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It's Good Friday, and my favorite day in the liturgical calendar. So we use Cole Arthur Riley's Black Liturgies to reflect on the day and the times. May you be a blessing and receive the blessings of this day.

I got to speak with Carol Cropp about the life changing events that made her center her core values and change her life. She calls it the Shampoo moment. As homework from this week's episode, here are three things you can do: 1) What are your core values? What are the rules that guide your life's choices? 2) Prayer exercise - "Lord prepare me for what is next, where you are are calling me to go, who you are calling me to be." 3) Find a friend or a stranger, have them listen to you talk about yourself for a bit and then they repeat back to you what wonderful things they heard. Then switch! If you are interested in coming on the pod, please sign up send me an email [email protected]. I can't wait to speak with you about how you are following God's call in your life.

This week we speak with Haley Bankey, Executive Director of Gathering of Leaders where we met.. Haley runs this program and is a wonderful lay leader in our church creating spaces for leaders to shine. This week's homework assignments are: 1. Watch Disney movies for their theological impact. 2. Take a walk without headphones and just notice what comes up for you. What you see and how your own voice might have space to speak or to listen.

In this episode we relook at the second creation story. Yes there are two! And we just read from the Bible NRSV, the old version of it. And I provide some commentary. Because, well it is an episode of Pursuing Call. The next in the series we will look at the work of Phyllis Trible and talk about her article that explores a Feminist perspective on the story. In Part 3 we will look at how that plays out in how Christians think about and understand sin. Finally in Part 4, I want us to think critically about what we believe about sin and repentance. The goal isn't that we think the same, but that you get clear about what you really believe and that it might be in alignment.

This is just a quick self reflection about my lenten practice this year. Love on yourself!

In this episode we continue the conversation with Aly Halpert about her experience of songwriting. During 2022, I was feeling some grief and my friend Kimberly Gordy (check out her episode ⁠here⁠), suggested the song ⁠Loosen⁠. It has become for me a grounding chant with the movement of Rev. Julie. In this conversation we talk about Aly's journey as a musician and dig deeper into the creative process. We end the episode with this question: What would happen if you met your current struggle with compassion? What might be birthed from that? Share your thoughts by emailing me, your host, Tamara Plummer @pursuingcall on instagram or [email protected]. Visit the website, pursuingcall.com to learn more about my theological meanderings. Looking for more resources on anything we've talked about in this or other episodes? Check out my store at ⁠https://bookshop.org/shop/pursuingcall

In this episode I had the privilege of speaking with Aly Halpert about her experience of songwriting. During 2022, I was feeling some grief and my friend Kimberly Gordy (check out her episode here), suggested the song Loosen. It has become for me a grounding chant with the movement of Rev. Julie. In this conversation we talk about Aly's journey as a musician, engaging grief, judaism and so much more. We end the episode with this question: What are the ritualistic practices that you engage in order to engage your grief and allow space for something more to be birthed? Share your thoughts by emailing me, your host, Tamara Plummer @pursuingcall on instagram or [email protected]. Visit the website, pursuingcall.com to learn more about my theological meanderings. Looking for more resources on anything we've talked about in this or other episodes? Check out my store at https://bookshop.org/shop/pursuingcall

This week we get to speak with Rev. Hannah Lundberg (@rev.hannah on TikTok) about her work as a young Queer woman pastor in Ann Arbor, MI and her inspiration to take on the challenge of having theological messages on TikTok. If you haven't checked out her videos about God's love and grace, we highly suggest you check it out. We also talk a lot about parish ministry, why ordination and finding your congregational gifts. Reflection Question: How can you serve a particular community? What gift can be given in the particular that actually lends itself to the universal? Share your thoughts on instagram @pursuingcall or email: [email protected]. Visit the website, pursuingcall.com to learn more about my theological meanderings. If you want to be interviewed, please don't hesitate to reach out and we can set up a time to chat. Support this work and support a local book store! You can't go wrong: Check out my store at⁠ https://bookshop.org/shop/pursuingcall⁠ You can also just send me a donation directly - $bassoon12 on Cashapp or @Tamara-Plummer on Venmo.

In this week's episode we get to learn more about the spiritual path of Rev. Callie Swanlund (https://www.callieswanlund.com/). In part 1, we learn about how her path to ordination and how she came to see herself as leading in unconventional spaces of worship and community. Homework: Find time to take retreat. What is retreat? Retreat, as Callie discussed is time set apart. What you do in particular is up to you, but mostly set time apart, not to be particularly productive. It is an opportunity to let the Spirit speak and for you to process what God might be already up to in your life. Do retreat, in whatever way feels good for you. This week take a 30 minute retreat. Set time in the next few months for a half day of retreat Within in the next 6 months find a day of retreat time. Want to answer this question and tell me your story, please reach out. I would love to explore how you are navigating the space between dreaming and arriving. Share your thoughts on instagram @pursuingcall or email: [email protected]. Visit the website, pursuingcall.com to learn more about my theological meanderings. Buy a present for a friend, support this work and support a local book store! You can't go wrong: Check out my store at⁠ https://bookshop.org/shop/pursuingcall⁠

In this week's episode we get to learn more about the spiritual path of Rev. Callie Swanlund (https://www.callieswanlund.com/). In part 1, we learn about how her path to ordination and how she came to see herself as leading in unconventional spaces of worship and community. Homework: Where and how do you worship? Want to answer this question and tell me your story, please reach out. I would love to explore how you are navigating the space between dreaming and arriving. Share your thoughts on instagram @pursuingcall or email: [email protected]. Visit the website, pursuingcall.com to learn more about my theological meanderings. Buy a present for a friend, support this work and support a local book store! You can't go wrong: Check out my store at⁠ https://bookshop.org/shop/pursuingcall⁠

This week we continue our conversation with Gabrielle Rivero and her work of Express and Release. We explore her path to engaging in what dance can look like on all bodies and how it can be a practice of healing and connection to God. You can learn more about her and her work by visiting ⁠https://www.expressnrelease.com/⁠ For journaling: 1. What is your own relationship to your body? 2. How can you engage your body more in your spiritual practice? If you want to be interviewed, please reach out and tell me your story. I would love to explore the journey with you. Share your thoughts by emailing me, your host, Tamara Plummer @pursuingcall on instagram or [email protected]. Visit the website, pursuingcall.com to learn more about what I got going on in the world of theological thought. Buy a present for a friend, support this work and support a local book store! You can't go wrong: Check out my store at⁠ https://bookshop.org/shop/pursuingcall⁠

This week I had the privilege of speaking with Gabrielle Rivero and her work of Express and Release. We explore her path to engaging in what dance can look like on all bodies and how it can be a practice of healing and connection to God. You can learn more about her and her work by visiting https://www.expressnrelease.com/ For journaling: 1. What is your own relationship to your body? 2. How can you engage your body more in your spiritual practice? If you want to be interviewed, please reach out and tell me your story. I would love to explore the journey with you. Share your thoughts by emailing me, your host, Tamara Plummer @pursuingcall on instagram or [email protected]. Visit the website, pursuingcall.com to learn more about what I got going on in the world of theological thought. Buy a present for a friend, support this work and support a local book store! You can't go wrong: Check out my store at https://bookshop.org/shop/pursuingcall

Rev. Deacon Catherine Cooke is the woman that first listened to me talk about a call to ordained ministry and she taught me how to be in alignment with my theology regardless of ordination status. In this conversation, we learn more about her life and ministry.

This is the final episode in our series for Holy Week. Today we conclude by exploring Queer Theology and my loose attempt as sharing how Queer Theology helped me understand salvation. This presentation is grounded in the work of Patrick S. Cheng and his book An Introduction to Queer Theology: Radical Love Share your thoughts by emailing me, your host, Tamara Plummer @pursuingcall on instagram or [email protected]. Visit the website, pursuingcall.com to learn more about what I got going on in the world of theological thought. You can go to my bookshop and order the latest edition today. https://bookshop.org/shop/pursuingcall⁠

Action and Reflection: REST