Season 1

 

What does it mean for a congregation to make a 'covenant with the neighborhood' surrounding the church? In Episode 1, we learn from Chris Ganski of City Reformed Church about the slow, patient work of placemaking within the context of a neighborhood church.

 

Does opening up your church plans to neighborhood participation open up new relationships? How can you invite your neighborhood to dream big alongside you? In episode 2, we talk with Corey Widmer about how Third Church in Richmond, VA, hosted a week-long charrette with neighbors to develop a long-range plan to make their neighborhood more walkable and to create more gracious gathering spaces.

Trailer

Eric & Sara Joy kick-off Season 1 of The Embedded Church podcast by sharing their vision for this podcast and why they think it’s important to consider what it means to be an embedded church in a walkable neighborhood. They define key terms and ideas that provide the framework for the stories you’ll hear on this podcast.

 

Episode 1 - Tending to Placemaking as a Church

What does it mean for a congregation to make a 'covenant with the neighborhood' surrounding the church? In this episode, we learn from Chris Ganski of City Reformed Church about the slow, patient work of placemaking within the context of a neighborhood church.

 

Episode 2 - Community Collaborations: Introduction to the Charrette Process

Does opening up your church plans to neighborhood participation open up new relationships? How can you invite your neighborhood to dream big alongside you? We talk with Corey Widmer about how Third Church in Richmond, VA, hosted a week-long charrette with neighbors to develop a long-range plan to make their neighborhood more walkable and to create more gracious gathering spaces.

 

When a church rents a worship space, does it matter what goes on in that space during the other days of the week? In Episode 3 we talk with Stephanie Williams O'Brien, Co-lead Pastor of Mill City Church, about how their church discovered a pressing need in their community by listening to those who utilize the same building during the week.

Episode 3 - Supporting the Neighborhood Story

When a church rents a worship space, does it matter what goes on in that space during the other days of the week? In this episode we talk with Stephanie Williams O'Brien, Co-lead Pastor of Mill City Church in Minneapolis, about how their church discovered a pressing need in their community by listening to those who utilize the same building during the week.

 

What if a new way of ministering to your neighborhood might simply involve taking small steps - literally? In Episode 4 Eric O. Jacobsen, Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church Tacoma, highlights how his church has initiated caring for their neighborhood by focusing their weekly prayers on the building and places that comprise a 1/8-mile radius, or the "pedestrian-shed," surrounding their property.

Episode 4 - Ministering in Small Steps: The Neighborhood Pedestrian Shed

What if a new way of ministering to your neighborhood might simply involve taking small steps - literally? In this episode Eric O. Jacobsen highlights how his church, First Presbyterian Church in Tacoma, has initiated caring for their neighborhood by focusing their weekly prayers on the building and places that comprise a 1/8-mile radius, or the “pedestrian-shed,” surrounding their property.

 

What are the implications of a pastor living just 975 steps from their church? In Episode 5 we talk with Andy Metzger who is a Pastor at Summit Church in Denver, CO and learn about living and ministering in your church's neighborhood

Episode 5 - Family Life and Ministry in the Neighborhood

What are the implications of a pastor living just 975 steps from their church? In this episode Andy Metzger who is a Pastor at Summit Church in Denver, CO talks honestly about living and ministering in his church's neighborhood. He finds both joys and challenges in this urban context.

 

What is walkability and why is it important for the common good? In Episode 6 we drill down the concept of walkability and talk with Keith Case, Lead Pastor of Providencia about how his church partners with civic organizations to enhance the walkability of West Palm Beach, Florida.

 

What distinguishes an embedded church from a regional church, an insular church, or other geographic models? In Episode 7 we meet Nathan Carter who is a pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Chicago. Nathan discusses how Immanuel Baptist reflects the characteristics of an embedded church, while also sharing about the unique challenges his church has faced with regards to parking and city zoning requirements.

 

How does a church engage in vital ministry in the context of commercial buildings? In Episode 8 we return to Richmond, VA, to talk with Chris Barras who is the Pastor of Area 10 Faith Community in a thriving and diverse part of Richmond known as Area 10.

 

What happens when a church experiments with different ways of being the gathered church week by week? In Episode 9 we talk with Renee and James B Notkin who are the co-pastors of Union Church in Seattle. Union Church worships in a traditional format a couple of Sundays per month.

 

What does an embedded church look like in a rural or small town setting? In episode 10 we talk with Matt Canlis who is the Pastor of Trinity Church about walking as a pastoral practice that began during his time serving as a parish assistant and pastor in Scotland.

 

What are the patterns and practices that a church can adopt to engage their neighbors? In episode 11 we talk with Karen Wilk about the missional practices she leads as a minister within her neighborhood community and as a leader for the Abundant Community Initiative in Edmonton, Alberta.

 

How can a church leverage its geographical location to bless the community that surrounds it? In episode 12 we wrap up Season 1 by talking with Sara Joy Proppe, co-host for The Embedded Church Podcast, about her educational and consulting work with Proximity Project.

Episode 6 - Walkability and Partnering with Civic & Nonprofit Organizations

What is walkability and why is it important for the common good? In this episode we drill down the concept of walkability and talk with Keith Case, Lead Pastor of Providencia about how his church partners with civic organizations to enhance the walkability of West Palm Beach, Florida.

 

Episode 7 - What exactly is an Embedded Church?

What distinguishes an embedded church from a regional church, an insular church, or other geographic models? In this episode we meet Nathan Carter who is a pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Chicago. He discusses how Immanuel Baptist reflects characteristics of an embedded church, while also sharing about the unique challenges his church has faced with parking and city zoning requirements.

 

Episode 8 - Commercial Enterprises as a Church

How does a church engage in vital ministry in the context of commercial buildings? In Episode 8 we return to Richmond, VA, to talk with Chris Barras who is the Pastor of Area 10 Faith Community in a thriving and diverse part of Richmond known as Area 10. Chris's church meets in the historic Byrd Theater and has started a couple commercial enterprises in the district.

 

Episode 9 - The Missional Rhythms of an Embedded Church

What happens when a church experiments with different ways of being the gathered church week by week? In Episode 9 we talk with Renee and James B Notkin who are the co-pastors of Union Church in Seattle. Union Church worships in a traditional format a couple of Sundays per month. On other Sundays they meet in small groups or are engaged out in their communities.

 

Episode 10 - The Embedded Church in a Rural Setting

What does an embedded church look like in a rural or small town setting? In episode 10 we talk with Matt Canlis who is the Pastor of Trinity Church about walking as a pastoral practice that began during his time serving as a parish assistant and pastor in Scotland. Matt is also a filmmaker who documented this experience with ministering in a small Scottish parish in the movie Godspeed.

Episode 11 - Moving From a ‘Come and See’ to a ‘Go and Be’ Posture

What are the patterns and practices that a church can adopt to engage their neighbors? In episode 11 we talk with Karen Wilk about the missional practices she leads as a minister within her neighborhood community and as a leader for the Abundant Community Initiative in Edmonton, Alberta. She discusses what it means to foster a 'go and be' approach with those living in proximity to her home.

Episode 12 - Leaning Into Your Church’s Embedded Identity

How can a church leverage its geographical location to bless the community that surrounds it? In episode 12 we wrap up Season 1 by talking with Sara Joy Proppe, co-host for The Embedded Church Podcast, about her educational and consulting work with Proximity Project. The mission of Proximity Project is to help churches serve the common good by stewarding the built environment of their neighborhood.