The Parsonage Files

Richard Birk
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  • CHRISTIANITY
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The Parsonage Files is all about bringing the fun back to church! Each week, twin brothers Rick and Rob Birk share fascinating, funny, and sometimes surprising stories from church history, along with quirky and uplifting news from the world of faith. From inspiring moments to unusual tales you’ve probably never heard, it’s a joyful mix of laughter, learning, and a fresh look at the church you thought you knew.

  1. 5 DAYS AGO

    Did a Pope Really Have a Baby? The Legend of Pope Joan

    Pope Joan, a female pope, and a baby born in the streets of Rome. Did a pope really have a baby, or is this Catholic Church legend pure fiction? If it is fiction, why did church writers insist it was true? In this episode of The Parsonage Files, Pastor Rick and his brother Rob tell the Pope Joan story and then stress-test it. The legend says Joan disguises herself as “John Anglicus,” rises through the church in Rome, and gets elected pope after Pope Leo IV dies. Then the story hits its famous moment. A procession. Labor pains. And the pope giving birth in front of a crowd. Then we ask the questions that make historians squint. Could a pope hide a pregnancy while surrounded by attendants. Did popes even ride horseback in public. Why do the first written accounts show up about 400 years later. And what about the “proofs” people point to, like a procession route that avoids a street or the chair with a hole in it. You will also hear where the legend collides with real history and Benedict III. Timestamps 0:01 A papal procession and a shocking birth 3:11 Welcome to The Parsonage Files 4:19 Joan’s origin and why she disguises herself 7:55 “John Anglicus” arrives in Rome 9:50 The legend’s fast track to cardinal 11:57 Pope Leo IV dies and a new pope is chosen 13:08 The reign length claim and the hidden pregnancy 14:23 Could anyone miss it for nine months 15:49 Did popes ride horses in public 16:35 The 400-year gap and the first written accounts 18:18 What the legend says happened next 20:04 The chair story and other “proofs” 20:51 Matching the legend to real papal history 23:21 Closing and invitation

    25 min

  2. 17 JAN

    The Cape Girardeau UFO Crash of 1941

    In 1941, a small town pastor is called out to pray for the victims of an aircraft crash. The thing is, the aircraft that crashed wasn't American. In fact, it wasn't even from this planet.

    47 min

  3. 3 JAN

    Did a Time Slip Happen in Kersey, England? The 1957 Royal Navy Cadets

    Three Royal Navy cadets walk into Kersey, Suffolk on a bright Sunday morning in October 1957. It is a simple map-reading drill. They have a checkpoint and a deadline. Then the church bells stop, the village goes silent, and the world feels wrong. In this episode of The Parsonage Files, you hear the full Kersey Time Slip story as William Laing, Michael Crowley, and Ray Baker move through a version of the village that does not match 1957. Modern details seem to vanish. The St. Mary’s church tower is suddenly missing. A sweet shop window looks like a butcher shop, with pig carcasses hanging on iron hooks. Two of the boys feel sick and watched. They leave fast. From a hill, they look back, and Kersey is normal again. Two men remember the strange details for years. One remembers nothing unusual at all. Was it stress and fatigue playing tricks on their minds, or did they witness a brief “time slip” that snapped back in minutes? If you like time slip cases, British mysteries, and eyewitness stories that leave you arguing with your own brain, this one will stick with you. Keywords: Kersey Time Slip, Kersey Suffolk, 1957 mystery, Royal Navy cadets, St Mary’s church tower, retrocognition, time slip story, England paranormal, eyewitness account, strange village story

    33 min

  4. 28/12/2025

    Before You Try a Ouija Board, Watch This (What I’d Say as a Pastor)

    In this episode, Rob and Rick discuss the possibility of contacting "spirits."

    43 min

  5. 15/12/2025

    Close Encounters of the Mince Pie Kind

    Christmas. 1979. Snow on the ground. A normal morning in a small English council house… until three glowing, winged “gentlemen” float through the back door, trash an artificial Christmas tree like a pack of cats, politely announce “Only one Lord,” and then sprint to their UFO with *mince pies in hand* because a burning match scares them half to death. Yep. That’s the story. In this episode of *The Parsonage Files**, Pastor Rick (Groveport United Methodist Church) and his twin brother Rob unpack the legendary “**Mince Pie Martians**” case from the West Midlands—an odd little Christmas encounter full of fishbowl helmets, tiny head-lamps, a “universal translator,” a zapped guard dog named Hobo, missing pie pans, and one unforgettable lesson: **if you go outside to investigate a strange light… shut the door behind you.* You’ll hear: The full play-by-play of Jean Hingley’s bizarre encounter Why the “aliens” seemed to *hate* her Christmas tree The moment they start talking about *Jesus* (and why that’s the weirdest part) The funniest side argument you didn’t know you needed: *Foghat vs. “Fall Cat”* If you love **weird Christmas stories**, **UFO folklore**, and the kind of brother-to-brother banter that feels like you’re sitting in the room with them, this one’s for you. 👉 *Drop a comment:* Do you think these were aliens… angels… fairies… or just the strangest home intruders in history? 👍 *Like* the video if it made you laugh. 🔔 *Subscribe* for more odd stories that don’t fit in a Sunday sermon. And if you’re looking for a church home, you’re invited to worship with us at *Groveport United Methodist Church**—online or in person—**Sundays at 10:30 a.m.* --- Hashtags to reach more weirdos like us: #UFO #Aliens #UFOSighting #TrueUFOStory #Paranormal #CreepyStories #StrangeButTrue #HighStrangeness #AlienEncounter #Conspiracy #WeirdHistory #MincePieMartians #TrueStory #Unexplained #mystery #christianpodcast

    46 min

  6. 07/12/2025

    They Do What?

    Ever heard of a Christmas tradition that involves a pooping nativity figure, a log that “poops” candy, 13 sneaky Christmas trolls, and a rap battle with a dead horse head? Yeah… welcome to The Parsonage Files. In this episode, Pastor Rick (Groveport UMC) and his brother Rob dive into some of the strangest Christmas traditions from around the world—stories that were way too weird to ever make it into a Sunday sermon: 🎄 Icelandic Yule Lads – 13 chaotic Christmas trolls with names like Spoon Licker, Door Slammer, and Meat Hook 🐈 The Giant Christmas Cat – the Yule Cat that “eats” people who don’t get new clothes 💩 El Caganer – the hidden “pooper” in Catalonian nativity sets (yes, really) 🌲 The Christmas Log (Tió de Nadal) – kids lovingly “feed” a cute log… then beat it until it poops candy 🐴 Mari Lwyd in Wales – a decorated horse skull on a stick that shows up at your door for a Christmas rap battle and drinks Along the way, Rick and Rob joke, fact-check internet myths (like “Christmas is just a stolen pagan holiday”), and show how faith, history, and weird human traditions all get mixed together in December. If you like: strange history 🧠 slightly creepy Christmas vibes 👻🎄 pastors who don’t take themselves too seriously 😂 and stories that make you say, “There’s no way that’s real”… …then you’ll feel right at home here. 👉 Hit play, drop your favorite weird Christmas tradition in the comments, and subscribe for more odd stories of faith, church history, and holiday chaos. #TheParsonageFiles #WeirdChristmasTraditions #YuleLads #MariLwyd #Caganer #ChristmasLog #ChristianPodcast #FunnyPastor #ChurchHistory #GroveportUMC

    50 min

  7. 28/11/2025

    Miracle in Nebraska

    When is a coincidence just random chance… and when does it start to look like a miracle? In this episode of The Parsonage Files, we head to Beatrice, Nebraska, to revisit the true story of a small church that exploded on choir night—yet every single choir member was mysteriously running late. A nap that went too long.Homework that wouldn’t quite click.A letter that needed one more paragraph.Car trouble at the worst possible time.And yes… a ventriloquist with a last-minute delay. All small things. All on the same night. All keeping people out of the building when it blew apart. Was it luck? Was it timing? Was it God? Watch as we walk through this real-life near-disaster, unpack the chain of events that kept the choir safe, and explore what it might say about faith, prayer, and the way God works through “coincidence.” 🔔 If you enjoy true stories of faith, mystery, and the unexplained, subscribe to The Parsonage Files and never miss an episode. Keywords: Beatrice Nebraska church explosion, true miracle story, Christian mystery podcast, church coincidence story, choir saved from explosion, The Parsonage Files, faith and miracles, God’s protection story.

    35 min

  8. 22/11/2025

    The Flying Peanut: The Norwood UFO Incident

    Step back in time to 1949 and the strange skies over Norwood, Ohio. In The Flying Peanut: The Norwood UFO Incident, we dig into one of the most intriguing and overlooked UFO cases in American history — a peanut-shaped object caught in a powerful searchlight above suburban Cincinnati. In this video, we walk through what eyewitnesses reported that night, why the object earned the nickname “The Flying Peanut,” and how investigators like Leonard Stringfield helped turn the Norwood UFO Incident into a classic case in UFO lore. We’ll look at the role of the searchlight operator, local clergy, families on the ground, and the wider UFO flap happening in the late 1940s. Whether you’re a UFO researcher, a fan of 1940s history, or just curious about strange lights in the sky, this deep dive gives you timelines, context, and theories to help you decide for yourself what really happened over Norwood. If you enjoy this kind of historical UFO investigation, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this video with a fellow sky-watcher. Keywords: Norwood UFO Incident, Flying Peanut UFO, Norwood Searchlight Incident, Leonard Stringfield, 1949 UFO sighting, Cincinnati UFO, Ohio UFO history, classic UFO cases Hashtags:#NorwoodUFO #FlyingPeanut #UFOHistory #OhioUFO #Cincinnati #LeonardStringfield #UAP #1949 #UFOsighting #TrueUFOStories

    46 min
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About

The Parsonage Files is all about bringing the fun back to church! Each week, twin brothers Rick and Rob Birk share fascinating, funny, and sometimes surprising stories from church history, along with quirky and uplifting news from the world of faith. From inspiring moments to unusual tales you’ve probably never heard, it’s a joyful mix of laughter, learning, and a fresh look at the church you thought you knew.

Information

  • Creator
    Richard Birk
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Richard Birk
  • Show Website
    The Parsonage Files