Commons Church Podcast

The legend of Esther is about a Jewish queen in the Persian empire. It’s a story of imperial power, wise beauty, and devious plots. It’s got lavish banquets, rebel queens, and conniving court officials. The story of Queen Esther is found in the Hebrew Festival Scroll. The Book of Esther is tied to the Feast of Purim. It’s a feast that celebrates the near-miss of disaster. It celebrates all the tim...

The legend of Esther is about a Jewish queen in the Persian empire. It’s a story of imperial power, wise beauty, and devious plots. It’s got lavish banquets, rebel queens, and conniving court officials. The story of Queen Esther is found in the Hebrew Festival Scroll. The Book of Esther is tied to the Feast of Purim. It’s a feast that celebrates the near-miss of disaster. It celebrates all the tim...

The legend of Esther is about a Jewish queen in the Persian empire. It’s a story of imperial power, wise beauty, and devious plots. It’s got lavish banquets, rebel queens, and conniving court officials. The story of Queen Esther is found in the Hebrew Festival Scroll. The Book of Esther is tied to the Feast of Purim. It’s a feast that celebrates the near-miss of disaster. It celebrates all the tim...

Easter Sunday is here. We have arrived. This morning, we woke up knowing that this is not the end of the story.  On Easter Sunday we hear this resounding response:   “Love is always stronger than death, and unto love you have now returned.”  So, welcome to Easter! To the Feast of Feasts! The joy of the resurrection renews the whole world.  Feel it, savour it, allow it to renew you too.  Hear God s...

In the narrative of Palm Sunday , the crowds surround Jesus as he enters Jerusalem. There’s so much enthusiasm for a new kind of king. Could it be that their liberator is finally here? The crowd shouts, “Hosanna! Hosanna!” It’s a cry for salvation from Psalm 118. It’s a cry to be saved.  The Palm Sunday celebration is an ancient tradition. Just a few centuries after Jesus’ death and resurrection,...

A travelogue is an account of a journey. It can be written with either factual details or as a narrative story but the interplay between the movement through the world and the transformation within the writer presents a unique opportunity. The writer of Luke takes full advantage of this in his Gospel as Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem and begins his journey. And Jesus walked. He wandered hills, t...

A travelogue is an account of a journey. It can be written with either factual details or as a narrative story but the interplay between the movement through the world and the transformation within the writer presents a unique opportunity. The writer of Luke takes full advantage of this in his Gospel as Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem and begins his journey. And Jesus walked. He wandered hills, t...

A travelogue is an account of a journey. It can be written with either factual details or as a narrative story but the interplay between the movement through the world and the transformation within the writer presents a unique opportunity. The writer of Luke takes full advantage of this in his Gospel as Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem and begins his journey. And Jesus walked. He wandered hills, t...

A travelogue is an account of a journey. It can be written with either factual details or as a narrative story but the interplay between the movement through the world and the transformation within the writer presents a unique opportunity. The writer of Luke takes full advantage of this in his Gospel as Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem and begins his journey. And Jesus walked. He wandered hills, t...

A travelogue is an account of a journey. It can be written with either factual details or as a narrative story but the interplay between the movement through the world and the transformation within the writer presents a unique opportunity. The writer of Luke takes full advantage of this in his Gospel as Jesus sets his face to Jerusalem and begins his journey. And Jesus walked. He wandered hills, t...

We’ve talked about ritual before— the rhythms of life, and faith, and practice that ground us in the Christian tradition. And one of the reasons we keep coming back to these conversations is because— well—that’s what ritual requires of us. We don’t ever outgrow the need for persistent daily patterns. We don’t ever get beyond having to build better habits for our good. We don’t ever discover the be...

We’ve talked about ritual before— the rhythms of life, and faith, and practice that ground us in the Christian tradition. And one of the reasons we keep coming back to these conversations is because— well—that’s what ritual requires of us. We don’t ever outgrow the need for persistent daily patterns. We don’t ever get beyond having to build better habits for our good. We don’t ever discover the be...

We’ve talked about ritual before— the rhythms of life, and faith, and practice that ground us in the Christian tradition. And one of the reasons we keep coming back to these conversations is because— well—that’s what ritual requires of us. We don’t ever outgrow the need for persistent daily patterns. We don’t ever get beyond having to build better habits for our good. We don’t ever discover the be...

There’s no way around the challenging work of rebuilding and reconstructing relationships.  Because most of us have been there— Needing to forgive. Wanting to lash out. Caught in the awkward middle ground of owning what’s happened and trying to move forward.  Which is why—over the next few weeks—we want to reorient ourselves in this work. To consider the ways our broken hearts can be comforted. Ho...

There’s no way around the challenging work of rebuilding and reconstructing relationships.  Because most of us have been there— Needing to forgive. Wanting to lash out. Caught in the awkward middle ground of owning what’s happened and trying to move forward.  Which is why—over the next few weeks—we want to reorient ourselves in this work. To consider the ways our broken hearts can be comforted. Ho...

There’s no way around the challenging work of rebuilding and reconstructing relationships.  Because most of us have been there— Needing to forgive. Wanting to lash out. Caught in the awkward middle ground of owning what’s happened and trying to move forward.  Which is why—over the next few weeks—we want to reorient ourselves in this work. To consider the ways our broken hearts can be comforted. Ho...

There’s no way around the challenging work of rebuilding and reconstructing relationships.  Because most of us have been there— Needing to forgive. Wanting to lash out. Caught in the awkward middle ground of owning what’s happened and trying to move forward.  Which is why—over the next few weeks—we want to reorient ourselves in this work. To consider the ways our broken hearts can be comforted. Ho...

Preparing for Christmas is often all about excess. Getting the Christmas presents. Preparing the splendid meals. Packing the tree with so many ornaments that the branches bend under the weight of them all. Excess can be beautiful. Party-worthy, even. But what about the years when you can’t afford Christmas extravagance? What if you just don’t have the energy for it all? What about the years when y...

Preparing for Christmas is often all about excess. Getting the Christmas presents. Preparing the splendid meals. Packing the tree with so many ornaments that the branches bend under the weight of them all. Excess can be beautiful. Party-worthy, even. But what about the years when you can’t afford Christmas extravagance? What if you just don’t have the energy for it all? What about the years when y...

Preparing for Christmas is often all about excess. Getting the Christmas presents. Preparing the splendid meals. Packing the tree with so many ornaments that the branches bend under the weight of them all. Excess can be beautiful. Party-worthy, even. But what about the years when you can’t afford Christmas extravagance? What if you just don’t have the energy for it all? What about the years when y...

1. Don't try to stay busy 2. Feel what you feel 3. Don't be afriad ★ Support this podcast ★

Preparing for Christmas is often all about excess. Getting the Christmas presents. Preparing the splendid meals. Packing the tree with so many ornaments that the branches bend under the weight of them all. Excess can be beautiful. Party-worthy, even. But what about the years when you can’t afford Christmas extravagance? What if you just don’t have the energy for it all? What about the years when y...

Preparing for Christmas is often all about excess. Getting the Christmas presents. Preparing the splendid meals. Packing the tree with so many ornaments that the branches bend under the weight of them all. Excess can be beautiful. Party-worthy, even. But what about the years when you can’t afford Christmas extravagance? What if you just don’t have the energy for it all? What about the years when y...

Originally part of an online interactive lecture. ★ Support this podcast ★

We believe in a God who wants us to know that we are welcome.  The narrative arc of the gospel—from creation to a restored earth—keeps expanding to include individuals, families, tribes, kingdoms, and finally, the multitudes of nations.  God never stops making more room.  Last year we talked about different ways our hospitality reflects our room— making God. This year we want to  build on that con...