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Rev. Aaron James and Rev. Paige Wolfanger

Two progressive pastors (and many guests!) discuss scripture, real life, and whatever else inspires them. This podcast comes from First Congregational Church of Dundee, IL, and The Congregational Church of Batavia, IL with pastors Rev. Aaron James and Rev. Paige Wolfanger. We represent loving, joyful congregations that encourages us all to get together, get inspired, and get to work.

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20 episodes
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Avg 36 min
English

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Wednesday · 35 min
In This Together (Bible Study)
Two different Fall Series, two different (very different) scripture passages, but a lot in common this week, as we explore the threads that run throughout our passage from Matthew and then Galatians. There we find core ideas about authority, identity, and community, and how these things come together in the Christian project. It's a bit messy, but then real life is. Dive in with us, and see what we can discover together.
September 16 · 32 min
Love at Work in Real Life (Bible Study)
Today, the rubber really hits the road on both of our Fall Sermon Series tracks. Aaron and the good folks in Dundee hear the good news of the work SEVA does for bringing sightedness to those in need around the world, paired with multiple stories of how that is central to Jesus' ministry, too. And the Batavians hear the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, and ask, "What if this is not just about grace, but about actual economic justice in the real world?" (Hint: It is.) Join us for Good News in real life.
September 10 · 47 min
Rejoicing and Mercy - Or Else! (Bible Study)
It feels that way sometimes, doesn't it? That the rejoicing, the forgiveness, are commands for Christian life, and not following through is a danger. But that is a misreading of not just the texts we have this week, but of the entire tradition of the faith. Aaron starts out with the Good News, that from our faith tradition's very beginning, we have understood the presence of God, the purpose of human life, to be JOY. And the parable Paige is looking at this week, as difficult as it is, is also about living in that joy, that freedom, that place of relationship, through letting mercy transform us. We hope you can listen this week, as we dive into joyful living, spiritual consequences, and the witness of our faith tradition to who God is, and who we are.
September 1 · 40 min
Sowing Love Everywhere (Bible Study)
The "-ber" months are upon us, which means new sermon series at both churches. The Dundee church is waiting to hear Good News, love at work in real life, and the Batavia congregation is looking at the lectionary track, which is an amazing run of parables. The Good News starts on Sunday with a look at the late, great Dolly Parton, and the way she lived love into the world in ways big and small. And in Batavia, we ask with his disciples why Jesus insists on teaching in parables, which seem to both reveal and conceal at the same time. As the Fall arrives, there will be great stories, love scattered willy nilly, and Good News afoot.
August 27 · 43 min
We're Back! (Just In Time To Wrap Up Summer)
Well, it's been a hot second since we've posted. (And by "hot second" we mean two months.) Thank you for your patience as Paige recovered from an ankle injury and the surgery that was necessary. But we ARE back, just in time to close out both our Summer Series'. And we do that with a bang, both congregations, and pastors, and paths focusing on the biblical call to give our attention, our lives, to the ways of the Kingdom, and not to the temptations around us. Two radically different passages, with the same general theme. (Go figure.) It's good to be back, friends. See you next week.
June 11 · 43 min
What to Expect the Next Couple of Weeks
We're covering a lot of ground today! With Aaron out of town the next two weeks, we're previewing not only this Sunday, but June 21 and 28. We also cover Pride celebrations in Batavia and Dundee, reflecting on the nature of welcome and the challenge of unity and diversity in the Fox Valley. In Batavia, we're got three new stories: "A Church for All," "I'll Love You Forever," and "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day," which will shape our next three weeks. In Dundee, we've got at least two stories to focus on: that of Zacchaeus and the other of the "rich young ruler." What happens when we say yes to Jesus and our life changes? What happens when we say no and it doesn't? Thanks for your patience while we're away for two weeks. See you soon!
June 3 · 36 min
Rebuilding Life and Magical Love
Our Summer Series' are off and running, and this week we will talk about Mark's story of the healing of the Woman with the Hemorrhage, the tale of The Velveteen Rabbit, and the power of love to connect, and heal, and transform. There's a lot to imagine as we take up some of our favorite stories this week, both Biblical and "secular." Join us if you can.
May 19 · 44 min
Pentecost: Inspiration and Institution
Pentecost, the wild, untamed unboundaried arrival of the promised Holy Spirit. It' s exciting, and inspiring, launching visions for the future and excitement for the present...and the Institution of the Church. Because, in order to hold on to what is good, there have to be some guardrails. The dance between Inspiration and Institution, Spirit and Stability, Freedom and Fence. It's all there in the text...so dive in.
May 14 · 33 min
Divine Distractions (Bible Study)
This week, Jesus gets out of the way - or tries to, anyway. The disciples are once again waiting on him to work wonders, and it becomes clear they will never step into what is next while he is still there. So, after promising them the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to lead them into their new season, he is taken up into heaven - and they still need to be booted away from that moment, as they were getting stuck staring at the clouds. How about us? What kind of distractions do we use to keep us from the work to which Jesus called us? What would Jesus think of a Church that worshipped him (which he didn't ask his followers to do) but didn't live what he taught (which he did)?
May 8 · 31 min
Abiding Love (Bible Study)
What a week to be the Church! Here in Dundee, we're celebrating our 185th Anniversary, where we'll hear stories of our less-than-promising ancestors but grow in appreciation of the great legacy we have inherited. In Batavia, we're doing different church work: gathering for funerals and remembering the God in whom we live and move and have our being. In all this - in the blessed, the messy, the constancy and change - we look for the abiding love of God, who has seen us through this far, and will carry us into a faithful future.
April 30 · 45 min
You Know the Way (Bible Study)
The Gospel of John never disappoints. And this week's passage is a big one, touching on grief, comfort, empowerment, unity, and the work of building something that will last. We're in John 14:1-14, with a short side quest to 1 Peter chapter 2, as we explore together all of these themes, and more.
April 23 · 31 min
Common Things (Bible Study)
Two paths diverged in a yellow wood, and strangely went parallel to each other for quite a while. We are both going with different themes this Sunday, but the overlap is notable. One church will be observing Earth Day, another the lectionary's snapshot of the Early Church in Acts 2, and both led us to conversation about interconnectedness, what we owe other living beings, and the nature of community, be it a local faith community, or this world we live in. Join us as we traverse these paths...they go some interesting places.
April 16 · 32 min
Recognition (Bible Study)
This third Sunday of Easter brings us a strange (aren't they all?) post-resurrection appearance by Jesus to two disciples on the road to Emmaus. In turn cryptic, funny, poignant, and profound, this story describes the powerful experience of divine inspiration - and challenges us to look for God at work in more places than we expect.
April 9 · 39 min
Love Is Alive (Bible Study)
It's the Sunday after Easter, so it must be the story of Doubting Thomas. Which it is. but it is also so much more. It is the story of coming out of your fear, coming through your questions, finding the power, the confidence, the permission to go out and do good work in the world, Jesus' work, the work of justice, and compassion, and love. It's the next step after the resurrection...because that's really just the beginning of the story.
March 19 · 36 min
Lent, Week 5: The Good News is Rooted in Justice, Mercy, and Faithfulness
A classic story from the Gospel of John, an obscure and sassy comeback to the Pharisees from Jesus, and the fine balance between Justice and Mercy, held together by our faithful relationship with the Other. It's a good one for the last Sunday before the start of Holy Week, both Good News and Challenge.
March 13 · 30 min
Lent, Week 4: The Good News is Protection and Care for the Vulnerable
The Good News for the 4th Week of Lent is Protection and Care for the Vulnerable, rooted in two amazing passages...the Law of Moses, found in Deuteronomy, and that Law lived out in practical action, demonstrated by Jesus blessing the children in the Gospel of Matthew. These are not mere children's stories, but the commitment of God to those most in need...will we follow in that path?
February 26 · 32 min
Lent, Week 2: The Good News is Great Love of God and Neighbor
Our Good News story for this week is one that shows up in one form or another in each of the four Gospels, a rarity to be sure. Luke's version tells it this way: an unnamed woman, known to be a "sinner," crashes a dinner party at a Pharisee's house to wash Jesus' feet with her tears, dry them with her hair, and anoint them with costly perfume. It's an intimate, extravagant, uncomfortable act...much, actually, like God's love for us. And in a wonderful flip, also the way we are to love others. It's a lot to consider in Lent, but we have 40 days...so let's dive in.
February 19 · 33 min
Lent, Week 1: The Good News Is So Good It Catches Us By Surprise
Lent, historically, at least, is a bit of a heavy season, with an emphasis on penitence, and self-reflection, and those things that are "wrong" in our lives and the life of the world. This year, we're shifting our focus a bit, to the fundamentals of the Gospel...the Good things that are the Good News. And so we start today with Good News from two places in the text, which highlight how the Gospel can surprise us...the Wedding at Cana, and Jesus' Parable of the Mustard Seed. Join us to talk joy, potential, and the goodness of life.
February 5 · 28 min
Anything But Lukewarm
We've reached another classic section of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, the bit about salt and light. So familiar, so comforting, so...challenging?! But it is more than just a Sunday School song with neat little motions, it's about an entire way of life, bringing brightness and flavor to a dull and bland world. People will notice...and will be drawn to the source. But dull, bland, pointless...where does that get us? According to Jesus, not particularly far.
January 29 · 33 min
God's Center of Gravity (Bible Study)
It's "Greatest Hits" week in the lectionary...foundational passages about what faith looks like in Micah 6 and Matthew 5. If someone were to ask, "What are the fundamentals of your faith," these are the places we might go. So simple, but so radical, in that they are rooted in the love of the Divine. Join us on the journey.

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