The Brown Line Church Podcast

<p>Thoughtful, enjoyable, and practical takes on Jesus-centered prayer and lifestyle practices meant to lead you into life, connect you with God, and help you grow personally and spiritually... </p>

Christmas Reflection

Hayley’s reflection after our community’s unique take on the traditional Anglican “Lessons & Carols”. (Art: The Word became flesh, by Edie Mae Herrel, 1978)Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

12-23
13:03

Hope, Cost, & the Illusion of Cost

What does it take to join God in “frustrating the ways of the wicked”? Hayley and Vince discuss for the third Sunday of Advent. (Art: Advent Candle by Lauren Plummer)Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

12-16
35:33

Incarnation in 2025 America

For the second Sunday of Advent, Hayley and Vince encourage us to participate in the continued incarnation of God right here in our very particular moment of 2025 America. (Art: Swords into Plowshares by Cara B. Hochhalter)Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

12-09
38:10

Annual Meeting Sunday

Along with our usual time for music and prayer, we’re hosting our annual meeting (instead of a message) — a time for updates and questions about the financial side of running our church. All are welcome, whether you consider yourself a stakeholder in BLC or you’re just curious how this church does “family conversations”. Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

11-25
52:23

Studying the Bible from a progressive starting point

Vince and Kalif give a taster of the kinds of discussions happening in BLC’s Bible Study… for the people!BRUNCHES Sunday - Advent 2025https://forms.gle/QvErpBScu735WXH29 Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

11-18
35:46

A Reflection for Veteran's Day: From Self-Justification To Responsible Action

Pulling together the ethics of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and the surprising depth of Australian kids cartoon “Bluey”, Vince shares about his complicated feelings around things like Veteran’s Day, as someone who is BOTH anti-military-industrial-complex AND grateful for the way the army saved his brother. (Bonhoeffer Icon by Kelly Latimore)SIGN UP FOR A BRUNCH NOV 30: https://forms.gle/QvErpBScu735WXH29 Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

11-11
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How do we stay sane right now?

Hayley closes our series on question-asking by posing a question that’s been on her mind: “How do we stay sane right now?” Is a desire for balance and stability a fruitless pursuit in the midst of ongoing chaos? Radical acceptance may be our way forward together. (Image from Fallon Michael on Unsplash)Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

11-04
17:08

Longing & Lament

The questions we ask in life tend to reveal what we wish to see, both in our own lives and in the world around us. Hayley looks to the story of Jesus healing a woman in a crowd (Mark 5:25-34) to explore how our questions of longing bring about new possibilities. (Art: Threnouses, 2005, by Zoie Lafis)Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

10-21
26:29

We are NOT hiding from existential angst

The questions people in our community are asking aren’t solved with neat and tidy answers; they require ongoing courage, risk, direction. With help from Psalm 90 and Søren Kierkegaard (the Christian grandfather of Existential thought), Vince tries to offer some guidance. (Art: The Scream, 1893, by Edvard Munch)Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

10-14
34:55

Where do we ask our questions from?

Hayley wants us to think about the questions we’re asking with our lives and our posture as we ask them, because our questions — not so much our answers — are how we live fully, fruitfully, meaningfully. (Photo by Jens Aber on Unsplash)Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

10-07
18:41

Loneliness (Shoulds & Coulds, wk 3)

Against the backdrop of constant discussion of authoritarianism, free speech and political violence, Vince traces the way late modern culture can lead us toward a lonely competition tormented by coulds, or it can lead us toward deep experiences of consolation with others that make life worth living. How do we help point things toward the latter?Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

09-23
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Battling shoulds without inflaming coulds

Hayley and Vince dig further into the shoulds and coulds that define life in the 21st century, with a look at how to balance the best practical offers to help out there: therapy, community, and spirituality. (Image from Sandie Clarke on Unsplash)Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

09-16
36:13

Shoulds & Coulds

With help from sociologist Byung-Chul Han and the Bible’s letter to the Romans, Vince unpacks some of the defining challenges of life in the 21st century, and what to do (and not do) about them. (Image: book cover for “The Burnout Society” by Byung-Chul Han)Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

09-09
37:08

The Solidarity Economy & Church

In solidarity with working people on Labor Day weekend, a cohort of BLC folks report back to the church about their experience going through the “Solidarity Circles” course run by Vanderbilt University’s program in Religion & Justice. (Image from bioneers.org)Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

09-02
45:55

Sorrow & Consolation (Lectionary for August, wk 3)

Week 3 of BLC’s August church-culture experiment following the ”Revised Common Lectionary” for our inspiration. This week, we talk about one of the main reasons churches are meant to exist. (Photo by Olga Kovalski on Unsplash)Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

08-26
36:44

Truth-Tellers, Justice, Hope (Lectionary for August, wk 2)

Week 2 of BLC’s August church-culture experiment following the “Revised Common Lectionary” for our inspiration. For this week’s Bible passages, we talk truth-tellers and Vince brings up “Star Wars” again. (It’ll be worth it; he promises.)

08-19
35:12

Calls to ”Something More” (Following the Lectionary for August)

Week 1 of BLC’s August church-culture experiment following the ”Revised Common Lectionary” for our inspiration. For this week’s Bible passages, think Luke Skywalker from ”Star Wars”…Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

08-12
35:41

Baptism Q&A

In preparation for BLC’s first Baptism service in years, Vince responds to some questions about the practice, prompted by sharing his story with baptism the previous week. (Photo by Luca Romano on Unsplash)Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

07-22
34:39

Vince's journey with Baptism

Whatever your feelings (or lack of feelings at all) around the Christian ritual of baptism, Vince has probably been in the same boat as you at some point over the last decade. What does it matter? What makes it beautiful and important? What makes it uncomfortable and problematic? Vince shares his journey of re-thinking, taking some space, and re-thinking again. (Photo by Luca Romano on Unsplash)Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

07-15
33:20

Pride, wk 2

What are the best cases from the Bible for supporting pride? Hayley and Vince discuss how today’s historically-new Christian perspectives that embrace queer identities and relationships can be seen as a maturing in Biblical interpretation, not a departing from the Bible. (Photo by minimdesignco on Unsplash)Join our live chat! https://discord.gg/MNXJSM8New here? http://brownlinechurch.org/connectResources http://brownlinechurch.org/resources Donate http://brownlinechurch.org/donate

07-01
37:45

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