkuma.wixsite.com/unfinished

Today's scripture comes from John 15:9-17, and in it we find a sermon that was almost too difficult for me to write! Today we talk about Christ as our friend, as our "buddy," and confront the one thing that our evangelical and charismatic "siblings" actually get very right in how they conceive of almighty God.

As always, today's sermon is meant to be the start of a conversation, not the whole thing. The conversation continues on our community Discord server throughout the week, and you're welcome to join in! No matter who you are, where you are, or when you are, you're totally welcome in our community. We'd love to see you in the conversation!

For the link to the Discord server, or for more information, check out our website at http://www.pastorkuma.wixsite.com/unfinished  You can also find sermon manuscripts there, links to our YouTube channel, and more!

(Or send an email to [email protected], and I'll get you sorted myself!)

See you out there!

One of the many challenges during a pandemic is that you simultaneously find yourself with enough time on your hands to deeply consider and wrestle with all the inconsistencies, questions, worries, and doubts you have encountered along your faith journey, while at the same time being completely unable to just...go to church and have a sit-down with the pastor to hash them out.

Well...allow us to introduce you to what (we hope) is the next best thing!

In today's episode of "Remote Pastoral Care" series, you'll find a conversation between Pastor Don, and Courtney Fraley, the Church Admin for Unfinished Community. Here, we're working our way through some of these questions, doubts, mysteries, confusions, anxieties, and general annoying issues about faith. Today, we're talking about the problems that arise when Christ intersects with capitalism, looking at some of the more communist-adjacent origins of the Christian community, and how our capitalist, culturally-ingrained desire to be productive above all else tends to get in the way of the work of the Holy Spirit in ourselves and in our communities. Join us for a good, in-depth conversation!

Of course, if you're hungry for more, come join us on Discord! As an online church community, our Discord server is the place where we all come together, 24/7, in fellowship and interaction with each other around the globe. There's threads on just about every topic imaginable, including a running Bible study (starting a new topic next week!), prayer-chains, general geekery, and even a place for angry, irreverent ranting. You can find the link to the server at our website below, and if you run into any problems, feel free to send Pastor Don an email directly ([email protected]) and he'll get you sorted.

See you out there!

WEBSITE: pastorkuma.wixsite.com/unfinished

Welcome to the second episode of "Remote Pastoral Care!"  One of the many challenges during a pandemic is that you simultaneously find yourself with enough time on your hands to deeply consider and wrestle with all the inconsistencies, questions, worries, and doubts you have encountered along your faith journey, while at the same time being completely unable to just...go to church and have a sit-down with the pastor to hash them out.   

Well...allow us to introduce you to what (we hope) is the next best thing! In today's episode of "Remote Pastoral Care" series, you'll find a conversation between Pastor Don, and Steve Augustin, the Music Director for Unfinished Community. Here, we're working our way through some of these questions, doubts, mysteries, confusions, anxieties, and general annoying issues about faith. Today, we're talking about the problem of "sacrilege agains the Holy Spirit," and how that doesn't mean "disagreeing with the church or its leaders,"  despite what many of us have been taught. We also spend a little time talking about how to balance the utilization of our God-given gifts with the fact that not all of us are called to professions that are particularly focused on helping others. Join us for a good, in-depth conversation!  

Of course, if you're hungry for more, come join us on Discord! As an online church community, our Discord server is the place where we all come together, 24/7, in fellowship and interaction with each other around the globe. There's threads on just about every topic imaginable, including a running Bible study (starting a new topic next week!), prayer-chains, general geekery, and even a place for angry, irreverent ranting. You can find the link to the server at our website below, and if you run into any problems, feel free to send Pastor Don an email directly ([email protected]) and he'll get you sorted.  See you out there!  

WEBSITE: pastorkuma.wixsite.com/unfinished  

Rabbi Ruttenberg's Twitter Thread: https://twitter.com/theradr/status/1188736009808351232?lang=en

Welcome to the first episode of our new video/audio series, "Remote Pastoral Care!" 

One of the many challenges during a pandemic is that you simultaneously find yourself with enough time on your hands to deeply consider and wrestle with all the inconsistencies, questions, worries, and doubts you have encountered along your faith journey, while at the same time being completely unable to just...go to church and have a sit-down with the pastor to hash them out. 

Well...allow us to introduce you to what (we hope) is the next best thing!

In our "Remote Pastoral Care" series, you'll find a conversation between Pastor Don, and Courtney Fraley, our wonderful Church Admin and all-around awesome individual, where we work our way through some of these questions, doubts, mysteries, confusions, anxieties, and general annoying issues about faith. In our first episode today, we're talking about what it really means to take the Lord's name in vain, and how that idea has been used (and mis-used) over the history of the church.

Of course, if you're hungry for more conversation, come join us on Discord! As an online church community, our Discord server is the place where we all come together, 24/7, in fellowship and interaction with each other around the globe. There's threads on just about every topic imaginable, including a running Bible study (starting a new topic next week!), prayer-chains, general geekery, and even a place for angry, irreverent ranting. You can find the link to the server at our website below, and if you run into any problems, feel free to send Pastor Don an email directly ([email protected]) and he'll get you sorted.

See you out there!

Art Link (the "Black Jesus" mentioned in the episode): http://www.ehfcreations.com/

We're still working through technical difficulties with the new video format, (which is why we're not only a day late but also opening with a disclaimer about doing visual bits on a podcast), but we're starting to get the hang of things. I hope!  

Anyways, today we're talking about a very important subject: sheep. White sheep, black sheep, brown sheep, and all so very fuzzy and warm! But also...surprisingly good at being the basis for Biblical parables that we tend to really misunderstand, usually with tragic consequences. So join us for our meditation on Matthew 18:12-14, and a conversation about what it really means to be a "lost" sheep!

As always, today's sermon is meant to be the start of a conversation, not the whole thing. The conversation continues on our community Discord server throughout the week, and you're welcome to join in! No matter who you are, where you are, or when you are, you're totally welcome in our community. We'd love to see you in the conversation!  

For the link to the Discord server, or for more information, check out our website at http://www.pastorkuma.wixsite.com/unf...​. You can also find sermon manuscripts there, links to our YouTube channel, and more!  (Or send an email to [email protected], and I'll get you sorted myself!)  See you out there!

It's a day late due to technical difficulties, but never fear; the sermon has arrived!  

(It's me. The technical difficulties are me. Sorry!)  

Today's sermon is a tough one, but after a brief explanation about our new video format (and a scripture reading from Luke Luke 24:36b-48 delivered by our very own Courtney Fraley), we delve into the difficult topic of confronting a difficult reality, in particular the reality of white supremacy and murder.  This is a difficult topic, and some of what we discuss might be difficult for you, but if you're willing (and especially if you're a white, American Christian!), I would encourage you to try to work through this issue with us today.  

As always, today's sermon is meant to be the start of a conversation, not the whole thing. The conversation continues on our community Discord server throughout the week, and you're welcome to join in! No matter who you are, where you are, or when you are, you're totally welcome in our community. We'd love to see you in the conversation!  For the link to the Discord server, or for more information, check out our website at http://www.pastorkuma.wixsite.com/unfinished. You can also find sermon manuscripts there, links to our YouTube channel, and more!  (Or send an email to [email protected], and I'll get you sorted myself!)  

See you out there!  

LINK: https://vimeo.com/536331629

If you missed our Easter Sunday service online (and aren't really big on YouTube), then here's the next best thing! 

Listen with us as we work through the story of Holy Week, recapping the story of Jesus' arrest, death, and crucifixion, before leaping joyfully into the odd and unexpected story of resurrection with Pastor Don's sermon entitled "And." We're talking about one of the core beliefs of the Christian faith today; how the resurrected Christ doesn't appear to those who believe blindly, but to those who doubt, reason, and ask questions!

For more details, feel free to check out our website at www.pastorkuma.wixsite.com/unfinished, or follow us on facebook at @unfinishedKIPC. You can also join our community Discord server (link on the website) which is where we all join in fellowship throughout the week.  Hope to see you there!