Get Your Spirit in Shape - United Methodist Podcast

Discover how to doodle your way to a divine connection during Lent or at any time when the Rev. Stephanie Dunn shares practical tips for integrating creativity into your spiritual journey from her new book, “Draw Close: A creative companion to Lent.” More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here. Learn … Continue reading "Doodle your way to a deeper faith"

In a study for Lent from the Rev. Matt Rawle, “The Final Days: A Lenten Journey through the Gospels” explores the themes of justice, poverty, freedom and love woven throughout the sacred stories of Jesus’ last days on earth. More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here. Have a question or … Continue reading "Holy Week: A tapestry of sacred stories in ‘The Fi...

As a part of the “Meet a bishop” series, discover how Bishop Kristin Stoneking, the newly-elected bishop of the Mountain Sky Conference, lives into her call by striving to be an humble learner as she communicates the church’s message in a changing world. More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here. … Continue reading "Meet Bishop Kristin S...

‘Tis the season for all things merry and bright. Except when you’re feeling sad, lonely and perhaps grieving. Retired United Methodist pastor and current spiritual director Cindy Serio discusses why Christmas can be a challenging season for some folks and shares a guided meditation that acknowledges that you might feel blue at this time of … Continue reading "When Christmas is blue: A medita...

What if, instead of having faith in Jesus, you had the faith of Jesus? Rev. Rebekah Simon-Peter, who has integrated the Jewish faith of her birth with her chosen identity as a United Methodist, urges all of us to embrace our inner divinity to live a more purposeful life, one in which we move beyond simply believing … Continue reading "Transform your faith: From believing in Jesus to believin...

Always being joyful and finding meaning in life can be challenging for many of us.  In his new book, “A Full-Hearted Life: Following Jesus in This Secular Age,” Bishop Jake Owensby offers a guide for navigating our culture’s complexities by encouraging us to embrace our true selves, cultivate genuine relationships and walk through life as … Continue reading "‘A Full-Hearted Life’...

Clarity, consistency, communication and compassion. Learn how the 4 Cs that Rev. Calvin Yashie Hill used to train wild mustangs guides us in building authentic relationships across cultures. Today’s “Get Your Spirit in Shape” episode is the second in a two-part conversation with Rev. Hill as we learn more about the culture and rituals of … Continue reading "Training wild mustangs: A guide to...

When the Rev. Calvin Yashie Hill discovered the Wesleyan Quadrilateral as a seminary student, the Navajo holy man knew he had found his denominational home. Discover how Wesleyan discipleship aligns with indigenous spirituality and how understanding both can lead to a more welcoming church. Today’s “Get Your Spirit in Shape” episode is part one of … Continue reading "Sacred Journeys: Weaving...

As we honor Hispanic Heritage Month, the Rev. Dr. Lydia Munoz reminds us of the importance of listening to one another’s stories and respecting one another’s journeys as we live into a diverse and inclusive church that encompasses a rich tapestry of Hispanic and Latine heritage in the U.S. More information and a full transcript … Continue reading "Diversity in The UMC: Telling our stories le...

“Racism is the air we breathe, the water we swim in,” says the Rev.  Dr. Donnell FitzJeffries. In this conversation about the complexities of racism, and the challenges of honest conversations, we are encouraged to be “holy surprised” at how the church an lead the way to be transformed by our collective diversity. More information … Continue reading "Embracing Diversi...

In a poignant and powerful conversation about faith and loss, Julie Hilliard Wood, a lifelong United Methodist, shares her family’s story of how homophobia and rejection within the church had devastating consequences and reminds us of how critically important it is to create safe and loving spaces for all of God’s children. More information and … Continue reading "Faith, loss and the fight f...

Even as we believe our differences are our downfall, scripture tells us that diversity is the source of our beauty. The Rev. Beth Crissman discusses the Purple Church Initiative, a guide to harmony that challenges us to take up Jesus’ call to be ambassadors of peace, and how, as John Wesley taught, to be of … Continue reading "Blessed are the peacemakers"

We live in a delight-deficient world, one where we, as adults, are driven to be productive and where play is seldom prioritized. The Rev. Tyler Strange reminds us that soul care means living from the inside out and that by rediscovering joy, we can unlock a playful spirit. More information and a full transcript of … Continue reading "Rediscovering joy: Prioritizing play in a delight-deficien...

Protecting sacred spaces is a passion for Selena Ruth Smith. A firefighter and deaconess, the cradle United Methodist shares tips for how all of us can promote fire safety in our local congregations. More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here. Have a question or comment? Email us at gysis@umcom.org Connect … Continue reading "Safeguarding safe spaces: A UM...

A lifelong United Methodist and career minister who describes himself as “conservative” discusses how, rather than focus on differences within the denomination, he concentrates on the common mission to make disciples, a space that supports The UMC’s “big tent” distinction. More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here. Have a question … Continue reading "Cons...

Discover how a “holy nudge” led Jordan Cramer on a journey from self-doubt to self-discovery while earning his Master of Divinity degree. The cradle United Methodist’s story of commitment and faith reveals God’s transformative power available to all of us. More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here. Have a question … Continue reading "Following a ‘holy nud...

Mental wellness is a spectrum where each of us resides. Creating inclusive and diverse spaces so all of us can feel safe regardless of where we fall on the spectrum is a primary focus at First United Methodist Church in Holland, Michigan. First UMC’s director of education Jill DeJonge shares her own story of growing … Continue reading "Nurturing mental wellness: Embracing inclusivity for all...

“Never waste a good crisis,” Winston Churchill was quoted as saying. In Brian McLaren’s new book, “Life After Doom,” the pastor, author and American theologian urges us to confront the multifaceted crisis facing the world, especially climate change, political polarization, religious supremacy and growing economic inequality. With The United Methodist Church navigating its own crisis … Contin...

Jessica Vittorio is a lawyer by trade, someone who spends her workdays amid conflict and difficult settings. As a lay delegate at the upcoming General Conference, the lifelong United Methodist knows the business of the church also can be challenging at times. But what she has found while preparing for the denomination’s largest legislative gathering … Continue reading "The path to General Co...

In late 2023, the Rev. Emily Carroll from Shady Grove United Methodist Church in rural Louisiana, traveled to the United Arab Emirates to meet up with 100,000 attendees of the United Nations Climate Change Conference. Rev. Emily shares about her experience, the hopeful takeaways and what we all can do to be better stewards of … Continue reading "God’s gift, our responsibility"

A nomadic life may conjure images of aimlessly traveling with no sense of destination. For lifelong United Methodists Tammy and Rodney Ripley, who have been NOMADS for several years, their lives are far from aimless and destinations are denomination-related churches, camps and other sites where the couple joins fellow retirees to offer hope in the … Continue reading "Retirement + power tools...

The phrase, “thin places,” dates back to the ancient Celts who used it to describe those times when we feel closest to the God, as if the veil between the natural world and spiritual world becomes very thin. The Rev. Jane Ellen Nickell discusses how to discover these sacred spaces in our own lives where … Continue reading "Discovering thin places: How to encounter God in everyday life"

1 Corinthians Chapter 13 often is referred to as the “love chapter.” Following the verses as a checklist of what love is, we might find that we’re better at loving others than we are at loving ourselves. But to practice the commandment that Jesus calls out as the second most important – Love your neighbor … Continue reading "Love yourself: A fresh perspective on 1 Corinthians 13"

This “Get Your Spirit in Shape” episode is part of our “Meet a bishop” series. Bishop Tom Berlin, a lifelong United Methodist who grew up near Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, credits his local church with creating a strong sense of community in his life. Following a call when he was a summer camp counselor, the 2022 … Continue reading "Meet Bishop Tom Berlin"

The topic of health and wellness isn’t new to the 21st century. Numerous Scriptures encourage us to take care of ourselves, reminding us that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, wrote a book on the topic titled “Primitive Physick,” and encouraged 18th century clergy to both … Continue reading "Wellness in 2024: Divine inspiration meets Wesleyan wis...