On today’s episode, we have a conversation with the Rev. Mitchell Miller, who was unanimously elected at the Spring 2024 Stated Meeting as the new Synod Leader/Stated Clerk of Synod of the Sun.

Interviewing Mitch is Rev. Elizabeth Brinegar, who served on the Search Committee and Rev. Steve Shive, our current Bridge Interim Synod Leader and Stated Clerk.

March 2024 Issue of Synod Newsletter, introducing Mitch: https://conta.cc/3PfqIEd

Today’s episode is all about volunteering and disaster recovery. Kathy joined a mission trip with a group of Presbyterians from Iowa as they as they work on storm damaged homes in Eastern Oklahoma. For this podcast, Kathy spoke with the group leader, the Rev. Tim Maxa, who is the pastor of two congregations who has been leading teams of youth and adults on these trips for over 30 years.

The synod has recently updated the SPDR section of the website to highlight our volunteer work partners in each of our four states. There is no shortage of opportunities within and beyond our Synod.

https://www.synodsun.org/spdr-about-us

On this episode of Sunspots, we continue the series of Living in Liminal Space but expanding it from the church setting to a global context. Bridge Interim Synod Leader/Stated Clerk Steve Shive welcomes his twin brother Ronald Shive to the conversation. Ron is a Retired Presbyterian Minister and Owner of Spiritus Mundi Travel.

Ron has been engaged with Israel/Palestine issue for the past 20 years in the PC(USA) and active in leading groups to the region. After delivering a report to the 2010 General Assembly as the chair of a Middle East Study Committee, Ron continues to be involved in the study of that region.

You can find the documentation referenced in this Liminal Space episode HERE: https://www.synodsun.org/post/resources-from-the-israel-palestine-sunspots-episode-with-ron-shive

You can also read Steve Shive's article about his recent visit to Israel/Palestine HERE: https://www.synodsun.org/post/crying-all-the-way

You can watch the video of this conversation on our YouTube channel or listen to the audio on our Sunspots podcast.

Today's episode is part two of a two-part episode of a Sunspots’ Disaster Partnership Conversation. This episode features Jim Kirk, who serves as the Associate for Disaster Response in the U.S. for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and Michelle Muñiz, who serves as the Disaster Recovery Coordinator for the Presbytery of San Juan in Puerto Rico.

In this episode, Jim and Michelle reflect on how they see resiliency as a critical component of disaster recovery and in the people they’ve to know through their ministries. They also share ways we as Presbyterians across the Synod of the Sun can continue to pray and support one another, particularly before a disaster strikes.

“Anything that doesn’t kill you and you integrate into your life will make you stronger. Healing camps, emotional spiritual care programs of PDA are all designed to help people integrate just horrible experiences in a way that it gives them meaning and becomes part of their journey, but doesn’t define their journey.” - Jim Kirk

“We have to be careful how we talk about [resiliency], so we don’t get into the place where we romanticize that people are struggling and somehow figuring it out.” - Michelle Muñiz

Download SPDR’s 12 Steps to Building Resiliency Guide by clicking the links below:

English

Español

한국인

Reach out to Michelle Muńiz directly to learn more about supporting disaster recovery and volunteering in Puerto Rico by emailing: puertorico.pda@gmail.com.

To learn more about volunteering at PDA host sites in the Synod of the Sun and beyond, go to: https://pda.pcusa.org/page/volunteer-work-teams/

Today's episode is part one of a two-part episode of a Sunspots’ Disaster Partnership Conversation. This episode features Jim Kirk, who serves as the Associate for Disaster Response in the U.S. for Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, and Michelle Muñiz, who serves as the Disaster Recovery Coordinator for the Presbytery of San Juan in Puerto Rico.

In this episode, Jim and Michelle share with us how they each came to the roles they now hold in disaster ministry and describe how the gifts of countless Presbyterians given through the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering are empowering congregations and rebuilding the lives and communities of those impacted by disasters.

“There are those events that are smaller in scale, that do not get a lot of recognition, and that are not federally declared disasters. And we’re able to provide immediate support for church damage and immediate need directly because of the One Great Hour of Sharing offering. So if the only way we could respond is to have an appeal, it would be weeks or months before we could get support into the field, but because of the OGHS we have the infrastructure in place to get emergency grants out the door within days. The real life example is that there are fires burning in the Synod of the Sun as we speak in the panhandle of Texas and in Oklahoma.” - Jim Kirk

“Through this funding, churches [in Puerto Rico] were able to develop new ways to respond or to actually expand the services that they were already doing, but we also were able to partner with organizations that were not necessarily connected to our church and even with organizations that were working in communities where there are no Presbyterian presence.” - Michelle Muñiz

Learn more about the PC(USA)’s One Great Hour of Sharing offering and give online: https://specialofferings.pcusa.org/offering/oghs/

Designate a gift to an Active Response area of PDA: https://pda.pcusa.org/page/active-accounts/

Learn more about PDA’s partnership with the Synod of the Sun: https://www.synodsun.org/spdr-about-us

Reach out to Michelle Muńiz directly to learn more about supporting disaster recovery and volunteering in Puerto Rico by emailing: puertorico.pda@gmail.com.

To learn more about volunteering at PDA host sites in the Synod of the Sun and beyond, go to: https://pda.pcusa.org/page/volunteer-work-teams/

On this episode of Sunspots, Bridge Interim Synod Leader and Stated Clerk Steve Shive talks with Nikki Collins, the Coordinator for 1001 New Worshiping Communities.

Nikki Collins began serving as the Coordinator for 1001 New Worshiping Communities in June 2018. Previously she served Cherokee Presbytery as Stated Clerk and Mission Coordinator and, before that, as the founder of Bare Bulb Coffee, a rich brew of full-service coffee shop, music and arts venue, and home to a diverse group of disciples committed to shedding light in the world.

Our Tapestry (TikTok) https://vimeo.com/879445541?share=copy

Stoked Life (paddle board) https://vimeo.com/879446563?share=copy

kin•dom campfire chats (LGBTQIA+ camp for youth) https://kindom.buzzsprout.com

This is part two of a two-part episode of Sunspots, featuring Dr. Eddie Moore Jr., Founder and Executive Director of The Privilege Institute, who talks about the upcoming White Privilege Conference that will be held on April 3-6 in Tulsa, OK.

Click HERE to read Dr. Eddie Moore, Jr.'s bio and event details.

Dr. Moore is interviewed by

Natarsha Sanders, who is the Director of Centering the Sacred. Natarsha also serves on the Columbia Theological Seminary admissions team as a Connector.

Kristy Rodgers is a Commissioned Pastor and Director of Children’s Ministry at First Presbyterian Church Bartlesville, OK. Kristi was the Moderator of Synod of the Sun in 2022 and Moderator of the Network for Dismantling Racism

Molly Casteel is a Minister-at-Large for Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery and the Owner of Belonging, LLC, an equity and justice consulting firm. Molly is also a member of the Synod’s Committee on Representation

https://www.theprivilegeinstitute.com/wpc25

On this first of a two part episode of Sunspots, Dr. Eddie Moore Jr., Founder and Executive Director of The Privilege Institute, talks about the upcoming White Privilege Conference that will be held on April 3-6 in Tulsa, OK.

Click HERE to read his bio and event details

Dr. Moore is interviewed by:

Natarsha Sanders, who is the Director of Centering the Sacred. Natarsha also serves on the Columbia Theological Seminary admissions team as a Connector.

Kristy Rodgers is a Commissioned Pastor and Director of Children’s Ministry at First Presbyterian Church Bartlesville, OK. Kristi was the Moderator of Synod of the Sun in 2022 and Moderator of the Network for Dismantling Racism

Molly Casteel is a Minister-at-Large for Eastern Oklahoma Presbytery and the Owner of Belonging, LLC, an equity and justice consulting firm. Molly is also a member of the Synod’s Committee on Representation

https://www.theprivilegeinstitute.com/wpc25