Be Still And Go

“God takes God’s seat right next to us.”What does it look like for you to join at the table of the story of God and us?//Luke 22:14-20When the hour came, he took his place at the table, and the apostles with him. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I tell you, I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And he did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.//This episode was written and recorded by Rev. Christian Peele. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms

“God is here in the endings. God is here in the liminal spaces. And God is here waiting for us in the beginnings that we cannot even imagine yet. It is finished and it isn’t over."How can this Holy Week, with its endings and its beginnings and its in between, transform us? Can we recognize all of these as holy in our own lives, even when we don’t know what comes next? //John 19:30When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.//This episode was written and recorded by Anna Meyer. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms by Podington Bear and Moonlight Sonata as performed by .Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all three seasons of Be Still and Go.

“God stands up to hatred and bigotry. God stands up to homophobia, racism, islamophobia, sexism, abolish, and all of the -isms we are yet to name. God is incapable of bowing to the false gods of this world."What injustices is God inviting you to stand up against?//Psalm 21:9-13You will make them like a fiery furnace when you appear.The Lord will swallow them up in her wrath, and fire will consume them.You will destroy their offspring from the earth, and their children from among humankind.If they plan evil against you, if they devise mischief, they will not succeed.For you will put them to flight; you will aim at their faces with your bows.Be exalted, O Lord, in your strength! We will sing and praise your power.//This episode was written and recorded by Jarell Wilson. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms, Cottonwoods, and B Roll by Podington Bear.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all three seasons of Be Still and Go.

“This is why we need the season of Lent, to see more clearly one’s self and one’s community, to feel more deeply our limits and our need, and to join in solidarity with our suffering neighbors and our planet."Why do you need the season of Lent?//Isaiah 50:4-9The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher,that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.Morning by morning he wakens— wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught.The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward.I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard;I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced;therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near.Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together.Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me.It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me gu

“Jesus, riding the colt, passes by. Your eyes meet. The colt slows down. What do you do? What do you feel?"What do you think it would have been like to be in Jerusalem on Palm Sunday?//Luke 19:29-38When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord needs it.” Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfu

“We are called to go and to untie, to set free and not to exclude. This story reminds us that the lowly, even those that society and the church ties down, will be used to do the work of God in our world today.”How have you seen churches and our society constrain and tie people down? What does it look like for you to work to help set these people free?//Luke 19:29-36When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’” So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord needs it.” Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people

“To give of your best, even when death is staring you in the face, is an act of rebellion against death’s vicious sting."What does it look like for you to give of your best?//John 12:1-8Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not

“We often skip to the resurrection, we often skip to butterfly Jesus all the way past caterpillar Jesus. But a life spent with Jesus is a life of wilderness and suffering, a life on the margins.”Where are the margins in our world today and who is pushed into them?//Philippians 3:4b-14If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the right

“There aren’t two sides to this story — the wilderness of Lent and the joy of Easter — it’s one story, one narrative."What pain in your life do you tend to avoid? What might change if you acknowledge or face it?//Matthew 26:36-46Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if

“Christianity has a God who knows exactly what it means to be human."In your own words, what does it mean to be human?//John 19:28After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.”//This episode was written and recorded by Rev. Rachel Johnson. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Samples include What If God Was One of Us by Joan Osborn (cover by Jessica Bassett), The Good Place, and Doubting Thomas by Nickel Creek. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms, Cedar, Whiplash String Swell, and The Mountain by Podington Bear.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all three seasons of Be Still and Go.

“Our first temptation is to look at what new thing God is doing now rather than to look hard at the history, both ancient and contemporary, to face down the evil which we might not have created but from which we certainly benefit.”In your opinion, what is the evil that needs to be faced down from our ancient and contemporary history?//Isaiah 43:16-21Thus says the Lord,who makes a way in the sea,a path in the mighty waters,who brings out chariot and horse,army and warrior;they lie down, they cannot rise,they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:Do not remember the former things,or consider the things of old.I am about to do a new thing;now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?I will make a way in the wildernessand rivers in the desert.The wild animals will honor me,the jackals and the ostriches;for I give water in the wilderness,rivers in the desert,to give drink to my chosen people,the people whom I formed for myselfso that they might declare my praise.//This episode was written and recorded by Rev. Mic

“No one of us can solve the conflicts raging unabated across the globe. But I can refuse to buy or use plastic. What’s a few more dishes to wash? It’s not an ultimate answer. It’s a small fast for a season and maybe a new beginning.”What steps can you take towards a new beginning for our world?//Romans 14:10Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.//This episode was written and recorded by Rev. Michael Livingston. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms by Podington Bear, Eighty Six by Stephen Keech, and We Call This Home by Alex Fitch.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all three seasons of Be Still and Go.

You hear the lambs a-cryin'hear the lambs a-cryin',hear the lambs a-cryin';O Shepherd, feed my sheep. Where do you hear the lambs crying in your midst?//My Saviour spoke these words so sweet,O shepherd, feed my sheep.Saying 'Peter, if you love me, feed my sheep.'O shepherd, feed my sheep.O Lord, my love you see and know;O shepherd, feed my sheep.Then give me grace to love you more;O shepherd, feed my sheep.O wasn't it an awful shame?O shepherd, feed my sheep.He hung three days in mortal pain.O shepherd, feed my sheep.//This episode was recorded by Farley Lord, John Cantrell, and Paul Cremo. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms by Podington Bear.John Cantrell is the Director of Music St. Michael’s Episcopal Church. Paul Cremo is a member of St. Michael’s and the Dramaturg at Metropolitan Opera. Visit www.saintmichaelschurch.org to find out more about St. Michael’s Episcopal Church and join them on Sunday evenings at 6:00 pm for Intersection, an informal evening service w

“Loosen our grasp on the things we own and the things we do so that we might once again see the love, the family, and the blessings of the table that God has set for us."What does it mean for you to accept the love, family, and blessings that God has for you?//Luke 15:11-32Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired

"You are not a human doing. You are a human being. Selah."When was the last time you pushed pause on the chaos around you and inside of you?//Psalm 32:3-5, 7While I kept silence, my body wasted away through my groaning all day long.my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah.I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with glad cries of deliverance. Selah.//This episode was written, recorded and produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Samples include Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms by Podington Bear and Mile Post 1, Secret Pace, and Seeking Clarity by Alex Fitch.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all three seasons of Be Still and Go.

“We are sacred possibilities, the image of God always ready to manifest in our skin.”What does it look like for the image of God to manifest in your skin?//Matthew 27:46And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”//This episode was written and recorded by Rev. M. Barclay. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms, Chimera, and Burned by Podington Bear and Wanderlust by Cody Martin.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all three seasons of Be Still and Go.

“Every moment, every challenge, every person has the potential to become new."What needs to be made new in your life?//2 Corinthians 5:16-21From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.//This episode was written and recorded by Minister Charlene Wingate (including the pian

“Let’s write new chapters and create new stories together."What are the new chapters and new stories that God is inviting you to write?//Joshua 5:9-12The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal to this day.While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the day after the passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.//This episode was written and recorded by Rev. Kevin VanHook. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms by Podington Bear, Eyes of Wonder by Caleb Etheridge, Houston St. by Young Bay.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all three seasons of Be Still and Go.

“You gotta wade through those troubled waters, take hold of your life, put your feet into the messy places, and trust that you will move through the troubled waters to that place, that peace which passes all understanding."What are the troubled waters that you need to step into?//John 5:1-9Soon another Feast came around and Jesus was back in Jerusalem. Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves. Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves. One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, “Do you want to get well?”The sick man said, “Sir, when the water is stirred, I don’t have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in.”Jesus said, “Get up, take your bedroll, start walking.” The man was healed on the spot. He picked up his bedroll and walked off.//This episode was written and recorded by Bi

“We are called to see our life work for justice and peace as preparation for resurrection."What are you doing to prepare for and practice resurrection?//“We resist. We refuse to let hatred in. We rise up. We won’t back down. We’re in this til the end. Pray for your enemies. Welcome the stranger. Show love to your neighbor. We’re in this til the end.” – Mark Miller//This episode was written and recorded by Rev. Bruce Lamb. It was produced by Rev. Jim Keat. Samples include We Resist by Mark Miller and Ella’s Song by Sweet Honey and the Rock. Background tracks include Button Mushrooms, Orchid, Arctic, and Spokes by Podington Bear, We Resist as performed by Amanda Meisenheimer, and God of Grace and God of Glory.Visit www.trcnyc.org/BeStillAndGo to listen to more episodes from all three seasons of Be Still and Go.