Searching the Sacred

So Let’s Talk About Cain | Genesis 4

Season 2 | So Let’s Talk About Cain | Genesis 4
Cain and Abel is one of those stories most of us have heard from childhood. And it's easy to see it as a classic tale of Good vs. Evil. But what if the story is meant so that we identify with Cain? What if the story of Cain is actually our story, my story, or the human story?
In this episode we dive deep into Genesis 4. Enjoy!
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This podcast is a partnership between 40 Orchards and Processing Faith…
40 Orchards, with Steph and Lisa, invites people to wrestle through Biblical texts using the ancient Jewish concepts of midrash.
In a 40 Orchards study, every question is safe, everyone is welcome, and every voice is valued. We believe there’s room for all of us. No person and no question is off limits—because we know that together we can expand each other’s experience of what is sacred, whole, and good. 
You can learn more about 40 Orchards and sign-up for a study by going to 40orchards.org.
Processing Faith is a space created by Jason Steffenhagen for people to do exactly that…process their faith. It’s not one thing…but more like a good recipe. It’s like 1 part pastoral care, 1 part theological exploration, and 1 part wrestling with all the questions. 
You can learn more about Processing Faith and sign-up for a free 45 min session by going to processingfaith.com.
 

Poetry Isn’t Easy | Dealing with Psalm 1

Season 2 | Poetry Isn’t Easy | Dealing with Psalm 1
Welcome back to Searching the Sacred. We are excited to launch into our second season by exploring Psalm 1!
I'll be honest. As we get Season 2 off to a start, this first episode took a minute to find it's footing. But all the groundwork that was laid in the beginning made for a wonderful reflection and meditation on what seemed to be a simplistic poem. 
And this is the nature of poetry, sometimes it's a slow burn and takes a few attempts. 
"Delight in the way and direction of the Living Presence that was and is and always will be."
 
This podcast is a partnership between 40 Orchards and Processing Faith…
40 Orchards, with Steph and Lisa, invites people to wrestle through Biblical texts using the ancient Jewish concepts of midrash.
In a 40 Orchards study, every question is safe, everyone is welcome, and every voice is valued. We believe there’s room for all of us. No person and no question is off limits—because we know that together we can expand each other’s experience of what is sacred, whole, and good. 
You can learn more about 40 Orchards and sign-up for a study by going to 40orchards.org.
Processing Faith is a space created by Jason Steffenhagen for people to do exactly that…process their faith. It’s not one thing…but more like a good recipe. It’s like 1 part pastoral care, 1 part theological exploration, and 1 part wrestling with all the questions. 
You can learn more about Processing Faith and sign-up for a free 45 min session by going to processingfaith.com.

Beginnings! (a special New Year’s bonus episode) | Genesis 1

Bonus | Beginnings! | Genesis 1
Happy 2022!! Let's dive deep into Genesis chapter 1 to discover what God could be teaching us about how things begin and how we are invited to co-create with God. 
As we start the new year, let's reflect on what God may be inviting us into...maybe a space to reflect and hold where we have been, maybe a space to start birthing something new, or maybe a space to get to work doing the thing that God has been calling us towards for some time. 
 
A couple books that were mentioned in this episode:
Man's Search for Meaning (Viktor E. Frankl)
The Inclusive Bible: The First Egalitarian Translation
 
This podcast is a partnership between 40 Orchards and Processing Faith…
40 Orchards, with Steph and Lisa, invites people to wrestle through Biblical texts using the ancient Jewish concepts of midrash.
In a 40 Orchards study, every question is safe, everyone is welcome, and every voice is valued. We believe there’s room for all of us. No person and no question is off limits—because we know that together we can expand each other’s experience of what is sacred, whole, and good. 
You can learn more about 40 Orchards and sign-up for a study by going to 40orchards.org.
Processing Faith is a space created by Jason Steffenhagen for people to do exactly that…process their faith. It’s not one thing…but more like a good recipe. It’s like 1 part pastoral care, 1 part theological exploration, and 1 part wrestling with all the questions. 
You can learn more about Processing Faith and sign-up for a free 45 min session by going to processingfaith.com.
 

Sing Mary Sing! | More Luke 1

Season 1 | Sing Mary Sing! | More Luke 1
Continuing our Advent theme from the previous episode, we dive into the poetic words of Mary from Luke 1. Oftentimes called the Magnificat, we explore the profound and prophetic nature of Mary's words and how they resonate with us today. We also look at Hannah's story and the prayer she utters as her long-awaited son, Samuel is chosen to be raised in the temple. 
How do their words impact our world?
Who can really sing these words?
What does it mean for us to be close enough to hear them still?
 
In this episode we reference and/or read from a few books...
First Nations Version: https://firstnationsversion.com/book/first-nations-version/
The Particulars of Rapture: https://www.amazon.com/Particulars-Rapture-Reflections-Exodus/dp/080521237X
God Speaks Through Wombs: https://www.amazon.com/God-Speaks-Through-Wombs-Unexpected/dp/1514002671/
 
This podcast is a partnership between 40 Orchards and Processing Faith…
40 Orchards, with Steph and Lisa, invites people to wrestle through Biblical texts using the ancient Jewish concepts of midrash.
In a 40 Orchards study, every question is safe, everyone is welcome, and every voice is valued. We believe there’s room for all of us. No person and no question is off limits—because we know that together we can expand each other’s experience of what is sacred, whole, and good. 
You can learn more about 40 Orchards and sign-up for a study by going to 40orchards.org.
Processing Faith is a space created by Jason Steffenhagen for people to do exactly that…process their faith. It’s not one thing…but more like a good recipe. It’s like 1 part pastoral care, 1 part theological exploration, and 1 part wrestling with all the questions. 
You can learn more about Processing Faith and sign-up for a free 45 min session by going to processingfaith.com.
 

An Odd Place To Start | Luke 1

Season 1 | An Odd Place To Start | Luke 1
Luke starts his gospel, not with the story of Mary and Joseph, but with the story of Zachariah and Elizabeth.
We wrestle with what it means for Zachariah and Elizabeth to be named 'righteous' and the miraculous encounter that Zachariah has while in the temple.
How can their story help prepare us for Advent and the coming Christ? 
 
This podcast is a partnership between 40 Orchards and Processing Faith…
40 Orchards, with Steph and Lisa, invites people to wrestle through Biblical texts using the ancient Jewish concepts of midrash.
In a 40 Orchards study, every question is safe, everyone is welcome, and every voice is valued. We believe there’s room for all of us. No person and no question is off limits—because we know that together we can expand each other’s experience of what is sacred, whole, and good. 
You can learn more about 40 Orchards and sign-up for a study by going to 40orchards.org.
Processing Faith is a space created by Jason Steffenhagen for people to do exactly that…process their faith. It’s not one thing…but more like a good recipe. It’s like 1 part pastoral care, 1 part theological exploration, and 1 part wrestling with all the questions. 
You can learn more about Processing Faith and sign-up for a free 45 min session by going to processingfaith.com.

Ice Cream Bowls of Hope | Genesis 1

Season 1 | Ice Cream Bowls of Hope | Genesis 1
In this episode we talk about the third day of creation from Genesis 1...the waters are held back and dirt appears.
What does it mean for God to see that this as good? Before plants spring forth, before humans are formed from the dust...how is this too good?
And who likes the anticipation of ice cream?! It seems like Lisa and Jason do!!!!!
 
This podcast is a partnership between 40 Orchards and Processing Faith…
40 Orchards, with Steph and Lisa, invites people to wrestle through Biblical texts using the ancient Jewish concepts of midrash.
In a 40 Orchards study, every question is safe, everyone is welcome, and every voice is valued. We believe there’s room for all of us. No person and no question is off limits—because we know that together we can expand each other’s experience of what is sacred, whole, and good. 
You can learn more about 40 Orchards and sign-up for a study by going to 40orchards.org.
Processing Faith is a space created by Jason Steffenhagen for people to do exactly that…process their faith. It’s not one thing…but more like a good recipe. It’s like 1 part pastoral care, 1 part theological exploration, and 1 part wrestling with all the questions. 
You can learn more about Processing Faith and sign-up for a free 45 min session by going to processingfaith.com.

Altars of Dirt and Nakedness | Exodus 20

Season 1 | Altars of Dirt and Nakedness | Exodus 20
Exodus 20 is known for being the chapter about the 10 Commandments. But what about a few key verses that come after this important list? There's talk about an altar of dirt, not exposing your nakedness when you ascend the steps...what is all this about? 
In this episode, Steph, Lisa, and Jason jump from Exodus 20 to passages in Exodus 19, Genesis 2, and Genesis 9...just to name a few. 
 
This podcast is a partnership between 40 Orchards and Processing Faith…
40 Orchards, with Steph and Lisa, invites people to wrestle through Biblical texts using the ancient Jewish concepts of midrash.
In a 40 Orchards study, every question is safe, everyone is welcome, and every voice is valued. We believe there’s room for all of us. No person and no question is off limits—because we know that together we can expand each other’s experience of what is sacred, whole, and good. 
You can learn more about 40 Orchards and sign-up for a study by going to 40orchards.org.
Processing Faith is a space created by Jason Steffenhagen for people to do exactly that…process their faith. It’s not one thing…but more like a good recipe. It’s like 1 part pastoral care, 1 part theological exploration, and 1 part wrestling with all the questions. 
You can learn more about Processing Faith and sign-up for a free 45 min session by going to processingfaith.com.

Seeking Shalom | Jeremiah 29

Season 1 | Seeking Shalom | Jeremiah 29
In Episode 2 of this inaugural season, we explore Jeremiah 29. The people of Israel are in exile in the land of Babylon, and through the prophet, God instructs the people to seek the peace of the city.
Questions abound... what would it feel like to be in exile, what does it mean to plant new gardens in a foreign land, what is Shalom, and what does it mean to Seek the peace ...we wrestle with these and many more.
 
This podcast is a partnership between 40 Orchards and Processing Faith…
40 Orchards invites people to wrestle through Biblical texts using the ancient Jewish concepts of midrash.
In a 40 Orchards study, where you will likely be led by Steph or Lisa, every question is safe, everyone is welcome, and every voice is valued. We believe there’s room for all of us. No person and no question is off limits—because we know that together we can expand each other’s experience of what is sacred, whole, and good. 
You can learn more about 40 Orchards and sign-up for a study by going to 40orchards.org.
Processing Faith is a space created by Jason Steffenhagen for people to do exactly that…process their faith. It’s not one thing…but more like a good recipe. It’s like 1 part pastoral care, 1 part theological exploration, and 1 part wrestling with all the questions. 
You can learn more about Processing Faith and sign-up for a free 45 min session by going to processingfaith.com.

Searching the Sacred | Exodus 33

Season 1 | Searching the Sacred | Exodus 33
Welcome to Episode 1 of Searching the Sacred. This podcast is for the curious, the doubters, and the hope-seekers. 
In this inaugural episode, Steph, Lisa, and Jason explore Exodus 33 as a reference point for why searching is normal and why the sacred can be found. 
 
Searching the Sacred is a partnership between 40 Orchards and Processing Faith.
40 Orchards invites people to wrestle through Biblical texts using the ancient Jewish concepts of midrash.
In a 40 Orchards study, every question is safe, everyone is welcome, and every voice is valued. We believe there’s room for all of us. No person and no question is off limits—because we know that together we can expand each other’s experience of what is sacred, whole, and good. 
You can learn more about 40 Orchards and sign-up for a study by going to 40orchards.org.
Processing Faith is a space created by Jason Steffenhagen for people to do exactly that…process their faith. It’s not one thing…but more like a good recipe. It’s like 1 part pastoral care, 1 part theological exploration, and 1 part wrestling with all the questions. 
You can learn more about Processing Faith and sign-up for a free 45 min session by going to processingfaith.com.