December 14, 2022

Messenger Radio

Pastor Bob had grown to dislike Christmas Eve. He felt pressure to provide a meaningful and “special” worship event. All the rushing around and fake pretending of joy weighed on him. Then things got even worse…

Duane Grady reads “A Special Christmas Eve.” Piano by Kara Miller and Nancy Miner.


“Some of the disciples went to the tomb to see for themselves, according to other Gospel accounts. They just couldn’t comprehend what the women were telling them.

“Why didn’t they believe them? Why didn’t they have faith?

“Why don’t we? Do we continue to stare into an empty tomb?”

Traci Rabenstein reads her article, “Are we still at the tomb?” Piano by Carolyn Strong.


“Like no other place in our lives, it was around that table that we knew we belonged. We didn’t have to be good; we didn’t have to be smart; we didn’t have to be anybody but ourselves. It was around that table that we were unconditionally loved.”

Paul Grout reads his article “A place at the table.” Violin by Jan Fischer Bachman.


In the March 2022 issue of Messenger, Brian Nixon wrote about theopoetics in early Brethren circles. Theopoetics, he explains, means “God poetry” – the pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness via metaphor.

Brian included one of his own poems in the print article, paired with one written by Alexander “Sander” Mack, Jr. In this episode of Messenger Radio, Brian reads that poem, as well as eight additional short pieces, one of which was written specifically for the podcast. Brian also composed the music that surrounds the poems.

The poems from the podcast and credits for the poetry and music appear here.

Read the March issue, online or in print, to learn more about how Brethren in the 1700s wove a tapestry of truth, beauty, and goodness through poems and hymns.


“From our foundation, the essence of being Brethren is the willingness of women and men to study scripture together until we reach consensus, regardless of how long that takes. Sometimes it takes decades, but we can afford to be patient. We love Jesus. We love the Word.”
Frank Ramirez reads his article, “That’s our church”. Piano recording by Nancy Miner.


Anna Lisa Gross and Nancy Faus read an excerpt from Angela Finet‘s Advent devotional, “Do Not Be Afraid” (published by Brethren Press) and ponder waiting. Piano recording by Lucas Finet. 


Randall Westfall reads “Autumn: Unearthing God’s eco-blueprint”. Piano played by Nancy Miner.


Debbie Eisenbise reads her poem, “Paraclete.” Nancy Miner plays, “Breathe upon us, Holy Spirit.”


Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford reads her article, “Pent-up emotion.” Nancy Miner plays, “O love that will not let me go.”


Charles Klingler reads his poem, “Family Visits.” Nancy Miner plays “When morning gilds the sky.”


What do roosters have to do with prophecy? Tom Wagner reads his Advent article “Arise and shine”. Kara Miller plays “In the bleak midwinter” on piano.


Joanna Davidson Smith shares the poem “Revolution” for this bonus (and final) episode of Speaking Truth to Power for Messenger Radio. Learn more about Joanna’s work. “Move in our Midst” is played by Nancy Miner and Jan Fischer Bachman. 

Continue the conversation with these leaders on Dunker Punks Podcast on November 21 and beyond.

The Speaking Truth to Power series was inspired by the Womaen’s Caucus Annual Conference panel with Gimbiya Kettering, Madalyn Metzger and Debbie Eisenbise.

 

Barbara Daté ministers to us on this latest episode in the Speaking Truth to Power series. For such a time as this, amid uncertainty, violence, illness, grief, Barbara’s words heal. Learn more about Barbara’s work and upcoming trainings and contact her at paxdate@gmail.com. Check out a few issues of the Pine Needle here (scroll down). Christine Wuhrman plays the cello.

This is the second-to-last episode in the Speaking Truth to Power series, inspired by the Womaen’s Caucus Annual Conference panel. (It was going to be the last episode, but we all could use a bonus these days!) The conversations will continue on the DunkerPunks podcast after November 21.

 

SueZann Bosler‘s story is hard to listen to, and healing to hear. Learn more through her organization Journey of Hope: From Violence to Healing and a Messenger article and a 48 Hours episode. If you’re ready to write to someone on death row (or at least learn more about it) visit www.brethren.org/drsp or contact Rachel Gross at drsp@brethren.org.

Speaking Truth to Power is a podcast series inspired by the 2020 Womaen’s Caucus Annual Conference Panel.

Carolyn Strong plays “Joyful, Joyful” on piano.

 

Anna Lisa Gross speaks with Carla Gillespie and Carol Lindquist with lectionary scriptures for October 25, 2020. Nancy Miner plays “It is well” on piano.

This is episode 8 of a conversation launched by the Church of the Brethren’s Womaen’s Caucus Speaking Truth to Power panel.


 

Anna Lisa Gross speaks with Lauren Seganos Cohen and Dawn Blackman with lectionary scriptures for October 18, 2020. Nancy Miner plays “My Life Flows On” on piano. Learn more about Dawn in this Public interview and Wall Street Journal article.  Find a transcript of her interview (which is slightly hard to hear) here.

This is episode 7 in a series continuing the conversation launched by the Church of the Brethren’s Womaen’s Caucus Speaking Truth to Power panel.


 

Earlier this year, the Church of the Brethren’s Womaen’s Caucus offered a panel on “Speaking Truth to Power.” Continuing the conversation, Anna Lisa Gross interviews Leah Hileman, tying in the lectionary scriptures for October 11, 2020. Nancy Miner plays “Simple Gifts” on piano. 

Find the Womaen’s Caucus Speaking Truth to Power panel at https://www.womaenscaucus.org/uncategorized/speaking-truth-to-power.


 

Earlier this year, the Church of the Brethren’s Womaen’s Caucus offered a panel on “Speaking Truth to Power.” Continuing the conversation, Anna Lisa Gross interviews Pam Grugan and Ben Bear here on Messenger Radio, tying in the lectionary scriptures for October 4, 2020, World Communion Sunday. Nancy Miner plays “Let Us Break Bread Together” on piano. 

The poem “And the Table will be Wide” is used by permission © Jan Richardson. Janrichardson.com

Find the Womaen’s Caucus Speaking Truth to Power panel at https://www.womaenscaucus.org/uncategorized/speaking-truth-to-power.


 

Earlier this year, the Church of the Brethren’s Womaen’s Caucus offered a panel on “Speaking Truth to Power.” Continuing the conversation, Anna Lisa Gross interviews Audri Svay and Dana Cassell here on Messenger Radio, tying in the lectionary scriptures for September 27, 2020. Nancy Miner plays “Amazing Grace” on piano.

Find the Womaen’s Caucus Speaking Truth to Power panel at https://www.womaenscaucus.org/uncategorized/speaking-truth-to-power.


 

Earlier in 2020, the Womaen’s Caucus offered a panel on “Speaking Truth to Power.” Continuing the conversation, Anna Lisa Gross interviews Melisa Leiter-Grandison and Ruthann Knechel Johansen here on the Church of the Brethren’s Messenger Radio, tying in the lectionary scriptures for September 20, 2020. Nancy Miner plays “When peace like a river” on piano.

Find the Womaen’s Caucus Speaking Truth to Power panel at https://www.womaenscaucus.org/uncategorized/speaking-truth-to-power.


 

In July 2020, the Womaen’s Caucus had a panel “Speaking Truth to Power.” Continuing the conversation, Anna Lisa Gross interviews Bobbi Dykema, Chris Douglas, and Eric Bishop here on Messenger Radio, tying in the lectionary scriptures for September 13. Nancy Miner plays “Move in our Midst” on piano.

Find the Womaen’s Caucus Speaking Truth to Power panel at https://www.womaenscaucus.org/uncategorized/speaking-truth-to-power to hear Gimbiya Kettering, Madalyn Metzger and Debbie Eisenbise address these themes.


 

In July 2020, the Womaen’s Caucus had a panel “Speaking Truth to Power.” Continuing the conversation, Anna Lisa Gross interviews Mary Scott-Boria, Katie Shaw Thompson, and Kathryn LaPointe here on Messenger Radio, tying into the lectionary scriptures for September 6.

Find the Womaen’s Caucus Speaking Truth to Power panel at https://www.womaenscaucus.org/uncategorized/speaking-truth-to-power


 

Ken Gibble reads his poem “To Be a Tree”; Carolyn Strong plays “Sweet Hour of Prayer.”

 

One of the first two English slave ships to carry West Africans to the New World was named Jesus. Church of the Brethren Publisher Wendy McFadden considers ways Christians over centuries have taken the name of Jesus in vain. Nancy Miner plays “Amazing Grace” on piano. 

 

There will be a significant number of life’s broken eggs filling up the basket on your journey and mine. What will they become?

Nancy Sollenberger Heishman, director of the Office of Ministry for the Church of the Brethren, shares her recent article from Messenger magazine. Nancy Miner plays piano.  


 

In this pandemic, nearly everyone is feeling loss in some way. Walt Wiltschek, pastor of the Easton Church of the Brethren, discusses allowing space to grieve in this episode of Messenger Radio. 

 

Wendy McFadden, publisher for the Church of the Brethren, reads her poem “Waiting,” from the May 2020 issue of Messenger magazine. Nancy Miner plays the piano, and Monica McFadden provides the introduction.