Rev'd Up for Sunday

St. Mark's New Canaan
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Listen along as the priests of St. Mark's, New Canaan (Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy) gear up for Sunday. Each week the preacher will lead a discussion of the scriptures of the day. Sometimes irreverent, often witty, always filled with love for our Lord: don’t miss these conversations about the questions, mysteries, and hope these three find in the Bible. 

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    "A Come to Jesus Moment" John 7:37-39 | Episode 260

    We've never discussed THIS lesson before! Our Pentecost episode explores Jesus’ dramatic proclamation during the Feast of Booths: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me.” The clergy unpack the rich symbolism behind the water rituals of the festival, the imagery of rivers flowing from the temple, and the deep connection between Spirit, baptism, wisdom, and transformation. Along the way, they reflect on how authentic spiritual life is not simply about inward experience, but about living water flowing outward into the world through transformed lives and communities. Questions for Further Discussion Themes and Application Why do you think water is such a powerful image for the Holy Spirit alongside more familiar Pentecost symbols like fire and wind?The clergy reflect on spiritual life as something that must flow outward into the world. What does “outflow” look like in real life?What did you make of the discussion around Jesus acting strategically or unexpectedly during the festival? Does it change how you picture him? Personal Reflection Do you tend to focus more on inward spiritual experience or outward action? Why?How do you personally understand the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life?What emotions surfaced for you while hearing this Pentecost conversation? Broader Spiritual Considerations How can Christian communities avoid becoming spiritually inward-focused or emotionally performative?What do you think the church most needs to hear from Pentecost right now: fire, wind, or water?How does the image of rivers flowing from the temple connect with themes of healing, justice, and renewal in the world today?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

    36 min

  2. 12 MAY

    "Unity and Participation" John 17:1-11 | Episode 259

    This week’s Gospel lesson gives us Jesus’ “high priestly prayer” from John 17, the final movement of his farewell discourse before the crucifixion. Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy discuss unity, divine participation, mystical knowing, and the kind of God Jesus reveals through his life. Questions for Further Discussion Themes and Application Jesus prays “that they may be one.” What do you think true unity looks like without erasing individuality?The conversation contrasts “religion” with direct experience of God. Where have you seen faith become more about systems, appearances, or rules than transformation?The clergy repeatedly return to love as the center of Christian life. What practices help keep love at the center instead of letting fear, outrage, or division take over? Personal Reflection Peter speaks about “tasting the banana instead of studying the peel.” What experiences have made faith feel real or alive to you?How comfortable are you with mystery in faith? Do you prefer certainty, or are you learning to live with wonder?What would it mean for you to participate more intentionally in “the divine life” this week? Broader Spiritual Considerations The clergy discuss mystical theology and contemplative spirituality. Why do you think those traditions often feel unfamiliar or intimidating to modern Christians?What role does imitation play in spiritual formation? How are Christians shaped by the lives they observe?If eternal life begins now through communion with God, how should that affect the way Christians live day to day?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

    41 min

  3. 5 MAY

    "What is the Holy Spirit?" John 14:15-21 | Episode 258

    This week, the clergy continue to explore Jesus’ farewell discourse and the promise of the Holy Spirit as Advocate, Companion, and Spirit of Truth. Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy wrestle with the deep mystery of mutual indwelling (God in us, and us in God) and ponder what it looks like to live a life shaped by divine love, sustained by the Spirit, and rooted in truth that sets us free. Questions for Further Discussion Themes and Application What do you think Jesus means when he says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments”? Does that feel like a condition, an invitation, or something else?How do you experience the Holy Spirit—as comforter, advocate, truth-teller, or something different? Which image resonates most with you right now?How does the idea of “mutual indwelling” (God in us, we in God) challenge or expand your understanding of your relationship with God? Personal Reflection When have you felt most aware of God’s presence within you rather than “out there”?Have you ever experienced something in community (worship, service, conversation) that felt like “catching” faith rather than being taught it? What was that like?What are some “untrue” things you might be telling yourself that an Advocate—one who defends and tells the truth—would challenge? Broader Spiritual Considerations What role does truth play in spiritual life today, especially in a world full of competing narratives and “versions” of truth?The episode suggests that the Spirit works both personally and communally. What happens when we overemphasize one at the expense of the other?In what ways might the Spirit of Truth be at work beyond traditional religious boundaries? How do we recognize it?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

    45 min

  4. 28 APR

    "Is Jesus the Only Way?" John 14:1-14 | Episode 257

    One of the most famous pieces of scripture is also one of the most divisive! Elizabeth Garnsey and John Kennedy take a closer look at what Jesus means by calling himself "the way, and the truth, and the life" while providing a wider and more compassionate lens. They also shift our focus from God above to God within. Questions for Further Discussion Themes and Application What do you make of the image of “many dwelling places”? Does it speak more to heaven, the soul, community, or all three?How might Jesus’ statement “I am the way” be understood as an invitation into divine love rather than a weapon of exclusion?What does it mean to pray “in Jesus’ name” if it is about aligning with Christ’s spirit rather than using a formula? Personal Reflection Have you ever experienced a sense of God’s presence within you rather than only outside of you? What was that like?Is there a room in your life you keep closed off from God or others? What would it take to open the door?When life becomes difficult, do you tend to pray for escape, endurance, wisdom, healing, or something else? Why? Broader Spiritual Considerations Why do you think exclusionary interpretations of religion can feel so powerful or appealing to some people?How do contemplative practices help people experience faith beyond argument or ideology?How do we hold together mystery, conviction, and humility when talking about salvation or truth?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

    38 min

  5. 21 APR

    "Rediscovering the Good Shepherd" John 10:1-10 | Episode 256

    What does it mean to hear Christ’s voice amid so many competing voices today? Elizabeth Garnsey and John Kennedy unpack how Jesus speaks into systems of false leadership, fear, scarcity, and exploitation while offering a radically different vision: a life marked by trust, belonging, courage, and abundance. Questions for Further Discussion Themes and Application Jesus says the sheep know the shepherd’s voice. What voices most shape your decisions right now, and how do you discern which ones lead toward life? The episode contrasts leaders who exploit with leaders who serve. What qualities do you believe define trustworthy leadership in church, community, or public life? The clergy discuss scarcity as both a mindset and a social choice. Where do you see scarcity narratives shaping people’s behavior, and how might generosity interrupt them?  Personal Reflection When in your life have you felt “called by name,” deeply known, seen, or guided?Where are you longing for green pasture right now: rest, purpose, healing, belonging, peace, or something else?Is there one next step you sense the Good Shepherd inviting you toward this week? Broader Spiritual Considerations How can Christian communities embody abundant life in visible, practical ways for their neighborhoods?The clergy emphasize that every generation must rediscover a better way of living together. What might this generation be called to reimagine? How might churches help people move from fear-based faith to love-based faith?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

    31 min

  6. 14 APR

    "The Road to Emmaus" Luke 24:13-35 | Episode 255

    Imagine Jesus joining you for a long walk and you don't even recognize him! Peter Walsh and John Kennedy explore the post-resurrection story of the road to Emmaus. What does it teach us that Jesus isn't recognized until he breaks bread with his friends, how did Luke's community make sense of this deeply Jewish story and Messiah, and how does this story mirror those of Adam & Eve or Abraham & Sarah? Questions for Further Discussion Themes and Application This story moves from scripture to table, from Word to Sacrament. Why might both understanding and experience matter in faith?Hospitality becomes the doorway to revelation when the disciples invite the stranger to stay. How can welcoming others open us to God?Once they recognize Jesus, they immediately return to community. Why is faith so often completed in shared witness rather than private insight alone? Personal Reflection Have you ever realized later that something sacred was happening in a moment you almost missed?What practices help your heart “burn within you” spiritually: prayer, study, service, worship, beauty, silence, community?Is there someone you are being invited to welcome, listen to, or walk beside this week? Broader Spiritual Considerations What does it mean that Jesus is recognized not through power, but through shared bread?How might churches become more like the Emmaus road: places where people can bring grief, ask questions, and discover new hope?If Christ can be present unrecognized among strangers, what does that imply about how we treat the people we meet each day?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

    34 min

  7. 7 APR

    "Peace Through Locked Doors" John 20:19-31 | Episode 254

    Even for ancient people, this week's story isn't anything they would've had a category for! Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy once again explore the story of "Doubting Thomas". How does this reading explain the slowness of understanding the resurrection in daily life, what are we to make of Jesus' body still showing his wounds, and what is the peace that Jesus promised? Questions for Further Discussion Themes and Application What does it mean that resurrection begins behind locked doors rather than out in the open? Why do you think John emphasizes belief over “faith” language? What kind of belief is being invited here?What does it look like to live as a “resurrection community” in a world described as addicted to violence or despair? Personal Reflection Do you resonate more with Thomas’ need to see and touch, or with those who came to believe without seeing? Why?What does it mean for you personally to “know something in your knower” rather than just intellectually understand it?How do you respond to the idea that Jesus returns still bearing wounds? What does that say to your own scars? Broader Spiritual Considerations  What might it mean for the Church today to take seriously that “belief unfolds slowly” rather than instantly?In a culture drawn to spectacle and “signs,” how do we cultivate a faith that rests in relationship rather than proof?If Easter is not just celebration but activation, what would it look like for churches to emphasize “living resurrection” as much as proclaiming it? Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

    42 min

  8. 31 MAR

    "Where's Jesus?" (Easter) John 20:1-18 | Episode 253

    An empty tomb, confused disciples, and a grieving woman searching for her Lord. Diving into the Easter Gospel, Peter Walsh and John Kennedy explore how John’s Gospel frames the resurrection as the dawn of a new creation, how people then and now are looking for Jesus, and what is so important about recognizing Mary Magdalene as the first witness to the risen Christ. Plus, John shares his real-life story of a UFO sighting! Questions for Further Discussion Themes and Application How does the idea of the resurrection as a “new creation” (a new Genesis week) reshape how we understand Easter beyond just a miracle story?What do you make of the different ways the disciples “see” the empty tomb? Have you experienced moments where you saw something—but didn’t yet understand it?How does Jesus being both “with the Father” and “with us” stretch or challenge your understanding of God’s presence? Personal Reflection When have you found yourself asking, “Where is Jesus?” What did that season feel like?What does the moment where Jesus says “Do not hold on to me” stir in you? Is there something in your life you’re being invited to release?Mary recognizes Jesus when he calls her by name. When have you felt personally “called” or known in your faith journey? Broader Spiritual Considerations  What does this passage suggest about the relationship between history and mystery in the Christian faith?How do we hold together the uniqueness of Jesus with openness to truth and wisdom in other traditions?How does the elevation of Mary Magdalene as the first witness challenge cultural or religious assumptions—both then and now?Learn more about St. Mark's at https://www.stmarksnewcanaan.org

    42 min
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About

Listen along as the priests of St. Mark's, New Canaan (Peter Walsh, Elizabeth Garnsey, and John Kennedy) gear up for Sunday. Each week the preacher will lead a discussion of the scriptures of the day. Sometimes irreverent, often witty, always filled with love for our Lord: don’t miss these conversations about the questions, mysteries, and hope these three find in the Bible. 

Information

  • Creator
    St. Mark's New Canaan
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    262
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Rev'd Up for Sunday
  • Show Website
    Rev'd Up for Sunday

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