You're On Mute

For our first ever live recording we are coming at you from the Wild Women Retreat at Camp Lutheridge!

Sorry for the delay dear listeners! But it will be worth the wait. Today Pastors Mary and Elise welcome Ginger Cutrell to share her experience of being a woman with a transgender experience. Ginger opens up about her story and helps us navigate how pastors can better support their congregants and advocate for all of God's children!

Rabbi Lizzie of Miskahn Chicago is back! We continue our conversation about Christian and Jewish relationships, the difference and commonalities of our faiths and dive into the Israel/Palestine conflict.

Pastors Elise and Mary welcome the wonderful Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann from Mishkan Chicago! It is such a full and compelling conversation about the work of spiritual leadership, building community, interfaith partnerships, and diving into historical and current conflicts in the middle east that affect so many. We barely scratch the surface of what Rabbi Lizzi has to offer and we can't wait to have her on again soon!

Pr Elise and Pr Mary welcome long time family friend and great pastor, Rob Myalis to talk about the future of the church, the pastor shortage, and where we go from here.

Pastors Mary and Elise talk Thanksgiving, talking politics over dinner, leading congregations in this crazy time and our reactions to the presidential election.

Pastor AJ Houseman joins Pastors Elise and Mary to share her story as well as talk all things podcasting! How is podcasting shaping modern ministry? Take a listen and find out!

Pastors Elise and Mary are thrilled to have Anne Stewart and Thais Carter from Princeton Theological Seminary on to talk about the executive leadership program, Iron Sharpening Iron! We talk about the programs history, how it works, as well as women in leadership, seminary education and Elise gushes for about 20 minutes about how much the program means to her! If you want more info on this amazing visit the website: isi.ptsem.edu

In our 20th (!) episode we talk about our experience helping to lead the Wild Women Retreat at Camp Lutheridge back in March. We cover what our Bible studies were about but also different body image issues we both have faced in our lives.

In this episode Pastors Elise and Mary talk about pastoral transitions and new calls!

Pastors Elise and Mary fangirl over pastor and long time professor Karoline Lewis as she talks about the challenges facing many preachers today and how to navigate those challenges and bring truthful and faithful preaching to our congregations!

The amazing and inspiring Rev. Carla Christopher joins us to tell her story and gives some great information about the Commision for a Renewed Lutheran Church which she co-chairs. And not to brag, but she told us we were influencers, we've never felt cooler.

Pastors Mary and Elise discuss the tough topic of gun violence and how the Church can be a part of the conversation and solution.

Pastors Elise and Mary are joined by long time family friends, Gail, Ari and Noa Stern-Frede! We talk about our seperate trips to Israel/ Palestine/ The Holy Land and what they meant to us from our Christian and Jewish perspectives.

The moment you've all been waiting for! Deacon Sarah Bowers joins Pastors Elise and Mary to talk about all of her amazing projects and passions. From being a deacon to a reluctant farmer's wife to a crucial part of her synod's staff we get to chat with one of our favorite people. Enjoy!

Pastors Elise and Mary catch up and talk about what continuing ed they have been diving into this summer! Everything from Christianity and evolution to hippies camping out together gets discussed! Shoot us an email to tell us what you've been learning this summer! [email protected]

Pastors Elise and Mary hit the road to the South Carolina Synod Assembly to interview folks who have gathered there. They asked everyone TWO questions: What do you wish the church would stop doing? And what do you wish the church would start doing? They got some really interesting and diverse answers! Just a heads up due to the environment (and Elise's limited editing abilities) the audio can be a little rough at certain points especially from day one. You can skip to about 45 minutes in for day two's interviews which have much better sound quality!

Pastors Elise and Mary discuss how the church faces or doesn't face trauma. Both internal trauma as well as the trauma we see happening in the world.

The wonderful Robin Pingilley joins Pastors Elise and Mary on our 10th (!!!!!) episode to share her journey; both in her call and seminary journey. Robin and Pastor Elise bond over their shared love of the Book of Concord (nerd alerts!) and Jesus' humanity. After our talk with Robin you get to hear Pastors Elise and Mary fangirl over Robin as well as marvel at all the conversation held beyond our racial differences. (A side note about the audio: it's not great this episode. But Elise sent Mary new headphones so it should be better next time!)

Pastors Elise and Mary talk through possible answers to the church's age old question, "where are all the young people!?" Well also just go off on tangents. Enjoy!