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God In Chicago

God In Chicago

De: OverPond Media
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After a decade away, I recently had the opportunity to return to the city of my birth, and to the place where the foundation of my faith was formed.

I have been through a lot since I lived in Chicago. The city has been through a lot since I left.

I never left my faith, but I see it differently now. The communities of faith across the city's neighborhoods never left, but I look at them differently now.

I am a product of these faith communities. I am a product of the specific churches of my youth and early adulthood, and a product of the general Christian subculture formed by people of faith who live in this part of the country.

Having moved in and around communities of faith for over three decades, I am neither objective in my observations nor oblivious in my opinions about them.

I have intentionally chosen to share the stories about my year-long journey visiting 35 faith communities in Chicago in a manner that is stripped of the packaging and pageantry, labels and titles, and divisions and denominations that matter to fewer people now than they did when they were created.

Hopefully, this podcast will challenge the misperceptions about these spaces and celebrate the humanity of the people who gather in them.

This podcast was created in hopes that people who may be unfamiliar with these norms (and/or confused by the large swath of American society influenced by them) will find a bridge to walk with me as I consider the central questions of life, spirituality, and our beliefs about God.

I invite you to open yourself to whatever emotions and thoughts are inspired or provoked by this journey. If you like what you're hearing, please rate us, and leave a quick review! You won't believe how much that would help!

Thanks for listening!

An OverPond Media production.Copyright OverPond Media Ciencias Sociales Cristianismo Espiritualidad Ministerio y Evangelismo
Episodios
  • Completion - 56th and Woodlawn

    Completion - 56th and Woodlawn
    Apr 6 2018
    My destination matches the stately brick mansions on this stretch of Woodlawn Avenue. Tan brick archways, adorned with Christmas lights and wreaths, form open hallways on either side of the hall.

    The walls rise to meet a series of large wooden beams, which run from left to right, and form the base of the hall’s A-frame ceiling. A traditional Christmas carol plays from the large organ pipes which hang over the front stage.

    Inside, a handful of people are scattered across the padded dark wood benches of the main hall. A man greets me, and two older people in light blue robes smile gently at me, and wish me Happy New Year. A few minutes later, a young woman in a dark robe introduced herself and welcomed me into this space.

    The event moves peacefully through a series of organ-backed hymns, poems read by the main speaker, and written meditations which were read aloud in unison by everyone in the hall. The eight-person, blue-robed choir provided musical interludes between the readings from the side of the front stage.

    This is the perfect way to end this year-long journey that began 364 days earlier just a few blocks south of this hall. There was no pomp and circumstance. No excessive celebration. It was neither sad and solemn or angry and bitter.

    It was calm. It was grounded. It was rooted in messages of love and peace, with tangible calls to action for all assembled. Reminders of what we can do, what we can control, and what we release to that which is greater than us.

    The main speaker came to the front stage and delivered a short talk. She drew inspiration for her words this morning from a verse in the Bible which states:

    “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

    The journey concludes in the Hyde Park neighborhood on the south side, at the corner of 56th Street and Woodlawn.

    Intro Theme Music: Victory Lap by QSTN ft. Mecca:83
    Background Music: www.bensound.com/

    Pick up your copy of the companion book at https://godinchicago.com/

    Join the conversation! Follow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Y94abI and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2z6q5W4
    Más Menos
    9 m
  • Holidays - 49th and King Drive

    Holidays - 49th and King Drive
    Mar 28 2018
    47th Street has to be the most industrial side street in this city. To drive down this street is to pass through a living monument to the part of the city that manufactured and shipped food, equipment, and materials for the entire country.

    My destination matches the architectural mood of the confident buildings on this boulevard. The front entrance has the look of an athletic fieldhouse. Its large stone base supports the swooping arched roof which frames the frosted glass windows of the structure’s front entrance.

    An elderly lady in stiletto heels accidentally drops a bracelet. We exchange good morning greetings as I pick it up and hand it to her. Inside the lobby, two ushers are discussing whether a chair should be placed in front of the auditorium door entrance. I pass them and walk inside the auditorium. The building’s arched roof is even more impressive on the inside.

    Small groups of people are scattered around the padded seats of this hall, waiting for the event to begin. Most of the people assembled so far are older, many of the women are wearing colorful Sunday hats, many of the men are in suits. An elderly gentleman in a two-piece suit greets me with an extended hand:

    “Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings, brother. Glad to see you. Happy New Year!”

    The journey continues in the Bronzeville neighborhood on the south side, at the corner of 49th Street and King Drive.

    Intro Theme Music: Victory Lap by QSTN ft. Mecca:83
    Background Music: www.bensound.com/

    Pick up your copy of the companion book at https://godinchicago.com/

    Join the conversation! Follow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Y94abI and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2z6q5W4
    Más Menos
    10 m
  • Obey - Armitage and Orchard

    Obey - Armitage and Orchard
    Mar 20 2018
    This morning, as I drive by the sleek glass windows of international schools, boutique clothing stores, upscale movie theaters, bike lanes, and restaurants I can’t help but flashback to a time when these blocks were anything but sunny, open, brightly-colored, and inviting.

    I thought about the people and families who lived near this stretch of Halsted Street just one generation ago. I wondered if they could have ever known now valuable their neighborhood would become...once they left.

    I cross North Avenue into the theater district, passed the Royal George and Steppenwolf. My destination - a large city high school - sit quietly, with a handful of cars parked in its parking lot.

    Four stone Greek columns frame the facade of the building’s front entrance. Colorful banners touting the school’s academic programs hand on the outside of the two-story brick structure.

    Inside, I pass by a dormant metal detector and I am greeted by a friendly lady who directs me down the hallway towards the auditorium. Tall gray lockers are offset by flags of countries around the world that are hanging close to the ceiling.

    There were only a few people in this section of the auditorium at this point, a few sound and video guys were working on the projection screen. A young man greets me, and introduces himself. I wound up having extended conversations with multiple people during my visit.

    The journey continues in the Lincoln Park neighborhood on the north side, at the corner of Armitage Avenue and Orchard.

    Intro Theme Music: Victory Lap by QSTN ft. Mecca:83
    Background Music: www.bensound.com/

    Pick up your copy of the companion book at https://godinchicago.com/

    Join the conversation! Follow us on Twitter: https://bit.ly/2Y94abI and on Instagram: https://bit.ly/2z6q5W4
    Más Menos
    9 m
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