Chickmonks
61 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 months ago - ★★★★★ - 27 ratingsExploring the spiritual path of contemplative Christianity with a female voice
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The king to end all empires
December 01, 2023 21:00 - 25 minutes - 17.6 MBChristendom is directly opposed to the reign of Christ Today's homily is based on the following lectionary readings selected for Christ the King Sunday: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 Thus 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 t...
Why church? with Mother Mary Lynn
September 19, 2023 01:00 - 57 minutes - 39.4 MBWelcome, 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 Heather Cont...
Wisdom from St. Mary
August 24, 2023 17:00 - 21 minutes - 14.5 MBA 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 favor upon your lowly servant, and from this day forward all 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 age for those who fear you. You have shown strength with your ar...
The Spirit the world cannot receive
May 28, 2023 20:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBA homily based on the following reading: If you love me and obey the command I give you, 16 I will ask the One who sent me to give you another Paraclete, another Helper to be with you always— 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept since the world neither sees her nor recognizes her; but you can recognize the Spirit because she remains with you and 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 no ...
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
April 06, 2023 16:00 - 21 minutes - 14.9 MBA homily based on Matthew 27:11-54, read from The Inclusive Bible Looking for spiritual support? Have questions? Comments? Feedback? Contact Heather
Living Water
March 16, 2023 17:00 - 17 minutes - 12.3 MBA 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.
A level place
December 26, 2022 06:00 - 15 minutes - 10.6 MBA homily based on the following reading from the Revised Common Lectionary: Luke 6:20-31 Jesus 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 your r...
Winds of change
December 24, 2022 17:00 - 10 minutes - 6.9 MBA homily based on the following reading from the revised common lectionary: Matthew 1:18-25 Now 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 drea...
Christmas winds of change
December 24, 2022 17:00 - 10 minutes - 6.9 MBA homily based on the following reading from the revised common lectionary: Matthew 1:18-25 Now 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 drea...
Longing as spiritual practice
December 12, 2022 17:00 - 13 minutes - 9.02 MBMy approach to understanding Advent, Christmas, and the second coming of Christ. A homily based on the following reading from the revised common lectionary: Matthew 24:36-44 Jesus 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 d...
Loving the Other (homily + meditation)
October 24, 2022 18:00 - 23 minutes - 16.4 MBA homily based on the following reading from the Revised Common Lectionary, followed by a guided practice of meta bhavana (lovingkindness meditation): Luke 17:11-19 On 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 m...
Choose life
September 27, 2022 15:00 - 14 minutes - 10.1 MBA homily based on the following reading from the Revised Common Lectionary: Deuteronomy 30:15-20 Moses 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 ...
Solidarity without burnout with Rev. Dr. Sarah Kye Price
September 05, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 49.9 MBSarah 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!
How to pray
August 09, 2022 15:00 - 14 minutes - 10.1 MBIf 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 11:1-13 Jesus 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 w...
Anticolonialism
June 27, 2022 16:00 - 13 minutes - 9 MBWe 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
Eat my flesh
April 25, 2022 18:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBA homily based on the following scripture from the revised common lectionary: John 6:56-69 Whoever 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, man...
The Wilderness + what is liturgy?
February 11, 2022 12:00 - 21 minutes - 15.1 MBThis episode begins with a fly-by definition of some recurring church words: liturgy, lectionary, liturgical calendar to 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 8:30 Luke 3:1-6, NRSV In 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 ...
Humaning with the earth with Rev. Dr. Natalie Vail
January 31, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 51.6 MBI 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 deep ...
The dance of abundance
November 25, 2021 21:00 - 16 minutes - 11 MBA homily based on the following Gospel reading in the Revised Common Lectionary, originally preached at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Ordina, CA Mark 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 ...
A story of power
August 10, 2021 21:00 - 19 minutes - 13.6 MBA 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 th...
Empowering stories with Katherine Spearing
July 25, 2021 21:00 - 1 hour - 63 MBKatherine 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 emotio...
Branches in Love's vine
June 04, 2021 20:00 - 16 minutes - 11 MBA reading and homily based on the following gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary: John 15:5-17 Jesus 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 y...
Healing from spiritual trauma with Ginny Barker
May 24, 2021 01:00 - 1 hour - 43.4 MBGinny 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 momen...
Shedding false identities
May 02, 2021 00:00 - 13 minutes - 9.28 MBA homily based on the following reading from the Book of Common Prayer daily office lectionary: Luke 4:16-30 When 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 poor. He has sent me to ...
Getting angry and cussing with The Rev. Hannah Wilder
April 15, 2021 01:00 - 1 hour - 46.5 MBThe Rev. Hannah Wilder joined me several weeks ago and I know you’re going to love her. Hannah is ordained in the Episcopal Church and among her many roles in the Diocese of San Diego, she is a curate at St. Mark’s City Heights. Hannah is a passionate leader in the work of reconciliation and inclusion, and man, you should hear her preach about justice. We are so lucky to have her as a priest in the Episcopal Church. Hannah and I talk about death, dying, racism, patriarchy, and what the hel...
Practice dying for Eternal Life
March 15, 2021 00:00 - 13 minutes - 9.25 MBA 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 ...
Practice dying for eternal life
March 15, 2021 00:00 - 13 minutes - 9.25 MBA 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 ...
What's a child of God?
February 01, 2021 17:00 - 9 minutes - 6.31 MBA 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 fu...
Owning Who We Are with Nicole Gheorghe
January 08, 2021 20:00 - 1 hour - 53.1 MBRegister for classes with Dope Yogi! Nicole Gheorghe is one of the best yoga teachers I know, and an all-around gift of a human. She and her husband Jeremy have started an incredible online yoga studio called Dope Yogi that is all about authenticity over perfection. Nicole’s classes at Dope Yogi are approachable, flexible, and transformative, and are perfect for all levels of experience. Your membership will include over 90 on-demand classes, as well as weekly live zoom yoga. Follow the n...
More Love, less fear
November 12, 2020 17:00 - 19 minutes - 13.2 MBBased on the following passage from today's daily office lectionary from the Book of Common Prayer: James 1:1-15 NIV James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any o...
Changing Perception with Julia Brown
October 02, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 44.5 MBToday’s guest is Julia Brown, an artist, entrepreneur, recovering fundamentalist Christian, and a living example of the mystical wisdom of the artist. Julia drops wisdom left and right in this conversation as she shares how she’s learned to navigate capitalism as an artist, and how her faith directs and influences her creative work. We talk about the limits of language, embracing mystery, and choosing compassion instead of judgement for ourselves and others. Julia has her own pottery busines...
Rejection and the Kingdom of God
September 26, 2020 20:00 - 10 minutes - 7.53 MBA homily based on the following reading from the daily office lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer: Luke 4: 14-30 (NIV) Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. ...
Heather and Betsy Talk About Sex: How did we get here?
September 18, 2020 19:00 - 1 hour - 46.2 MBProfessor Betsy Coughlin is back for the first episode of "Heather and Betsy talk about sex," where Heather and Betsy talk about talking about sex. In this conversation we talk about the history of the Church, how we understand the Bible, and, spoiler alert: the patriarchal values that shaped both. Please, please reach out to Heather via Instagram or the Chickmonks website, or connect with Betsy if you'd like to respond directly to her.
Lazarus
September 10, 2020 09:00 - 14 minutes - 9.98 MBDid you hear? I'm offering Individual spiritual guidance/coaching sessions. If you're craving a more meaningful path and a more fulfilling spiritual journey, consider working with me to discern next steps to clear the path for your bright future. It is truly the most life-giving part of my life to work with you as you discover your direction. Contact me to find out more. A homily based on the following Daily Office reading from the Book of Common Prayer: John 11:1-16 Now a man named Lazaru...
Reclaiming our bodies with Valerie Hernandez-Sigamani
August 21, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 48.4 MBThis episode is a beautiful and vulnerable interview with my friend Valerie Hernandez-Sigamani. We cover big, important injustices in our experiences of Christianity and our hopes for what the future could be like for communities of people following Jesus, but doing it differently--especially making the church better for women and people of color. Connect with Valerie Valerie's work: Wild Faith Co. Connect with Heather {NEW} Chickmonks website! Did you hear? I'm offering Individual spiritu...
The Crucifixion and the Divine Feminine
July 30, 2020 09:00 - 14 minutes - 10 MBThere is a love that is so strong, it is present even in the most isolating and agonizing darkness. This love has been represented in the feminine form for millennia across spiritual traditions, so it’s no surprise that the love that accompanied Jesus into his agony is represented by these three women. Referenced: Christena Cleveland, author, theologian, activist A homily preached from the following daily office reading of the Episcopal Book of Common Prayer: Matthew 27:55-66 (NRSV) Many...
Living in imperfection with Rev. Emily Hook
July 22, 2020 19:00 - 1 hour - 49.1 MBRev. Emily Hook and I grew up in Richmond, VA, both in Southern Baptist churches, and both had our own adult journeys into a contemplative, liturgical tradition. Emily tells her story on that path, and spoiler alert: she is now ordained to ministry in the Presbyterian Church. We scratched the surface on perfectionism, the community aspect of liturgy in worship, and the path of personal, contemplative faith through it all. And I especially hope you enjoy hearing Emily reflect on the unique...
Growing through Presence with Shannon Hillenmeyer
July 06, 2020 21:00 - 42 minutes - 29.3 MBShannon Hillenmeyer, LCSW is a counselor at Rooted Counseling Center in Nashville, TN, a powerful and gentle spiritual leader, and is one of the most formative yoga teachers I’ve ever experienced, so I can’t wait for you all to hear from her today Our conversation was thwarted by internet connection issues, which means we sometimes talk over each other and the flow is a bit unnatural—but honestly if that isn’t your new normal right now, I don’t know if we’re living in the same reality. Int...
Transforming the world with Rachel Zolensky
June 19, 2020 16:00 - 1 hour - 43.3 MBThis conversation with Rachel Zolensky, and this will stir up all the things in you. Rachel is a social justice activist by trade and by conviction, but she’s also one of the most thoughtful, introspective people I’ve crossed paths with, and she has a gift for seeing and understanding the way things work and then explaining it to the rest of us. Rachel and I talk about change and transformation. Societal Transformation is only a hopeful ideal until it takes root at an individual level. One ...
This is how we know what Love is
June 06, 2020 15:00 - 7 minutes - 4.98 MBA homily based on the daily office lectionary reading from the Book of Common Prayer: 1 John 3:9-18 The children of God and the children of the devil are revealed in this way: all who do not do what is right are not from God, nor are those who do not love their brothers and sisters. For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. We must not be like Cain who was from the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his ow...
Coping and healing with Allie Utley
May 22, 2020 11:00 - 1 hour - 44.7 MBThis conversation with Allie Utley (PhD candidate in homiletics and liturgy at Vanderbilt University, professor at Presbyterian Theological Seminary) is very much about the Church as a whole—you’ll probably even learn some new vocabulary. But this conversation is also about what we do as members of the Church—or any worshipping community, for that matter—when we can’t gather. Spoiler alert: it hurts. It calls for grief. And it calls for something new and creative from Christian circles. Al...
Try faith instead of judgment
May 15, 2020 15:00 - 5 minutes - 3.94 MBA homily based on the following daily office reading from the Book of Common Prayer: Matthew 7:1-12 “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of ...
Finding Balance with Delaney McBride
May 08, 2020 11:00 - 51 minutes - 35.4 MBDelaney McBride is a massage therapist, registered yoga teacher, and personal cook, and has combined her skills and passions in an instagram account called Hand to Heart Wellness, where she promotes a balanced approach to health and wellness through connecting your mind, body, and gut. Definitely give her a follow—@handtoheartwellness. We talk about creative work, our relationships with food and exercise, and really, all of life as a way of knowing ourselves and being freed from our egos in...
We belong to Life, and Life belongs to us
April 26, 2020 14:00 - 9 minutes - 6.3 MBA homily based on the following reading from the daily office lectionary in the Book of Common Prayer: John 15:1-12 (HCSB) “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vineyard keeper. Every branch in Me that does not produce fruit He removes, and He prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the...
Taking a break with Betsy Coughlin
April 07, 2020 10:00 - 1 hour - 42 MBBetsy Coughlin is an adjunct faculty member in the department of theology and religion at Belmont University in Nashville, TN, where she also earned her Bachelors in English and Religion, and received her M.Div from Boston University. In this conversation Betsy and I talk about her evolving faith and religious practice, pain and healing associated with growing up in the conservative church of the South, and the role emotions play in our faith and understanding of God. There are so many goo...
The comparison crash
March 31, 2020 17:00 - 11 minutes - 8.09 MBA homily based on the following daily office reading from the Book of Common Prayer: Mark 9:30-41 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Then they came...
Accepting belovedness
March 04, 2020 18:00 - 10 minutes - 7.27 MBA homily preached from the following reading from the daily office lectionary from the Book of Common Prayer: Mark 1:1-13 (NRSV) The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, “See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’” John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of...
Grace and Opposition
February 16, 2020 17:00 - 8 minutes - 6.1 MBGrace or judgment, you get to choose. A homily preached from the following reading from the daily office lectionary of the Book of Common Prayer: John 7:53-8:20, NRSV Then each of them went home, while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, they said to him, ...
In the end, all is Light
January 19, 2020 01:00 - 6 minutes - 4.47 MBA homily preached from the following Daily Office lectionary reading from the Book of Common Prayer: John 3:16-21 (NRSV) “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they hav...
Christmas is hard
December 05, 2019 19:00 - 13 minutes - 9.01 MBAt Christmas we encounter a lot of "shoulds" and disappointments. This is one of the reasons the idea of Advent is so powerful to me. The church calendar includes a 4-week period of longing. While the world around us hosts Christmas parties and celebrates the season, the church steps into a season where all we have is our desire that things were different. Advent speaks to our longing. It gives room to be in the darkness. It gives us a season to grieve that things don’t seem to be as they s...