Faith in Motion, the Podcast

This week has been a difficult one. January 6th 2021 is a day that we will always remember for the events that took place. But in the midst of these events it is time for us to reflect on baptism and what God has called each and every one of us to do in this life. Baptism is the confession of our sins, and our action for repentance and to live fully as we are called to live. We are meant to love o...

The Year of Dismantling: Eliminating Systems that Marginalize & Oppress In December 2020, Deidra Riggs posted a video on her instagram saying we are going to start 2021 strong: "This is the year we eliminate systems, theologies, practices, and traditions in the church that marginalize and disqualify people who are different from us." It was at that moment that I knew we needed to hav...

Welcome back! We are excited to be starting 2021 with you all.  There's something magical about closing out a period of time – truly letting it go – and beginning something fresh and new. And boy, do we really need to let 2020 go! And still - this holiday is one that offers the gift of reflection. We can look back and see all of the ways we have grown, struggled, and flourished in the past ye...

"When you get a taste of mercy, when you get a taste of forgiveness, when you have been the recipient of grace and kindness yourself, that moves us to offer that to the world. That's what we're trying to do. That's what the movement of the Gospel is. This is what Jesus is about: 'hey, you've tasted this, now go and share that with others.'" What does the Gos...

In our second to last episode before the Holidays we are reminded that Advent is a season of waiting. We might feel hopeless, in the dark, and troubled by everything that is happening in our lives at the moment. We might be questioning where God is in all of this. But this is our time to wait, to remember that something is brewing in the darkness... a light for the world waiting to be born.  We ar...

Some days, especially during such a challenging time for so many in our world, it's difficult to sense where God is. Maybe it feels like God has just left us to fend for ourselves, or like faith just seems out of reach. My friend, you are not alone in that. Rev. Alissa Kretzmann-Farrar is here with us today to offer us an encouraging word, remind us that even though it feels like God is far a...

The next several Mondays of the #ladypreacherpodcast will be focused on parables! These little short stories by Jesus share some pretty big truths.  This week we are diving into Matthew 25:14-30. There are 55 parables in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (though many of those repeat each other), but we will be studying 10 of them. Each one reveals to us something about who we are, who God is,...

“To know God in this moment is to be grounded in a love that surpasses us and that truly shifts how we interact with the world, and that then brings us hope and healing.” Rev. Mahogany Thomas brings us a Good Word today. Beautifully weaving together the work of Jesus, bell hooks, Howard Thurman, John Coltrane, and scripture, Rev. Mahogany helps us imagine a new way of being - a way that is grounde...

NOTE: In this episode, Pastor Kelsey references Journeying with Jesus , a blog of essays by Debbie Thomas. The specific essay referenced is called The Good Kind of Worthless . The next several Mondays of the #ladypreacherpodcast will be focused on parables! These little short stories by Jesus share some pretty big truths.  This week we are diving into Matthew 25:14-30. There are 55 parables in the...

The “Prosperity Gospel” is deeply appealing to many people in America. It lines up well with the idea of the American Dream - that if you just work hard enough, you can achieve anything. The Prosperity Gospel tells us that if we pray hard enough, if we dedicate our lives to Christ, and are faithful, then God will bless us financially. Unfortunately, the implication of that kind of gospel is that t...

The next several Mondays of the #ladypreacherpodcast will be focused on parables! These little short stories by Jesus share some pretty big truths.  There are 55 parables in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (though many of those repeat each other), but we will be studying 8 of them. Each one reveals to us something about who we are, who God is, what God’s Kin-dom is like, and who we are call...

Today, many of us are finding ourselves feeling a bit anxious. We originally weren’t going to put out an episode today, mostly because it was impossible to know what would be needed in this moment. But then I came across Rev. Heidi C. Heath via her page, Notes from the Chaplain, and I knew her voice was just the one for the moment.  On today’s episode, we dive into the realm of politics and faith....

We are in a time in the world where we are all weary and worn. We are feeling more isolated and stressed about world events and life than ever before. Pastor Kelsey's heart was heavy this week, and she imagined yours might be, too, so this is her love letter to you.

She's baaaack!! Minister Amy Johnson has returned to the Lady Preacher Podcast to help debunk some of the myths around comprehensive sexuality education. We dig into the claim that comprehensive sexuality education teaches kids to have sex or that it disregards values and morals. Amy debunks the myth that abstinence-only programs are the most effective and then talks about how parents and gua...

The next several Mondays of the #ladypreacherpodcast will be focused on parables! These little short stories by Jesus share some pretty big truths.  There are 55 parables in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (though many of those repeat each other), but we will be studying 8 of them. Each one reveals to us something about who we are, who God is, what God’s Kin-dom is like, and who we are call...

While college students are busy learning, they're also busy teaching us. Rev. Jess Short this week shares with us all that she has learned from her students while working in campus ministry.  Everything from relationships, to inclusivity, to remaining resilient through this difficult time - these students show us what it means to wrestle with our faith and then go live it out in the world. Re...

The next several Mondays of the #ladypreacherpodcast will be focused on parables! These little short stories by Jesus share some pretty big truths.  There are 55 parables in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (though many of those repeat each other), but we will be studying 8 of them. Each one reveals to us something about who we are, who God is, what God’s Kin-dom is like, and who we are call...

“The presence of struggle is not the absence of God.” These are just a few of the powerful words Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund shares with us today. Mental health is a topic so many in our country, and our world, avoid. It’s uncomfortable, often laced with shame, and therefore lives in the shadows of our lives. But Rev. Sarah tells us: there’s a different way. She tells us: it’s okay to not be okay. Mental...

The next several Mondays of the #ladypreacherpodcast will be focused on parables! These little short stories by Jesus share some pretty big truths.  There are 55 parables in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (though many of those repeat each other), but we will be studying 8 of them. Each one reveals to us something about who we are, who God is, what God’s Kin-dom is like, and who we are call...

When I first talked with Rev. Melissa McQueen-Simmons, she told said, "Sometimes you just have to get uncomfortable." It immediately intrigued me. The basis of so much of her work is social and theological transformation as she helps pastors and religious leaders address social and theological opposition in the Black community towards LGBT equality. In this interview, Rev. Melissa explai...

The next several Mondays of the #ladypreacherpodcast will be focused on parables! These little short stories by Jesus share some pretty big truths.  There are 55 parables in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (though many of those repeat each other), but we will be studying 8 of them. Each one reveals to us something about who we are, who God is, what God’s Kin-dom is like, and who we are call...

This week Pastor Kelsey and Rev. Leslie dive into the importance of getting an all inclusive message into the world, especially in a small town where open and affirming spaces may be few and far between. While much of the world turns people away, it is vital - especially in our current fight for justice - for the church to be open, welcoming, and affirming. Rev. Leslie is a tireless advocate in he...

The next several Mondays of the #ladypreacherpodcast will be focused on parables! These little short stories by Jesus share some pretty big truths.  There are 55 parables in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (though many of those repeat each other), but we will be studying 8 of them. Each one reveals to us something about who we are, who God is, what God’s Kin-dom is like, and who we are call...

If you’ve been listening to this podcast for the last few months, you know we have been diving deep into the intersection of Christianity and racial justice. Recently, the town where I live - Kenosha, WI - found itself in the center of the fight for racial justice and equity, and police reform. In the wake of that, Rev. Tamika Jancewicz agreed to sit down with me and talk about this intersection a...

The next several Mondays of the #ladypreacherpodcast will be focused on parables! These little short stories by Jesus share some pretty big truths.  There are 55 parables in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (though many of those repeat each other), but we will be studying 8 of them. Each one reveals to us something about who we are, who God is, what God’s Kin-dom is like, and who we are call...