This week we sit down with Elisabeth Dearborn, of Putney, VT. We spoke to Elizabeth (who goes by El) in the summer of 2016 - when she was a member of Putney Friends Meeting. Elizabeth shares her experience of a life lived focused on listening for and being faithful to Guidance of the Spirit. Such faithfulness to Spirit’s Guidance took her across the country, to new careers, and, eventually, out of the Religious Society of Friends. El describes the ways in which a peer community of accountability can serve to support and deepen the spiritual path. She also talks about the tension that occurs when mystical experience contradict the spiritual “training” we’ve had. Do we stick with the training or trust our own experiences?  Elizabeth shares stories of incredible openings and opportunities.  We hope you will enjoy this conversation as much as we did. 

This week we sit down with Lisa Graustein of Beacon Hill Friends Meeting. Lisa has been teaching at the Codman Academy Charter Public School in Dorchester, MA since 2007 and is currently the Equity Coordinator. She is also a facilitator with Beyond Diversity 101 (tm). Lisa talks with us about her experience living into evolving leadings that have guided the course of her life as a teacher and racial justice educator. She offers some keen insight into the ways in which the hurt and trauma that we carry, as humans, can be blocks to faithfulness. She also recognizes that the (Liberal) Religious Society of Friends is in transition: a period after harvest, where the fields aren’t filled with vibrant fruit but, the new plantings haven’t yet been put in. It’s a time of innovation and possibility! Lisa is open and vulnerable in sharing her experience. We hope you will enjoy this conversation as much as we did.

In this episode we sit down with Jay O’Hara of West Falmouth Preparative Meeting, Sandwich Monthly Meeting. We sat down with him during Annual Sessions of New England Yearly Meeting, in 2016, after Jay spoke at a plenary about his journey to participating in an action of climate witness. We don’t focus on the Lobster Boat Blockade, specifically, but explore his journey to Friends, ways in which he was prepared for that work, the support he receives from his meeting, and how his life was turned over to faithful action without concern for outcome.

In this episode we launch the interview portion of the show, sitting down with Melody Brazo of Fresh Pond Monthly Meeting. The conversation ranges from discussions of ideas about God to the sense and testing of a leading and questions about power, privilege, and the ways in which it plays out in ministry among Friends.

This is the first of a series of question and answer episodes based on questions and comments sent in my listeners. They all have something to do with following Leadings and/or ministry. 

This is the beginning of something! Here we (Kristina and Callid Keefe-Perry) introduce you all to the premise of the show, explain a little about why we are doing this, and invite you all to get involved.