One More Thing
By St. John's Lynchburg
One More ThingApr 13, 2024
Why St. John's? (2.0) (Part II)
So what is our church, St. John’s all about? Listen to this episode to hear Fr. Chris, Fr. Ben, and Lalla discuss what makes our parish a special place and community.
We discussed that church and community is fun– but what makes that fun different from the fun we have with the same people in other places? What makes the good works we do at church different from other non-profits? The core mission of the church is to connect Jesus Christ to the world and make him known.
We talk about how St. John’s was founded to bring church to a new neighborhood in Lynchburg as Lynchburg grew and expanded. We talk about how a church home can be a sanctuary, or place of peace, once you have made a connection to a church. Our church has a strong emphasis on family and many families (2 and 3 and 4 generations) worship together in our parish. Our church building is also special. It has been added to and expanded many times by each generation of our church family.
So– we turn it over to you. We’ve asked why you want to be a Christian and Episcopalian; now tell us what most excites you about this church family, and what you would change about our church if you could!
Reflection Question:
What excites you about St. John’s and coming to church?
What would you change about the church?
Why Christianity? (2.0) (Part II)
(Updated to correct episode!) Why Christianity? This episode, we continue to explore Christianity and ask the question “so what?” What difference does being a Christian make? We are a Christian, now what?
Just joining us? We're so glad you're here for Season 4. This is a new recording of our topic from Season 2--Confirmation-- with a new member of our team and a fresh take on three important questions:
- Why Christianity?
- Why The Episcopal Church?
- and Why St. John's?
Join us & our youth this season as we prepare for confirmation in The Episcopal Church!
Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers ?I will, with God’s help.
Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?I will, with God’s help.
Will you proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ?I will, with God’s help.
Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself?I will, with God’s help.
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?I will, with God’s help. (Book of Common Prayer, 417)
First we explore the answer to each of these questions we promise in Confirmation: “I will, with God’s help.” Then we jump into each question.
What is the apostles teaching and fellowship (Acts 2:42)? We discussed a lot of it last week- it's our basic beliefs about Jesus. We discuss how Jesus instructed his apostles to live and how he sent the Holy Spirit to them in the first days after his resurrection. We also discussed passing on our faith, celebrating Holy Eucharist, and praying together as a community.
We further discuss evil, sin, and how we always wrestle with sin; we can’t just will ourselves not to experience these challenges. God is asking us to return continuously to God. We chat about the Good News, and how we proclaim it to all people. We discuss loving all people, and God’s commandment to love our neighbor (Matthew 22:36-40). We finally turn to what the dignity of every human being means, and how that affects our journey towards justice.
Reflection Questions
What does it mean to live a Christian life?
How does one live out a Christian life?
Why St. John's? (2.0) (Part I)
This episode, we shared our stories from the churches where we grew up. We hope that it helps you think about what stands out for you at your church! All our hosts have a different experience of growing up in church; one of them even grew up here at St. John’s when they were young! Storytelling is so important for how we understand our faith, and how we begin to understand how God works in our lives and calls us into new life.
Join us next time for some more about St. John’s, and who we are and where we are now! If you want to learn more about our history, St. John’s has several published histories of the Parish available in the Parish Library (or from Fr. Ben or Fr. Chris).
Reflection Question:
What are some memories from your childhood church? Or, if you didn’t grow up in the church, what do you recall from one of the first times you went to a church?
Why The Episcopal Church? (2.0) (Part II)
Why The Episcopal Church? This episode, we continue to explore the history that led to The Episcopal Church, picking back up at the revolutionary way and continuing through today. We talk about what our church stands for, and where one might learn more about our beliefs. Along the way, we see how the faith continued to evolve, while remaining centered on the creeds and common faith that Christians around the world share.
In the first days, clergy were educated in England and sent to the colonies; there were not priests formed from the local community yet, or Bishops in the colonies. Other religious groups also came over. Those clergy had to swear loyalty to the King; church and state were connected. So when the state(s) separated, the church also had to separate from the Church of England. Thus The Episcopal Church was born of political necessity. Apostolic succession was the hardest to secure—we wanted to keep our connection to the historic church, so our first Bishops received ordination through the Scottish Episcopal Church.
Our Church continued to be governed by the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), revised for the Episcopal Church. The Prayerbook changed over time to fit the needs of our church and our culture. The way that we pray informs our beliefs, and vice versa. We recognize four things that bring Christians together, including us: Scripture, Bishops, Sacraments, and the creeds.
Our Catechism (Outline of the Faith) beginning on p. 845, elaborates on more of our beliefs as a church, though it is not enforced in the way other churches put weight on certain beliefs. We believe these things, and we encourage you to question and wrestle with those beliefs! We seek unity (what we share) more than what separates us from other denominations. Find out more about what your friends or family of different faith traditions or Christian denominations believe! We do our best to include all and make our churches welcoming places for people from all walks of life.
You can learn more about our church and our beliefs at https://www.episcopalchurch.org/
Join us next time for conversation about our own parish home, St. John’s—and hear about where Fr. Chris, Fr. Ben, and Lalla grew up in their home churches!
Reflection Question
If you walked into a church, how would you know it is an Episcopal church, without being told?
Why The Episcopal Church? (2.0) (Part I)
Why The Episcopal Church? This episode, we explore the history that led to The Episcopal Church, tracing our origins from the Acts of the Apostles all the way up to the Revolutionary war. Along the way, we see how the faith continued to evolve, while remaining centered on our creeds and the things we’ve talked about that Christians around the world share in common.
Just joining us? We're so glad you're here for Season 4. This is a new recording of our topic from Season 2-- onfirmation-- with a new member of our team and a fresh take on three important questions:
- Why Christianity?
- Why The Episcopal Church?
- and Why St. John's?
Join us & our youth this season as we prepare for Confirmation in The Episcopal Church!
Fr. Chris read a quote from A History of Global Anglicanism, by Kevin Ward (2010), about the common history, faith and liturgy of the Anglican Communion. Find out more about the Anglican Communion here: https://www.anglicancommunion.org/
The history of the church, or her birthday, starts at a Pentecost celebration, almost 2000 years ago, as written in the first chapter of Acts of the Apostles. At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit (or Advocate) descended upon the first Apostles and led them out to start the movement we now call “Church.” Not everyone was the same—there was diversity in language, culture, and more from the beginning of Christianity. As Christianity initially spread, it remained in unity about the faith, but the particular expressions were different across different places and times.
The Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D./C.E. set down the Nicene Creed and clarified central pillars of the faith. The Canon of Holy Scripture also came into clearer focus, giving us the selection of books that are in our Bibles today. Finally, Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire; as the religion of the state instead of a minority of people, it changed a lot of things for the early Christians! Christianity continued to spread, including a leap over to the British Isles.
The Church of England is one of the groups that break away from the Roman Catholic Church. Martin Luther expressed differences and then broke away first, but England was not far behind. One of the main motivations was about power; the church having political and monetary authority over people in many kingdoms was challenged by King Henry VIII, who also challenged the spiritual authority of the church. Both of these challenges led to King Henry VIII separating the English church from Rome. And yes, a divorce was involved too; listen to learn more! Also involved was translating the Bible into the language of the people, as well as the prayers. This led to one of the greatest gifts to the church that the English church has offered, the Book of Common Prayer. Yet they did not depart from the tradition of the church any more than necessary. The polity and structure of the church changed, but the belief in God stayed central.
**One correction: Fr. Ben misspoke. William Tyndale penned the Tyndale version of the Bible, a precursor to the King James Version.**
Reflection Question: If you would change anything in the church, what would you change, and why?
Why Christianity? (2.0) (Part I)
Why Christianity? To answer that question, first we are asking what do Christians believe. What we believe is summarized in our creeds; both the Apostles Creed and Nicene Creed.
Just joining us? We're so glad you're here for Season 4. This is a new recording of our topic from Season 2-- Confirmation-- with a new member of our team and a fresh take on three important questions:
- Why Christianity?
- Why The Episcopal Church?
- and Why St. John's?
Join us & our youth this season as we prepare for Confirmation in The Episcopal Church!
Read the Apostles Creed below as you listen along to the episode.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Apostles’ Creed covers a ton of ground. First off, we believe in God— one God. God is the creator, and God created the world, and the universe. We believe science might help us learn how God created, but we learn why God created in the first three chapters of the Bible (Genesis 1-3). We are also creators– we are made in the Image of God who creates, and so it is so important for us to have a creative outlet as well. God is also the Father, because Jesus called him father; but that does not exclude God’s feminine side. It names God as a parent, in relationship with Jesus and with us. It names God as who God is, not what God does for us. God is bigger than any human words, labels, or adjectives we can use to describe God.
The second part of the Creed talks about Jesus. We talked about how Jesus descends to the dead, and we talked about how our ancestors imagined the realms of Heaven and Earth and how that informed their early beliefs. We talked about the limits of our understanding of God and what we can learn from the Bible, too!
The third part of the creed talks about the Holy Spirit, and the church. We believe the Spirit is the guiding force in our daily lives, our prayer, and our discernment– listening for how God speaks to us. We talk about the catholic, or universal church, and we talk about the universal message of Jesus Christ. We talk also about the future– life everlasting, resurrection, and Christian hope. What is it that we believe about the future? In the end of the day, it is all about Love.
Reflection Questions: What do I believe? What do I struggle to believe?
What is Confirmation? (2.0)
Welcome back! Season 4 will be a new recording of our topic from Season 2-- Confirmation-- with a new member of our team and a fresh take on three important questions:
- Why Christianity?
- Why The Episcopal Church?
- and Why St. John's?
Join us & our youth this season as we prepare for Confirmation in The Episcopal Church!
What is confirmation? It is a sacrament, an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritually grace. The outward sign is the Bishop laying their hands on the confirmand, and the inward and spiritual grace is the Holy Spirit joining with you as you make a mature profession of your faith.
After a season of learning, we ask young people to make their own decision if they want to be confirmed!
What does it look like to get ready for Confirmation? Nowadays, we take confirmation classes, go on retreats, and listen to podcasts! It continues with a religious ceremony of initiation; where we confirm the person’s choice to be a follower of Christ. This happens in the context of the Baptismal liturgy; a Bishop lays hands, calling the Holy Spirit down upon the person and the confirmand makes their own vows to be a Christian. We teach (catechize) to get people ready to make these vows in a mature way, as they are making a serious commitment! Other things we do to prepare for confirmation is to look at our past and present lives and how we may have strayed away from God and each other, or sinned. Fortunately, this is not where the story ends; we are assisted and led by God’s Grace! Grace is God coming to us and meeting us where we are and loving us; rather than us having to pull ourselves up on our own to get to God.
This episode we also covered the history of confirmation. The first moment that it appears is when the Holy Spirit descends upon those who were already Baptized (Acts 8:15-17). This is the first moment we see where we can discern something like “confirmation.” For a long time, these two sacraments were inseparable; but as the church grew, Bishops delegated Baptism to priests, and would confirm Christians only once in a while at each church when they visited. That way, people did not have to wait for an apostle or bishop to visit them. We also talk about emergency Baptism (!!), Baptism in general, and whether or not Confirmation still matters! We find that at St. John’s it does. People are joining by Confirmation and reaffirming their faith every year.
To learn about that faith and to get ready to be confirmed, we’ll have six more episodes and ask three Big questions. Make sure you are listening to the season 4 versions as they are published this month!
- Why Christianity/Why be a Christian? (Episodes 2 and 3)
- Why the Episcopal Church? (Episodes 4 and 5)
- Why be a member of St. Johns? (Episodes 6 and 7)
That’s confirmation— we are so glad you are listening and we hope asking these questions and having these conversations helps you in your faith journey— whether you’re in confirmation, listening along as a member, or if you’ve found us online and are learning more about us. We’re glad you’re here. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or to schedule a pastoral visit or conversation!
Contemporary Worship
This Episode, Fr. Ben and Fr. Chris welcome The Rev. Alan B. Cowart, Rector of Grace Memorial Episcopal Church in Lynchburg, VA! We discuss what contemporary worship is, how our liturgies change over time and what things stay the same, and what contemporary worship looks like in other parts of the Episcopal Church! If you’re listening before December 21, 2022, join us at 6:30p in Magill Hall to be a part of our Contemporary service. If you’re listening afterwards, we hope this will be edifying as you consider your own spiritual practices during the Advent season and beyond as we consider this season how we do worship in The Episcopal Church.
Show Notes:
Our Opening Prayer is from Enriching our Worship 1, p. 52— authored by St. Gertrude!
What is a contemporary service? First of all, the Book of Common Prayer is meant to be contemporary. It is something that has changed and is meant to evolve with the communities that use it for worship.
Part of the conversation about contemporary worship involves technology— just as the printing press changes how people could access the Bible and their prayers, now Zoom and video possibilities affect how we share the Bible and our prayers!
St. John’s has used a “contemporary” prayers of the people written by Fr. Ben.
We also talked about the Concert for the Human Family, which happened after recording. Great news; they are coming back to Roanoke the last weekend in January for Diocesan Convention!
Another part of the conversation is about music— there is a vast diversity of musical styles that are used in worship in our denomination. How might those who are familiar with different musical styles be welcomed into our tradition? How does music of all styles help us transcend the moment that we are in as we worship God, who is timeless?
Music is also a great comfort, especially traditional music that has been part of the hymnal(s) for centuries. A given song (Amazing Grace) can be played “traditionally” or in contemporary style, and that might appeal to different people, and it might surprise those who prefer it one way and hear it in a different way! We talked about repetition vs. change with music, and with the prayers we use and what the advantage and disadvantage of each are.
How will our worship connect with those who are here… and those who are not here yet? We can always ask who is not in the room, and that drives our conversation on how our liturgy reflects the world around us.
When we try new things in our Liturgies, we give it our all; and so join us as we try new things in worship this coming week!
Read more about our Advent program at https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/news-and-updates/advent-at-st-johns-2022
Find out more about the Contemporary service (Dec 21 at 6:30p) at our episode page: https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/news-and-updates/s3-e4-contemporary-service
Taizé
Season 3 Episode 3
This Episode, Fr. Ben and Fr. Chris welcome Peggy Haas Howell, Organist and Choirmaster of St. John’s, to talk about Taizé! We learn about the community, the worship style, and how this might be a peaceful way to pray this Advent season. If you’re listening before December 14, 2022, join us at 6:30p to be a part of our Taizé service. If you’re listening afterwards, we hope this will be edifying as you consider your own spiritual practices during the Advent season and beyond as we consider this season how we do worship in The Episcopal Church.
Show Notes:
Our Opening Prayer is from one of the many Taizé resources that we will draw from in our service on Wednesday, December 14th at 6:30p.
Peggy found out about Taizé for the first time when visiting Europe and decided to visit in person for the first time; we can begin our journey in learning about Taizé for the first time by visiting them online: https://www.taize.fr/en
Their community then was incredibly open; and still is. People come as pilgrims and stay for a short or long period of time. Early on they took a freewill offering, and now they offer very low rates to stay with them and experience their worshipping community.
We discuss thin places— those geographic places where we feel closest to God. What are your thin places?
We also discussed the style of Taizé, some of which we will replicate. Fr. Ben and Peggy even sang a piece— Magnificat Animamea Dominum - Translated “My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” We also sang “Bless the Lord my Soul.”
Fr. Ben also encountered Taizé in his youth group setting as a way to worship and to pray.
Every morning the community and those who want to contribute rehearse for the evening worship— Taizé takes hard work to put together, even though in the moment it feels so organic!
Our service will include meditation and quiet, time to reflect on scripture; it will be a true time to come and rest in the Lord. You can come and participate whether or not you feel called to sing! We’ll follow “An Order of Worship for the Evening” on page 109 of the Book of Common Prayer.
Read more about our Advent program at https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/news-and-updates/advent-at-st-johns-2022
Find out more about the Taizé service (Dec 7 at 6:30p) at our episode page: https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/news-and-updates/s3-e3-taize-service
Anglo-Catholic Worship
This Episode, Fr. Ben interviews special guest Fr. Steve Rice, Rector of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. We discuss all sorts of aspects of worship and history, from saints, to good ol’ fashioned Bible religion. If you’re listening before December 7, 2022, join us at 6:30p to be a part of our Sung Mass. If you’re listening afterwards, we hope this will be edifying as you consider your own spiritual practices during the Advent season and beyond as we consider this season how we do worship in The Episcopal Church.
Show Notes:
People often try to define Anglo-Catholicism based on a style or practices; but an Anglo-Catholic would define themselves as a Christian, a Catholic Christian, one who wants to be a member of the Church. By Catholic, we mean universal— one who believes that which is believed by people all over the world, throughout the ages.
Our setting does not matter as much as our approach to what is happening in church, at the Altar— the meeting place of Heaven and Earth, where the once-perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ is made present to us in the Eucharist.
Arthur Tooth Imprisoned for putting candlesticks on the altar: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Tooth#/media/File:Arthur_Tooth_Vanity_Fair_10_February_1877.jpg
Where did Anglo-Catholicism start? In England, in the 1840’s. It started (of course!) with a sermon by John Keble. Full text of John Keble’s sermon is available here (it’s long!) http://anglicanhistory.org/keble/keble1.html
Fr. Steve covers lots of reformation history in just a couple minutes in the episode. Rusty on your Anglican/British History? There are many great resources that cover this time period. Fr. Ben read a lot of historian Diarmaid MacCulloch in seminary who has a book on the Reformation called Reformation: A History.
We talk about our annual vigil, called the Gesthemane watch, from Maundy Thursday to Good Friday. Find out more next Holy Week; the watch will be April 6th-7th, 2023.
We also discussed Saints and those who have already passed away; how do we talk to or about those who have passed away? What other ceremonies or rituals do we practice in our lives that might seem strange in a church setting, or vice versa?
What does the word Mass mean? Pope Benedict XVI compares the Mass to Missa - Mission. The Mass is our mission.
Book of Common Prayer Rubric (instruction) about the priest facing the altar is on pages 333, 361, 365, etc.
Read more about our Advent program at https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/news-and-updates/advent-at-st-johns-2022
Find out more about the Sung Mass service (Dec 7 at 6:30p) at our episode page: https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/news-and-updates/s3-e2-anglo-catholic-worship
Blue Christmas
This episode, Fr. Chris and Fr. Ben talk about grief around the holidays, and our upcoming Blue Christmas Service. We discuss how we might handle grief in our personal lives during this season, and how the church responds through worship. If you’re listening before November 30, 2022, join us at 6:30p to be a part of our Blue Christmas Service. If you’re listening afterwards, we hope this will be edifying as you consider your own spiritual practices during the Advent season and beyond as we consider this season how we do worship in the Episcopal church.
Show Notes:
Fr. Ben prayed the Collect for the Departed on page 253 of the Book of Common Prayer.
A blue Christmas service is a service where we acknowledge our grief around the holidays—whether that grief comes from a death, loss, or other major life change. It’s a service where we “own” where we are and openly acknowledge the ways in which we struggle at a worship service.
How do we handle this grief around the holidays?
- Be gentle with yourself. This happens to everyone at some point in their lives.
- Take a look at those holiday traditions we’ve always done. Give yourself permission to do things differently, especially after you’ve experienced a major life change. Your tradition may stop being life-giving and be really challenging, so allow yourself to adjust or change it.
- You can also create a new tradition or practice to commemorate what you have lost or the end of a season.
When people are ill or hurting, the church offers healing. We will experience a public service of healing as part of our Blue Christmas service on November 30th. This is an optional portion.
This service is also called the Longest Night of the Year service in some denominations; we’ve moved ours earlier than the actual longest night of the year, but that link to darkness and winter remains part of the history of this service.
Read more about our Advent program at https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/news-and-updates/advent-at-st-johns-2022
Find out more about the Blue Christmas service (Nov 30 at 6:30p) at https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/news-and-updates/s3-e1-blue-christmas
Season 3 Trailer- Advent at St. John's!
December is busy. With kids out of school, families in town, and planning for the holidays, we often feel overwhelmed and stressed by the time we get to Christmas. With all that in mind, our Advent program invites you to take a break from the hustle and bustle, and to come and rest in the Lord.
We will offer four unique worship opportunities on Wednesday evenings at 6:30p. We want you to come and see how Episcopalians and Christians praise God in all sorts of ways. Before each service, we will release an episode of our podcast about the service for you to learn the background before you experience it in worship. Podcast Episodes drop on Sunday mornings, look for an email with more information each Monday. November 30 - Blue Christmas - Our Blue Christmas service is especially for those who feel grief at the holidays. This service gives us a chance to acknowledge and hold up our grief before God, even as we get ready to enter a season of preparation for the incarnation of Jesus Christ. This service is a Holy Eucharist, Rite II.December 7 - Sung Mass - This will be a Rite I, Sung Holy Eucharist with the choir and incense offered. We will commemorate the feast of St. Ambrose of Milan.
December 14 - Contemplative Taizé Service - This evening will be peaceful, quiet, and contemplative. With long periods of silence, chanting, and a candle-lit church, you will encounter God in the stillness and gentleness of this service. This service will not include Holy Eucharist.
December 21 - Contemporary Worship - We will have our last service in Magill Hall! Join us for Eucharist with contemporary prayers and praise music that we’ll stream in from Episcopal musicians across the country. We’ll experience worship music and prayers that are in our common language and remember St. Thomas the Apostle.
Why St. John's? (Part II) (Old Version)
A new version of this episode is now available! Scroll up and check out Season 4, Episode 7!
This episode, Fr. Chris, Sarah, and Fr. Ben talk about what St. John’s is all about. We talk about the diocese, how we are different from other organizations, and what our parish values and cherishes.
Episode page: https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/why-st-johns-ii
Show notes:
1. St. John’s is part of a geographic area of the church called a Diocese. We are in the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. Our diocese was formed from the original Diocese of Southern Virginia in 1919.
2. Chris mentioned the Boy’s Home of Virginia, a ministry of our diocese where he serves on the board!
3. Since the diocese is the building block of the church, the Bishop is the head pastor of all the churches in the diocese.
4. Unlike other non-profits, the church was founded by Jesus Christ who sends us out into the world to proclaim God’s love. We work with other non-profits and do all sorts of missional and outreach work in the name of that mission; whereas other organizations have different missions and purposes even though the actions we take may be the same. The church has been doing this work from long before many non-profits and charities were founded.
5. We mentioned a multitude of organizations and activities that happen at St. John’s. The best way to keep up with what is happening is to connect with us on social media, read our weekly email and monthly Tidings newsletter. We offer many mission, outreach, and fellowship opportunities. Check out our website to find out more: www.stjohnslynchburg.org
6. Our church is an inclusive church, we are open and accepting of all people who desire a relationship with Jesus Christ.
7. St. John’s is also a church that celebrates, values, and is beautiful. It is a Holy place that is available to you all for prayer, contemplation, and worship.
8. We also have a number of family, youth, children, and young adult ministries.
We hope our conversation allows you to learn a bit more about who we are at St. John’s, what we value, and that you learned something new! This is our last episode of the season, so please join us again in the future for our next series!
Why St. John's (Part I) (Old Version)
A new version of this episode is now available! Scroll up and check out Season 4, Episode 6!
This episode, Fr. Chris, Sarah, and Fr. Ben share experiences from their own churches growing up, and what they did when they moved away from home for the first time. They explore what one might look for in a church, and why one might be drawn to one church compared to another church. We also talked about the history of St. John’s!
Episode page: https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/why-st-johns-i
Show Notes
1. Chris read a quote by William Temple, former Archbishop of Canterbury.
2. This episode, we shared our stories from the churches we grew up at—no notes for this section, but we hope that it helps you think about what stands out for you at your church!
3. St. John’s has several published histories of the Parish available in the Parish Library (or from Fr. Ben or Fr. Chris) if you want to learn more about our history!
4. We also discussed our experiences leaving home—what happened to our faiths and our church memberships in college.
5. We talked about Bishop Jack Spong; he was the rector of St. John’s during the civil rights movement, and he highlights some of the values we cherish today at St. John’s – inclusion and diversity.
6. Ben’s anecdote and metaphor for the spiritual life comes from In Constant Prayer by Robert Benson. It’s not easy to be a member of a church, and takes work to show up faithfully; in that, we can grow into a community and find its beauty.
7. Our reflection question is “what are some memories from your childhood church?” Or, if you didn’t grow up in the church, what do you recall from one of the first times you went to a church?
Join us next time for some more about St. John’s, and who we are and where we are now!
Why The Episcopal Church (Part II) (Old Version)
A new version of this episode is now available! Scroll up and check out Season 4, Episode 5!
Why The Episcopal Church? This episode, we continue to explore the history that led to The Episcopal Church, picking back up at the revolutionary way and continuing through today. We talk about what our church stands for, and where one might learn more about our beliefs. Along the way, we see how the faith continued to evolve, while remaining centered on the creeds and common faith that Christians around the world share.
Episode page: https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/why-episcopal-ii
Show notes:
1. In the first days, clergy were educated in England and sent to the colonies; there were not priest formed from the local community yet, or Bishops in the colonies. Other religious groups also came over. Those clergy had to swear loyalty to the King; church and state were connected. So when the state(s) separated, the church also had to separate from the Church of England. Thus The Episcopal Church was born of political necessity.
2. Apostolic succession was the hardest to secure—we wanted to keep our connection to the historic church, so our first Bishops received ordination through the Scottish Episcopal Church.
3. Our Church continued to be governed by the Book of Common Prayer (BCP), revised for the Episcopal Church. The way that we pray informs our beliefs, and vice versa. The collects (BCP 211-263) articulate specific beliefs that we commemorate on the various Sundays
4. Another way to understand our beliefs is through the three-legged stool: Scripture, Tradition, and Reason. Scripture is the Bible, our tradition is the way we have prayed and our understandings of theology from generations passed, and our reason is our ability to think and ask questions and wrestle with our present contexts.
5. Science and theology can work hand in hand, and they do in The Episcopal Church.
6. Our Catechism (Outline of the Faith) beginning on p. 845, elaborates on more of our beliefs as a church, though it is not enforced in the way other churches put weight on certain beliefs. We believe these things, and we encourage you to question and wrestle with those beliefs!
7. We seek unity (what we share) more than what separates us from other denominations. Find out more about what your friends or family of different faith traditions or Christian denominations believe! We do our best to include all and make our churches welcoming places for people from all walks of life.
8. You can learn more about our church and our beliefs at https://www.episcopalchurch.org/
9. Our reflection question is: If you walked into a church, how would you know it is an Episcopal church, without being told?
Join us next time for conversation about our own parish home, St. John’s—and hear about where Fr. Chris, Fr. Ben, and Sarah grew up in their home churches!
Why The Episcopal Church (Part I) (Old Version)
A new version of this episode is now available! Scroll up and check out Season 4, Episode 4!
This episode, we explore the history that led to The Episcopal Church, tracing our origins from the Acts of the Apostles all the way up to the Revolutionary war. Along the way, we see how the faith continued to evolve, while remaining centered on our creeds and the things we’ve talked about that Christians around the world share in common.
Episode page: https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/why-episcopal-i
Show notes:
1. Chris read a quote from A History of Global Anglicanism, by Kevin Ward (2010), about the common history, faith and liturgy of the Anglican Communion. Find out more about the Anglican Communion here: https://www.anglicancommunion.org/
2. The history of the church, or her birthday, starts at a Pentecost celebration, almost 2000 years ago, as written in the first chapter of Acts of the Apostles. Not everyone was the same—there was diversity in language, culture, and more from the beginning of Christianity. As Christianity initially spread, it remained in unity about the faith, but the expressions changed for different places and times.
3. The Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D./C.E. set down the Nicene Creed and clarified central pillars of the faith. The Canon of Holy Scripture also came into clearer focus, giving us the selection of books that are in our Bibles today. Finally, Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire; as religion of the state instead of a minority of people, it changed a lot of things for the early Christians!
4. Christianity continues to spread, including a leap over to the British Isles. This begins the distinct part of our history, even though the Church of England would not break away for another thousand years in the 1500s, around the time that early explorers were setting out to discover the ‘New World.’
5. The Church of England is one of the groups that break away from the Catholic Church. Martin Luther expressed differences and then broke away first, but England was not far behind. One of the main motivations was about power; the church having political and monetary authority over people in many kingdoms was challenged by King Henry VIII, who also challenged the spiritual authority of the church. Both of these challenges led to King Henry VIII separating the English church from Rome. And yes, a divorce was involved too; listen to learn more!
6. Also involved was translating the Bible into the language of the people, as well as the prayers. This led to one of the greatest gifts to the church that the English church has offered, the Book of Common Prayer. Yet they did not depart from the tradition of the church any more than necessary. The polity and structure changed of the church changed, but the belief in God stayed central.
7. Our reflection question is: If you would change anything in the church, what would you change, and why?
Join us next time for some more history of The Episcopal Church, and who we are and where we are now!
Why Christianity (Part II) (Old Version)
A new version of this episode is now available! Scroll up and check out Season 4, Episode 3!
This episode, we continue to explore Christianity and as the question “so what?” What difference does being a Christian make? We are a Christian, now what?
Episode page: https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/why-christianity-ii
Show notes:
1. Belief does lead to some sort of action. We explored this with the metaphor of believing our house may be on fire. What action might we take in response to our belief in the Good News of Jesus Christ?
2. Our faith is personal, but also communal. God calls us to be a part of a community of other believers— we call this the body of Christ, the church.
3. There are several promises we make after affirming the Apostles Creed, found on page 304-305 of the BCP
4. The first question comes directly from Acts 2:42, stating what Jesus’ followers did *together* after pentecost— after they received the Holy Spirit. When we come to church, we are fulfilling this first baptismal commitment.
5. We visited the other four questions throughout the episode. It’s important to note that the response is always “I will, with God’s help.” While we make these promises, we will need God’s help to fulfill them.
6. Our reflection questions are: What does it meant to live a Christian life? How does one live out a Christian life?
What is Confirmation? (Old Version ) (Introduction to Season Two)
A new version of this episode is now available! Scroll up and check out Season 4, Episode 1!
This season, we’re covering confirmation and answering three big questions about the faith. This season will be a part of our Spring 2022 (and future!) confirmation class; but it is also for you, dear listeners! In our faith, we’re always called back to the basics even as our understanding grows deeper. We hope this season will deepen your faith as well!
Instead of a collect, we’ll start each episode with a prayer or quote from the historical church. We’ll also have more in-depth show notes available on our website, as well as resources for further reading and reference we make!
Episode page: https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/confirmation
Show notes:
1. The prayer for today is from the confirmation rite in the 1552 Book of Common Prayer. Fr. Ben transliterated it into contemporary English (Rite II language).
2. Our catechism is a very helpful guide to the Christian faith and required reading for confirmation! Find it online here or in the Book of Common Prayer 1979 beginning on page 845.
3. The word confirmation means “saying yes to something I already said yes too.” In the church, Confirmation refers to committing ourselves to Christ.
4. Book of Common Prayer talks about Confirmation on page 860
5. Emergency Baptism is in the Book of Common Prayer, p. 313
6. The full Baptismal and confirmation rite begins on page 299 of the BCP, with the portion specific to confirmation on p. 309. Confirmation is built into the Baptismal rite and is an echo, a mature confession of our Baptismal promises.
7. Acts 8 tells the story of Peter and John laying hands on those who had been baptized, and giving them the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
Thanks for listening! As always, if you liked this episode please follow and rate us wherever you get your podcasts, and consider sharing with a friend!
Rule of Life - Season Finale!
In our last episode of the season, we discussed creating a Rule of Life! Our apologies for some challenges and feedback we had with the microphone a couple of times! In this episode, we discuss the collect for the the Third Sunday of Advent, and wrap up our season on the spiritual disciplines. Join us as we discuss what a rule of life is, how it guides us and helps us find balance and connect with God and our neighbor!
Notes:
1. The collect this week was Collect for the Third Sunday of Advent from Book of Common Prayer (BCP), p. 212.
2. A Rule of Life comes from the latin word regula. the definition Deacon Ben read was from the Society of St. John the Evangelist’s Rule, a monastic order within the Episcopal Church. More information can be found here: https://www.ssje.org/growrule/
3. A Rule of Life allows us to include how we want to take up one or more of the spiritual disciplines we’ve talked about this season! For a full list, check out our show page on anchor, our website, or wherever you get your podcasts!
4. Ben mentioned the Forward movement daily prayer resources; find out more here! Daily Prayer: A Resource of Forward Movement
5. A Rule can be just one thing; or it can be several things. It is not about having such a rigid rule that determines everything we do, as much as a guideline to help us find balance.
Thanks so much for listening this season! Two big announcements:
- We will do a get-together at St. John’s to discuss this season and have a workshop on creating our own Rule of Life! It will also be a great time to discuss the season and what we learned, what questions we have, etc. Stay tuned for more information to come!
- Next season we’ll be focused on confirmation, and the basics of the Christian Faith! This will be for our confirmation class, but also a great refresher and study guide for all Christians! All will be welcome to tune in! Look for new episodes in February of the new year!
Sabbath
This week we prayed the collect for Proper 29 (Christ the King) and discussed sabbath. Ben tries not to ask any rhetorical questions, and we try and understand why God rests as well as how we are called to rest.
Notes:
1. The collect this week was Collect for Proper 29, from Book of Common Prayer (BCP), p. 236.
2. What is Sabbath? The Hebrew word Sabbath means rest. It is particularly good to explore around Thanksgiving week, when this comes out, as it is a time that many (not all) folks get a chance to take a break!
3. Genesis 2:1-3 - “The original Sabbath,” or God resting on the seventh day.
4. Does a sabbath practice necessitate resting with God, or just resting? Perhaps we always rest in God, no matter what ways we choose to rest.
5. Exodus 20:8-10 - The commandment to remember the Sabbath (and keep it holy)!
6. Is the Sabbath the same as the Lord’s Day? Why do we worship on Sundays, why do others worship on Saturdays?
7. Is it possible for everyone to have the same Sabbath? Ben does not think so, not with the need for first responders and those who provide others with food. However, hopefully everyone can take a sabbath, if not “the sabbath”— and it is a moral imperative to make that possible for all people.
8. Should we set aside our social media on the Sabbath? We have a good conversation about if social media is or can be restful.
9. When should we take a sabbath? What would it look like for YOU to take a Sabbath?
Make sure you share this podcast with a friend!
https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/podcast
We’ll be back in mid-December after Thanksgiving; Join us next time as we discuss creating a Rule of Life, integrating spiritual disciplines into our lives, and conclude our season on the spiritual disciplines!
The Eucharist
This week we prayed the collect for Proper 28 and discuss the Eucharist. We discuss how the Eucharist is a Sacrament, the Biblical roots and meanings of the Eucharist, and more! Join us as how we discuss how we can make a spiritual discipline out of receiving the Eucharist.
Notes:
1. The collect this week was Collect for Proper 28, from Book of Common Prayer (BCP), p. 236.
2. Our catechism is a great introduction to the Eucharist. See page 859 of the BCP for the section on this sacrament!
3. The Eucharist, as the principal act of worship in the Episcopal church (BCP 13), is what most Episcopalians experience week to week at church. So it is important for us to study it and understand what it is, so we don’t approach it as a matter of routine, but as something sacred.
4. Fr. Chris referred to 1 Corinthians 11:27 - “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord.”
5. The Road to Emmaus story is another powerful scriptural story about the presence of Christ in the Eucharist in Luke 24. See also Acts 2:42.
6. We talk about the Israelites receiving the manna from heaven as another way to look at the Eucharist— a topic we’ve recently covered in Bible studies at St. John’s!
7. We also talk about what it might mean to come to church and not receive, for various reasons!
8. We celebrate the Eucharist at St. John’s at 8:000 & 10:30 on Sundays and 12:10 on Wednesdays! All are welcome!
Join us next week as we discuss Sabbath, and in two weeks as we tie off the season with a discussion of how to make a rule of life!
Confession and Reconciliation
This week we prayed the collect for All Saints' Day and were joined by special guest, the Rev. Hillary Raining to discuss confession and reconciliation. We discuss guilt and shame, what sin is, and how reconciliation and forgiveness helps us to navigate these issues. Join us as we learn how confession works, and what a difference this spiritual discipline can make in our lives!
Notes:
1. The collect this week was Collect for All Saints’ Day, from Book of Common Prayer (BCP), p. 245.
2. Our guest today is the Rev. Hillary Raining the rector of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania. She is the founder of The Hive an online spirituality and wellness website.
3. The Reconciliation of a Penitent is available starting on p. 446 of the BCP.
4. Shame and guilt are different. Guilt = “I’ve done something wrong.” Shame = “I am something wrong.” Shame is really difficult to overcome.
5. Brene Brown is an expert on shame who we quoted, find out more here: Brené Brown
6. According to the catechism, sin is “the seeking of our own will instead of the will of God, thus distorting our relationship with God, with other people, and with all creation.” BCP 848. We also talk about how sin is a trauma that happens to our souls.
7. We talked about Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s book Life Together; it is a Christian classic!
8. We talk about forgiveness vs. condoning. Condoning is about accepting what has happened and forgetting it. Forgiveness is about naming what happened, but being free to name the wrong and change; because God still loves me and reigns supreme. We are not looking to condone sin, but to embrace love.
9. Hillary’s books are Joy in Confession and her upcoming book is called Faith with a Twist. And her website is https://www.thehiveapiary.com
10. Email us with your questions and feedback! Ben @ stjohnslynchburg.org, chris @ stjohnslynchburg.org, or sarah @ stjohnslynchburg.org
Join us next time as we discuss the Eucharist, and how to build a Spiritual Discipline about taking part in this sacrament!
Contemplative Prayer
This week we prayed the collect for Proper 26 and discussed contemplative prayer. Contemplative prayer, also known as Christian meditation, centering prayer, the Jesus Prayer, and apophatic prayer. Join us as we discuss some of these methods, our own practices of them, and where one might begin!
Notes:
1. The collect this week was Collect for Proper 26 from Book of Common Prayer, p. 235.
2. Contemplative Prayer is a practice and discipline, but not one with predictable results. It is important to separate the practice from our emotional results— the goal is to get closer to God, not to achieve some sort of spiritual high. Spiritual growth is not something that has easily visible results.
3. Thomas Merton quote: “Do not judge the value of meditation by how we feel.” From Contemplative Prayer
4. We talk about practicing through a time of struggle, both in meditation and other things such as going to therapy. If we quit when it gets difficult, we don’t get anywhere?
5. We recommend starting small; five or ten minutes to start, praying attention to the breath or repeating a prayer such as “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.” If you are a visual person, light a candle, or if you can’t focus with your eyes open like Ben, close your eyes!
6. The quote Ben read is from Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation By Martin Laird, pg.15
7. Ben gives some more practical advice about getting started around 25:00
8. Ending quotes: “Pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17. St. Augustine: “May I know you, may I know myself.”
Join us next week for a conversation about the spiritual discipline of confession, and the rite of reconciliation in the Book of Common Prayer! We’ll be having a special guest on our upcoming episode so tune in!
Fellowship
This week we prayed the collect for Proper 25 and discussed fellowship and service. Fellowship is being together with Christ, in community. It's not just about being social, and it's an integral part of being Christian. Listen to hear more about how pursuing fellowship can be an intentional discipline!
Notes:
1. The collect this week was Collect for Proper 25 from Book of Common Prayer (BCP), p. 235.
2. We talked about the differences between in fellowship online, verses in-person. Can we have fellowship online? Yes, but it is harder than it used to be to have fellowship— so we have to be more intentional about it.
3. Our Baptismal covenant can be found on page 304 of the BCP - “Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers ?
I will, with God’s help.”
This is a quote from Acts 2:42, “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”
Fellowship is one of the core activities when we come to church.
4. 1 Corinthians 12:12- We are one body, with many members!
5. The Lord’s Prayer - found in Matthew 6:9-14, Luke 11:2-4
6. Mark 6:7 - Jesus sends out the disciples two by two.
7. Who are the ministers of the church? “The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons.” BCP 855. You are all ministers of the church!
8. “The duty of all Christians is to follow Christ; to come together week by week for corporate worship; and to work, pray, and give for the spread of the kingdom of God.” Catechism, BCP 856
Thanks for listening! Next week we’ll be talking about contemplative prayer!
Almsgiving
This week we prayed the collect for Proper 24 and discussed almsgiving! Find out what the Bible says about almsgiving, tithing, and giving to the poor. We discuss how giving fits into our spiritual life, and how we are asked by God to give to others.
Note: about 10 minutes in there was a siren on the recording from a passing ambulance!
Show Notes:
1. Matthew 6:1-4 Jesus talks about almsgiving.
2. The Lord’s Prayer is Matthew 6:9-14
3. Praying in private: Matthew 6:6; for more examples of Jesus’ prayer, consider the transfiguration from last episode— Jesus goes away with three other people to pray!
4. Tithe— Hebrew is ʿāśar, meaning a tenth.
5. Genesis 14— Abram gives the first tithe to Melchizedek as a thanksgiving offering. Our reading from Sunday about Melchizedek was Hebrews 5:1-10
6. Genesis 28:18-22 - Jacob promises ten percent if God will be with him.
7. Deuteronomy 12:6-7 tithing is taking the first fruits of the harvest for one’s own feast. In 12:11, you should bring your tithe to the Lord’s dwelling place. Deuteronomy 14:22 reinforces this commandment.
8. Tithing ten percent of your income is not perfect. Some are called to give less than that, if they are of few means; while others with many resources may be called to give more!
9. Leviticus 19:9-10— This passage commands the people of Israel to leave their corners and edges for the poor and alien to eat… Isaiah 5:8 criticizes those who join houses and field together, leaving “room for on one but you.” That is a reference to the failure to follow levitical commandment to leave the edges of fields for the poor.
Thanks for listening! Next week we’ll talk about Fellowship. Please rate, follow and share our podcast wherever you listen to it!
Practicing Lectio Divina- The Transfiguration
In our first bonus episode, we practice Lectio Divina. Haven’t heard of it? Check out Season 1, Episode 3 to learn all about this spiritual discipline. In this episode, we’ll read and reflect on Mark 9:2-7; the story of the Transfiguration:
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high mountain apart, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no one on earth could bleach them. And there appeared to them Elijah with Moses, who were talking with Jesus. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” He did not know what to say, for they were terrified. Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”
Lectio Divina= Sacred Reading. We go through four steps, or phases on the podcast. Not all of these phases happen each time you pray, so don’t feel like you have to follow these steps perfectly!
a) Lectio — reading the verse or passage, slowly, multiple times
b) Meditatio — Reflection on the text
c) Oratio — Prayer, conversation with God flowing from our reflections on Scripture
d) Contemplatio — Gazing; being with God, resting in God’s presence at the end of our reflection and prayer.
To find the church’s daily office Bible readings, as well as Forward Day by Day devotional, go to https://prayer.fowardmovement.org/home
Give us a shout if you try a spiritual discipline we talk about on the show! Our emails can be found at stjohnslynchburg.org/
Join us next week for our next spiritual discipline!
Lectio Divina (Sacred Reading)
This week we prayed the collect for Proper 22 and discussed read the Bible! What is the difference between study and a prayerful reading of Scripture? We talk about Lectio Divina, or sacred reading, how to do it, and where in the Bible to start!
Notes:
1. The collect this week was Collect for Proper 22 from Book of Common Prayer, p. 234.
2. More information about our Bible Studies at St. John’s: https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/bible-study
3. St. John’s merchandise: New Logo — https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/new-logo
4. Lectio Divina= Sacred Reading. We go through four steps, or phases on the podcast. Not all of these phases happen each time you pray, so don’t feel like you have to follow these steps perfectly!
a) Lectio — reading the verse or passage, slowly, multiple times
b) Meditatio — Reflection on the text
c) Oratio — Prayer, conversation with God flowing from our reflections on Scripture
d) Contemplatio — Gazing; being with God, resting in God’s presence at the end of our reflection and prayer.
5. Ben bungled the Karl Barth Reference. The “strange new world of the Bible” came from a series of addresses to a village church in Switzerland, not in his commentary on the Romans. Full quote: “What is there within the Bible? What sort of house is it to which the Bible is the door? What sort of country is spread before our eyes when we throw the Bible open?” (Karl Barth, “The Strange New World within the Bible,” The Word of God and the Word of Man[Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1957], p. 28)
6. To find the church’s daily office Bible readings, as well as Forward Day by Day devotional, go to https://prayer.fowardmovement.org/home
7. Give us a shout if you try a spiritual discipline we talk about on the show! Our emails can be found at https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/
Join us next week as we try out Lectio Divina!
Fasting
This week we prayed the collect for Proper 21 and discussed fasting! Is fasting just giving something up, or is there something more to it? We talk about how fasting shows up in the Bible, in our tradition (including the BCP), and how we might fast today. We talk about consumerism, and how fasting can be a response to so many of our cultural pressures today from consuming to producing! We even invented a new word: Smangry! Give us a listen to find out what it means!
Notes:
1. The collect this week was Collect for Proper 21 from Book of Common Prayer (BCP), p. 234.
2. Leviticus 16:29, 31, talks about the Day of Atonement.
3. The church calendar can be found in the Book of Common Prayer starting on p. 15.
4. Examples of Jesus not fasting: Mark 2:18& following.
5. We talked on the episode about fasting not being for everyone, especially with regards to food and different people’s physical and mental health needs. God does not expect everyone to fast; not does the church encourage fasting from food if it would endanger your own health!
6. Give us a shout if you try a spiritual discipline we talk about on the show! Our emails can be found at https://www.stjohnslynchburg.org/staff
Join us next week as we dive deeper into the spiritual discipline of reading and studying Holy Scripture!
What is a spiritual discipline?
This week we prayed the collect for Proper 20 and asked each other “what is a spiritual discipline?” We talked first about giving things up for Lent, and how that changed our relationship to those things we abstained from. We covered things we take on as well; such as praying Morning Prayer in community during Advent and Lent at St. John’s. Finally, we talk about what makes a discipline spiritual!
Notes:
1. The collect this week was Collect for Proper 20 from Book of Common Prayer, p. 234
2. Ben referenced James 3:13-18 in the discussion of the collect.
3. The collect for this week is based on Colossians 3:2 “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
4. There are two primary types of disciplines: Abstinence, or giving something up, and, engagement, taking something on.
Join us next week as we dive deeper into the spiritual discipline of fasting!
Season 1 Trailer - One More Thing!
Welcome to our podcast, One More Thing, a ministry of St. John's Episcopal Church in Lynchburg Virginia. Our hosts are The Rev. Chris Roussell, Rector of St. John's, the Rev. Benjamin Cowgill, Deacon & Curate and Director of Youth and Family Ministries, Sarah Wetherly. Join us as we discuss our faith, our theology, and our life in Christ!
This first season we will be discussing the Spiritual Disciplines! We’ll talk about everything from fasting and almsgiving, to contemplative prayer and lectio divina. Find out more at stjohnslynchburg.org/podcast.