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On this episode of Sunspots, 2022 Moderator Kristy Rodgers interviews our outgoing Synod Leader and Stated Clerk Valerie Young. As she prepares to become the new Synod Leader/Stated Clerk of the Synod of South Atlantic, Valerie shares some of her stories from 18 years of ministry in the Synod, looks forward to her new experiences, and says thank you to the friends and colleagues who she believes will keep the Synod of the Sun going forward.

On this episode of Sunspots, we visit with Rev. Pepa Paniagua of kin·dom community, a 1001 New Worshiping Communities in North Texas. Enabling the dream of friends Andy Hackett and Garrett deGraffenreid, they created kin·dom camp, an opportunity for LBGTQIA+ youth to come and experience a week of affirmation, celebration and fun at Camp Gilmont. They talk about how the camp came to be, what happened as a result of this camp, and what's in the future.kin·dom community - https://kindomcommunity.orgkin·dom camp - https://kindomcommunity.org/camp-in-2023

On this edition of Sunspots, we listen in on a conversation between Kristy Rodgers, 2022 Moderator of the Synod of the Sun and Brian Ellison, Executive Director of the Covenant Network of Presbyterians.  As they talk about the upcoming Covenant Conversation to be held at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City on August 27th, they dig into the welcome that LGBTQIA+ persons likely don’t feel when they enter and become acquainted at church.  Find out more about the August 27th Covenant Conversation via the link below: https://covnetpres.org/event/covenant-conversation-oklahoma/

In light of the recent decision by the SCOTUS overturning Roe v Wade, guest host Rev. Elizabeth Brinegar talks with Rev. Natarsha Sanders and Rev. Sarah Leer about recognizing the thread of bondage that’s existed since the beginning of our nation. In understanding that "if you are not practicing your theology, you're not actually studying God", we are called to recognize the ‘long game’ of oppression, to instruct the elders to tell the story of those not only in bondage, but those who put them in bondage, and to discover what we can do in our own lives to remove the thread of bondage.

On this episode of Sunspots, we proudly and officially welcome Rev. Kathy Lee-Cornell as the Director of the Synod Partnership for Disaster Response. Valerie interviews Kathy about her dreams for this new position and how she'll bring her experience as a pastor, social worker, and disaster site coordinator to this new position.You can read the full press release of her announcement HERE.

On this week’s episode of SunSpots, we’re going back to January of this year and we’re gonna listen to a Meditation presented by Synod Leader/Stated Clerk Valerie Young at the Called Synod Meeting. At this meeting, the Synod voted to become a partner in the Synod of the Sun Partnership for Disaster Recovery, or SPDR. Valerie talks about how the SPDR and its Director will be a resource for churches and mid-councils to pivot in the midst of and after a natural disaster, enabling them not only to take care of immediate internal needs, but also to powerfully reach out beyond themselves into their communities.

In part three of their continuing conversation, Sarah Leer, Natarsha Sanders, and guest host Elizabeth Brinegar explore the tension of when to be silent and when to use your voice. Using Proverbs 21:23 as a touchpoint, they talk about the how and when of speak out and when to listen deeply.Find their previous conversations, entitled The Educated Life and We Belong to Each Other, on your podcast application.https://buff.ly/3sljTFW

On this episode of Sunspots, we brought together Zoë Garry and Ezequiel Herrera, both of whom lead New Worshipping Communities in very different settings in the Synod of the Sun. Zoë Garry is the Director of NOLA Wesley, an affirming campus ministry for the students of Tulane and Loyola Universities in New Orleans, which includes The Labyrinth, a pay-as-you-are-able coffee shop. Ezequiel Herrera is the Rio Grande Valley Evangelist for Mission Presbytery. He is Pastor of the New Worshipping Community called New Life Faith Community/Comunidad de Fe Nueva Vida in McAllen. Although their ministry settings are quite different, Zoe and Ezequiel find a great deal of commonality as they talk about the unique joys and challenges of leading a New Worshipping Community and how what they do requires a great deal of energy, patience, creativity, and lots of love. 

This week's episode is a collection of poetry readings from her extensive collection of poems by Christianne Chase and musical adaptations of hymns and songs by pianist Brett N Wilenzick, both Ruling Elders from Cimarron Presbytery.  Please enjoy this inspirational and entertaining podcast from your friends at Sunspots!

Have you ever wondered about discernment—what it is and how to do it? Wondering what God is saying you today? Join Rev. Michael Vinson, a Teaching Elder in the Presbytery of Arkansas, and guest host Elizabeth Brinegar as they explore the themes of spiritual discernment and health.

What’s does it mean to belong to one another? Does it mean to invite someone or does it mean something more?  Join Sarah Leer, Natarsha Sanders, and guest host Elizabeth Brinegar as they explore these themes and more in part two of their conversation on the latest episode of Sunspots.Find their previous conversation, entitled The Educated Life, on your podcast application or go here to learn more: https://conta.cc/3LBNWkI

On this special episode of Sunspots, Synod Leader and Stated Clerk Valerie Young sits down with Rev. Rich Schempp, H.R. and former Executive Presbyter of Palo Duro Presbytery. Rich and his wife Carol have been Mission Co-workers at NOROC (New Opportunities for Romanian Orphan Children) in Tulcea, Romania.Because Tulcea is located on the Danube Delta, near the border with Ukraine, NOROC has been in a unique position to respond to the humanitarian crisis as tens of thousands of fleeing Ukrainians seek safety in Romania. Click HERE to read the letters from NOROC Onsite Director Petru Solca to Carole and Rich Schempp. You can mail donations to:NOROC Texas, 200 Hedges, Abilene, TX 79605 Or you can give online at:http://www.noroc.org/how-to-help.html. Note that in the process of filling out the donation form, please write 'Ukraine' or 'refugees' in the Note section.

On this episode of Sunspots, guest host Elizabeth Brinegar sits down with Sarah Leer and Natarsha Sanders to talk about our identity as honest and authentic children of God through the lens of Christian Education.

This week's episode is a Christmas gift of a Christmas poetry reading from her extensive collection of Christmas poems by Christianne Chase and musical adaptations of Christmas songs by pianist Brett N Wilenzick, both Ruling Elders at First Presbyterian Church in Enid, OK.  Please enjoy this inspirational and entertaining podcast from your friends at Sunspots!

Today, we’re talking with the Rev. Dr. Leah R. Hrachovec and her nine year old daughter Nora. They’re going to tell us a story about the children’s and youth program at First Presbyterian Church in Stillwater, OK.  Specifically, we’ll hear about Nora’s project with RIP Medical Debt, a project to eliminate medical debt in Oklahoma.    https://ripmedicaldebt.org https://www.stillwaterfpc.org

Today, we’re speaking with General Presbyter Rev. Stewart Smith from the Presbytery of Arkansas. Stewart is a lifelong Presbyterian who was born as a preacher’s kid in Charlotte, NC. He moved to Arkansas in the first grade and grew up in the Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church in Forest City.  He graduated from Trinity University and after several years of work with Diamond Shamrock, he experienced a call to the ministry and attended Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.  He has served as the Associate Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Smith, AR and as Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Springdale, serving there until accepting the call to become the General Presbyter in October of 2015.   Stewart is married to Laura, an elementary teacher in Maumelle and they have two sons, Ryan and Alex. In his spare time, Stewart is a runner, jogger, biker, golfer, and just a general sports guy. 

This podcast is a follow-up to our first podcast about the folks of the Presbytery of South Louisiana after Hurricane Ida. In that first podcast, Interim General Presbyter Richard Williams travelled to New Orleans over Labor Day weekend and interviewed some of the Presbyterians who are doing the work of helping their neighbors while also dealing with their own issues. In this follow-up podcast, Richard returns to the bayou four weeks after landfall and talks first to Don and Val of Raceland Presbyterian Church, who are wrangling supplies and church building issues while being open to worship with their sister church in Gheens. Next, Richard talks to several members of Gheens Presbyterian Church, who tell of how the church became a gathering point for supplies, a community gathering point, and serving point. Each person testifies to the presence of God during the storm and how the Holy Spirit powerfully moves four weeks later. You can give to the ongoing work of recovery by going to the Presbytery of South Louisana’s website at pbysouthla.org.

On this episode of Sunspots, Valerie sits down with Tim Blodgett, the General Presbyter for Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery. They talk about his role as GP (side note…he’s not Bishop), his learning about when to enter situations with churches, and how some really good things have come from the pandemic. They also talk about the Native American churches in Eastern Oklahoma and the Presbytery’s efforts to rebuild not just the buildings, but also the relationships. Valerie was also surprised to discover that Tim has a really interesting background that is similar to her own.Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery - https://www.eokpresbytery.org

This is a special episode of the Sunspots podcast, following up on what has happened in the Presbytery of South Louisiana after Hurricane Ida made landfall there.  Interim General Presbyter Richard Williams traveled to New Orleans over Labor Day weekend, to interview the faithful Presbyterians who are responding to their local communities in the aftermath of the hurricane. Not only did he find these saints responding, but found them counting their blessings as well. The voices you hear on this podcast are of Richard Williams; Monica LaGarde an Elder at Bayou Blue Presbyterian Church; Chris Smith, an Elder at Berean Presbyterian Church; and Dan Baker, Young Adult Volunteer Site Coordinator of New Orleans.  You can give to the ongoing work of recovery by going to the Presbytery of South Louisiana’s website at pbysouthla.org. 

On this episode of Sunspots, we talk with Lynn Hargrove, the General Presbyter and the Stated Clerk for administrative process for the Presbytery of New Covenant. Lynn has a rich history with and respect for the people of Southeast Texas… and it shows. Being on the Gulf of Mexico means there are natural disasters aplenty. We talk about some of that as well as expectations of pastors, that hot topic of divestment, and the best things coming out of New Covenant right now. Presbytery of New Covenant - http://pbyofnewcovenant.org