Hashcast

Tim and Jason sat back down with recent guest – and now, by definition, Friend of the Pod™! – the fantastic ecumenist, story-collector, and story-sharer, Regina Heater, to revisit our recent Lenten conversation and consider Easter in light of it. In particular, we look to the rising cancer of white supremacy (especially in too many of our churches) and where we might find ways of anti-racism and racial reconciliation in the post-resurrection stories of Jesus and beyond.

A throwback to an episode from our outlaw Thoughtcast days. The AC Three discuss different ways to approach Easter 6, including how the Acts reading gives a powerful distinction between a pedestal and a cross – those who seek power often demand the former, while Jesus was crucified on the latter. And that's what real power is. Sixth Sunday of EasterJohn 14:1-14Acts 17:22-31

The AC Three continue through middle John, trying our best to decipher what it is the Teacher is trying to teach us. (But, of course, there is no one single answer!) In this passage that includes verses often chosen for funerals, we can actually see a homemaker Jesus, apron on, hard at work to prepare to welcome anyone who may cross his threshold. Even if we (like the disciples) don't know much for sure, we know we're at home here. There's room for us. For all.Fifth Sunday of EasterJohn 14:1-14

The AC Three (otherwise known as the Revs. Tim, Tuhina, and Jason) stay in-house to pour a nice cup of lectionary. For this upcoming Good Shepherd Sunday (Easter 4), we talk about being sheeple for Christ, how 'aww' has overtaken 'awe,' and how our theological rose-colored glasses often blur the reality of sheep and shepherds. 4th Sunday of EasterJohn 10:1-10Psalm 23Acts 2:42-47

Pastors Tim and Tuhina sat down with newly-elected Bishop of the North Carolina Synod, the Rev. Emily Hartner, to talk about how to preach in an Easter season still rife with the markings of Good Friday.

This week, Hashcast is back in biblical storytelling mode – with your humble storyteller, Jason.The Gospel this week is no slouch, either: John 20:1-19-31. The one where we find disciples hiding away in a locked room, Jesus showing up anyway, and a Thomas who trusted enough to come back and see for himself.It's a story meant to be told.

This week we're throwing back to an episode from our old Thoughtcast days – talking the ever-enigmatic Good Friday with the one and only Rev. Colleen Hetrick. Unfortunately, the topics we discussed two years ago are even more relevant today.

Tuhina invited her good friend and professor of African history, Caryce Chepchirchi Tirop, to talk about sermons from the point of view of someone in the pews. What needs to be heard by those who serve Christ from places other than the pulpit?

The AC Three discuss more of Lent's undeniable narrative punch when approaching this week's stories: the raising of Lazarus and Ezekiel's valley of dry bones.Lent 5Ezekiel 37:1-14John 11:1-45

The AC Three (Pastors Tuhina, Tim, and Jason) met up (in-person!) and waded knee-deep into the lectionary. What does the story of the man born blind have to teach us? How can we approach these long Lenten stories in ways that privilege and honor the actual Gospel texts? How do we discover anew things which may suffer from familiarity?

We continue our larger look on religious pluralism with our next guest, the delightful Abbie Haug. Tuhina and Jason sat down with her to talk about how you might be doing the work of religious pluralism without even knowing it.

We talked to historian, thought leader, and delightful conversation partner, Dr. Allison Ralph, about social cohesion, the magic of murmuration, the messiness of true pluralism – and how God is more like compost than you might think.

Tim and Jason sit down with the thoughtful and effervescent Regina Heater to take a bird's-eye view of Lent – how best can we approach this ancient season? Through what lenses can we view it?

Throwback to one of our early episodes with intimacy and relationship coach, Wendy B – a few years back when the calendar saw Ash Wednesday falling on Valentine's Day – who invited us to recognize the holiness of intimacy (in all its various forms). That might not seem like a particularly strong theological emphasis on Ash Wednesday, but maybe it should be.

The Revs. Jason, Tuhina, and Tim wrap up the Season after Epiphany by taking the 500-foot view. How do we take a posture of both grace and defiance as preachers of the Word in the midst of the dumpster fire of our world?And as always: what is God's Spirit saying to God's Church, today?

Jason and Tuhina sit down with brilliant author, poet, speaker, (and soul), Kaitlin Curtice, to talk about liminal spaces, staying in the fire, and what it means to create beauty in a world spiraling.

Pastors Tim, Tuhina, and Jason talked last year about this pervasive sense of exhaustion for those of us who preach.Sadly, this is an evergreen topic. And so this week, we present it to you again.

Pastors Tim, Jason, and Tuhina (the AC Three) are back in studio to tackle the upcoming third Sunday of Epiphany – and the classic story of Jesus calling together his crew. What does it mean to follow someone like that?

Tuhina and Jason sit down with the fascinating Rich Havard to talk about his work with both mental health and decolonizing wealth – two of the more relevant topics to discuss in these days, no?

Tuhina and Jason sit down with the Rev. Christa Compton, newest Bishop of the New Jersey Synod of the ELCA and brilliant preacher, to talk about all things RE: the pulpit.How can we recognize the doubt that exists in the pews, in the world, in our own hearts? How can we connect the act of preaching with the act of worship?

Throwback to an early in-house conversation (circa 2022) to talk about this high holy day (err...night), and the stories surrounding it – many of which can easily suffer from familiarity. How can we look at this story anew?

Tuhina and Jason sit down with the delightful and brilliant Rev. Laura Mariko Cheifetz to talk about how important context is for such a pivotal story like Christmas – and how many layers of Empire you have to peel back to even get a glimpse of the real thing.

We invited our favorite doula pastor, the Rev. Carrie Ballenger, to talk about Advent through the eyes of those intimately connected to the act of giving life. What does it mean to meaningfully walk through this season that is often overshadowed by its more popular cousin? What does it mean to talk about childbirth amidst a sea of miscarriages?

The AC Three – Pastors Tuhina, Tim, and Jason – go off-lectionary to discuss utopian ideals, utopian plans...and whether the very idea of a utopia is even possible in the first place.

Pastors Jason and Tuhina sit down with the lovely and lovable Rev. Jennifer Shimota to talk about all things Advent. Instead of a specific lectionary text, this episode we look at an entire liturgical season. Buckle up!

Jason and guest host Derrick Weston sit down with the breath of fresh air that is Bryan Rust – Bryan is a cantor and musician extraordinaire, and he brought his unique perspective to this annual end of the Christian year: Christ the King Sunday. How can we recover the heavy-laden image of king? Is such an expedition doomed to failure? We probably came up with more questions than answers in our conversation. Jesus would be proud.Christ the KingLuke 23:33-43

Jason and Tuhina sit down with peacemaker, healer, and scholar, Dr. Najeeba Syeed, to talk about a whole host of topics adjacent to building the interfaith table, the difference between inter-faith and intra-faith dialogue, and what it means to recognize the pluralistic reality all around us.

Pastors Jason Chesnut, Tuhina Verma Rasche, and Tim Brown go off-lectionary to talk about the end of the world – how it's more common than you might think, how it's happened before, and what seriously reckoning with it can teach us in these anxious, rattled times.

We sit down with the Rev. Tita Valeriano in a repeat episode discussing All Saints' Day – what it means, how different people approach it, and different hooks from which to hang potential sermons.

Pastors Jason, Tuhina, and Tim sit down to talk about the high holy day in Lutheran churches the world over – Reformation Day – how reformation is indistinguishable from liberation; and how "All Panic, No Disco" is a pretty good sermon title.Jeremiah 31:31-34Romans 3:19-28John 8:31-36

In a repeat episode from 2024, Pastors Tim, Tuhina, and Jason sit down to talk about the act of preaching in perilous times, and how best to approach this sacred task in today's world. Such a focus, sadly, is still too relevant.Every once in a while, it's helpful to ditch a particular passage and, instead, take a bird's-eye view.

In a new segment on Hashcast, Pastor Jason Chesnut – with the inspiration and aid of the incomparable Tom Boomershine – takes a journey through the story of Jesus and the Ten Lepers. Listen in as we dive deep into the power and depth of the ancient practice of biblical storytelling.Pentecost 18Luke 17:11-19

The AC Three – Jason, Tuhina, and Tim – talk about citizenship, especially considering we live in a time when birthright citizenship is under assault. What are we called to do as citizens of the commonwealth of God? To where do we owe our allegiance? (Or to put it another way: what does it mean to follow Jesus?)

Travis West had too many good things he so graciously shared with us – and his book is so good we had lots of questions – so Jason and Tuhina's conversation with him needed a second episode.

Pastors Tuhina and Jason sit down with the thoughtful, deliberate, wise professor Travis West to talk about his striking new book – The Sabbath Way – and how Sabbath breaks all our rules around capitalism, possession, ownership, and beyond. Can we choose the Sabbath Way in a world seemingly committed to literally any other path?

Tim and Jason welcome 21st-century Renaissance man, Derrick Weston – author, filmmaker, podcaster, speaker, and educator – to talk about the parable of the lost sheep and the lost coin: how God is both a terrible shepherd and a reckless inventor, what it means to truly be a sheep (and a coin), and how, in the Beloved Community, there's no such thing as "too far gone." 14th Sunday after the PentecostLuke 15:1-10

Tim, Tuhina, and Jason go off-lectionary to discuss Luther's theology of the cross (found in his classic moment of defense, the Heidelberg Disputation) – in other words, we're talking about calling a thing what it is. No more euphemisms. What does it mean to trust the evidence of your eyes and ears – and tell the truth about what you see and hear – in a world which sometimes encourages suspicion of both?

Jason and Rozella sit down with Pastor Joann Lee to talk about a God who loves food, a God who topples any and all rigid structures we might create, and what it means to stay awake in a world committed to keeping people asleep.12th Sunday after the PentecostLuke 14:1, 7-14

Pastors Tuhina and Jason sit down with the brilliant professor Simran Jeet Singh, religion scholar and nationally-renowned author, to talk about Luke's Parable of the Rich Fool and the profound echoes found in Sikh wisdom and tradition. 8th Sunday after the PentecostLuke 12:13-21

The Anam Cara Three (the Revs. Tim Brown, Tuhina Rasche, and Jason Chesnut) sit down (in the same space!) to talk about resiliency, enough-edness, and how the Holy Spirit consistently shows up despite our best efforts.

Jason and Rozella Haydée White sit down with the brilliant professor, Dr. Tamisha Tyler, to talk about Mary and her sister Martha – how has this scripture been used to harm? What does it mean to be fully present with our Lord and Savior? How can we internalize that Jesus doesn't care what we do; he's interested in ***who we are***.Sixth Sunday after the PentecostLuke 10:38-42

Pastors Tim and Jason sit down with the insightful and delightful Rev. Heather Bachelder to talk about how Jesus doesn't live in the binary, and our repeated attempts to hole him in or box him down do more harm than good. 3rd Sunday after the PentecostLuke 9:51-62

Pastors Tuhina and Jason sit down with scholar, teacher, and preacher – the Rev. Dr. Rebecca Todd Peters – to talk Pentecost Day: what does power mean and how do the disciples use it? What is the responsibility of those with power, especially in a movement led by someone who famously said, "the last shall be first, and the first shall be last"? How do we mine this story we've heard so many times for the good news in it today? Pentecost DayActs 2:1-21

This episode we welcome preacher, author, and public theologian – the Rev. Kenneth Wheeler – to talk about his necessary, important book: US: the Resurrection of American Terror. What would it look like if this country dismantled its white supremacist foundations? What would be possible? And how do we faithfully live amidst this violent resurrection? Listen in.

We sit down with the fantastic Rev. Moses Penumaka to talk about how Jesus redefines what glory means, what it looks like to lead with love, and how Judas figures into Jesus' ethic more than you might think.Fifth Sunday of EasterJohn 13:31-35

Pastor Tuhina sat down with the Rev. Dr. Theresa Thames to talk about the holy fish-fry that is the Third Sunday of Easter – the power of a good breakfast, the Gospel focus on nourishment, and how breakfast on the beach can smell like someone loves you. Easter 3John 21:1-19

We sit down with the multifaceted Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow to talk about the entryway into Holy Week, what it means to usher in peace, and how Jesus routinely upends our expectations. Palm SundayLuke 19:28-40

The AC Three (Pastors Tim, Tuhina, and Jason) discuss one of the more timely and relevant movies ever made, especially as it pertains to the church: Conclave (2024) – what does it say about power, about our leaders, about how we live in community with one another, and about where true authority lies?

Tuhina and Jason sit down with the thoughtful Andrew Stevens to talk about the fourth Sunday in Lent, and the famous (infamous?) parable Jesus tells.Lent 4Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Pastors Tim, Tuhina, and Jason – the Anam Cara Three – sit down to discuss a topic beyond the scope of the lectionary: this pervasive sense of exhaustion for those of us who preach.