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Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
Dale McConkey, Host
101 episodes
2 weeks ago
Send us a text On this final day of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, we pause at the heart of Christmas itself. In this short, reflective episode, Dale returns to a cherished family ritual: reading Luke’s nativity story and pondering what it truly means that God enters God’s own creation—“puncturing time and space” in the most humble and human way imaginable. From the machinery of empire to the stillness of a manger, from fearful shepherds to Mary’s quiet pondering, this episode invites li...
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Christianity
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Send us a text On this final day of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, we pause at the heart of Christmas itself. In this short, reflective episode, Dale returns to a cherished family ritual: reading Luke’s nativity story and pondering what it truly means that God enters God’s own creation—“puncturing time and space” in the most humble and human way imaginable. From the machinery of empire to the stillness of a manger, from fearful shepherds to Mary’s quiet pondering, this episode invites li...
Show more...
Christianity
Religion & Spirituality,
Society & Culture,
Religion
Episodes (20/101)
Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 27: Luke 2 - Emmanuel, God with Us!
Send us a text On this final day of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, we pause at the heart of Christmas itself. In this short, reflective episode, Dale returns to a cherished family ritual: reading Luke’s nativity story and pondering what it truly means that God enters God’s own creation—“puncturing time and space” in the most humble and human way imaginable. From the machinery of empire to the stillness of a manger, from fearful shepherds to Mary’s quiet pondering, this episode invites li...
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2 weeks ago
8 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 26: Midnight Mass
Send us a text As Christmas draws near, this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar turns to one of the most beloved and awe-filled traditions of the season: Midnight Mass. Dale is joined by Dr. Christy Snyder, our resident Catholic expert, to explore why this service holds such deep meaning—not only for Catholics, but across many liturgical Christian traditions. Dr. Snyder describes Midnight Mass as the turning point from Advent anticipation to Christmas celebration, when darkness giv...
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2 weeks ago
9 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 25: Armenian Christmas+ (Theophany)
Send us a text As the Church Potluck Advent Calendar draws near its conclusion, Dale is joined once again by Dr. Michael Papazian for a fascinating exploration of a tradition deeply rooted in his own faith: the Armenian Blessing of the Water, celebrated on January 6 as part of Theophany. In the Armenian Apostolic Church, Christmas, the baptism of Jesus, and the visit of the Magi are woven together into a single, profound celebration of God’s self-revelation to the world. Dr. Papazian explains...
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2 weeks ago
14 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 24: Blessing of the Animals
Send us a text In this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale is joined once again by Rev. Dr. Valerie Loner, pastor of Rome First United Methodist Church, for a joyful and surprisingly theological conversation about the Blessing of the Animals. Often associated with St. Francis of Assisi and typically celebrated in October, this beloved ritual takes on fresh meaning when viewed through the lens of Advent and Christmas. Dr. Loner reflects on the delight, holy chaos, and deep grat...
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2 weeks ago
7 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 23: Longest Night Service
Send us a text In this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale is joined by Rev. Chris Barbieri for a moving and compassionate conversation about the Longest Night Service, sometimes called Blue Christmas or The Darkest Night. Set near the winter solstice, this service creates sacred space for those who carry grief, loss, or heartache during a season often filled with forced cheer and nonstop celebration. Rev. Barbary explains how the Longest Night acknowledges the pain many ...
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2 weeks ago
11 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 22: Christmas Music
Send us a text In this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale is joined by the always evocative and thoughtful Dr. Michael Bailey for a wide-ranging conversation about why sacred Christmas music so often resonates more deeply than its secular counterparts. Dr. Bailey offers a gentle but compelling reflection—not rooted in nostalgia or piety, but in musical depth—suggesting that the power of sacred Christmas music lies in how the Incarnation itself shapes the music’s emotional and...
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2 weeks ago
24 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 21: Chrismon Trees
Send us a text In this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale is joined by Rev. Dr. Valerie Loner, pastor of Rome First United Methodist Church, for a thoughtful and warm conversation about the Chrismon Tree—a familiar Advent symbol whose meaning is often seen but not always understood. Together, they explore how this white-and-gold tree, adorned with repeated Christian symbols, invites worshipers to slow down and reflect on who Christ truly is during a season often crowded with ...
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3 weeks ago
9 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 20: La Befana, the Christmas Witch
Send us a text In this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale is joined once again by Rev. Chris Barbieri to explore the charming and lesser-known Italian Epiphany tradition of La Befana, the Christmas Witch. Blending Christian theology with local folklore, La Befana tells the story of a grandmotherly figure who encounters the Magi on their journey to find the Christ child. After declining to join them—and later regretting it—she sets out with her broom and gifts, still searching...
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3 weeks ago
7 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 19: Coptic Christian Fasting
Send us a text In this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale welcomes back the always-thoughtful Dr. Michael Papazian to explore the rich and often unfamiliar Coptic Christian traditions of fasting during Advent. Rooted in the ancient Church of Egypt—whose history stretches back to St. Mark himself—the Coptic Church approaches fasting not as deprivation, but as a communal spiritual discipline that prepares both body and soul for the coming of Christ. Dr. Papazian explains why Co...
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3 weeks ago
8 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 18: The O Antiphons and "O Come O Come Emmanuel"
Send us a text In this Advent Calendar episode of Church Potluck, Dale welcomes back fan-favorite Dr. Michael Papazian to explore the ancient and surprisingly familiar tradition of the O Antiphons. Dating back to the early church, these short sung or chanted prayers connect modern worshipers with centuries of Christian faith and anticipation. Together, Michael and Dale unpack how the O Antiphons draw deeply from the Old Testament, how they prepare the church for Christ’s coming, and—perhaps m...
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3 weeks ago
13 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 17: La Tamaleada and Las Posadas
Send us a text In this warm and joyful episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale welcomes first-time guest Mary Ángel Castillo Obando, a Berry College student from Costa Rica, to share two beloved Christmas traditions from her home country. She first discusses the all-day, extended-family ritual of making tamales—known in Costa Rica as La Tamaleada. Mary Ángel then describes the celebration of Las Posadas, a festive reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter, this conversat...
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3 weeks ago
11 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 16: When God Came Low
Send us a text What if the most audacious claim of Christmas isn’t the angels or the star—but the humility that God exhibits when taking on flesh? In this reflective solo Advent episode of Church Potluck, Dale explores the astonishing pattern that runs from the manger to the cross: God choosing vulnerability over power. From shepherds as first witnesses, to refugees fleeing violence, to a Messiah who refuses wealth, status, and control, the nativity tells a story that challenges how we think ...
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3 weeks ago
11 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 15: St. Lucy's Day
Send us a text In this warm and quietly fascinating Advent conversation, Julianne Bailey introduces listeners to St. Lucy’s (St. Lucia’s) Day, a beautiful Scandinavian tradition centered on light in the darkness. Drawing on her Swedish family heritage, Julianne explains how December 13 is marked by candles, white garments, wreaths, and special sweet bread—customs shaped by both early Christian martyr stories and the deep winter darkness of northern Europe. Julianne’s reflections are personal,...
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3 weeks ago
9 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 14: Our Lady of Guadalupe
Send us a text Discover the powerful story behind Our Lady of Guadalupe and why this 16th-century apparition of Mary remains one of the most beloved symbols of faith, hope, and cultural dignity across the Americas. Dr. Michael Papazian joins Dale to unpack the history, miracles, and cross-cultural beauty of the Guadalupe tradition—from Juan Diego’s encounter to the imagery that still moves millions today. A short, rich, Advent-season conversation about God meeting people where they are, in th...
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4 weeks ago
11 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 13: Live Nativity Scenes
Send us a text What happens when the Christmas story is no longer something we just think about, but something we step into? In this episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dale is joined by Ginger Binkley, a longtime friend and ministry partner from Mount Tabor United Methodist Church, to reflect on the beauty and purpose of live nativity scenes. Together, they explore why churches continue this centuries-old tradition—one that reaches back to St. Francis of Assisi’s 13th-century visi...
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4 weeks ago
10 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 12: The Little Drummer Boy
Send us a text What if one of the most familiar Christmas songs isn’t childish at all—but deeply, quietly profound? In this solo Advent reflection, Dale revisits The Little Drummer Boy and traces how its meaning shifted for him over his lifetime—from a dark claymation special in childhood to a moment of unexpected theological depth in a college Christmas service. Exploring humility, offering what we truly have, and grace that responds to sincerity rather than perfection, this episode invites ...
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1 month ago
12 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 11: The Feast of the Seven Fishes
Send us a text Dive into the rich flavors and deeper meaning behind The Feast of the Seven Fishes—an Italian-American Christmas Eve tradition rooted in Catholic fasting and joyful anticipation. In this episode, Dale is joined by Rev. Chris Barbieri, who shares both cultural background and personal insight into this seafood-centered vigil meal that prepares families for Midnight Mass. Together they explore how fasting and feasting shape spiritual expectation, why this tradition evolved as it d...
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1 month ago
8 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 10: Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Send us a text  In today’s Church Potluck Advent Calendar episode, we explore one of the most beautiful—and most misunderstood—Catholic celebrations: the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Dr. Christy Snider joins us to clarify what this feast actually commemorates (spoiler: it’s not about Jesus’s conception) and to unpack the rich theology behind Mary’s own conception in the womb of her mother, Ann. Christie explains why Catholics believe Mary was preserved from original sin, how this fits ...
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1 month ago
9 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 9: The Moravian Love Feast
Send us a text In today’s Church Potluck Advent Calendar episode, we explore a beautiful and often-overlooked Christmas Eve tradition: the Moravian Love Feast. Rev. Chris Barbieri joins us to share both the history and the heart behind this centuries-old practice—part hymn-filled worship service, part shared meal, and wholly focused on community. Chris walks us through the Moravian story, from their roots in the Reformation to their unlikely refuge under Count Zinzendorf, and explains how thi...
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1 month ago
10 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
ADVENT DAY 8: Saint Nicholas and Deeper Spiritual Meanings (3 of 3)
Send us a text HAPPY SAINT NICHOLAS DAY! In this third and final St. Nicholas episode of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, Dr. Jordan Rowan Fannin helps us move from shoes and stories into the deeper spiritual meaning of the saint behind the season. On this Feast of St. Nicholas, Jordan explores why his legendary generosity endures—not because of miracles or grand gestures, but because of small, hidden acts of love that preserved dignity and met real human need. She reflects on attentivenes...
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1 month ago
12 minutes

Church Potluck: A Smorgasbord of Christian Curiosity
Send us a text On this final day of the Church Potluck Advent Calendar, we pause at the heart of Christmas itself. In this short, reflective episode, Dale returns to a cherished family ritual: reading Luke’s nativity story and pondering what it truly means that God enters God’s own creation—“puncturing time and space” in the most humble and human way imaginable. From the machinery of empire to the stillness of a manger, from fearful shepherds to Mary’s quiet pondering, this episode invites li...