Small Things

When Sarah and Tom Arthur were appointed to a suburban church after three years in an urban Christian community, they faced a unique challenge: how to translate the practices of "radical" faith into their new context. Together with their friends and fellow church members Erin and Dave Wasinger, the Arthurs embarked on a yearlong experiment to implement twelve small practices of radical faith--not waiting until they were out of debt or the kids were out of diapers or God sent them elsewhere, but right now. This podcast is a companion to the book "The Year of Small Things," written by Arthur and Wasinger where they continue to examine the marks of New Monasticism and how to live them out with a family in a suburban setting.

Small Things: Keeping Place with author Jen Michel

Erin talks with author Jen Pollock Michel, author of the new book Keeping Place: Reflections On the Meaning of Home. How does stability or mobility impact the way we think about God’s kingdom? Why do some of us always have at least a tiny bit of homesickness?  Erin Wasinger is coauthor of The Year of Small Things: Radical Faith for the Rest of Us (Brazos 2017, written with Sarah Arthur). 

06-27
34:55

Small Things Ep 7: With ‘Pigness of Pigs’ author Joel Salatin

Small Things cohost Sarah Arthur talks with renegade farmer Joel Salatin of Polyface Farm about how our beliefs align with what we eat. Salatin’s latest book is “The Marvelous Pigness of Pigs,” and you’ll recognize him from the documentary “Food Inc.” (He’s also related to Tom and Sarah Arthur. They are never further than seven degrees of separation from anyone. An-y-one.)  

03-30
55:02

Small Things: Catherine McNiel, author of more ‘Small Things’

On this episode, we welcome fellow Redbud Writers Guild author Catherine McNiel to the podcast. Catherine’s book, “Long Days of Small Things: Motherhood as a Spiritual Discipline,” is a beautiful reflection on how the messiness, chaos, and moments of grace in a parent’s life can be part of our worship. A fan of spiritual disciplines, she reminds us that we don’t forgo our practices as parents: our practices just take different shapes. 

03-14
27:57

Small Things: Shane Claiborne explains how the death penalty is killing us

Author and activist Shane Claiborne talks with Erin and Dave about the death penalty, reconcilation, and justice. His latest book, Executing Grace: How the Death Penalty Killed Jesus and Why it’s Killing Us (2016) pairs grim facts and figures with beautifully redemptive stories of criminals, victims’ families, and prison wardens. Claiborne advocates for that redemptive justice in this episode of the Small Things podcast.

02-24
31:45

Small Things Ep 4: Hospitality

Year of Small Things author Sarah Arthur and her husband Tom have lived with Tabitha for about four years. Here, Tom and Tabitha discuss this act of hospitality and how it’s changed the Arthurs and Tabitha in unexpected ways. 

02-08
43:46

Small Things Ep 3: Margot Starbuck, guest

Sarah and Erin interview Margot Starbuck, who’s a writer, social justice advocate, mom and all around swell person. Calling us in early December from her home in Durham, N.C., we talk neighborhoods, schools, and community. 

01-30
31:59

Small Things Ep. 2: With guest Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

This week, Sarah Arthur and Erin F. Wasinger interview author, speaker, and preacher Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. We talk about new monasticism and community, as well as previewing his workshop in Lansing, Mich., on Jan. 29. The workshop is open to the public and will be held at Sycamore Creek, 1919 S Pennsylvania, Lansing. Sarah will interview him at the 9:30 and 11 a.m. services, and then we’ll all have lunch and talk at the 12:30 workshop. Join us! 

01-16
22:50

Small Things Ep. 1: Covenantal Friendship

Sarah Arthur and Erin F. Wasinger, coauthors of The Year of Small Things: Radical Faith for the Rest of Us, explore how to develop friendships that ask you the hard stuff about your practices related to downward mobility for the sake of the poor. 

01-10
35:38

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