UCC Cast

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...

If everyone received strangers as family, the world would be a much kinder place. The Rev. John C. Dorhauer describes the wonderful receptions he received as he traveled on a recent 17 day trip overseas. Listen to the podcast... Read the podcast on ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_family_in_faith

There is joy in the world where one would otherwise presume it ought not to be. This is a story of such joy. May it inspire you as you listen to the podcast. Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_that_smile

Sometimes good seed falls on good soil and takes root and grows. What good seeds have you sown into the world, and have seen grow into wonderful harvests? Listen to the podcast... Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_ars_gratia_artis

The world is an artful place, if you stop and let yourself take it in from time to time. What are the things that you appreciate in God's grandeur of the world? Listen to the podcast.

Let us pay not silent homage but homage of faithful action to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and all others who shed their blood for justice and freedom. Listen to the podcast... Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_the_beloved_community

In these tumultuous times of divisiveness and rage, we need to open ourselves to God to makes us instruments of peace. What has God put in your heart to make you an instrument of God's peace? Listen to the podcast... Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_an_instrument_of_your_peace

Happy New Year! In this podcast, hear what John Dorhauer's Top 10 list of hopeful resolutions are for the world in 2020. Listen to the Podcast... Read the transcript at ucc.org: https://www.ucc.org/into_the_mystic_top_ten_resolutions_for_2020

Generation to generation, the traditions of Christmas are passed on. In what ways does your family share and pass on the experiences of love and light during the Holiday season? John Dorhauer shares his in this podcast...

For many, Christmas is a source of great joy. For others, the season can be filled with grief or sadness. We should recognize both, as the season can bring forth many emotions in different people, as you'll hear in this podcast...