WellSprings Congregation

4-26-20 "Being a Friend" The Music of Friendship - Audio

April 29, 2020 16:20 - 32 minutes - 7.49 MB

This week, Rodney Whittenberg takes us on a musical journey through his life. He plays selected songs, and tells us about the friends he most associates with each piece. How can we use music now to be a healing force in these unprecedented times? How can we use music to stay connected when we must stay physically apart?

4-19-2020 Being a Friend, "How Long?" - PDF

April 21, 2020 22:23 - 50.4 KB application/pdf

This week, Rev. Lee brings us a different kind of message. We all have to accept the idea that we don't know how long we'll in this strange new situation. She shares a story of a friend going through labor, and how sometimes, when we're faced with something that feels impossible, the only thing we can do is focus on breathing and living through the next few minutes, over and over again.

4-19-2020 Being a Friend, "How Long?" - Audio

April 21, 2020 22:23 - 27 minutes - 6.28 MB

This week, Rev. Lee brings us a different kind of message. We all have to accept the idea that we don't know how long we'll in this strange new situation. She shares a story of a friend going through labor, and how sometimes, when we're faced with something that feels impossible, the only thing we can do is focus on breathing and living through the next few minutes, over and over again.

4-12-2020 Being a Friend, "The Lives We Carry" - PDF

April 16, 2020 19:42 - 53 KB application/pdf

In our Easter Sunday message, Rev. Ken talks about the empty spaces around us, and how they connect to the imagery of the empty tomb. He reminds us that Easter is about people who, in the face of death, continued to live. He also shares a lovely memory about holding his mother's hand when he was little.

4-12-2020 Being a Friend, "The Lives We Carry" - Audio

April 16, 2020 19:42 - 24 minutes - 5.69 MB

In our Easter Sunday message, Rev. Ken talks about the empty spaces around us, and how they connect to the imagery of the empty tomb. He reminds us that Easter is about people who, in the face of death, continued to live. He also shares a lovely memory about holding his mother's hand when he was little.

4-5-2020 Being a Friend, "Routine Day" - PDF

April 07, 2020 21:12 - 52 KB application/pdf

Rev. Lee brings us the story of Exodus, and what we can find in the story of the burning bush right here and now, as we all wait out a necessary quarantine. She recounts a walk through South Philadelphia so quiet, she could hear the stoplight timers whirring - a sound she's never heard before. Above all, she reminds us that there is no place so dark and frightening that holiness cannot touch it. Stay safe and stay well!

4-5-2020 Being a Friend, "Routine Day" - Audio

April 07, 2020 21:12 - 26 minutes - 6.07 MB

Rev. Lee brings us the story of Exodus, and what we can find in the story of the burning bush right here and now, as we all wait out a necessary quarantine. She recounts a walk through South Philadelphia so quiet, she could hear the stoplight timers whirring - a sound she's never heard before. Above all, she reminds us that there is no place so dark and frightening that holiness cannot touch it. Stay safe and stay well!

3-29-2020 Being a Friend "Touch Screen" - Audio

March 31, 2020 21:23 - 17 minutes - 4.04 MB

Rev. Ken speaks to us from his home to share a message about how small acts that we perform now can be not only meaningful, but even heroic. He talks about how important it is for us to create meaningful connection, even as we stay physically apart. He also tells us what the 1990s movie "Armageddon" and the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel have in common, and what they can teach us in the context of a quarantine.

3-22-2020 Being a Friend "Campfires" - PDF

March 31, 2020 20:35 - 50 KB application/pdf

Rev Lee speaks about how drastically things changed in the span of 10 days, and why it's okay to feel like you don't have anything under control. She shares a story from the 1918 flu epidemic, and shows why stories like this can help us see that others have been through this before. She shares the concept of "Digital Campfires" and reassures us that we're still connected, even if we're physically far apart.

3-22-2020 Being a Friend "Campfires" - Audio

March 31, 2020 20:35 - 25 minutes - 5.8 MB

Rev Lee speaks about how drastically things changed in the span of 10 days, and why it's okay to feel like you don't have anything under control. She shares a story from the 1918 flu epidemic, and shows why stories like this can help us see that others have been through this before. She shares the concept of "Digital Campfires" and reassures us that we're still connected, even if we're physically far apart.

3-15-2020 Being a Friend "Careful Whisper" - PDF

March 18, 2020 00:01 - 44.5 KB application/pdf

Our first ever remote worship service! As we practice keeping physical distance as an act of care, we come together in different ways. Rev. Lee talks about how all of us need all of us, and how nobody can do everything themselves - even in times when we need to stay apart. Perhaps what we're doing right now as a country is a kind of large-scale spiritual practice. She shares a beautiful story about the power of a whisper, and how something as simple as that can remind you that you're okay.

3-15-2020 Being a Friend "Careful Whisper" - Audio

March 18, 2020 00:01 - 16 minutes - 3.86 MB

Our first ever remote worship service! As we practice keeping physical distance as an act of care, we come together in different ways. Rev. Lee talks about how all of us need all of us, and how nobody can do everything themselves - even in times when we need to stay apart. Perhaps what we're doing right now as a country is a kind of large-scale spiritual practice. She shares a beautiful story about the power of a whisper, and how something as simple as that can remind you that you're okay.

3-8-2020 Being a Friend, "Fully Known" - PDF

March 10, 2020 14:15 - 54.2 KB application/pdf

Rev. Lee continues our Being a Friend message series with her message "Fully Known." If you had to boil your life down to a phrase like "I'm the [person] who [blanks]," how would you fill in that sentence? Rev. Lee talks about the difficulty of making new friends as an adult, but also offers some ideas about how to remove imaginary barriers we might be setting up for ourselves. Maybe we just need permission to host a "crappy dinner party" once in a while with no stress and no expectations exc...

3-8-2020 Being a Friend, "Fully Known" - Audio

March 10, 2020 14:15 - 27 minutes - 6.33 MB

Rev. Lee continues our Being a Friend message series with her message "Fully Known." If you had to boil your life down to a phrase like "I'm the [person] who [blanks]," how would you fill in that sentence? Rev. Lee talks about the difficulty of making new friends as an adult, but also offers some ideas about how to remove imaginary barriers we might be setting up for ourselves. Maybe we just need permission to host a "crappy dinner party" once in a while with no stress and no expectations exc...

3-1-2020, Being a Friend, "Where We Left Off" - PDF

March 03, 2020 21:18 - 54 KB application/pdf

Rev. Ken Beldon opens our new message series for early spring called "Being a Friend." He talks about the way the towering hills you tackled as a child suddenly seem small as an adult, how important it is to see your own story reflected in others, and reminisces a bit about the wonderful weirdness of Sid & Marty Krofft shows. You'll also hear a bit about the term "lovingkindness," and a book by Bob Greene titled "And you Know, You Should be Glad."

3-1-2020, Being a Friend, "Where We Left Off" - Audio

March 03, 2020 21:18 - 23 minutes - 5.44 MB

Rev. Ken Beldon opens our new message series for early spring called "Being a Friend." He talks about the way the towering hills you tackled as a child suddenly seem small as an adult, how important it is to see your own story reflected in others, and reminisces a bit about the wonderful weirdness of Sid & Marty Krofft shows. You'll also hear a bit about the term "lovingkindness," and a book by Bob Greene titled "And you Know, You Should be Glad."

2-23-2020 Daily Bread "Living History, Living Healing" - PDF

February 25, 2020 20:00 - 65.9 KB application/pdf

Rev. Ken Beldon concludes our Daily Bread message series by talking about the most important book he's never read (Watchmen, Alan Moore), and how it's continuing story brought the destruction of Black Wall Street into the news once again. He also discusses inter-generational trauma by referencing the book My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem, and a quote from Dr. Gabor Maté. He finishes up by sharing a dream he once had about a favorite Valentine's Day candy.

2-23-2020 Daily Bread "Living History, Living Healing" - Audio

February 25, 2020 20:00 - 34 minutes - 7.92 MB

Rev. Ken Beldon concludes our Daily Bread message series by talking about the most important book he's never read (Watchmen, Alan Moore), and how it's continuing story brought the destruction of Black Wall Street into the news once again. He also discusses inter-generational trauma by referencing the book My Grandmother's Hands by Resmaa Menakem, and a quote from Dr. Gabor Maté. He finishes up by sharing a dream he once had about a favorite Valentine's Day candy.

2-16-2020 Daily Bread: "Embrace Vulnerability" - Audio

February 18, 2020 14:54 - 23 minutes - 5.47 MB

Worship Leader Josie Waldman shares her message "Embrace Vulnerability" by sharing her personal story of changing careers. She also shares some inspirational quotes from Brene Brown, and tells us what we can learn from Demi Lovato's struggles with mental illness and substance abuse.

2-9-2020, Daily Bread: "Kindness Everywhere" - Audio

February 11, 2020 19:36 - 22 minutes - 5.07 MB

Rev. Lee Paczulla shares with us the "Kindness Prayer," and unpacks the often misunderstood bible verse about turning the other cheek. She gives examples of the way we might talk to friends versus the way we might talk to ourselves, and relays a valuable message from the one and only Lizzo.

2-2-2020 Daily Bread, "Pivoting" - Audio

February 05, 2020 15:25 - 25 minutes - 5.74 MB

Rev. Ken Beldon continues our Daily Bread message series with stories about life's unexpected interruptions. He references a Mountain Goats song about an injured football player, he shares a story about a running injury he sustained, and he also plays an Iranian short film for our congregation.

1-26-20 Daily Bread "An Education" - Audio

February 05, 2020 15:20 - 29 minutes - 6.83 MB

In this message, Rev Lee Paczulla continues our Daily Bread series with stories about reading a book to a baby, the NYT Bestseller "Educated," and her own difficulties in beginning the spiritual practices of meditation and mindfulness.

1-12-2020 - Daily Bread, "Watching the Wheels" - Audio

January 21, 2020 13:55 - 24 minutes - 5.58 MB

Rev. Ken Beldon continues our Daily Bread series with his message titled "Watching the Wheels." In this message, Rev. Ken speaks a bit about his history with the WellSprings congregation, the first album he ever owned, and the phrase "there is another way to do life."

1-5-2020 - Daily Bread, "In the Beginning" - Audio

January 21, 2020 13:21 - 22 minutes - 5.09 MB

Rev. Lee Paczulla introduces our new winter message series "Daily Bread" with her sermon titled "In the Beginning." No matter where or who we are, all of us live each day one at a time. So often, we have a yearning for more meaning and connection, in the small moments of our lives. Where, and how, can we find the holy when the big, shiny, bright lights aren’t quite reaching us – or seem far too dim? When all that we’ve been taught about “religion” and “spirituality” falls short, how can we ma...

12-29-2019 - WellSprings' New Year's Tradition - Audio

January 07, 2020 15:30 - 11 minutes - 2.52 MB

At WellSprings, we have two traditions for the services right before the new year: we feature music from artists who've passed away during the year, and we also practice an intentional "letting go." During this message, Rev. Ken Beldon encourages the congregation to think of a negative thing they say about themselves, and to write it down on a piece of paper to be burned later.

Christmas Eve, 2019 - Audio

January 07, 2020 15:26 - 11 minutes - 2.58 MB

Revs Ken Beldon and Lee Paczulla lead our congregation through a lovely Christmas Eve service. Special guest appearance by Buddy the Elf, and lots of help from the littlest WellSpringers!

12-22-2019 Entertaining Angels - "Let's Go Outside!" - Audio

January 07, 2020 15:24 - 20 minutes - 4.72 MB

Rev. Lee Paczulla congludes our Entertaining Angels holiday series with her message titled "Let's Go Outside!" We talk a bit about the Christmas movie, Elf, and our congregation is invited to play a fun and unexpected game!

12-1-2019 Etertaining Angels - "Taken Lightly" - Audio

December 17, 2019 18:18 - 22 minutes - 5.2 MB

Rev. Ken Beldon continues our holiday message series, Entertaining Angels, with his message titled: "Taken Lightly"

11-17-2019 Entertaining Angles - "Audience of One" - Audio

December 17, 2019 18:13 - 25 minutes - 5.78 MB

Rev. Lee Paczulla continues our holiday message series, Entertaining Angels, with her message titled "Audience of One"

11-21-19 Wild and Precious Life (Special Speaker Series) - Audio

December 09, 2019 13:40 - 1 hour - 13.9 MB

Each year, we ask WellSprings congregants from each decade of life (this year, from childhood through 80-somethings) to speak about what they plan to do with their one wild and precious life. This takes place over two services, but both have been condensed into one hour-long podcast here. Enjoy these amazing, deeply-felt, entertaining, and educational stories!

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