The Convergence Podcast

Hello Friends!We’ve wrapping up this year’s series, Ask a Better Question ft. Paul Verhoef, Christian Reformed Chaplain/Faith Representative at the University of Calgary, who’s giving a response to Bob’s talk on “What’s Wrong with the Wong?” with a talk on “What’s Right with the World?” This session was recorded on Thursday, April 11th 2024 at Brentview Baptist Church.This will be our last Convergence for the academic year of 2023-2024.  We'll still have some events sprinkled throughout the spring and summer semester on and off campus. We’re excited to come back in the fall, with a new year and new series, so stay tuned! We are praying for you over your exams, final assignments and project, but also wishing you all a well deserved summer break.  Be blessed!Grace and Peace. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

Hello Friends!We continue this academic year’s series called Ask a Better Question ft. Bob Osborne, our very own Spiritual Director with UCM . Bob explores the question of “What’s Wrong with the World?” and then serves us Communion as was the Tradition on Maundy Thursday. This session was recorded on Maundy Thursday, March 28th 2024 at Brentview Baptist Church. Join us for the Convergence on April 11th at 7 pm at Brentview Baptist Church as we hear Paul Verhoef, Christian Reformed Chaplain/Faith Representative at the University of Calgary, give a response to Bob with a talk on “What’s Right with the World?”Grace and Peace. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

Hello Friends!We continue this academic year’s series called Ask a Better Question with a panel on What is Friendship? ft. Barb Johnson, a Registered Nurse with AHS and her friend, Carrie Foreman, and also Art Kung, SAIT Chaplain and Interfaith Liaison, and his friend, Duane Norleen, Volunteer Coordinator at the Jesus Loves You Society in Calgary’s Beltline. The Panelists impart their wisdom on friendships through discussing all things friendship: connection, belonging, loneliness, longing to know and be known, love and to be loved, and more! This session was recorded on February 8th 2024 at Brentview Baptist Church. Join us for Convergent Conversations on February 29th at 7 pm at Brentview Baptist Church as we continue the conversation on this question of “What is Friendship?”Grace and Peace. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

We continue this academic year’s series called Ask a Better Question with a message on How Do I Do Hard Times? ft. Dr. Neil Parker, Registered Psychologist, with years of experience in ministry who currently works with Master’s Counselling here in Calgary. This session was recorded on January 11th 2023 at Brentview Baptist Church.  Unfortunately, we apologize that we weren’t able to record the whole thing due to technical difficulties. Join us for Convergent Conversations on January 25th at 7 pm at Brentview Baptist Church as we continue the conversation on this question of “How do I do hard times?”Grace and Peace. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

We continue this year’s series called Ask a Better Question with a message on What Are We Waiting For? ft. Cody Matchett, Pastor, Teacher, and Scholar in Residence at Tehillah in Calgary. Cody is currently a PhD student at Ridley College in Melbourne, Australia. He is the co-author of Revelation for the Rest Us: A Prophetic Call to Follow Jesus as a Dissident Disciple with Scot McKnight. This session was recorded on December 7th 2023 at Brentview Baptist Church. As we ask this question of “What are we waiting for?”, we invite you to consider what the first Advent has to do with the second Advent in this Advent season. May this question spark in your imagination a deep sense of hope, peace, joy and love, all found in the reality of the soon-coming King. Grace and Peace.For more information about us and to be kept up-to-date on all of our events, follow us on Instagram @ucmcalgary and/or subscribe to our Substack page: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

We're excited to continue this year’s series called Ask a Better Question with a message on What should I do?  ft. our very own Logan Johnson, Youth Pastor at Journey Church, UCM intern, and sixth year UofC student in Philosophy and Religious Studies! We hope you enjoy this episode of the podcast recorded on Novemeber 2nd 2023.We’d love it if you could join us for Convergent Conversations as we reconvene to discuss, "What should I do?" on November 23th at 7pm at Brentview Baptist Church with Logan and the team. Bring your friends and your questions about science and faith, God and nature! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

We're excited to continue this year’s series called Ask a Better Question with a message on What Can I Know About The World?  ft. John Van Sloten,  pastor at Marda Loop Church, Calgary Herald columnist, cultural exegete, and author of the brand new book, God Speaks Science: What Neurons, Giant Squid, and Supernovae Reveal About Our Creator, funded by the John Templeton Foundation, recorded on October 12th 2023.  We’d love it if you could join us for Convergent Conversations as we reconvene to discuss, "What can I know about the world?" on October 26th at 7pm at Brentview Baptist Church with John himself there to answer your questions like:  Do you have to check your brain out the door at church? Can faith and science get along? How do they fit together if they do? Bring your friends and your questions about science and faith, God and nature!For more information about us and to be kept up-to-date on all of our events, follow us on Instagram @ucmcalgary and/or subscribe to our Substack page: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

We're back and kicking off the academic year with a new series called Ask a Better Question with a message on What is a Human?  ft. Bob Osborne,  former pastor, turned teacher, speaker, Bible College instructor, and UCM's very own Spiritual Director,  recorded on September 14th 2023.  If you'd like to book a spiritual direction appointment with him, please click here to find out how.Stay tuned for more on the Convergence!  We would love to see you there for Convergent Conversations as we continue to discuss, "What is a Human?" on September 28th at 7pm at Brentview Baptist Church.  Bring your questions and your friends!  Sometimes your questions can be your friends!For more information about us and to be kept up-to-date on all of our events, follow us on Instagram @ucmcalgary and/or subscribe to our Substack page: https://ucmcalgary.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

We’re  wrapping up this year's Spirituality of the Ordinary series with a message on A Spirituality of Wonder ft.  Logan Johnson, Youth Pastor at Journey Church,  recorded on April 6th 2023. This will be our last Convergence for the academic year of 2022-2023.  We'll still have some events sprinkled throughout the spring and summer semester, but stay tuned!  We can't wait to come back in the fall, so be sure to stay in the loop!  We are praying for you to have a great and wondrous summer.  Be blessed!For more information about us and to be kept up-to-date on all of our events, follow us on Instagram @ucmcalgary and/or subscribe to our Substack page: https://ucmcalgary.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

We continue our Spirituality of the Ordinary series with a special panelist on A Spirituality of Work ft. our panelists: Kome Odoko, Rob Ellis, and Mike Manzano, recorded on March 2nd 2023. Convergent Conversations on A Spirituality of Work will be happening on March 16th at 7pm at Brentview Baptist Church.  Can't wait to see you there!For more information about us and to be kept up-to-date on all of our event, subscribe to our Substack page: https://ucmcalgary.substack.com/Special thanks to Kefira Mok for the sound engineering! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

We continue our Spirituality of the Ordinary series with a message on A Spirituality of Walking with author of God Walk, Mark Buchanan, Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology at Ambrose University.  recorded on February 9th 2023.  Convergent Conversations on A Spirituality of Walking will be happening on February 16th at 7pm at Brentview Baptist Church.  Can't wait to see you there!For more information about us and to be kept up-to-date on all of our event, subscribe to our Substack page: https://ucmcalgary.substack.com/Special thanks to Kefira Mok for the sound engineering! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

This year we've been focusing on A Spirituality of the Ordinary. This is Phil's talk on A Spirituality of Eating. Join us on January 26th for a follow up discussion at Convergent Conversations at Brentview Baptist Church (7pm). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

Dr. David Harvey continues our A Spirituality of the Ordinary series with a message on The Spirituality of Study. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

This conversation was a follow up to our talk on "A Spirituality of Being Alone" and was recorded on October 20th. We had an amazingly rich conversation.Our next Convergence is on November 3rd and our topic is "A Spirituality of Study." Can't wait to see you there!For more information about us and to be kept up-to-date on all of our event, subscribe to our Substack page: https://ucmcalgary.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

This talk was from our October 6th Convergence. Unfortunately, the audio file was corrupted so it was recorded again at home (not nearly as fun!). Here we explore the deeply related topic from the previous Convergence and find that our being together and our being alone inform each other in powerful ways. We move beyond the categories of introversion/extroversion and into the space of good solitude.instagram.com/ucmcalgary/https://ucmcalgary.substack.com/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

This talk is from our first Convergence of 2022 and was recorded on September 8th. This year we're exploring the theme of "dailyness," and at the Convergence we'll be talking about A Spirituality of the Ordinary. We'd love for you to check out The 2022-2023 UCM Guide. You can download a digital version here (we'd love to hand you a physical copy too!).To keep up to date with everything, follow on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ucmcalgary/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

For our final Convergence of the school year our Spiritual Director, Bob Osborne, unpacks the wisdom of Ignatius to help us grow in our understanding of discernment as it relates to our life's journey. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

This live conversation is a follow up to our previous talk on the mission of Jesus (part II) which you can find here:SpotifyAppleGoogleSo many great questions were asked that really made us think deeply about mission and evangelism. Thanks to all who participated!Be sure to join us for our final Convergence of this school year on April 14th at 7pm. We'll be at Brentview Baptist Church (3512 Charleswood Dr. NW). Can't make it in person? Join us on Zoom! Here's the registration link. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

At our previous Convergence Bob Osborne talked about the internal work related to, and necessary for, mission. Here, Phil Aud talks about what it means to "witness," and then names a few of the reasons some of us are so afraid of mission and evangelism, and how we can move forward. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com

This is the follow up conversation to Bob Osborne's message The Mission of Jesus Part I. Kelly Johnson moderates the conversation while students in the room and online ask questions pertaining to the message and the conversation. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ucmcalgary.substack.com