Compass Podcast: Finding the spirituality in the day-to-day United Methodist Communications

Rediscover centering and spirituality with Andrew Lang on “Compass: Finding Spirituality in the Everyday.” Andrew Lang, a guiding voice in spiritual practices, shares transformative insights on integrating centering practices into daily life, overcoming the “dark night of the soul,” and finding creative ways to connect with our spirituality.

Listen in as Lang explains how centering practice can reshape our responses to life’s challenges and help build personalized spiritual rhythms. Whether grappling with the daily grind or seeking meaningful spiritual practices that fit your modern life, this episode offers practical wisdom and thoughtful reflections.

(00:00) Discovering spirituality in daily life with Andrew.

(04:39) Educator, non-profit worker, and spirituality advocate.

(09:13) Reflect on life, relationships, and behaviors honestly.

(11:29) Writing, drawing, and mapping express individual experiences.

(15:43) Embracing the spiritual connection of body and soul.

(18:31) Centering defined as finding alignment in the body.

(21:29) Physical and mental practice in different sizes.

(24:35) Glorification of dark night of the soul.

(26:28) Measuring effectiveness in spiritual practice for connection.

(30:32) Variety of meditation practices including box breathing.

(36:10) Prayer can be flexible and creative.

(37:43) Upcoming workshops on practice and self-improvement.

(40:03) Cultivating everyday spirituality for meaningful stories.

Find episode notes and more from Compass at www.umc.org/compass

Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications.

Curious about maintaining compassion and engaging in meaningful conversations in your daily life? On Compass 133, join Ryan Dunn as he speaks with John Pavlovitz about finding common ground and exploring spirituality amidst life’s challenges. Discover how to navigate differences with empathy, find solace in nature, and embrace your faith journey authentically.

John shares his personal journey from questioning his Christian identity to embracing a compassionate approach that transcends religious and ideological boundaries. We’ll explore the need for human connection beyond political or religious labels and John’s latest endeavors including his work on grief, his online community Empathetic People Network, and his new book “Worth Fighting For.”

John Pavlovitz is a pastor, writer, and activist from Wake Forest, North Carolina. In the past several years his blog, Stuff That Needs To Be Said, has reached a diverse worldwide audience. A 20-year veteran in the trenches of local church ministry, John is committed to equality, diversity, and justice. His books include:  If God Is Love, Don’t Be a Jerk, A Bigger Table, Hope and Other Superpowers, Low, Rise, Worth Fighting For and Stuff That Needs to Be Said.

In this episode:

(00:00) Compass with John Pavlovitz: Finding common ground.

(05:33) Exhausted people need empathy and encouragement.

(09:18) Curiosity and compassion breed meaningful conversations.

(10:59) Impactful online conversations reach a wide audience.

(15:12) Spiritual history, seeking compassion.

(20:43) Church adapting to modern challenges and changes.

(22:48) Challenging American evangelical church, seeking Jesus’ teachings.

(27:20) Embrace curiosity and find beauty in ordinary things.

(29:19) Empathetic People Network offers inclusive social platform.

Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications.

Find more episodes and show notes at www.umc.org/compass

We’re exploring a pivotal moment in the life of the United Methodist Church—the historic 2024 General Conference held in Charlotte, North Carolina. This conference marked a significant turning point, as 93% of the delegates voted to lift long-standing bans on the ordination of LGBTQ+ clergy and the hosting of same-sex weddings by clergy and churches. Our episode will explore the profound impact of these changes, featuring reactions from a spectrum of church leaders and participants, including the first openly gay bishop, Karen Oliveto, and voices like Bishop Kennetha Bingham-Tsai and Reverend David Meredith. Join us as we navigate through these transformative decisions, the celebrations that followed, and the renewed authenticity they bring to the church’s mission of open hearts, open minds, and open doors. Whether you’re a member of the United Methodist community or a seeker of spiritual understanding, this episode offers a deep dive into the intersection of faith, inclusivity, and social change.

Compass: Finding spirituality in the everyday is a production of United Methodist Communications. For more episodes and show notes, visit: umc.org/compass

The United Methodist Church is going to be in the news due to the big General Conference Gathering. Here’s why.

ALSO, we’re going to miss a couple of full episodes due to the big event. We’ll be back with new episodes on May 15, 2024.

Join us as Dr. Richard Beck discusses mysticism in daily life, and how enchantment can transform our view in “Hunting Magic Eels.”

Feeling world-weary? Richard discusses how moral beauty & acts of kindness can awaken awe. Explore the mystical in the mundane on the Compass Podcast!

Richard is a Professor of Psychology at Abilene Christian University, and he is the author of the popular blog Experimental Theology: The Thoughts, Articles and Essays of Richard Beck. His latest book is called “Hunting Magic Eels: Enchanted Faith in a Skeptical Age… it is out now. As an experimental psychologist and a practicing Christian, Richard attempts “to integrate theology with the experimental social sciences.”

In this episode:

(00:00) Compass podcast embraces awe and mystery.

(06:15) Enchantment focuses on experiential perspective, openness to surprise.

(07:44) Yearning for enchantment amid shifting religious beliefs.

(12:12) Vocational crisis due to moral questioning.

(14:48) Natural beauty not main trigger for awe.

(18:28) Small local churches offer moral beauty weekly.

(22:38) Biking to work, sunrise, prayerful start.

(24:42) Embracing the little way in daily life.

(30:16) Criticism about depending solely on God’s aid.

(33:39) Using poetry to find meaning in life.

(34:58) Seek joy, God’s witness, widen divine encounters.

More episodes and show notes available at umc.org/compass

Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications.

Are you sometimes afraid to ask questions about faith and spirituality? Does doubt scare you a little bit? Do you have some questions you’re skeptical about ever finding the answers to?

Debie Thomas’s approach to faith as a storied theology challenges the conventional beliefs. Her insights offer a refreshing perspective on the dynamic nature of faith, inviting us to embrace our evolving spiritual journeys.

Debie is the author of “A Faith of Many Rooms”. She is also a columnist and contributing editor for The Christian Century. Debie’s perspective is one of an explorer, a believer, a doubter, and a wonderer.

In this episode:

(00:00) Welcome to Compass

(04:26) Questioning God’s gender and accountability for events.

(07:20) Interpreting ancient stories and understanding their context.

(12:38) Faith is a mystery that sparked curiosity.

(14:16) Shift from self-driven faith to communal spirituality.

(17:06) Support from others sustains me on journey.

(21:46) Creating opportunities for intergenerational connections is beautiful.

(23:50) We want stories with struggle, growth, support.

(27:04) Compass community explores spirituality, recommends podcast episodes.

For notes and more episodes: www.umc.org/compass

Compass is a production of United Methodist Communications.