Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community

In this episode of Prophetic Voices, we’ll be discussing the lectionary for Christmas Day. The texts covered are Luke 2:1-20 and John 1:1-14.  Our exceptional guests this week are: The Rev. Dr. Christina O’Hara, a spiritual director and the rector of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Sioux Falls, S.D. She enjoys hiking, ballet, tap dance, and cuddling her two new grandbabies. The Rev. Canon Dr. Altagracia Perez-Bullard, a queer, Black, urban Latina who now works and lives at Virginia Theological Seminary after 40 years of congregational ministry, both lay and ordained. She is the associate dean of multicultural ministries and assistant professor of practical theology. She feels deeply challenged to do all she can to support the thriving of creation and is discerning what that looks like at this point in her life. The biblical Aaron Scott (he/him), the gender justice officer for The Episcopal Church, supporting LGBTQ+ and gender justice ministries churchwide. Aaron is a lay person in the Diocese of Olympia, a dad, and an author. He loves pumpkin spice, flannel, and all things basic and fall.   Prophetic Voices is hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, The Episcopal Church’s interim officer for Indigenous Ministries. For more information on Becoming Beloved Community, visit iam.ec/becomingbelovedcommunity.   Resources Mentioned Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes: Cultural Studies in the Gospels by Kenneth E. Bailey

In this episode of Prophetic Voices, we’ll be discussing the lectionary for Advent 4 (A). The texts covered are Matthew 1:18-25, Romans 1:1-7, Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18. Our thoughtful guests this week are: The Rev. Jazzy Bostock, a kanaka maoli woman serving St. John the Baptist and Maluhia Lutheran Church in Waianae, Hawaii. She and her wife have a small homestead, consisting of raised garden beds, some fruit trees, a flock of hens, a hive of bees, and a dog. Their two sons, Theo, four, who came to them through foster care, and Sam, 5 months, keep joy, laughter, and coffee flowing in their home.  The Rev. Jason Shank, interim church planting network strategist for The Episcopal Church. He enjoys spending time with his wife Erin, also an Episcopal priest, and their two children, Chelsea and Emma. Jason has a passion for church planting and redevelopment, exploring and cultivating ways to reach people through the love of Jesus Christ.   The Rev. Alex Smith (they/them), associate pastor at Peace Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Sioux Falls, S.D. They serve on the spiritual care team as a hospital chaplain with Sanford USD Medical Center. Alex loves table-top and role-playing games and plays lots of Dungeons & Dragons. Prophetic Voices is hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, The Episcopal Church’s interim officer for Indigenous Ministries. For more information on Becoming Beloved Community, visit iam.ec/becomingbelovedcommunity.

In this episode of Prophetic Voices, we’ll be discussing the lectionary for Advent 3 (A). The texts covered are Matthew 11:2-11, Canticle 15 (the Magnificat), and Isaiah 35:1-10. Our thoughtful guests this week are: The Rev. Dr. Erin Kirby, the mom of an amazing adult daughter and the rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Marion, N.C. She is a member of the Diocese of Western North Carolina's Beloved Community and Racial Reconciliation team. Having grown up in the mountains of western North Carolina, she moved back “as close to the land of my heart as I could get” during COVID. In her free time, she and her dog Buttercup enjoy a good long hike or just a day splashing around a mountain stream.  The Rev. LaClaire Atkins, vicar of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Greenville, S.C., the only fully Spanish-speaking congregation in the diocese. She has been actively serving the church since her early 20s. Of all her roles in life, she is most fulfilled by being wife to Michael and mommy to Jackson, who will turn 5 this coming January. The Rev. Phil Hooper, rector of St. Anne Episcopal Church, West Chester, in the Diocese of Southern Ohio. He is a contributor to several Episcopal publications and spends his free time exploring the landscapes and history of the midwest with his fiancé, Matt. His sermons and writings can be found at byanotherroad.com. Prophetic Voices is hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, The Episcopal Church’s interim officer for Indigenous Ministries. For more information on Becoming Beloved Community, visit iam.ec/becomingbelovedcommunity.

In this episode of Prophetic Voices, we’ll be discussing the lectionary for Advent 2 (A). The texts covered are Isaiah 11:1-10, Matthew 3:1-12, Jeremiah 34, Isaiah 40, and Job. Our thoughtful guests this week are: Dr Xenia L. Chan of Sioux Falls, S.D., an assistant professor of religion focusing on Hebrew Bible/Old Testament at Augustana University. She enjoys reading poetry, making coffee on pour-over, and spending time with her cat. Dr. Kristen Daley Mosier, a writer, licensed lay preacher and ecotheologian rooted in the Pacific Northwest (Diocese of Olympia). Her writing explores baptismal ethics through a watershed lens and ways to faithfully connect with the whole community of creation. She enjoys cultivating a backyard habitat for the more-than-human neighbors and, with her spouse, serving their cat, Winston. The Very Rev. Ward Simpson, also of Sioux Falls, S.D., dean of Calvary Cathedral where he serves both the Anglo congregation and Tiospaye Wakan, their parochial mission among the Dakota/Lakota who live in the city. He finds great pleasure in reading, especially hard science fiction. Three encounters in his childhood that had profound impacts on his life were with Walter Mondale, Jane Goodall, and Mary Leaky.  Prophetic Voices is hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, The Episcopal Church’s interim officer for Indigenous Ministries. For more information on Becoming Beloved Community, visit iam.ec/becomingbelovedcommunity.   Mentioned in This Episode The World Keeps Ending, and the World Goes On by Franny Choi, the poem referenced is available here or here.  Embracing Hopelessness by Miguel A. De La Torre Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi Te of Pope Leo XIV to All Christians on Love for the Poor is available here or here.

In this episode of Prophetic Voices, we’ll be discussing the lectionary for Advent 1 (A). The texts covered are Matthew 24:36-44, Romans 13:11-14, and Psalm 122. Our thoughtful guests this week are: The Rev. Dr. Leah D. Schade, associate professor of preaching and worship at Lexington Theological Seminary. An ordained Lutheran minister since 2000, Dr. Schade has written or edited seven books and is the EcoPreacher blogger for Patheos.com. Dr. Schade is the director of a Lilly Grant for the project, “Compelling Preaching for a Climate-Changed World,” in partnership with Lexington Theological Seminary, The BTS Center, and Climate Justice Ministries. The Courageous Chris Clark, who makes his home on the unceded and ancestral lands of the Musqueam people (Vancouver, British Columbia) where he's a final-year M.Div. student at Vancouver School of Theology. Chris is a fantasy nerd, a church geek, and a neuro-spicy creative who loves classical ethnocultural music, stand-up comedy, musicals, opera, board games, animals (all animals), and belly laughs.  The Rev. Dr. Tommie Lee Watkins, Jr., assistant professor at the University of Alabama Department of Social Work.  Tommie also provides spiritual direction and is a licensed multi-engine rated commercial pilot. He has several research articles and publications on religiosity, spirituality, sexuality, and health, as well as a workbook, "God’s Gift: Sexuality and Spirituality," available at his website. Prophetic Voices is hosted by the Rev. Isaiah “Shaneequa” Brokenleg, The Episcopal Church’s interim officer for Indigenous Ministries. For more information on Becoming Beloved Community, visit iam.ec/becomingbelovedcommunity. To learn more about Creation Care, visit ⁠⁠episcopalchurch.org/creation-care⁠⁠. Mentioned in This Episode Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor