Hashcast

This is the second part of our conversation with the ever-thoughtful Professor Richard Swanson, as we dive ever deeper into the story which beings Jesus' Passion in Mark's Gospel: the unnamed woman anointing Jesus' body beforehand for its burial.

We sat down with theologian, professor, philosopher, author, translator, and all-around lovely man, Richard Swanson, to dive deep into the Gospel account of an unnamed woman anointing Jesus at the home of Simon the leper.

Tim and Jason talked with the lovely Rev. Chris Schaefer about the upcoming Pentecost 17 excerpt from the Book of Jonah – how creation can serve as a prophet, how difficult forgiveness is (especially if you're the one who was wronged), and what to do with a story as beautifully, radically queer as Jonah's.

Jason and Tim sat down with the lovely Rev. Nikkeya Berryhill to talk about a spiritual response to the recent outpouring of grief over the deaths of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry, among others. Where do we go when our consequential artists die whilst artificial artistry is on the rise? How do we stay human in a world of thinking machines?

The AC Three discuss the context of the oft-cited "where two or three are gathered" quote from Jesus coming up in the lectionary this week, how critical it is to confront things head on (especially in a church), and why Dr. King was right when he said white moderates too often want a negative peace (the absence of tension) instead of a positive peace (the presence of justice).

The AC Three are in-house to talk Pentecost 14 – how Peter can be so right and then so wrong (so quickly), what it means to take up our cross in a world addicted to swords, and how Jesus doesn't conform well to our constant, concerted attempts to un-complicate him.

Pastors Jason, Tuhina, and Tim are back in-studio to talk about the upcoming Season of Creation, an ecumenical liturgical opportunity which starts in September. Why should we care for creation in the first place? How does it connect with our care for God, and our love of neighbor?

Tim and Jason sit down with their old seminary classmate Travis Meier to talk about understanding Jesus through the lens of organizing. As is often the case, the story *behind* the story is nearly as crucial as the story itself – how can a historical perspective of the Savior and our stories about him break open a wholly relevant way of seeing him today? Listen in.

Pastors Jason and Tuhina sit down with the bold and brilliant Rev. Dr. Elle Dowd to talk about why we rarely see images of anything but white Jesus (not to mention smoking hot Jesus) in our churches, how being obsessed with the body subverts the incarnation, and what it means to live in coffins of conformity – or, as Jesus might have called them, whitewashed tombs.

The AC Three (Pastors Tuhina, Tim, and Jason) are back in studio to talk about the upcoming lectionary texts – particularly Jesus' miraculous feeding of the multitudes. The earliest Christians depicted this one story more than any other, one that had nothing to do with his crucifixion (contrary to what we might think given the preponderance of crosses in modern Christianity). What do we make of th...

Pastors Tuhina and Tim sit down with the thoughtful, effervescent Rev. Priscilla Paris-Austin, to talk about battling the demon of racism in the Christian church. How do we discuss the sacrament of racial reconciliation, particularly within the ELCA, the whitest denomination in America (**whiter than the Mormons**)? Pastor Priscilla (also of the podcast "Sacred Storytime") guides us through this a...

The AC Three (Tim, Tuhina, and Jason) jump back on the Lectionary Train to discuss one of those mysterious Jesus parables, wading through the concentrated buildup of previous theologies to look for something new. How is Jeff Goldblum a good indicator of what God's welcome might be like? What role does apocalyptic literature play – back then, and now? Who's the coolest of the AC Three? (Trick quest...

Jason and Tuhina sit down with the brilliant Savanna Sullivan to talk about how intergenerational work is really intercultural work, what it means to trust young people (including the younger versions of ourselves!), and how deep curiosity paired with power sharing really can change the world. Also we're legally required to take this opportunity to register our unwavering support for the Clemson T...

Tuhina and Jason sat down with the Border Church pastor, the Rev. Manuel Retamoza, to talk about what it means to preach about the God of peace amidst the machinery of war – a God of justice across walls of division and destruction. Why is it actually easiest for him to write a sermon when he's going to preach at the U.S.-Mexico border? Tune in.

Tim and Tuhina sat down with the lovely and insightful Rev. Ian McConnell, senior pastor at Fabric in south Minneapolis, to get down to the basics when it comes to preaching: What are we doing when we preach? Even more importantly, why? Hashcast is, in large part, a podcast that goes behind-the-scenes with preachers and their processes – in that case, this episode might be the most Hashcast-y of a...

The brilliant and thoughtful Revs. Priscilla Paris-Austin and Tamika Jay joined Hashcast (asynchronously) to talk about Juneteenth, their own relationships with it, and why it still matters today – maybe even more so.

Tuhina and Jason sit down with writer and advocate Deepa Iyer to discuss her transformational concept of a social change ecosystem. What does it mean to live together and work for meaningful change within a living, breathing ecosystem? How can this framework empower all different kinds of people to make this world better?

Tuhina and Jason sit down with lay leader extraordinaire, Dr. Emma Northcott, to talk about what it means to bring an intergenerational focus to the work of being church together. How seriously do we take the idea of the priesthood of all believers? Emma brought her years of wisdom and experience to bear on the subject, and we were all the better for it.

The lovely and thoughtful storyteller-poet-minister, Sarah Agnew, sat down with Jason and guest interviewer Regina Heater to talk about the preacher as storyteller: what does it mean to root ourselves in story? To preach by story, yes – but also to lead by story, to teach by story? Stories don't usually give clear answers. They both require us to rest in mystery, and also inspire us to re-tell and...

In our first episode of Pentecost this year, we stay in the Easter texts of Acts in order to take a wider view with author, technical communicator, caregiver, intermediate weightlifter – not to mention lovely human being – Keisha McKenzie. What does it mean to build a moral economy in a current economic system that is neither moral nor an economy which works for all? -- Books referenced in the epi...

Tim and Jason sat back down with recent guest – and now, by definition, Friend of the Pod™! – the fantastic ecumenist, story-collector, and story-sharer, Regina Heater, to revisit our recent Lenten conversation and consider Easter in light of it. In particular, we look to the rising cancer of white supremacy (especially in too many of our churches) and where we might find ways of anti-racism and r...

A throwback to an episode from our outlaw Thoughtcast days. The AC Three discuss different ways to approach Easter 6, including how the Acts reading gives a powerful distinction between a pedestal and a cross – those who seek power often demand the former, while Jesus was crucified on the latter. And that's what real power is. Sixth Sunday of Easter John 14:1-14 Acts 17:22-31

The AC Three continue through middle John, trying our best to decipher what it is the Teacher is trying to teach us. (But, of course, there is no one single answer!) In this passage that includes verses often chosen for funerals, we can actually see a homemaker Jesus, apron on, hard at work to prepare to welcome anyone who may cross his threshold. Even if we (like the disciples) don't know much fo...

The AC Three (otherwise known as the Revs. Tim, Tuhina, and Jason) stay in-house to pour a nice cup of lectionary. For this upcoming Good Shepherd Sunday (Easter 4), we talk about being sheeple for Christ, how 'aww' has overtaken 'awe,' and how our theological rose-colored glasses often blur the reality of sheep and shepherds. 4th Sunday of Easter John 10:1-10 Psalm 23 Acts 2:42-47

Pastors Tim and Tuhina sat down with newly-elected Bishop of the North Carolina Synod, the Rev. Emily Hartner, to talk about how to preach in an Easter season still rife with the markings of Good Friday.