Sunspots
Sunspots are highlights of the many ministries and missions happening on the surface of the Sun – That is, the Synod of the Sun. A region of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) with ALOT of dynamic and hopeful ministry happening in the name of Jesus Christ. We are Presbyterians in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Sunspots can be anything from small congregational ministries, regional networks to international missions. They are caused by the interactions with the Holy Spirit. Like the cap on a soda bottle: shake it up, and you can generate a big eruption! Sunspots occur over the 11 presbyteries in the synod with intense Holy Spirit activity, and when that energy is released, solar flares and big impact can erupt from Sunspots. We pray that you will find inspiration, resources, community and connection in the Sun.
Episodes
87 episodes
Town Square Collaborative
On this episode of Sunspots, Kathy Lee Cornell interview Rev. Philip Blackburn about his work with the Town Square Collaborative, a program at the University of the Ozarks that supports rural congregations, pastors, and communities.
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Season 5
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Episode 1
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49:59
Welcoming the Stranger: Immigration, Synod of the Sun, and You – Conversation with Marta Pumroy and Kristy Rodgers
Episode 5 of 5 in the Welcoming the Stranger seriesImmigration affects ALL of us: our individual and communal histories, as well as our current realities. Scripture is clear on our responsibilities to welcom...
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Season 4
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Episode 22
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31:36
Welcoming the Stranger: Immigration, Synod of the Sun, and You - Interview with Allison Mundy
Episode 4 of 5 in the Welcoming the Stranger seriesAs a student at Lyon College, Allison Mundy went to El Paso for a Border Encounter as part of the Synod’s Imagine event in 2019. A few years later, as she p...
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Season 4
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Episode 17
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19:27
Welcoming the Stranger: Immigration, Synod of the Sun, and You - Interview with Presbytery Executives
Episode 3 of 5 in the Welcoming the Stranger seriesThe largest part of the US-Mexico border (1254 miles) lies in the state of Texas. In this episode, Rev. Tim Blodgett, Rev. Lynne Hargrove, and Rev. Charlie ...
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Season 4
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Episode 21
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37:48
Welcoming the Stranger: Immigration, Synod of the Sun, and You - Interview with Lynn Hargrove
Episode 2 of 5 in the Welcoming the Stranger seriesAs a young girl, Lynn Hargrove grew up in El Paso, Texas, long before she became the general presbyter for The Presbytery of New Covenant. Listen in o...
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Season 4
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Episode 20
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27:09
Welcoming the Stranger: Immigration, Synod of the Sun, and You - Interview with John Nelson
Episode 1 of 5 in the Welcoming the Stranger seriesTres Rios Border Foundation partner liaison, John Nelsen, shares the history behind border ministry in the El Paso/Juarez region. In this conversation with ...
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Season 4
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Episode 19
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32:46
Emotional Spiritual Care - Texas Hill Country Flooding
Emotional Spiritual Care - Texas Hill Country Flooding with Kathy Riley and John CheekSPDR continues to coordinate with and support all those involved with the Texas Hill Country Flooding relief efforts. Leaders from Mission Presb...
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19:59
FPC/Kerrville Flooding Response Update
FPC/Kerrville Flooding Response Update with Jasiel Hernandez GarciaSPDR continues to coordinate with and support all those involved with the Texas Hill Country Flooding relief efforts. Leaders from Mission Presbytery, First Presby...
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Season 4
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Episode 24
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25:45
Mission Presbytery Hill Country Flooding Update
Hill Country Flooding Update with Kathy Lee-Cornell, Bobby Musengwa, Laurie Palmer, and Kathy RileySPDR continues to coordinate with and support all those involved with the Texas Hill Country Flooding relief efforts. Leaders from ...
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Season 4
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Episode 23
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23:25
Hello Tammy!
On this episode of Sunspots, we meet Tammy Stepka. Tammy is known by the folks at Grace Presbytery as the Office & Ministry Coordinator. In the Synod of the Sun we are getting to know Tammy as our new Interim Administrative Assistant. Tammy...
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22:42
A Return to Solar Under the Sun
On this episode of Sunspots, we talk with Elizabeth Brinegar, Teaching Elder from the Presbytery of Arkansas and the returning Director of Operations for Solar Under the Sun.Elizabeth is a familiar face in the Synod, having served six years...
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22:04
Developing Tomorrow's Leaders Today
On this episode of Sunspots, we talk with Lisa Almon, Co-Moderator of the Hispanic Mission Ministry Network and hear about the Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders Today workshops. Lisa talks about how there was a need for training Commissioned Pastor...
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32:37
An American Girl who became Dutch by Way of Spain
On this episode of Sunspots, we talk with Lindsay Freeman-McCarthy, Communications Contractor for the Synod. Lindsay is a 12th generation Presbyterian and daughter to two Presbyterian ministers. She’s an ordained Presbyterian Deacon and Ruling ...
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Season 4
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Episode 14
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31:24
Bartlesville Immigration Bible Study
On this episode of Sunspots, we talk with Kristy Rodgers, who is a Commissioned Pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Bartlesville Director of Family Ministry. Moderator 2022 and Coordinating Team Chair 2023. Also with us is Rev. Jennifer Gran...
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Season 4
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Episode 13
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24:46
Souperbowl of Caring SMACKDOWN!
On today’s episode, we have a conversation with Neil McKown, Director of Student Ministry at Shepherd of the Hills Presbyterian Church in Austin, TX and the self-appointed Commissioner for the Souperbowl of Caring Smackdown in Mission Presbyter...
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21:21
Tres Rios Safety and Crisis Response
Today's episode features two Ruling Elders from Tres Rios Presbytery. If you are not familiar with Tres Rios Presbytery, it is a group of congregations and ministries located in the westernmost portion of Texas, and it’s known as Tres Rios beca...
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Season 4
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Episode 11
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51:12
Hurricane Preparedness Webinar
This is a recording of a Hurricane Preparedness Webinar and Table Top exercise that the Synod hosted on July 11, 2024, just four days after Hurricane Beryl made landfall on the coast of Texas. Earlier this year, many forecasters predicted that ...
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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1:30:05
Disaster Partnership Conversations - Arkansas Tornado Recovery: One Year Later (Part 3 of a 3-Part Podcast Series)
Our latest Sunspot’s Disaster Partnership Conversation podcast features a three-part series, highlighting the tornado recovery efforts across the Presbytery of Arkansas. On March 31, 2023, a high-end EF3 tornado hit Central Arkansas, damaging a...
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30:50
Disaster Partnership Conversations - Arkansas Tornado Recovery: One Year Later (Part 2 of a 3-Part Podcast Series)
Our latest Sunspot’s Disaster Partnership Conversation podcast features a three-part series, highlighting the tornado recovery efforts across the Presbytery of Arkansas. On March 31, 2023, a high-end EF3 tornado hit Central Arkansas, damaging a...
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30:45
Disaster Partnership Conversations - Arkansas Tornado Recovery: One Year Later (Part 1 of a 3-Part Podcast Series)
Our latest Sunspot’s Disaster Partnership Conversation podcast features a three-part series, highlighting the tornado recovery efforts across the Presbytery of Arkansas. On March 31, 2023, a high-end EF3 tornado hit Central Arkansas, damaging a...
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42:34
Introducing Mitch Miller
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 ...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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41:47
Disaster Partnership Conversations: Recovering Oklahomans
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 l...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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41:30
Living in Liminal Space: October 7 and Israel's War on Gaza
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 conv...
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37:53
Disaster Partnership Conversations: Transforming Donations to Disaster Recovery & Resiliency - Part 2
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...
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30:49
Disaster Partnership Conversations: Transforming Donations to Disaster Recovery & Resiliency - Part 1
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...
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35:21