Strangely Warmed

https://vaumc.org/grateful-for-the-service/Veteran’s Day Weekend usually brings a lot of sales and commercial promotions. But this year, the Virginia United Methodist Church is asking you to join your fellow Methodists and shop for the Afghan Allies who have recently come to our Commonwealth after the fall of Kabul. These are Afghans who stood alongside our soldiers as translators, worked on U.S.bases in country, or served at our embassy alongside our diplomats. In the words of Bishop Sharma Lewis, “many of them have sacrificed and risked more than most of us will ever be asked to do.”Most arrived in Virginia with little more than the clothes on their back. While some of the wishlists were prepared by organizations working to resettle the Afghan Allies, the most immediate needs can be found on the Amazon wishlist for refugees at Fort Pickett. As temperatures drop, winter clothing is needed, especially for women. I hope you will join me in shopping to meet the VAUMC goal of having a completely empty wishlist by November 14!! This can be our way of following the command set out in Matthew 25 by Jesus, himself a refugee. “I needed clothes and you clothed me, Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’Thank you for showing Christ’s love to those who, like He was, are refugees in a new land.https://vaumc.org/grateful-for-the-service/

1 Samuel 1.4-20 1 Samuel 2.1-10, Hebrews 10.11-25, Mark 13.1-8; How important are the names in scripture? How can we sing our faith? What does a blessed assurance look like? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed with guest Josh Munnikhuysen. Josh serves at Trinity UMC in Orange, VA.Hosted by Taylor Mertins

Ruth 3.1-5; 4.13-17, Psalm 127, Hebrews 9.24-28, Mark 12.38-44; What can coaching teach us about faith? Should all preachers wear robes in worship? How can we cultivate cultures of call? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed with guest Joanna Paysour. Joanna serves Trinity UMC and Greene Memorial UMC in Roanoke, VA.Hosted by Taylor Mertins.

Ruth 1.1-18, Psalm 146, Hebrews 9.11-14, Mark 12.28-34; What can scripture tell us about the tenacity of human relationships? Why are there so many "bloody" hymns? How often should we talk about the atonement? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed with guest Joanna Paysour. Joanna serves Trinity UMC and Greene Memorial UMC in Roanoke, VA.Hosted by Taylor Mertins.

Job 42.1-6, 10-17, Psalm 34.1-8, Hebrews 7.23-28, Mark 10.46-52; How important are podcast statistics? What does it look like to be in constant communion? How can be achieve faithful architecture? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed with guests Jason Michel and Teer Hardy. Jason serves Annandale UMC in Annandale, VA and Teer serve Mt. Olivet UMC in Arlington, VA.Hosted by Taylor Mertins

Job 38.1-7, Psalm 104.1-9, 24, 35c, Hebrews 5.1-10, Mark 10.35-45; How important is the agency in scripture? What does majestic clothing look like? How is the cross a parody? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed with guests Jason Michel and Teer Hardy. Jason serves Annandale UMC in Annandale, VA and Teer serve Mt. Olivet UMC in Arlington, VA.Hosted by Taylor Mertins

Job 23.1-9, 16-17, Psalm 22.1-15, Hebrews 4.12-16, Mark 10.17-31; Is it okay to go through a prayer drought? Where does faith begin? How can we be bold in our discipleship? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed with guest Seungsoo Jun. Seungsoo is the Associate Director of Serving Ministries for the Virginia Conference of the UMC.Hosted by Taylor Mertins

Job 1.1, 2.1-10, Psalm 26, Hebrews 1.1-4, 2.5-12, Mark 10.2-16; Can we really be honest in church? What does divine equity look like? Why is it so difficult to talk about divorce in church? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed with guest Seungsoo Jun. Seungsoo is the Associate Director of Serving Ministries for the Virginia Conference of the UMC.Hosted by Taylor Mertins

Esther 7.1-6, 9-10; 9.20-22, Psalm 124, James 5.13-20, Mark 9.38-50; How important is biblical context? What does healing look like in the church today? How can we avoid theological stumbling blocks? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed with guest Todd Littleton. Todd is the pastor of Snow Hill Baptist Church in Tuttle, OK.Hosted by Taylor Mertins

Proverbs 31.10-31, Psalm 1, James 3.13-4.3, 7-8a, Mark 9.30-37; What can we make of the pronouns in Proverbs? Are we drowning in dopamine? Is peace really possible? These questions and more on this episode of Strangely Warmed with guest Todd Littleton. Todd is the pastor of Snow Hill Baptist Church in Tuttle, OK. Hosted by Taylor Mertins