A podcast that takes a meaningful five minutes of your day to share parenting and family tips that help you grow in faith.
Episodes
Produced and edited by Heather Scott
Episode 147 - When Life Has Gone Off Track with April Fiet
Jen has another conversation with April Fiet discussing a blog post she wrote a while back.
"If Im carrying a burden that’s too heavy for me but I don’t tell anyone then that person doesn’t have the opportunity to bless me in the way God wants them to."
https://aprilfiet.com/my-thoughts/new-life-experiences-when-life-has-gone-off-track
Episode 145 - Showing Our Children How to Grieve
Jen is back this episode with Eric Nolin and they are discussing how we as parents may be grieving a loss and how we can show our kids what it looks like to grieve well.
Eric Nolin, M.Div., is a recent graduate from Fuller Theological Seminary, where he took a special interest in studying grief, pastoral care, and the resiliency of the human spirit. When he's not reading or writing, you'll find him running, climbing, or exploring new restaurants with his wife.
Episode 144 - Getting to Know a hospital Chaplain
Jen is starting a new series with Eric Nolin, a former hospital chaplain, to talk about death and grief. This conversation started after Jen read Eric's Presbyterian Outlook article, My death and resurrection as a chaplain.
Eric Nolin, M.Div., is a recent graduate from Fuller Theological Seminary, where he took a special interest in studying grief, pastoral care, and the resiliency of the human spirit. When he's not reading or writing, you'll find him running, climbing, or exploring new restaurants with his wife.
Episode 137 - Post Separation Abuse
In the last episode of this series on abuse, Jen is back with Rev. Gen to discuss issues of abuse post separation.
For more information about Gen visit https://www.hoperisethrive.com/ for more resources. You can also go to https://www.thehotline.org/ for help and resources.
Episode 136 - Abuse and Children
This is the 3rd episode in this series with Rev. Gen. Jen and Gen are talking about the effects of abuse on children.
https://www.thehotline.org/ for help and resources.
Episode 135 - Is It Abuse?
Jen has Rev. Gen back for a second episode. This episode the two of them are talking about what abuse can look like and reminders of where to go when you are looking for help.
https://www.thehotline.org/ for help and resources.
Episode 134 - Domestic Abuse
Jen is beginning a conversation with Rev. Gen about domestic abuse. This is the first of a few episodes that Jen will have with Rev. Gen. For more information about Gen visit https://www.hoperisethrive.com/ for more resources. You can also go to https://www.thehotline.org/ for help and resources.
Episode 131 - The Sacred Pulse
Jen is here with April Fiet, the author of The Sacred Pulse to give us a glimpse into her book.
April is a pastor, author, wife, mom, and lover of words. She finds inspiration under the big Nebraska skies, in the garden, in the yarn aisle, and in the backyard with her chickens. April is active on Facebook and Twitter, and she writes for At the Table with April Fiet (http://aprilfiet.com). Her first book The Sacred Pulse was published in 2021.
Episode 128 - Care Tasks
Jen is talking with Rev. Eliza Jaremko this week. They are talking about her Presbyterian Outlook article 'Books we love: How to Keep House While Drowning'. In the article Eliza shares how she is learning to keep house like Mary and Martha.
Rev. Eliza C. Jaremko is the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Haddon Heights, NJ, where she has served for over 10 years. She is currently the Moderator Elect for the Presbytery FOR Southern New Jersey and co-chair of the Vital Congregations initiative. With a passion for serving God through writing, Eliza is a regular contributor to the Presbyterian Outlook's Voices Blog (https://pres-outlook.org/author/jaremko-eliza/), and blogs about her chaotic and funny, yet always blessed, life as a pastor, wife, and mom of 2 littles at ReverendMama.com
Episode 123 - Faith Formation in Minecraft
Jen is again talking with Lisa Kaufer. Like so many others, Lisa has found it hard to worship as a family during the pandemic. However, when she was commissioned to create a curriculum, and part of it would take place in Minecraft, Lisa was able to learn from her kids and help them grow. For more of the story, take a listen.
Also, check out themuddyfork.org for more resources from Lisa!
Episode 122 - Pray and Play
Jen is talking with Lisa Kaufer this week.
Lisa is the creator or the themuddyfork.org and has created the "Pray & Play Cards". One side of each card includes a brief prayer, scripture, and response activity. The reverse side of each card includes an illustration, two key words, and a conversation starter. Inspired by the idea of how the church tells time, the cards can be used for prayer and Bible study following along with the rhythm of the liturgical calendar. The illustrations and key words can also be used independently in a variety of games at the dinner table, in small groups, or at Sunday School.
Episode 120 - Love and Boundaries
With the end of Pride month coming soon we've got one more episode with Pepa Paniagua. This week Jen and Pepa are discussing how parents can love their kids through what might be a tough transition and keep strong boundaries while processing these new emotions with accountability friends. We're gonna jump right in.
Episode 118 - Kin∙dom Community with Pepa Paniagua
Jen is back with Pepa Paniagua talking about her new worshiping community Kin∙dom Community and the new fully affirming camp Kin∙dom Camp in Gilmer, Texas.
The Reverend Pepa Paniagua is a cradle Presbyterian. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington. After graduating with degrees in Religion and Gender Studies, she moved to Austin, Texas, where she attended Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Ordained in the PC(USA), Rev. Paniagua has been living in the DFW area and serving in Grace Presbytery for more than 13 years. After serving congregations in a youth and families capacity, in 2020, Pepa pursued a call to create a more inclusive and affirming space for our LBGTQIA siblings, and those who are not comfortable in"traditional church," and kin∙dom community was born!
Episode 114 - The Parents Are Not OK
Today Jen is talking with Lauren Graeber about why parents haven't brought their kids back to church yet.
Lauren Graeber sometimes teaches writing and does a little writing herself in publications like Word and Way and EcoTheo Review. EVERY day she walks her dog and wrangles her kids. She's the Co-Director of the Center for Prayer and Spirituality in High Point, NC where she teaches workshops on writing as a spiritual practice and is still navigating what it means to have an MDiv and be a minister without being clergy. She can be found on Instagram @definitelysometimes making notes about parenting, our ridiculous world, and the shenanigans of faith.
Link to article talked about today: https://wordandway.org/2022/02/22/the-parents-who-used-to-come-to-your-church-are-not-okay/
Episode 111 - It's Cool to Be Kind
Jen is talking with Bruce Reyes Chow this week all about kindness and parenting. Listen now for some pointers.
Bruce is an author, speaker, parent, consultant, coach, podcaster, and pastor. He speaks and writes on issues of faith, technology, race, parenting, and church culture. Over the past 25 years, he has pastored five churches in the San Francisco Bay Area serving as a head of staff, transitional, and founding pastor. He is currently a Senior Consultant and Leadership Coach with The Convergence Network and is a Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths Coach.
Bruce hosts the podcast, BRC & Friends and is the author of five books. His latest is, “In Defense of Kindness” (Chalice Press, 2021) and he is currently working on his next book, “Everything I Believe about God” ( 2023)
He and his spouse currently live in San Jose, CA and can be found on most social networks via @breyeschow.
Episode 109 - Lenten Journey
This week Jen is talking with Kelly Fitzgerald about Lent and the struggles we as parents can have with these 40 days in the Christian calendar.
Reverend Kelly Fitzgerald is a liturgical enthusiast. She believes the church year is a great foundation for the rhythms of both church and home life. She lives in Sarasota, FL reveling in God's handiwork with each glorious sunset. She is also a mom to three girls that challenge every notion she had of Christian education and youth ministry she ever had.
Episode 108 | Memories and Growing Forward
It's the 3 year anniversary of Parents Take Five and in this episode Jen takes a walk down memory lane.
"I have learned so much from listeners, guests, and the many parents and church workers that I’ve met as a result. It offers a place to be authentic by sharing my own parenting struggles as we attempt to model faithful discipleship." -Rev. Jen Evans
Episode 107 | Super Bowl. How about Souper Bowl
Jen is here this week to talk about the Souper Bowl of Caring and one way we can live out Micah 6:8.
"He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?"
Episode 106 | Middle School, Eh?
Middle schoolers. Need I saw more? J/K. This week Jen is back with Brian Wallace and they are discussing the joys of raising middle schoolers and things to do to help them thrive.
Brian is the primary presbytery staff liaison for congregations in the North Branch and East Branch of the Pittsburgh Presbytery, Administrative Commission for Transformation, Commission on Preparation for Ministry, New Worshiping Communities Commission, and Next Generation Ministry Team, as well as overseeing areas of children & youth ministries. He's here to talk about continuing to parent through this pandemic.
Episode 105 | Let's Set the Bar Low
This week Jen has guest Brian Wallace with her. Brian is the primary presbytery staff liaison for congregations in the North Branch and East Branch of the Pittsburgh Presbytery, Administrative Commission for Transformation, Commission on Preparation for Ministry, New Worshiping Communities Commission, and Next Generation Ministry Team, as well as overseeing areas of children & youth ministries. He's here to talk about continuing to parent through this pandemic.
Episode 103 | Grief
In this episode Sarah Grace Montgomery and Rich Evans (Jen's partner) fill in. Jen experienced a sudden loss. Her father passed away over the Christmas holiday and so Sarah Grace and Rich discuss grief and a few resources for kids and adults alike who may also be experiencing a loss.
Resources discussed in this episode:
The Next Place by Warren Hanson
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
Episode 94 | Team Parenting with Thomas Lynch
In today's episode, Jen welomes one of her former youth, Thomas Lynch! Thomas is a 26 year old living in Greenville, South Carolina and he chats with Jen about the things his parents passed down to him and what made their brand of parenting particularly special.
Episode 93 | Sabbath & Worth
Today, Jen comes to us on the heels of a conference for ministers that offers them a chance to cultivate wholeness and rest for themselves as a way to better serve their churches. Coming out of that space, she offers some insight she's had through the words of Katy Stenta about how Jesus rested and continues to encourage us to rest.
If you'd like to read more of Katy's work, you can check her out at https://katyandtheword.com
Episode 92 | Trust with CeCe Armstrong
Today, Jen welcomes Rev. CeCe Armstrong from St. James Presbyterian Church in Charleston, SC. CeCe shares the way her own faith has intersected with her decisions around keeping children safe and heatlhy during this back-to-school time. While everyone is absolutely entitled to their own opinions, CeCe's view rests in trust and, specifically, her trust in God.
Episode 91 | Prayer for Afghanistan
Today, Jen takes a different route and shares a hymn-prayer with us. The Rev. Carolyn Winfrey Gillette, a Presbyterian hymn-writer and the parish associate at First Presbyterian Union Church in Owego, New York, has written new lyrics to an old hymn for the people of Afghanistan. This hymn-prayer is sung to you today with extra verses written and added by Leigh Thomas Brown from North Carolina.
Epsidoe 90 | Responding to the Pain
Today, Jen talks about how, historically, some voices of faith have used their words, actions, and even the Bible to cause pain. Thinking on this history, she offers a time of reflection for us to consider how our words and actions may be unknowingly affecting those around us.
Episode 89 | Being a Dad with Court Michael
In today's episode, Jen sits down for a conversation with Court Michael. Court is a member of Second Presbyterian Church and a dad to three little ones. Jen is always in awe of Court's parenting skills and took the time today to talk with Court about what motivates him to be the best dad he can be and some of the ways he builds trust and honesty into the relationship he has with his kiddos.
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