Dear Friends and Patrons,

After seeking to deepen and express the idea of a truly Christian priesthood, Jonah and Patrick now turn their attention to that which all true “shepherds of souls” are called to build and cultivate: community.

Why would we ever want to join be a part of a community?

What is the nature of Christ-Community, what is unique about it?

What does it mean that this community, in the course of history, has done things that one could only be deeply ashamed of?

Five Butterflies, by Odilon Redon, ca. 1912. From the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.

Beginning in a more biographical way, Patrick and Jonah share how they found their way into the Community of Christians, the walls that prevented them from entering it and the doors that opened, calling them in.

We look forward to exploring the question of community into the summer and hope this first episode stirs your own reflections on community, Christ-Community and very much welcome your comments, reflections and questions.

With warm June greetings to all!

Our thanks to Elliott Chamberlin who composed the opening music, "On the Road" and the closing music, "Seeking Together". You can find more of his music here.

Our thanks also to Emily Watson for her excellent digital production work behind the scenes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this final episode on the question, What is a Priest, Patrick and Jonah turn their attention away from the consecrated priesthood and towards the "Priesthood of all Believers." They take up the idea that everyone who comes into contact with Christ is in the process of consecration, is in the process of changing and transforming into his likeness.

This meeting with Christ, though, is vital to the consecration process - to the process of reuniting that which has been profaned with that which is utmost sacred. Patrick brings a reading from 2 Corinthians (verses 14-17), which opens a beautiful line of questions, including, "What does it mean to live for more than just myself? For someone who has died for me? Who am I, where do I go, when I am no longer just myself, but myself for him, with him, in him?

Jonah brings forth the concept that in relation with this being, it transforms us from our old selves into a new self, into a relationship, into a community. They explore the feeling that, when united with Christ, one has the feeling, "I am more myself than I ever was."

We are so grateful that you have joined us along the way with this series, "What is a Priest?" and we look forward to hearing your thoughts and reflections in the comments. We will be back next week with a new theme.

Notes from this Episode:

- John 2:13-22

- 2 Corinthians 5:14-17

Our thanks to Elliott Chamberlin who composed the opening music, "On the Road" and the closing music, "Seeking Together". You can find more of his music here.

Our thanks also to Emily Watson for her excellent digital production work behind the scenes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dear Patrons!

Thanks for your patience with our erratic posting of episodes! Now that the ordinations have taken place we are hopeful this will settle into a more regular rhythm.

This past weekend (May 14-16, 2021) eight individuals stepped forward to be consecrated into the priesthood. It was a powerful, spiritually potent and beautiful event, blessed by some of the most glorious Ascension-in-nature experiences.

During that weekend Jonah and I took the opportunity to sit down with fellow priest, Julia Polter, and have a conversation.

Jonah asked Julia about how she experiences her priesthood in the hospital rooms where she has been serving as a chaplain this past year and this opened up essential new elements in our exploration of the question: What is a priest?

We hope you enjoy this conversation and are not distracted by the background sounds! Far away from our ‘studio’ in Toronto and in the middle of a large community event, this was the best we could do.

Julia will be moving to the Pacific Northwest to the city of Bellingham, WA, which is located 50 miles from Vancouver, Canada.

Her new work includes supporting The Christian Community in the Vancouver/Seattle area while leading a Clinical Pastoral Education Center at Peace Health, a 300-bed city hospital in Bellingham. She will design and direct a program there to educate divinity school students and seminarians in spiritual care.

Our thanks to Elliott Chamberlin who composed the opening music, "On the Road" and the closing music, "Seeking Together". You can find more of his music here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.