Sing!

God is using God's power to make sure that those of us who fall short, those of us in need of rescue, have a future available to us. God somehow uses all of our missteps to then help us craft a witness, a narrative whereby we can say to other siblings!

John 3:16-17 show all of us that God loves the world without the stain of condemnation. In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about our own power in everyday life, how we sometimes use it against people, and that ultimately God's mercy in our lives gives us the ability to practice mercy in our daily encounters. Listen in for the full conversation.

This episode is based on part 4 of Bishop Wright's 5-part Lenten series "Letting Go". Learn more about this year's series, watch the weekly videos, and download the reflection guides here.

The most adaptive challenge facing the church is for the organization that bears his name to actually put him first!. What is at the heart of following Jesus in our world today? If Jesus were here today would he recognize the church he founded?

In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about the ways in which the church and her regular practices is perpendicular to the one we are to put first, a table-flipping-over Jesus, and steps to take to bring the church closer to her founder.

This episode is based on part 3 of Bishop Wright's 5-part Lenten series "Letting Go". Learn more about this year's series, watch the weekly videos, and download the reflection guides here.

We know God love us and wants us to know life that is not controlled by fear. What would it be like to get let go of some of that burden???

In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about what it means to lay down the desire for control and embrace a life of faith and trust in God. They discuss Peter's control tactics, Jesus's response, and the vulnerability we can experience when we lay it all down before God. Listen in for the full conversation.

This episode is based on part 2 of Bishop Wright's 5-part Lenten series "Letting Go". Learn more about this year's series, watch the weekly videos, and download the reflection guides here.

Join us in keeping a Holy Lent! This Lent we invite you towards God, towards your self and towards one another using the theme, “Letting Go.” Since Jesus came to set the “captives free,” “Letting Go”of those things and ways that hold us back is central to the new and risen life in Christ that we celebrate each Easter. For the next five weeks, we’ll offer a video meditation on this theme with a study companion for you to make the meditations as personal and useful as possible.

In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about Lent, this year's Lenten series themed "Letting Go", and the first meditation of the series "Letting Go... of the Familiar". What do you need to let go of this Lent to grow as a Christian and closer to God? Listen in for the full conversation.

Learn more about this year's series, watch the weekly videos, and download the reflection guides here.

"When we create these wonderful communities, whether in church, in organizations, in institutions, and in schools, all of that is built around human dignity. If we put dignity at the core, we will be surprised how we can maximize the authenticity of our communities and the authenticity of our togetherness and allow for us really to be intentional about seeing each other's dignity." -Dr. Beth-Sarah Wright

In this episode, Bishop Wright is joined by special guest Dr. Beth-Sarah Wright, author and speaker. Beth-Sarah shares her powerful story of battling clinical depression, and how embracing our vulnerabilities can spark deep healing and foster genuine community. They have a conversation about dignity through the lens of the Baptismal Covenant, the acronym behind her book DIGNITY and the strategies used to create authentic community. Listen in for the full conversation. 

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Atlanta-based author and speaker, Dr. Beth-Sarah Wright writes to make a difference. She writes to develop the courage for transformation and change, in our communities, our institutions, and our lives. Beth-Sarah is the author of seven books. Her most recent book, The DIGNITY Lens Workbook: Implementing the Seven Strategies for Creating Authentic Community is a companion to her book DIGNITY: Seven Strategies for Creating Authentic Community. DIGNITY is a comprehensive lens through which to view and solve for insidious barriers to authenticity and narrow the gap between who we say we are and who we are in reality. 

A former college professor at NYU and Spelman College, she currently serves as the Director of Enrollment Management at Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School in Atlanta and an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Emory School of Medicine. She holds a PhD in Performance Studies from New York University, an MPhil in Anthropology from Cambridge University and a BA (magna cum laude) from Princeton University in Sociology and Afro-American studies.

Beth-Sarah is originally from Jamaica and has lived and studied worldwide, from Edinburgh, Scotland to San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is married to Bishop Wright, Bishop of The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta and they are parents to 5 children.

What does God take pleasure in? At some point, we have to move in a direction that says I am in relationship with all that is - meaning we aren't in the driver seat! A huge appetite for control tells us God is not a part of our lives - and we are afraid of something - why not give up some of that?

In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about what God is unimpressed with, and it is our ability to love and have compassion that truly captivates God's admiration. In simple words, "healed people heal people". LIsten in for the full conversation.

Before listening, read For Faith.

As a society and world, we aren't a single idea away from a better world. What would get us there is a global commitment to loving everybody with dignity. If we are honest, there is a lack of will to love our neighbor!

In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about the Bible's profound ancient insights and reflect on how its teachings remain deeply impactful in our modern world - especially when it comes to love! Listen in for the full conversation.

Before listening, read For Faith.

Obedience - the four letter word of the bible. Sometimes we've got to do what God is inviting us to do out of simple obedience and offer that as worship! The bible gives us an example of disobedience in Jonah. He wanted to give God some advice!

In this episode, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about the story of Jonah and obedience to God. They discuss the notion that our lives of faith come with a cost, as symbolized by the cross, while also celebrating the redemptive embrace of God's unending mercy. Listen in for the full conversation.

Before listening, read For Faith.

Dr. King dared to dream in the greatness of our nation. He defined that greatness in the "I Have a Dream" speech. It has to do with justice, freedom, and dignity for all people. He dared to believe that we are great enough be human family.

In this episode days before Dr. King's birthday, Melissa and Bishop Wright have a conversation about the profound teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Bishop Wright guides us through the depth of Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech, moving past its renowned finale to unearth the call for systemic change and justice within. King's deep-seated love for his country and unshakable dedication to The Gospel formed the cornerstone of his message, transcending the battle for civil rights to craft a blueprint for a most just world house.

Before listening, read For Faith.

Happy New Year and Happy Epiphany! In Jesus, God manifested God's self in the world! New Years and Epiphany are about new beginnings with God, so what better place to begin again than in the book of Genesis. John Muir can help us: “When we contemplate the whole globe as one great dewdrop, striped and dotted with continents and islands, flying through space with other stars all singing and shining together as one, the whole universe appears as an infinite storm of beauty."

In this episode, Melissa has a conversation with Bishop Wright about beginning again with God, Epiphany, creation, and John Muir. They discuss creation, how God's creation is medicine, and disrupting our routine to grow closer to God. Listen in for the full conversation.

Before listening, read For Faith.