The Average Episcopalian

Peel that plastic wrap off of your Bibles, you BCP loyalists! It's time for an average Bible study, complete with big questions, vague conclusions, and more than a few laughs. In this episode, we discuss what it means to really "know" the Bible, and whether or not we feel like we know it. We dive into four different parables, those simple stories that Jesus used to avoid giving us a straight answer-- but that often leave us with an expanded understanding of God. On the agenda for today's discussion: debt forgiveness, covenants, wineskins, patches, money management, and of course: seeds. Can't get enough of the Average Episcopalian? Visit our website & shop for merch: theaverageepiscopalian.com Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian Sign up for our monthly Substack newsletter: averageepiscopalian.substack.com More questions? Send us an email: [email protected]

It feels like there's never a water break when it comes to seeking God. The journey to find God and know God is endless and full of unknowns. Today, we've invited fellow seeker and choir enthusiast, Father Martin George, to help us ponder the ever-elusive question: "How do I find God?". Martin, who is a priest at Kate's church St. George's Anglican in Berlin, is a theology professor, world traveler, linguistics-lover, and outdoorsman whose life has taken him from Minnesota to Switzerland and from the Lutheran to the Anglican church. Together, we discuss the value of learning from other denominations, how we can find God in coffee hour, and why the best thing to say about God is often nothing at all. Can't get enough of the Average Episcopalian? Visit our website & shop for merch: theaverageepiscopalian.com Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian Sign up for our monthly Substack newsletter: averageepiscopalian.substack.com More questions? Send us an email: [email protected]

Consider this episode your approachable and mostly-accurate introductory course on governance in the Episcopal Church. You might be asking… "Why do churches need structure? Isn't structure the thing that makes religion toxic?" Perhaps, but perhaps not. Professors Annie & Kate laugh their way through the "what" and "why" of each level of oversight in the church, from bishops and conventions to vestry and wardens. We discuss the important roles that laypeople (us!) play in parish governance, why Episcopalians love committees so much, and the ultimate source of authority in the Episcopal Church. Our hope is that this episode gets you pumped to attend your next Annual Parish Meeting! Can't get enough of the Average Episcopalian? Visit our website & shop for merch: theaverageepiscopalian.com Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian Sign up for our monthly Substack newsletter: averageepiscopalian.substack.com More questions? Send us an email: [email protected]

We have officially entered the liturgical season of "Ordinary Time", and we're wondering… does ordinary just mean boring? Our guest today, Rev. Jordan Griesbeck, claims to be just an ordinary priest descended from a long line of accountants, but his insights on this topic are anything but ordinary. In our conversation, we come to the shocking realization that we might love the liturgical calendar too much, we push back on society's expectation that we each strive to be extraordinary, and we reflect on why this overlooked season is so critical to our salvation and to living out our faith. As a bonus, this episode features the most epic, extended, insightful, hilarious, and non-rapid rapidfire segment of all time. Can't get enough of the Average Episcopalian? Visit our website & shop for merch: theaverageepiscopalian.com Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian Sign up for our monthly Substack newsletter: averageepiscopalian.substack.com More questions? Send us an email: [email protected]

Remember the Sabbath, and keep it holy. This is perhaps one of the most overlooked of the 10 commandments in modern civilization, and that makes it worthy of  a deeper dive. Today, we are attempting to figure out how to make time for rest in a sea of full calendars and endless to-do lists. We remind ourselves that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath, and of the "why" behind this ancient ritual. We also discuss the traps of modern-day perspectives on rest, what activities are "allowed" on the Sabbath, and how to achieve inner peace in the Sam's Club parking lot. Can't get enough of the Average Episcopalian? Visit our website & shop for merch: theaverageepiscopalian.com Follow us on Instagram: @average.episcopalian Sign up for our monthly Substack newsletter: averageepiscopalian.substack.com More questions? Send us an email: [email protected]