Faith Unfiltered Podcast

“Boundaries are what makes relationships possible,” argues Tony Chvala-Smith in the second part of this Extra Shot episode where he and Charmaine sit down with host, Blake Smith, to talk about the importance of boundaries for establishing our identity ... as a church community as well as personally. You may think the Community of Christ has lost its distinctives, but in reality, we have actually b...

Establishing one’s true identity and living in that identity may require the creation of boundaries.  How can one know who they are without, in some circumstances, knowing who they are not? The Reorganization has faced some identity challenges over the years as a result of its shared history with the Mormon church and the tendency of its membership to draw on sources that don’t necessarily align w...

Unlike Micah, who responded politely when asked what God required of those who would follow, John the Baptist didn’t mince words or waste time worrying about people’s feelings.  He simply laid it on the line ... for everyone. Repent and change your ways. Quit putting yourself first. Take what’s yours, only what’s yours, and be happy. As we come close to Christmas and the arrival of the Christchild...

Not everyone who wants a meaningful relationship with God wants a relationship with church. As a matter of fact, a growing number of people who identify as “spiritual but not religious” have no desire for such a relationship... at least not as it is currently understood by most “churchy” people. Listen in to this Extra Shot episode as Karin Peter talks about the people and things with which this g...

Zombie Apocalypse? Nope, there’s nothing you can do about a Zombie Apocalypse ... but there are things we can do about the climate crisis. In this episode of Say What?, hosts Mary Anne and Kassie, sit down with one of the members of the World Church Human Rights team that crafted G-11: Climate Emergency Call to Action. Listen in to get a better understanding of why it’s such an important issue, an...

Lions and tigers and bears, Oh My! Wait. Scratch that.  How about, “sacredness, energy, and divine presence?” Maybe the wilderness isn’t so bad after all! Grab a cup of your favorite warm beverage and join host Karin Peter and Blake Smith for a look into how “the voice crying out in the wilderness,” wasn’t running from large scary animals, but rather towards the hope that was to come. In the words...

What do history, balloon animals, and crocheting have in common? They are areas of interest for the guest of this episode of Coffee in the Swarm. That’s right, it’s time to head back to “the Swarm” for a cup of coffee and a sit down with Nicole Sherer of Woodbine, IA.  Get a sense of the energy that Nicole has for Graceland and the church. Walk away with a renewed hope for what is yet to come. Dow...

In this episode of Awaken to God’s Presence, evangelist Cathy Batey is back with another guided meditation to ignite our imaginations, prompt our listening for the Divine, and prepare us for Advent and Christmas.  Prepare to encounter Jesus as you wander through a snow-covered winter wonderland. Don’t worry, your imagination controls the temperature. Come expectantly, ready to receive the gift tha...

It’s a new liturgical year, and we’re still journeying with Jesus.  As we enter the Advent season, we are reminded of God’s gracious welcome and hospitality ... full of justice and mercy. From interpersonal division to wars between nations, our world is full of chaos, there are those who would like us to think that the end of the world is coming and that THIS is “the generation that will not pass....

The world is changing with each new generation as we become a more global and technologically advanced (dare we say dependent) community, and none of this is lost on young people. Not only is their world changing, their needs are changing as well. What was seen as hospitality to young people even a decade ago, might now be seen as too much or too little. In this Extra Shot episode, we continue wit...

Jane Gardner, Presiding Evangelist for Community of Christ, has a “full plate” now, and it seems like she always has. Say What hosts, Kassie and Mary Anne, sat down with Jane to talk to her about her role as Presiding Evangelist, but after checking out her bio, realized there was so much more to talk to her about while they had the chance. Join Kassie, Mary Anne and Jane for a deep dive into the m...

How often do we ask a question with a “hoped-for” answer in mind? That’s exactly what is going on in this week’s gospel lectionary passage when Pilate comes face to face with Jesus. Join hosts, Karin Peter and Blake Smith, for this final episode in Year B of the lectionary cycle. Listen carefully as Pilate questions Jesus, and Jesus, in typical Jesus fashion, turns the tables ... answering questio...

The Wight family has a long history of serving the church, and Estella Wight was no exception.  A prolific author who got her start by submitting a story to Marietta Walker at a young age, and then going on to work for Herald Publishing for many years, Estella filled the minds and hearts of the children and youth of the church through articles, poetry, stories and books. In this latest episode in...

“Hospitality is not a missionary tool. It is not a tactic to get people to come to church. It is not something we do once in a while as part of our social or religious obligation, Christ-centered hospitality is a way of life that responds to the God who invites, welcomes and nurtures us,” says Senior President of Seventy and host, Karin Peter. In this Extra Shot episode, you’ll have the opportunit...

“And the walls came a tumblin’ down.” Actually, by the time the Gospel of Mark was written they probably already had. But, imagine sitting outside the Community of Christ Temple in Independence, and having Jesus tell you that it would all be coming down. Scary? Upsetting? Maddening? Perhaps all of the above.  Bad stuff happens all the time, but in the midst of it, we have the assurance that we are...

Community of Christ World Conference 2025 is closing in on us, and there is so much to know about the resolutions that have been proposed for consideration.  Mary Anne and Cassie have chosen to sit down with the authors of the resolutions in the time leading up to World Conference to get a clear picture of the reasoning behind the resolutions.  In this episode of “Say What?,” they sit down with Sp...

Let’s be clear, separation of church and state does not mean that disciples of Jesus Christ should avoid being politically active!  Jesus was political. How could he not be, if he hoped to bring about the reign of God on earth? Left unchecked, politics can threaten the things we hold dear ... the worth of all persons, the sacredness of creation, unity and diversity ... you get the idea! In this ex...

Mark’s telling of the story we have come to know as “The Widow’s Mite” is a story about faithful generosity... or is it? Maybe it’s really about Jesus pointing out economic injustices. Giving one’s “spare change” means different things to the wealthy and the poor. And, in this case, the widow may have been the very source of the other’s abundance. Listen in as co-hosts Karin and Blake, sit across...

If the choice of where to go to school came down to Lamoni, IA or Boston, MA, which would you choose? Big city folks might quickly say Boston, but one ought not to rule out Lamoni and the Graceland experience. In this episode of Coffee in the Swarm, co-hosts Aliyah Farrell and Mike Hoffman sit down with Hunter Bouverette. Listen in as Hunter talks about her journey from Wisconsin to Iowa, and how...

Do you ever have a minute to slow down and listen for what God might be wanting to say to you, or are your “conversations” a chance for you to do the talking? In this guided meditation, led by Spiritual Director, Cathy Batey, you’ll be encouraged to slow down, relax, journey, and listen. Use your imagination to visualize color, objects, animals, or sacred spaces. Don’t hold back. Be present in the...

Though it may have seemed like it, not everyone was trying to trick or test Jesus. Some actually just wanted to engage in honest dialogue with them.  That is the case with the Scribe in today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark. As it turns out, Jesus doesn’t mind the questions... as long as we’re asking the right ones.  Like ... “what matters most?” Ultimately, like the Scribe, we’re on a journey....

We all have, or have had, people who have touched our lives and influenced us in positive ways. Because of them, something in us has changed ... our own sense of worth, our worldview, the way we engage with others, the way we see and understand God. These are our “saints.” These are the ones we remember on All Saints Day.  Many of them are no longer with us physically, some may even, at best, be u...

“Children offer a really unique way of seeing the world, just because [they’re] experiencing things for the first time,” says Mollie Linkhart-Pansing, guest for this episode of Say What?! Join hosts Mary Anne and Kassie, as they sit down with Mollie to get her perspective on being involved in World Conference as a youth.  You’ll hear about being a youth delegate and serving in the Youth Service Co...

The journey from Galilee to Jerusalem is long. The disciples have heard a lot, seen a lot, and done a lot ... including shushing and turning away marginalized persons who have come seeking Jesus. As usual, however, Jesus invites them to come. Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith, as they point out the importance of focusing on and examining our own journey with Christ, rather than pointing the f...

Life can get messy, even when we have the best of intentions. The great news is that there’s no safer place to be “messy” than in sacred community ... you know, that special kind of community that the church is supposed to be for one another.  Sometimes, however, we get so focused on achieving perfection (the destination) that we miss the beauty hidden below the mess (the journey). We need others...