UCC Cast

We've all lost moments and/or people that are dear to us in 2020. This podcast is a tribute to someone who was dear to Rev. Dorhauer. Listen to the podcast. Read the transcript on ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_tribute_to_a_friend_and_mentor

Strangers and refugees from other lands have become largely demonized and shunned in today's culture. What would you do if a stranger from another country came knocking at your door today? Would you welcome them? Listen to this week's podcast.

With all of the noise and polarization going on in the world today, it's easy to have many emotions flying around inside of you. But one emotion should not -- Fear. Find out why by listening to the podcast. Read the transcript at UCC.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_do_not_live_in_fear

Just when you think maybe we turned a corner, another unjust shooting of a black or brown body occurs. Our souls cry out for these injustices to end and for peace to prevail. Listen to the podcast. Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_an_existential_threat

Love has a way of meandering around roadblocks, even if that roadblock is a pandemic. Hear how Rev. Dorhauer and his family made love work, when the pandemic tried otherwise, in this fun family story. Listen to the podcast. Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_our_covid_celebration

Life today seems to be more about "what can you do for me" than "what can I do for you?" ...a grab and greed mentality, if you will. So let justice roll, and let our "grab and greed" way of life turn towards "give and grow". Listen to the podcast. Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_grab_and_greed

Art is God's expression of beauty in the world - through us. When the Holy Spirit touches our artful passions, beauty is the outcome for the rest of us to enjoy and experience. What artful encounter has touched your soul? Read the transcript on ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_art_as_god_s_handiwork

In these times of pandemic, strife and uncertainly, sometimes it can help to break out old photographs and memories that take us back to times that can put a smile on our face and establish a new mindset for the day. Thank God for pleasant memories and the soothing effect they can have on your spirit. Listen to the podcast. Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_photog...

Living through this pandemic can give our spirit a workout. Sometimes even the little changes that we are forced to live with can get us down. Talking with the Sacred can help soothe our soul in trying times such as these. Listen to the podcast. Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_my_pandemic_litany_of_loss

Art and poetry have the ability to emote passion and healing in one's spirit. What piece of poetry or art does that for you? Hear more about this on this episode of the podcast. Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_on_byron_and_good_poetry

Threats of war and violence are again erupting on the Korean peninsula between the North and South, 70 years after 5 million people were killed and a ceasefire agreement was enacted. The Rev. John C. Dorhauer, General Minister and President of the United Church of Christ, will soon represent the United States on behalf of the National Council of Churches on a Zoom meeting of world leaders. Hear Jo...

The time is well past due to cleanse (or expurgate)America of toxic, oppressive, and all too often - deadly - white male values that have plagued this nation since its inception. God sees and loves us all as equals, and it's time that we do the same. Listen to the podcast. Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_expurgation

Even for people whose nature it is to be optimistic and able to see the good that comes out of even bad situations, these are troubling times. When your spirit is low, it has to be acknowledged and attended to. Listen to the podcast. Read the transcript on ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_how_is_it_with_your_spirit

Serious change does not come without serious pain. But if justice and change comes from the cross that we are bearing now, then it will be worth it. Listen to the podcast... Read the transcript on ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_the_price_of_race

Building endurance means building strength and stamina to endure challenging times. The closer your relationship with God, in good times and bad, the more you'll be able to endure. Your faith will have been tested, and you'll know that God will always bring you to the other side - stronger. Listen to the podcast... Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_endurance_produ...

The current Coronavirus pandemic is just one more evil in this world that we have to deal with. Evil can make us, as human beings, sometimes wonder if God has the capacity to always overcome. But one thing is for sure. It cannot be done without love. And since God is love, and God is always with us, there is always hope. Listen to the podcast... Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/...

When God's faithful become the target of evil, reaching out with even more faithfulness to God will help us overcome that evil. Listen to the podcast... Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_when_the_sacred_becomes_somethng_else

There are certainly hardships that we've all encountered in this pandemic era, some of us have had more hardships than others, to be sure. But as Christians, Faith has shown us that there are blessings that come from every situation, if we stop and think about it. What blessings have you encountered in this otherwise tough situation that we are all currently living in? Listen to the podcast... Rea...

The author of "The Revelations of Divine Love" many centuries ago, Julian of Norwich, says "The greatest honor that we can give almighty God is to live gladly, because of the knowledge of God's love." Are you able to live gladly, even during the age of a pandemic? Listen to the podcast... Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_julian_of_norwich

This will be a different kind of Holy Week this year. Coronavirus has seen to that. We will be home and still social distancing. But what is not different is that Easter is coming and it still brings just as much hope to the world as it ever has. Listen to the podcast... Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_holy_week_at_home

In these days of Covid-19 seclusion, we're going to need each other even more. Have you reached out to someone, even electronically, today? Listen to the podcast... Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_nigel_uden

Jesus once promised that where two or three are gathered, that His Spirit would be with us. But how does that work in the age of coronavirus, where we are forced to have worship services digitally? The Reverend Dr. John C. Dorhauer has some reflections on that, which include certain elements of digital worship that he finds a BETTER experience than when we actually worship in person. Listen to the...

Nothing can distance us from the love of God. Not a virus, nor the distance it can create. Listen to the podcast... Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_social_distancing

Whether or not cultures differ in terms of language or religion or the way people look, there are always similarities, even among cultures a half world apart. If we can look more towards our similarities and less towards our differences, we can have a much more harmonious world. Listen to the Rev. Dr. John C. Dorhauer's recent experiences about this in this week's podcast. Read the transcript on u...

A Mercy Table is an Egyptian tradition whereby strangers gather at a table for a feast and not be asked what religion or nationality or any other personal questions are asked. Everyone at the table is on equal footing, no judgments are made. This week's podcast suggests that Mercy Tables would be a very valuable asset everywhere, to help bring peace to the world. Listen to the podcast... Read the...