Soul Searching: The Church of the Nativity Podcast

This week Fr. Jason outlines the structure and genre of the epistle of James.  He also reflects upon how the structure and genre inform our reading of it.   Link to Luke Timothy Johnson's Commentary on James.

Fr. Jason kicks off a three-week series discussing the Epistle of St. James. The commentary Fr. Jason mentions is Luke Timothy Johnson's The Letter of James from the Anchor Bible Series.  To support God's ministry through the Church of the Nativity go to www.nativityfto.org/donate

Fr. Jason finishes his conversation with pastors Joel and Aimee Pakan of the band Tangled Blue on Ephesians 6:10-20. You can check out TangledBlue's music at www.tangledblue.com. You can support God's ministry through Nativity at www.nativityfro.org/donate.

Fr. Jason talks with Lutheran pastors Joel and Aimee Pakan about Ephesians 6:10-20.  We get to hear about 15 minutes of their conversation this week.  Tune in next week for part 2 of this conversation. You can check out Joel and Aimee's music at www.tangledblue.com. You can support God's ministry through Nativity at www.NativityFTO.org/donate.

Fr. Jason explores how we find our Spiritual Style in order to be "filled with the fullness of God" as it says in Ephesians. To support all the ministries of God through the Church of the Nativity goto: www.nativityfto.org/donate

Fr. Jason explores rivalry, reconciliation, unity, and salvation in the third chapter of Ephesians.  

Fr. Jason explores the second chapter of Ephesians in our August exploration of the letter.

Father Jason introduces the Letter to the Church in the Ephesus, the book of the Bible commonly known as Ephesians.  

Fr. Jason continues discussing the catechism of the Episcopal Church turning to the section on God the Son. a.k.a. Jesus. Link to the Catechism Link to books by James Alison

There has been a lot of conversation, writing, research, analysis, hand-wringing, and anxiety about church decline in recent decades.  There was a heyday of religiosity in America in the middle of the 20th century.  We have receded from that high watermark, but it is yet to be determined if that’s a problem or an opportunity. This week’s episode is the second half of my conversation with Bp. Cole about Thomas Merton, and we get into peering at the current American religious landscape using Merton’s writings and thought as a lens.  Admittedly, the Bishop and I are both paid believers, and as such this kinda winds up being a professional church geek conversation.  However, I found ut compelling and insightful; so I hope you enjoy it.  We end the conversation with the Bishop reading one of Merton’s poems that is both compelling and mystifying at the same time.  So, stay with our professional church geek conversation to the end so you can hear that.  You don’t want to miss it.

Rt. Rev. Brian Cole, the 5th Bishop of the Diocese of East Tennessee, joins us to discuss Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk and writer from the mid-twentieth century.  Of course, when two collar-wearing religious professionals who love books get to talking you can count on a lot of author and book references.  Here are links to a few of the writers mentioned in the podcast: Thomas Merton James Baldwin Wright Thompson

Too much violence, especially gun violence, these days.  We need a different story to live by.  Fr. Jason reminds us that we have a different story we can live into and tell.  Instead of the stories of violence, retribution, and revenge that the world wants us to live by, we can live into and tell the story of the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus, the story of Grace, Love, Forgiveness, and Peace.

Fr. Jason discusses the definition of sin from the catechism of The Book of Common Prayer.  Hint: it's NOT a list of do's and don't's.   To see the entire catechism go here.

Fr. Jason reflects on the power of Empathy and the prayers that Jesus prays in the Garden before he is betrayed.   A Link to the Solemn Collects in the Book of Common Prayer

Father Jason reflects on the "new" commandment Jesus gives his disciples to "Love one another" for his Maundy Thursday at Home meditation.

Fr. Jason continues the discussion of Catechism, or outline of the faith, from the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer. Link the Catechism Online

Father Jason continues the discussion of the Catechism of the Episcopal Church in everyday terms.   Link to the Catechism

Father Jason discusses what Episcopalians believe in down to earth, everyday terms.   A link to the Catechism of the Episcopal Church A link to support all the ministries of God through the Church of the Nativity

For the fifth Sunday of Epiphany, Father Jason preaches about the importance of prayer in building and sustaining spiritual resilience.

Fr. Jason discusses Isaiah 9:2-7, the Old Testament Lectionary Text for Christmas.