Our relationships of all kinds can be the training ground for awakening to God’s presence with us. Click here to learn more about working 1:1 with Heather, ask a question, or leave feedback This episode is a sermon based on the following scripture: John 12:1-8 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly per...
Apr 17, 2025•19 min
When we blame people for their suffering, we are using blame to shield ourselves from the possibility that we could suffer in the exact same way. Learn more or contact Heather A homily based on the following scripture: Luke 13:1-9 At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, "Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? No, I...
Apr 15, 2025•20 min
God longs to be our Mother. Click here to get in touch with Heather A sermon based on the following lectionary reading: Luke 13:31-35 Some Pharisees came and said to Jesus, "Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you." He said to them, "Go and tell that fox for me, 'Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outsi...
Mar 18, 2025•18 min
A homily based on Luke 9: 28-36
Mar 03, 2025•22 min
For more information about 1:1 spiritual direction with Heather, click here . This homily is based on the following text from Luke chapter 2 (The Inclusive Bible translation): 22 When the day came for them to be purified, as laid down by the Law of Moses, the couple took Jesus up to Jerusalem and presented him to God. 23 For it’s written in the Law of our God, “Every firstborn heir is to be consecrated to God.” 24 They likewise came to offer in sacrifice “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeo...
Feb 04, 2025•27 min
Christendom is directly opposed to the reign of ChristToday's homily is based on the following lectionary readings selected for Christ the King Sunday:Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24Thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out...
Dec 01, 2023•26 min
Welcome, Chickmonks! If you’ve ever wondered “why religion? or why church?” I think this conversation will resonate with you. If you’ve ever wondered what the heck the Episcopal church is, you will learn so much in this conversation, and, if you’ve ever wondered what it’s (really) like to be a priest or clergy person,or if you’re feeling like the only person in your field who sees the potential and you’re up against the momentum of “the way we’ve always done things”Contact HeatherContact...
Sep 19, 2023•57 min
A homily based on the following lectionary reading for the Feast of St. Mary the Virgin:Luke 1:46-55 Mary said: “My soul proclaims your greatness, O God, and my spirit rejoices in you, my Savior. For you have looked with favorupon your lowly servant,and from this day forwardall generations will call me blessed. For you, the Almighty, have done great things for me,and holy is your Name.Your mercy reaches from age to agefor those who fear you. You have shown strength wi...
Aug 24, 2023•21 min
A homily based on the following reading:If you love meand obey the command I give you, 16 I will ask the One who sent meto give you another Paraclete, another Helperto be with you always— 17 the Spirit of truth,whom the world cannot acceptsince the world neither sees her nor recognizes her;but you can recognize the Spiritbecause she remains with youand will be within you. 18 I won’t leave you orphaned;I will come back to you. 19 A little while now and the world will see me...
May 28, 2023•16 min
A homily based on Matthew 27:11-54, read from The Inclusive BibleLooking for spiritual support? Have questions? Comments? Feedback? Contact Heather
Apr 06, 2023•22 min
A homily based on John 4:5-42 (read from The Inclusive Bible by Priests for Equality)Questions? Responses? Comments? Looking for spiritual counseling or mentorship? I love hearing from you!Reach out to Heather here.
Mar 16, 2023•18 min
A homily based on the following reading from the Revised Common Lectionary:Luke 6:20-31Jesus looked up at his disciples and said:“Blessed are you who are poor,for yours is the kingdom of God.“Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely yo...
Dec 26, 2022•15 min
A homily based on the following reading from the revised common lectionary: Matthew 1:18-25Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream a...
Dec 24, 2022•10 min
My approach to understanding Advent, Christmas, and the second coming of Christ.A homily based on the following reading from the revised common lectionary: Matthew 24:36-44Jesus said to the disciples, “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day No...
Dec 12, 2022•13 min
A homily based on the following reading from the Revised Common Lectionary, followed by a guided practice of meta bhavana (lovingkindness meditation): Luke 17:11-19On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were ...
Oct 24, 2022•24 min
A homily based on the following reading from the Revised Common Lectionary:Deuteronomy 30:15-20Moses said to all Israel the words which the Lord commanded him, "See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lordyour God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless...
Sep 27, 2022•15 min
Sarah Kye Price is a blended priest, professor, and social worker in Richmond, VA. She speaks with me about vocation, justice, service, and avoiding burnout.Feedback? Questions? Comments? Contact Heather on the Chickmonks website.Like this podcast? Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple and Spotify--your review helps!
Sep 05, 2022•1 hr 13 min
If you love Chickmonks, please rate, review, and subscribe, and help others find us!A homily based on the following lectionary readings from the Revised Common Lectionary:Luke 11:1-13Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." He said to them, "When you pray, say:Father, hallowed be your name.Your kingdom come.Give us each day our daily bread.And forgive us our sins,for we ourselves ...
Aug 09, 2022•15 min
We can't be the church in the world if we don't first acknowledge where we came from.This is an essay I wrote in response to the prompt: "Describe your commitment to anti-colonial leadership," that turned out to be not just an essay, but a pretty solid sermon, too.Contact Heather:https://www.chickmonkspodcast.com/about
Jun 27, 2022•13 min
A homily based on the following scripture from the revised common lectionary: John 6:56-69Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.On hearing it, many...
Apr 25, 2022•20 min
This episode begins with a fly-by definition of some recurring church words: liturgy, lectionary, liturgical calendarto give context to when this sermon was preached (versus when it’s being released into the wild, wild internet). Send your questions to Heather here!The gospel reading and homily begin at 8:30Luke 3:1-6, NRSVIn the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and his brother Philip ruler of the regio...
Feb 11, 2022•22 min
I am so excited to introduce you to The Rev. Dr. Natalie Vail. Natalie is an ordained spiritualist minister, celtic shaman, acupuncturist, reiki master, among SO many other credentials and specialties. Needless to say, This episode is loaded with information, I seriously catch something new from Natalie every time I listen through this conversation. We talk about a WHOLE lot of rituals and spiritual practices that may be new to you, we talk embodiment and holistic well-being, and dig dee...
Jan 31, 2022•1 hr 15 min
A homily based on the following Gospel reading in the Revised Common Lectionary, originally preached at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Ordina, CAMark 10:17-31:17 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, ‘Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ 18Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. 19You know the commandments: “You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall...
Nov 25, 2021•16 min
A homily based on the following Gospel reading from the Revised Common Lectionary:Meanwhile Herod, the ruler of Judea, had heard about Jesus, whose reputation had become widespread. Some people were saying, “John the Baptizer has been raised from the dead, and that is why such miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others said, “He is Elijah;” still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” When Herod heard of Jesus, he exclaimed, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the d...
Aug 10, 2021•20 min
Katherine Spearing is the founder of Tears of Eden, a nonprofit community of support and recovery resources for the many of us who are healing from spiritual abuse. She also the hosts Uncertain podcast, where she highlights stories of survivors, and imagines a better future for spiritual community.We talk about spiritual abuse in this episode. A lot. So take care of yourself if that touches something tender from your own experience. Pay attention to your responses, because all those emotions ...
Jul 25, 2021•1 hr 32 min
A reading and homily based on the following gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary:John 15:5-17Jesus said to his disciples, "I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for ...
Jun 04, 2021•16 min
Ginny Barker is one of those people you can count on to keep it real, and because of that I have loved her from the moment I met her. She was a part of the church plant I helped start in Asheville, North Carolina. We went through a lot of church trauma together, and this conversation is about all of that. Spiritual trauma, dark night of the soul, narcissism in spiritual leadership, and so much more. If this topic touches you personally, I think you can brace yourself for some lightbulb moment...
May 24, 2021•1 hr 3 min
A homily based on the following reading from the Book of Common Prayer daily office lectionary:Luke 4:16-30When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the p...
May 02, 2021•13 min
A homily based on the following lectionary readings for the second Sunday of Lent, year B:Mark 8:31-38[Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind ...
Mar 15, 2021•13 min
A homily based on the following reading from the daily office readings in the Book of Common Prayer:Galatians 4:1-7 (NIV, audio is read from New English Bible)"What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father.So also, when we were underage, we were in slaveryunder the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully ...
Feb 01, 2021•9 min
