Episodes

“Anticipation, it’s making me wait.” These are not just the words to the refrain of a Carly Simon song or a ‘70s ketchup commercial. It is an expression of what we experience as we sit in the uncertainty of Holy Saturday... between the crucifixion of Good Friday and the resurrection of Easter. It’s also something experienced by many in the everyday uncertainty of life. Join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith for a look at the good and bad of waiting on Holy Saturday, and find ways to make that wa...

Few people like the dark... especially when that darkness invades our everyday living. Ignoring it, however, will not make it go away. If anything, facing it head-on will only make the light that shines in the darkness that much brighter. Some say that you can’t celebrate the light of Easter without having experienced the darkness of Good Friday. In this episode of Coffee to Go, hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith will explore the darkness of Good Friday, and offer some helpful thoughts to acknowl...

When was the last time you went to a dinner party and the host offered to wash your feet? How would you react if they did? Would you be embarrassed, or would you receive it as an extravagant gift? Once again Jesus does the unexpected. Co-hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith take us to the upper room for a lesson in servant ministry in this Maundy Thursday episode of Coffee to Go where Jesus lays out the mandate to “love one another.” Download Transcript Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered! Fo...

Take some time to journey with host, Tyler Marz, on a “Dwelling” adventure to the place where many will soon gather for World Conference. Place yourself in the seats where hymns have been sung, legislation has been considered, inspired words have been shared, and lives have been encouraged to carry on the mission of Jesus Christ. Rest there for a few minutes as you contemplate your hopes and dreams for the church. Leave ready to “live, love and share as Zion.” Download Transcript Thanks for lis...

“Hosanna to the Son of David, blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” The cries of desperation from a people waiting for their “victor” to enter Jerusalem and liberate them. Instead, they witness an incredibly humble event ironically referred to as the Triumphal Entry. How can a scripture telling of such deep humility in the midst of heightened expectations possibly be relevant to us today? Join co-hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith for the first of several episodes taking us throu...

Music plays a critical role in our lives. From our ABCs to the books of the Bible, words set to music have helped us to learn, challenged us to grow, and taken us to unknown places. Hymnody is no different. Through the singing of our hymns, we have continued to build a foundation for our beliefs. Listen in as host Brittany Mangelson sits down with hymn enthusiast and accomplished musician, Dick Clothier, to talk about the history and impact of hymns in the restoration tradition. Beginning with E...

“The Bible tells us just what [God] wants us to know.” NOT!! Listen to this episode of Percolating on Faith to hear why, since the late 1700s, people have been arguing that, “if it’s written down, it must be true”... especially in relation to the Biblical text. Find out why taking such a position can be dangerous … not to mention incorrect. Discover ways to approach scripture from an honest and healthy perspective so you don’t end up in a “literal” trap. Book Referenced in this episode: Jack Rog...

When was the last time you did something without thinking about the “cost,” simply because it was the right thing to do? Giving without thought of cost is central to the extravagant nature of God. This week, join cohosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith at the house of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus for a lesson from Jesus on extravagant generosity. It’s always the “right thing.” Download Transcript Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Intro and Outro music use...

Would it surprise you to know that Community of Christ and the LDS Church are not the only ones who consider the Kirtland Temple to be “their” sacred space? In this episode, host Brittany Mangelson sits down with Site Director, Roger Rose, to see What’s Brewing at the Kirtland Temple. From meaningful worships to group retreats to pep rallies for the local high school, the Kirtland Temple truly serves as a place for community building and personal growth. Listen in to find out how you can be a pa...

Host and master storyteller, Linda Booth, is back with another episode of Coffee Connect, and a call to action. Listen in as she tells stories of modern-day “Good Samaritans,” and how their simple acts were mighty deeds in the eyes of those who were the recipients of their kindness and generosity. Download Transcript Thanks for listening to Faith Unfiltered! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Intro and Outro music used with permission: “For Everyone Born,” Community of Christ Sings #285. Mu...

Struggling with spiritual blindness? Held back by biases you’ve inherited or learned over your lifetime? Lent is the time to regain your sight... to put away those biases and blinders by intentionally working to see the world from another perspective. You don’t have to wait for Jesus to spit in the mud and rub it on your eyes to be able to see. Just start by taking an honest look at your own sin, whatever that (sin) looks like for you! Download Transcript Thanks for listening to Project Zion P...

Looking for intrigue, future-telling and end times prophecy, beasts and demons? If so, you’ll have to look somewhere other than the Book of Revelation. Believe it or not, that’s not what the book is about. To get a more accurate picture of the Book of Revelation and the hope and encouragement that it includes, grab a cup (you might need a couple) of your favorite blend and sit down for a conversation between host Karin Peter and guides, Tony and Charmaine Chvala-Smith. You’re guaranteed to see t...

Faith transitions are hard, and they take time. Don’t let anyone tell you that you have to rush to answers and conclusions. Faith isn’t “black and white,” and everyone needs space to live in the struggle. Join host Brittany Mangelson as she sits down with Mina Leach to hear about Mina’s own decades-long journey through questions, answers, and more questions. Hear how she and her family are navigating the journey individually and together. Take your time. There’s no rush! HOST: Brittany Mangelso...

It’s the third week of Lent and we find that Jesus has “crossed the line,” and it’s a good thing. Join cohosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith for this week’s episode of Coffee to Go in which they talk about Jesus’ encounter with the Woman at the Well, and how that relates to us in a world that too often draws lines in the sand and encourages an “us and them” mentality. See how you are being called to “cross the line” with Jesus. Download Transcript Thanks for listening to Project Zion Podcast! Fol...

Ninety-five years and counting! Since its beginning in 1928, youth camping has been a primary point of connection, community, and leadership development for Community of Christ children and youth. Although some things have changed drastically since the early 1900s, much of the camping program remains from those early days in Nauvoo, IL. Join Karin Peter as she sits down with Wendy Eaton to get a peek into the historic beginning of camping in the Community of Christ. For Barb Walden’s lecture on...

Have you ever stopped to consider the magnitude of the stars? In this episode of Awaken to God’s presence, Presiding Evangelist Jane Gardner helps listeners reflect on the condition of their hearts... considering what is written there. Journey with Jane in reflection and confession through the spiritual practice of Body Prayer, and find healing and strength for the Lenten journey. HOST: Joelle Wight GUEST: Jane Gardner Download Transcript Thanks for listening to Project Zion Podcast! Follow u...

How can these things be? On this, the second Sunday of Lent, join hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith as they engage with Nicodemus and Jesus in a teachable moment about the natural and spiritual birth that God desires for all of us and creation. Consider the fact that some things having to do with God are complicated and confusing, and understanding is not always easy to come by... but that’s OK. In the midst of confusion, we can still make space for God and for others if we remember that “God so...

What is your climate story? How is it affected by race, class, location, etc.? Grab your coffee and listen in as Ashia tells how she is “working to preserve, interrogate and imagine how the black diaspora has shaped and continues to shape land stewardship in the Western Hemisphere.” Hear about her work with the Mycelium Youth Network and the importance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK). HOSTS: Dean Wight & Laurie Gordon GUEST: Ashia Ajani Download Transcript Thanks for listening to P...

Community of Christ World Conference is a great opportunity to participate in the business of the church while connecting with friends (new and old) from around the world. But, it can a bit overwhelming ... especially for those attending for the first time. The great news is that there’s no one better than Peacebuilding consultant and trainer, Sandee Gamet, to set your mind at ease. Sandee has been coordinating conference legislation information sessions for World Conference since 2002, and she ...

Are you ready for a little time in the wilderness, or is life a wilderness from which you need a break? In this episode of Coffee to Go, join cohosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith on this first Sunday of Lent as they consider what it means to join Jesus in the wilderness. What does “wilderness” like for you? What might it look like for others? What temptations confront you in the wilderness? Download Transcript Thanks for listening to Project Zion Podcast! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! In...

Could we really be experiencing our own “Groundhog Day” in the church and in our current culture? Join host Karin Peter along with Apostle (and Historian) Lach Mackay and Theologian Tony Chvala-Smith as they explore the intersection of history and theology during the Presidency of Fred M. Smith. Hear how Fred M., grandson of Joseph Smith, Jr., served as “prophet of the one true church,” while being influenced by contemporary Protestant theology of the social gospel type. Sources used for backgr...

In this, the first episode of Coffee to Go, co-hosts Karin Peter and Blake Smith, focus their conversation on Ash Wednesday... its purpose...and its call on our lives as disciples of and co-journeyers with Jesus. See how David’s heartfelt self-reflection and repentance in Psalm 51 connects with our own need to make space for God, and how we can move forward in a healing way. Download Transcript Thanks for listening to Project Zion Podcast! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram! Intro and Outro m...

Music composition, art and community take center stage in this episode of Coffee in the Swarm. Join co-hosts Julie Wheaton and Mike Hoffman as they sit down to chat with Adric Williams to get his take on life at Graceland. You’ll also hear about Adric’s “crazy idea” for using the church to create community and bring the community together to share their giftedness ... say what?! HOSTS: Julie Wheaton and Mike Hoffman GUEST: Adric Williams Download Transcript Thanks for listening to Project Zio...

Lots of people wonder if Jesus has any value for their life and faith journey. Sometimes it is difficult to connect what we read in the scriptures with what we experience in daily life. Join co-hosts, Karin Peter and Blake Smith, for this introduction to “Coffee to Go”... a new weekly series in the Project Zion Podcast family. See how spending a little intentional time each week might help you make those very important connections as you journey with Jesus. Download Transcript Thanks for listen...