Millenials are often talked ABOUT instead of talked TO, especially in the church. People gather to ask, "Where are millenials? How do we get millenials in church? Why aren't they here?" But today is different. Two millenials sit down to chat about the experiences of millenials in the church, especially the fact that we ARE here. Rev. Dr. Colie Beittivia is here to share with us about her doctoral research, all about the experiences of millenials in church, as well as the gifts and blessings they...
Mar 10, 2021•59 min
This International Women's Day we dive into some of the women in the Bible who have bore the image of God. The women who risked their lives, knowing full well the repercussions of their actions and what it could mean for their own life, but trusting in God's call for their life and following that call rather than that of others. This is a reminder that God lives in every single one of us, we all share the image of God.
Mar 08, 2021•21 min
It’s not easy to find hope in the midst of the wilderness, but Minister Teña Nock-Hope is here to offer us a guiding hand. Speaking eloquently to the profoundness of difficulty of loss, challenge, and strife, Teña offers the testimony that we can come through it all with our faith stronger than ever before. She herself knows this to be true and shares some of her story with us, testifying to the power of a God who calls her beloved and her absolute refusal to listen to anyone who told her differ...
Mar 03, 2021•54 min
If you have been a listener for a while now, you know one of the missions of this podcast is to untangle harmful theology. Today Pastor Kelsey does just that. Atonement Theology is one that tends to get misconstrued into Jesus having come to Earth only to atone for our sins. But this is not the case. Jesus was called to Earth so that he can work to bring justice to the world.
Mar 01, 2021•21 min
Pastor Kelsey brings in her 29th year by celebrating with us! She flips the script & brings back Rev. Delaney Schlake-Kruse to interview her. Pastor Kelsey tells us about when she knew she wanted to be a Pastor, reminds us why movement can be a form of prayer, and explains what her hopes are for the Lady Preacher Podcast. . . . Pastor Kelsey believes firmly in an all-loving God, embodied Christ, and ever-moving Holy Spirit that connects us all. She is a trained dancer, yoga instructor, as we...
Feb 24, 2021•55 min
God is always with you, for you are beloved by God. When you are going through a hardship, and it feels like it is taking a while and as if God has left you hanging, remember that God is with you. You do not have to fight for your worth, especially when it comes to the love of God. You do not have to prove that you are worthy of the love, or worthy of a spot at the table. You are perfect, just as you are. Because you are beloved.
Feb 22, 2021•13 min
Have you ever thought about what makeup can teach us about God? Or what the creation story can teach us about queer belovedness? Join James Admans & Pastor Kelsey for a full conversation around breaking down binaries and creating a more expansive understanding of who God is and who we are as God's people. James Admans (they/them) is a nonbinary, queer Christian theologian and seminarian studying at Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York. They are pursuing ordination in the United...
Feb 17, 2021•52 min
This year, as Ash Wednesday approahces, we do not need another reminder of our mortality. So let this passage that we hear for Ash Wednesday be a reminder of who God is, and who God called us to be. God breathed life into the dust of the Earth and created each and every one of us. God called us to be who we are today, body & soul. Let's not make Lent a time of depriving our bodies of things we want - such as sugar, or needing to go to the gym more. Let's make Lent a time of bringing us close...
Feb 15, 2021•9 min
She's baaack! Rev. Dr. Sarah Lund is here again sharing with us about her book, Blessed Union: Breaking the Silence about Mental Health & Marriage . At least 1/4 of all partnerships are impacted by the presence of mental illness in one or both partners. In her book, Blessed Union , Rev. Lund opens up about how mental illness has affected her own marriage and shares stories of other couples and their journeys as well. The book covers a variety of mental illnesses such as addiction, anxiety, a...
Feb 10, 2021•39 min
Exhaustion comes in many forms. Exhaustion from parenting toddlers. Exhaustion as a status symbol. Collective pandemic exhaustion. Exhaustion from malnutrition. Exhaustion from war. The prophet Isaiah spoke to an exhausted and weary people, their spirits worn from years of war and exile. His task: to assure them of who God is - of God the everlasting Creator who has never abandoned God's people. Isaiah calls to his community saying, we cannot - and are not - doing this alone. Trust in God. Find ...
Feb 08, 2021•17 min
"In a culture that says bigger is better, it is subversive work to take tiny, lasting steps toward learning and growth." Ellie Roscher is here to talk to us about her new book, 12 Tiny Things: Simple Ways to Live a More Intentional Life , which she co-authored with Heidi Barr . It is not a self-help book, but a guide for curating small, simple spiritual practices that ground our spirits in love. To learn more about 12 Tiny Things, be sure to visit their website , where they have incredible resou...
Feb 03, 2021•1 hr 5 min
A reminder that Jesus is deeply invested in your well being. A reminder of what demons look like in our present day, and the power that Jesus has over those demons. The power that we have over those demons. We are a beloved child of God, we have the power to quiet the demons if we know where to look for them.
Feb 01, 2021•24 min
The first thing to say is that this message isn't just for those who work in youth ministry. It is for parents, teachers, pastors, young people, church folks, non-church folks - everyone, really. The gift of youth ministry is that it is stock-full of lessons for all of us. There is a push now - both in youth ministry and in the world in general - to be more creative, more innovative, and more everything. But Rev. Jill Olds is here with us to offer us a message rooted in the idea that we are all ...
Jan 27, 2021•49 min
A simple reminder that the grace and the forgiveness of God goes beyond what we can even imagine. When we are throwing tantrums, when we are fed up, when we are angry and frustrated. God loves us unconditionally and will always forgive, no matter what.
Jan 25, 2021•21 min
It's no secret that women have faced immense barriers when it comes to leadership in the church. In today's interview with Rev. Diane Weible, the conference minister for the Northern California Nevada Conference of the UCC, we dive into what these barriers are and then lift up all of the powerful women of the church who have truly built what we have today. From Moses' mother to our current day mentors in ministry, women have been part of the framework and foundation of the church. Throughout thi...
Jan 20, 2021•52 min
In a recent poll taken from our Instagram page it was shown that what we all need is a little hope today. So I'm inviting you to listen to this word of Hope. In a time when it feels like God has abandoned us listen to this message and be reminded that God would not abandon his good and sacred creation. Come and see the good word that we have for you today.
Jan 18, 2021•14 min
Content Warning: Pastor Kelsey and Rev. Kat discuss Suicide, Suicide Ideation and topics around Mental Health, and the theology surrounding these topics. Be gentle with yourself when approaching this episode. For nearly twenty years, Rev. Kat Katsanis-Semel, M.A. has offered workshops and sessions to those who seek greater mental and spiritual wellbeing. Rev. Kat provides wellness-oriented offerings that share concrete skills with communities, families and individuals. She’s served both as an in...
Jan 13, 2021•52 min
This week has been a difficult one. January 6th 2021 is a day that we will always remember for the events that took place. But in the midst of these events it is time for us to reflect on baptism and what God has called each and every one of us to do in this life. Baptism is the confession of our sins, and our action for repentance and to live fully as we are called to live. We are meant to love one another, in a deep and profound way. We have not, as a society, been loving one another as we sho...
Jan 11, 2021•22 min
The Year of Dismantling: Eliminating Systems that Marginalize & Oppress In December 2020, Deidra Riggs posted a video on her instagram saying we are going to start 2021 strong: "This is the year we eliminate systems, theologies, practices, and traditions in the church that marginalize and disqualify people who are different from us." It was at that moment that I knew we needed to have her on the Lady Preacher podcast. Deidra is preaching a message we all need to hear, and you can hear her pa...
Jan 06, 2021•1 hr
Welcome back! We are excited to be starting 2021 with you all. There's something magical about closing out a period of time – truly letting it go – and beginning something fresh and new. And boy, do we really need to let 2020 go! And still - this holiday is one that offers the gift of reflection. We can look back and see all of the ways we have grown, struggled, and flourished in the past year, and then set intentions for the year to come. With a new year rolling in, many are making New Year Res...
Jan 04, 2021•14 min
"When you get a taste of mercy, when you get a taste of forgiveness, when you have been the recipient of grace and kindness yourself, that moves us to offer that to the world. That's what we're trying to do. That's what the movement of the Gospel is. This is what Jesus is about: 'hey, you've tasted this, now go and share that with others.'" What does the Gospel of Jesus Christ have to do with mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie? For our last episode before the holiday break, we sat down with Rev. Je...
Dec 02, 2020•55 min
In our second to last episode before the Holidays we are reminded that Advent is a season of waiting. We might feel hopeless, in the dark, and troubled by everything that is happening in our lives at the moment. We might be questioning where God is in all of this. But this is our time to wait, to remember that something is brewing in the darkness... a light for the world waiting to be born. We are taking a break for the Holiday season after we release our interview on Wednesday, so that we can r...
Nov 30, 2020•18 min
Some days, especially during such a challenging time for so many in our world, it's difficult to sense where God is. Maybe it feels like God has just left us to fend for ourselves, or like faith just seems out of reach. My friend, you are not alone in that. Rev. Alissa Kretzmann-Farrar is here with us today to offer us an encouraging word, remind us that even though it feels like God is far away, that doesn't mean God has abandoned us. Even though so many of us are far away from friends and fami...
Nov 25, 2020•42 min
The next several Mondays of the #ladypreacherpodcast will be focused on parables! These little short stories by Jesus share some pretty big truths. This week we are diving into Matthew 25:14-30. There are 55 parables in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (though many of those repeat each other), but we will be studying 10 of them. Each one reveals to us something about who we are, who God is, what God’s Kin-dom is like, and who we are called to be as a part of that kin-dom. Every week, we’ll...
Nov 23, 2020•19 min
“To know God in this moment is to be grounded in a love that surpasses us and that truly shifts how we interact with the world, and that then brings us hope and healing.” Rev. Mahogany Thomas brings us a Good Word today. Beautifully weaving together the work of Jesus, bell hooks, Howard Thurman, John Coltrane, and scripture, Rev. Mahogany helps us imagine a new way of being - a way that is grounded in love, accountability, and justice. Transforming what she calls the “spiritual malpractice” of h...
Nov 18, 2020•51 min
NOTE: In this episode, Pastor Kelsey references Journeying with Jesus , a blog of essays by Debbie Thomas. The specific essay referenced is called The Good Kind of Worthless . The next several Mondays of the #ladypreacherpodcast will be focused on parables! These little short stories by Jesus share some pretty big truths. This week we are diving into Matthew 25:14-30. There are 55 parables in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (though many of those repeat each other), but we will be studying...
Nov 16, 2020•25 min
The “Prosperity Gospel” is deeply appealing to many people in America. It lines up well with the idea of the American Dream - that if you just work hard enough, you can achieve anything. The Prosperity Gospel tells us that if we pray hard enough, if we dedicate our lives to Christ, and are faithful, then God will bless us financially. Unfortunately, the implication of that kind of gospel is that those who are not financially well off are not blessed by God - or worse, they are somehow being puni...
Nov 11, 2020•1 hr 4 min
The next several Mondays of the #ladypreacherpodcast will be focused on parables! These little short stories by Jesus share some pretty big truths. There are 55 parables in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke (though many of those repeat each other), but we will be studying 8 of them. Each one reveals to us something about who we are, who God is, what God’s Kin-dom is like, and who we are called to be as a part of that kin-dom. Every week, we’ll dive into a different parable, and listen for h...
Nov 09, 2020•19 min
Today, many of us are finding ourselves feeling a bit anxious. We originally weren’t going to put out an episode today, mostly because it was impossible to know what would be needed in this moment. But then I came across Rev. Heidi C. Heath via her page, Notes from the Chaplain, and I knew her voice was just the one for the moment. On today’s episode, we dive into the realm of politics and faith. One of the things Heidi said that really stood out to me is: The Gospel is inherently political, but...
Nov 04, 2020•52 min
We are in a time in the world where we are all weary and worn. We are feeling more isolated and stressed about world events and life than ever before. Pastor Kelsey's heart was heavy this week, and she imagined yours might be, too, so this is her love letter to you.
Nov 01, 2020•13 min
