St. Andrew UMC Podcast

The Hero's Journey: Crossing the First Threshold (3/31/19)

There will come a day when you feel it—the call to adventure, the mysterious lure guiding you toward a particular decision, which is your destiny.  It will seem illogical, maybe even unthinkable, but it will be undeniable.  For many, it will be too daunting, too uncomfortable, and the adventure will end before it even begins.

But we have a name for those who dare to leave the ordinary world in pursuit of that adventure.  We call them “heroes.”  They are not immune to insecurity or fear, or to the resistance that will surely stand in their way.  As they cross the threshold into the unknown world, trials await them, mentors awaken them, safety eludes them.  But, in the end, a precious gift is given.  What makes them a hero is not that they finally find that gift, but that they return home and share it generously. 

Join us this Lent as we follow the One who answered the call and made the hero’s journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem, from life to death, and returned to his people with the gift of love unending and life everlasting.  By following his hero’s journey, we come to better understand our own. 

The Hero's Journey: The Mentor (3/24/19)

There will come a day when you feel it—the call to adventure, the mysterious lure guiding you toward a particular decision, which is your destiny.  It will seem illogical, maybe even unthinkable, but it will be undeniable.  For many, it will be too daunting, too uncomfortable, and the adventure will end before it even begins.

But we have a name for those who dare to leave the ordinary world in pursuit of that adventure.  We call them “heroes.”  They are not immune to insecurity or fear, or to the resistance that will surely stand in their way.  As they cross the threshold into the unknown world, trials await them, mentors awaken them, safety eludes them.  But, in the end, a precious gift is given.  What makes them a hero is not that they finally find that gift, but that they return home and share it generously. 

Join us this Lent as we follow the One who answered the call and made the hero’s journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem, from life to death, and returned to his people with the gift of love unending and life everlasting.  By following his hero’s journey, we come to better understand our own. 

The Hero's Journey: Second Thoughts (3/17/19)

There will come a day when you feel it—the call to adventure, the mysterious lure guiding you toward a particular decision, which is your destiny.  It will seem illogical, maybe even unthinkable, but it will be undeniable.  For many, it will be too daunting, too uncomfortable, and the adventure will end before it even begins.

But we have a name for those who dare to leave the ordinary world in pursuit of that adventure.  We call them “heroes.”  They are not immune to insecurity or fear, or to the resistance that will surely stand in their way.  As they cross the threshold into the unknown world, trials await them, mentors awaken them, safety eludes them.  But, in the end, a precious gift is given.  What makes them a hero is not that they finally find that gift, but that they return home and share it generously. 

Join us this Lent as we follow the One who answered the call and made the hero’s journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem, from life to death, and returned to his people with the gift of love unending and life everlasting.  By following his hero’s journey, we come to better understand our own. 

The Hero's Journey: The Call to Adventure (3/10/19)

There will come a day when you feel it—the call to adventure, the mysterious lure guiding you toward a particular decision, which is your destiny.  It will seem illogical, maybe even unthinkable, but it will be undeniable.  For many, it will be too daunting, too uncomfortable, and the adventure will end before it even begins.

But we have a name for those who dare to leave the ordinary world in pursuit of that adventure.  We call them “heroes.”  They are not immune to insecurity or fear, or to the resistance that will surely stand in their way.  As they cross the threshold into the unknown world, trials await them, mentors awaken them, safety eludes them.  But, in the end, a precious gift is given.  What makes them a hero is not that they finally find that gift, but that they return home and share it generously. 

Join us this Lent as we follow the One who answered the call and made the hero’s journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem, from life to death, and returned to his people with the gift of love unending and life everlasting.  By following his hero’s journey, we come to better understand our own. 

The Hero's Journey: The Ordinary World (3/6/19)

There will come a day when you feel it—the call to adventure, the mysterious lure guiding you toward a particular decision, which is your destiny.  It will seem illogical, maybe even unthinkable, but it will be undeniable.  For many, it will be too daunting, too uncomfortable, and the adventure will end before it even begins.

But we have a name for those who dare to leave the ordinary world in pursuit of that adventure.  We call them “heroes.”  They are not immune to insecurity or fear, or to the resistance that will surely stand in their way.  As they cross the threshold into the unknown world, trials await them, mentors awaken them, safety eludes them.  But, in the end, a precious gift is given.  What makes them a hero is not that they finally find that gift, but that they return home and share it generously. 

Join us this Lent as we follow the One who answered the call and made the hero’s journey from Nazareth to Jerusalem, from life to death, and returned to his people with the gift of love unending and life everlasting.  By following his hero’s journey, we come to better understand our own. 

A House Divided: The United Methodist Church (3/3/19)

America is more deeply divided ideologically than at any time since the Civil War.  Complex moral and political issues are addressed in thirty-second sound bytes, incendiary social media posts, provocative tweets and inciting e-mails containing only partial, and often hurtful, truths.  Friends, neighbors and even family members find it nearly impossible to talk to one another with reason, civility, and humility.

But is it possible that Jesus’ teachings may hold the key to a better way?

In this series, we’ll hear from diverse perspectives from across the political and theological spectrum as we consider the role of government and the role of people of faith in finding solutions to some of these issues.  As we do, we’ll discover that the teachings of Jesus can help us find unity and understanding as we seek a better way to do politics.

A House Divided: Christianity and Homosexuality (2/24/19)

America is more deeply divided ideologically than at any time since the Civil War.  Complex moral and political issues are addressed in thirty-second sound bytes, incendiary social media posts, provocative tweets and inciting e-mails containing only partial, and often hurtful, truths.  Friends, neighbors and even family members find it nearly impossible to talk to one another with reason, civility, and humility.

But is it possible that Jesus’ teachings may hold the key to a better way?

In this series, we’ll hear from diverse perspectives from across the political and theological spectrum as we consider the role of government and the role of people of faith in finding solutions to some of these issues.  As we do, we’ll discover that the teachings of Jesus can help us find unity and understanding as we seek a better way to do politics.

A House Divided: Matters of Life and Death (2/17/19)

America is more deeply divided ideologically than at any time since the Civil War.  Complex moral and political issues are addressed in thirty-second sound bytes, incendiary social media posts, provocative tweets and inciting e-mails containing only partial, and often hurtful, truths.  Friends, neighbors and even family members find it nearly impossible to talk to one another with reason, civility, and humility.

But is it possible that Jesus’ teachings may hold the key to a better way?

In this series, we’ll hear from diverse perspectives from across the political and theological spectrum as we consider the role of government and the role of people of faith in finding solutions to some of these issues.  As we do, we’ll discover that the teachings of Jesus can help us find unity and understanding as we seek a better way to do politics.

A House Divided: Jesus and His HMO (2/10/19)

America is more deeply divided ideologically than at any time since the Civil War.  Complex moral and political issues are addressed in thirty-second sound bytes, incendiary social media posts, provocative tweets and inciting e-mails containing only partial, and often hurtful, truths.  Friends, neighbors and even family members find it nearly impossible to talk to one another with reason, civility, and humility.

But is it possible that Jesus’ teachings may hold the key to a better way?

In this series, we’ll hear from diverse perspectives from across the political and theological spectrum as we consider the role of government and the role of people of faith in finding solutions to some of these issues.  As we do, we’ll discover that the teachings of Jesus can help us find unity and understanding as we seek a better way to do politics.

A House Divided: A Christian Response to Terrorism (2/3/19)

America is more deeply divided ideologically than at any time since the Civil War.  Complex moral and political issues are addressed in thirty-second sound bytes, incendiary social media posts, provocative tweets and inciting e-mails containing only partial, and often hurtful, truths.  Friends, neighbors and even family members find it nearly impossible to talk to one another with reason, civility, and humility.

But is it possible that Jesus’ teachings may hold the key to a better way?

In this series, we’ll hear from diverse perspectives from across the political and theological spectrum as we consider the role of government and the role of people of faith in finding solutions to some of these issues.  As we do, we’ll discover that the teachings of Jesus can help us find unity and understanding as we seek a better way to do politics.