Episodes

We’re bringing this episode of Climate Brewing back just in time for the 2026 Community of Christ Peace Forum as a reminder that it’s never too late. In this inspiring episode, host Susan Oxley sits down with Justice Manning, an 89-year-old retired environmental engineer from Daphne, Alabama. Once a committed climate change denier, Justice shares his remarkable journey—shaped by a career in environmental work, shifts in scientific data, lived experience with extreme weather, and the influence of...

What are the golden calves in our lives—and what happens when we start worshiping what we treasure most? This week on Coffee to Go, Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore Exodus 32:1–14, where the Israelites grow impatient, turn to a golden calf, and discover the consequences of losing trust in the God they cannot see. Connecting this ancient story to modern nationalism, Christian exceptionalism, and the ways fear and power can marginalize others, Karin and Blake invite us to examine our own allegi...

What happens to the things we leave behind—and how can our legacy reflect what matters most to us? On this Extra Shot episode of Faith Unfiltered, guest host Carla Long welcomes Jared Fears, a certified financial planner and longtime Community of Christ minister, for a practical conversation about estate planning, wills, trusts, and charitable giving. Jared explains how thoughtful planning can help care for loved ones, provide peace of mind, and support the church and other organizations that ho...

October invites us to slow down, breathe deeply, and rediscover our connection to the sacred world around us. In this guided meditation, Robin Linkhart invites us to notice the changing seasons, honor the goodness of creation, and gently acknowledge the places where Earth is hurting. Rather than carrying the weight of saving the whole world, we are encouraged to consider one small, faithful choice we can make to live more gently and responsibly. As gratitude becomes responsibility and awareness ...

Are the Ten Commandments a rigid tool for control or a roadmap for sacred community and liberation? In this episode of Coffee to Go, Karin and Blake explore Exodus 20 and the story of Mount Sinai. They unpack how foundational laws were given to shape a wandering group of former slaves into a healthy, fair community—and how those same scriptures have been used both to manipulate and to inspire major societal change, such as the abolitionist movement. Join the conversation as they examine the int...

One can never get too much prayer... especially in today’s world, so today we’re reaching back into the Project Zion Podcast archives to bring you this Holy Grounds episode that originally aired in October of 2021. Here, host Carla Long and guest Katie Harmon-McLaughlin talk about the spiritual practice of prayer. How does our image of God change the way we pray? Do we need to be faithful or free of doubt in order to pray? What can we do if we're struggling with prayer? These questions and more ...

What happens when we’re thirsty and God doesn’t seem to be providing what we need? In Exodus 17, the Israelites’ physical thirst becomes a deeper question of faith: “Is the Lord among us or not?” Karin and Blake explore how suffering can make us forget what we’ve already experienced of God, while also challenging us to move beyond asking “Where is God?” to “How do I respond?” From humanitarian organizations to the everyday ways we embody God’s presence, this episode invites us to notice the holy...

Are spirituality and theology dependent on one another? Although there are many in today’s world who would say they are “spiritual but not religious,” it would seem that spirituality would at least be closely connected with theology. In this episode of Percolating on Faith, taken from the old Project Zion Podcast archives, Carla Long sits down with Tony and Charmaine Chvala-Smith to talk about spirituality and theology, where they intersect, and why they are, in fact, dependent on each other. L...

What if the bread we need each day is more than food—it’s a reminder of God’s presence? In this episode of Coffee to Go, manna in the wilderness becomes an invitation to notice divine care, cultivate daily practices, and become that presence for others—especially those who hunger. Together, Karin and Blake ask how our own lives can become a reflection of God’s presence for others, especially those experiencing hunger and suffering. The episode invites us to move beyond remembering God’s care to ...

As we prepare for the 2026 Peace Forum, we are again digging back into the Project Zion Podcast archives to bring you this episode in which Karin Peter sits down with Rick Sarre to explore how Community of Christ’s understanding and practice of justice has evolved—and how justice is inseparable from peace, empowerment, and discipleship. Rick reflects on how the tradition continues to grow through dialogue, grassroots participation, and self-critique. The conversation also considers how climate c...

How many times are we really supposed to forgive someone—seven times, seventy times seven, or until we finally get the point? In this episode of Coffee to Go, Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore Jesus’ challenging—and slightly exasperated—response to Peter’s question about forgiveness in Matthew 18. Beyond counting offenses, the conversation invites us to consider how every word, choice, and interaction sends energy into our communities, either contributing to what is life-giving or what is harm...

What happens when science and faith look at the same universe? In this episode of Climate Brewing, Susan Oxley sits down with retired NASA scientist and Community of Christ minister Steve Dunagan to explore the remarkable intersection of earth science, climate change, faith, and a lifelong curiosity about creation. Steve shares how his NASA career led him from aeronautical research into Earth science and climate research—and why understanding creation can also be a way of understanding the Creat...

The most faithful thing you can do is simply choose love! In this episode of Coffee to Go, Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore Paul’s words in Romans 13 and the radical idea that love—not rules, judgment, culture, or retribution—is what fulfills the law. They unpack what it means to “put on” Christ-like love as a way of being: actively caring, serving, showing compassion, and choosing love even when it’s difficult. Along the way, they challenge us to notice where culture pulls us away from love ...

What if the first step toward climate justice isn’t solving the crisis—but learning to cherish creation? With the 2026 Peace Forum focused on the environment just around the corner, we thought it would be a good time to pull this episode of Climate Brewing from the Project Zion Podcast vault. Here, Katie and Zac Harmon-McLaughlin explore climate change as a deeply spiritual issue, inviting us to recognize our belonging within the interconnected web of God’s creation. From choosing the recycling ...

“Teach me, God, to Wonder, teach me, God, to see...” The opening words to a hymn by Walter Faquharson reflect the longing of someone to experience the beauty of God’s creation. In the midst of such beauty, many find peace and rest for their soul. In this episode of Awaken to God’s Presence, host Robin Linkhart invites listeners to imagine their favorite outside space where their soul feels completely at home... where they belong. Take a few minutes to rest as you join Robin for a moment of refle...

What if our mountaintop experiences weren’t just for our enjoyment? Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith in a brief exploration of Moses’ encounter with God at the burning bush—a moment of holy ground, divine revelation, and a call to action on behalf of people who are suffering. Together, they challenge us to look beyond inward spiritual experiences and ask how our encounters with the sacred can move us toward justice, compassion, and service. Grab your coffee and join the conversation as we ...

Picking up right where they left off in Pt 1 (episode #990), This Fair Trade episode continues to explore what happens when a faith journey enters a new chapter—and how seeking, belonging, healing, and ministry can reshape our understanding of God and ourselves. Gail Shurtleff shares candid wisdom from her own journey into Community of Christ, emphasizing the importance of friendship, listening, accessibility, and creating safe spaces for those navigating profound transitions. Above all, Gail re...

The women are at it again... thank goodness! In this episode of Coffee to Go, Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore the story of Moses’ beginnings in Exodus, highlighting the courageous disobedience of Shiphrah, Puah, Moses’ mother and sister, and Pharaoh’s daughter. Their conversation draws striking connections between ancient oppression, contemporary fears of immigrants and outsiders, and the ways privilege can shape our response to those we perceive as different. The episode invites us to pract...

What happens when faith asks you to slow down, listen, and trust the Spirit? In this powerful “Fair Trade: Chapter Two” conversation, Gail Shurtleff reflects on the unexpected twists, deep healing, and sacred callings that have shaped her journey into Community of Christ. From navigating a profound faith transition to helping build an online congregation and discovering new possibilities for spiritual community during the pandemic, Gail’s story is one of learning to recognize God’s timing—even w...

What relationships in your life are more important than any issue or event that may have broken them down? Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith for a brief exploration of Joseph’s emotional reunion with his brothers and sit with the challenging idea that every hardship isn’t always somehow part of God’s plan. Instead, consider where God is present when the blessing doesn’t come—and discover the deeper blessing found in healing, restored relationships, and reconciliation. Grab your coffee and j...

When family rivalry, favoritism, and betrayal send a young dreamer into a pit, things can get a little crazy. This week on Coffee to Go, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore the complicated story of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 37, uncovering themes of injustice, human brokenness, and the ways we lift others up—or put them down. As Joseph’s story points toward a larger biblical narrative, we’re invited to examine our own relationships and ask: Who have I lifted up today, and who have ...

Great things can happen when a congregation stops asking, “How have we always done this?” and starts asking, “What does our community need now?” In this episode of What’s Brewing, Blake Smith talks with Brooke and Thomas Schlenker of Highland Park, WA Congregation about their sacred (and un-conditional) yes to congregational leadership and to new ideas ... embracing experimentation, and becoming comfortable with the discomfort of change. Highland Park offers a compelling glimpse of what can happ...

There are times when we take our bodies for granted... abusing them with lengthy to-do lists of tasks that test the limits of our capacity. We go about our lives as if the “vessels” we have been given are unshakable, unbreakable, and without limits. How often do we thank others for the things they do for us, yet forget to take time to thank our bodies for getting us through the day? Join host Shannon McAdam for a blessing of the body. Take time to acknowledge and give thanks for the body you hav...

Wrestling with God can be painful, but it just might be worth it if it transforms us. In this episode of Coffee to Go, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith explore Jacob’s mysterious nighttime struggle in Genesis 32—and the lasting mark it leaves on him. Be prepared to reflect on the ways our own encounters with God, uncertainty, and the sacred can leave us changed, sometimes even limping into a new way of being. As we wrestle with the questions and challenges of our own lives, we’re invited to slo...