Rector’s Cupboard Podcast

In so many ways, we often feel ground down, in the words of this episode’s guest, “disintegrated.” Julian Davis Reid speaks to us about rest. This is more and better than simply disengagement or a break from the grind; rest is an essential part of what it means to be human, in the image of God.   Julian starts from a recognition of the profound restlessness that marks much of our lives and moves us towards the promise of the final and complete resting in God. Along the way, we talk about what theology and aesthetics, music and culture have to do with rest. We hold on to the promise that we might know rest, rest for our soul.   Julian’s website has links to all his music, both his solo work and  work with the JuJu Exchange, his retreat work, as well as his newsletter where you can get more of his thoughts on rest. Articles referenced in this episode:  Do You Really Want a New Kitchen Counter - The Atlantic, November 18, 2022    A Parent’s Typical Day, As Envisioned By My Child’s Preschool - McSweeney’s, November 10, 2022 

We conclude our 3 part Calgary road trip with a visit to Jerremie Clyde from Alberta Yak Co and Little Loaves Farm (check out their Instagram page for some amazing yak photos @littleloavesfarm).   Did you know that yaks purr? Or that they can survive at -64 degrees Celsius (for any American listeners that’s -83 Fahrenheit)? We certainly didn’t before visiting Jerremie. We got to take a tour of Jerremie’s farm and he was gracious enough to provide with lunch as well (yak tacos). So much of how Jerremie understands his work is relational. He spoke to us about the abundance of relationships at play on the farm, between himself, his family, and the yaks, the relationships that exist in the herd itself, and the many, many relationships that are happening in the ecosystem all around them.   Jerremie refers to the yaks on his farm as his coworkers and understands the way they farm as being one part in a much larger ecosystem, one where they can be active participants both in seeking to bring depth and breadth of life to creation as well as taking so much joy and fulfillment from these relationships.   Thanks for joining us as we’ve learned a lot about cows and soil and yaks, and about how, even as non-farmers, we can support farmers and actively participate in creation care with them.

We continue our 3 part series of Rector’s Cupboard on the Road. In July several of us from Rector’s Cupboard headed to Alberta for a few days to speak with some farmers.   On this episode we spoke with Rod Olson. Rod works with several local organizations. He is a certified nutrition farmer with the organization Leaf and Lyre, planting and overseeing urban farms in people’s backyards. He also is a founding member of YYC Growers, a collective of independent farmers. Rod also works with Land of Dreams, a community farm which provides newcomers to Canada with land and resources to grow things.   We met Rod at the Land of Dreams farm where he took us on a tour of the farm, taught us about the importance of soil health, and spoke about some ways we can participate in helping to heal the land.

Rector’s Cupboard, on the road! We travelled to Calgary this summer and met some amazing farmers. In this episode we talk to Marcus and Sarah Reidner from Happiness By the Acre, a regenerative farm in Didsbury, Alberta. Marcus and Sarah have cows, chicken, pigs, and ducks but they say what they really grow is grass, because that’s what the land wants to do.   Along with meeting some great animals, we also talked about climate change, the necessity of death, and why Marcus and Sarah have chosen to farm in about the most difficult way possible. Hopeful Christian theology will help us towards a healthy relationship with the land. Marcus and Sarah taught us a lot, even in this short visit.   We cannot say enough about the hospitality and generosity that we encountered in Calgary. Marcus and Sarah welcomed us to their farm, answered all of our questions, were generous with their time, and even shared some of their amazing chicken and duck eggs. If you are in the Calgary area we highly recommend looking them up.

Who are the people in your neighbourhood? For some this might be geographical, your literal neighbours, for others it might include the more expansive community in which you find care and support, or perhaps an online neighbourhood where you connect with others.   As we begin season 4, we take some time to consider those in our neighbourhood. For Rector’s Cupboard, this includes people we have spoken to in previous episodes and season, guests we’re anticipating, as well as you, our listeners. We feel blessed to have learned from and with those in our neighbourhood. As we look forward to future conversations, we’re delighted to have our neighbourhood grow. Articles referenced in this episode: “A boy with cancer hoped to see monsters. Hundreds of strangers showed up in costume.” – The Washington Post, September 22, 2022

For the first episode of season 4, the Cupboard is pleased to welcome Nelson Boschman to speak with us about his book, The Growing Season, and to lead us in an informative wine tasting. A pastor, teacher, and musician, Nelson considers himself a wine enthusiast rather than an expert. He sees in the vineyard and wine-making the stuff of life and spirit.   We hear some of Nelson’s story, about concepts of identity and challenge and change that are present in wine-making and in the spiritual life. We see, in Nelson’s love of the vineyard and the process, that often the most enduring spiritual lessons come in paying close attention to the things that we love.   Tasting Notes: We learned a great deal from Nelson about the ways we can experience and enjoy wine. “80% of the wine experience is olfactory, it happens through the sense of smell. To look, swirl, sniff are the first three steps to taste.” The wines we tasted on today’s episode are both available at BC Liquor Stores. The first was the 2018 Cairanne from Boutinot and the 2020 Gigondas from Dom Brusset, both from the Rhone region in France.

The Cupboard had intended to take a break over the summer to plan and prepare for season 4 in the fall, but some topics and stories are too timely to ignore. The recent decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade by the United States Supreme Court compelled us pause and discuss what it means to us. For this bonus summer episode, we’re pleased to welcome Rev. Michael Coren, an Anglican priest, author and columnist for numerous publications.   Once a prominent voice for conservative media and a strong opponent of marriage equality, Michael now advocates for abortion rights, marriage equality and LGBTQIA+ rights.   As we discussed with Michael in this episode, his change in stance did not happen in spite of his faith but because of his faith. In his most recent books and our conversation with him, he describes his journey, thought processes and scriptural study that moved him to where he is today.   Article we discussed in this episode: "Does Christianity condemn abortion? That's not what the Bible says" - The Globe and Mail - June 29, 2022   Michael’s most recent books: The Rebel Christ Epiphany: A Christians Change in Heart & Mind Over Same-Sex Marriage   Tasting Notes: We enjoyed some delicious blackcurrant cider from Naramata Cider Co. situated on the Naramata Bench in the Okanagan.

Two years ago Rector's Cupboard interviewed Katherine Stewart, an author and leading voice on the “Christian Nationalist” movement in the United States. At the time, we spoke about her book "The Power Worshippers".   This week, Stewart had an article in the New York Times that discussed the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. This week we're re-releasing that episode, as the conversation is as relevant now as it was then.   Christians should be speaking against Christian Nationalism. It is not speaking against Christianity. It is not speaking against Jesus. It is speaking against a political movement that has become idolatry.    Books and articles referenced in this episode: The Power Worshippers The Good News Club How a Data-backed Christian Nationalist Machine Helped Trump to Power - The Guardian, March 2020 Bill Barr Thinks America is Going to Hell - The New York Times, December 2019 Why Trump Reigns as King Cyrus - The New York Times, December 2018   

Our final episode of season 3 of Rector’s Cupboard. We were honoured to speak with James K. A. Smith, professor of philosophy at Calvin University and editor-in-chief of Image Journal. The conversation is centred largely around a fantastic book that Jamie has written and that will be available in September. Jamie’s work demonstrates a hopeful view of faith. He skillfully and insightfully looks to the past for how it might positively shape and inform faith and life today. He does this with a strongly stated desire to move ahead. The conversation became one of great hope, that included inspiring reminders of the goodness, beauty and truth in our world. We talk about modernism and post-modernism. We talk about philosophy and power and control and fear. We talk about these things because they (and misunderstandings around them) have been influential in many churches and ways of seeing faith, perhaps even in how you were taught to understand Christian faith.   Some extended episode notes: The names Derrida, Foucault, Bentham, and Lyotard may not be familiar to all or most readers, but these are writers whose work has had impact on our culture and our faith. Michel Foucault was a French Philosopher whose work was key in what became known as “post-modernism”. We speak about Foucault’s ideas around discipline and control. Foucault argued that power and punishment were once exercised in harsh and physical ways, but as these means of control became less physically forceful, they actually became more powerful and more pervasive in society. Jacques Derrida, another contributor to post-modernism, spoke about deconstruction. This term has largely been adopted to define what very many people with religious backgrounds are doing now. Smith says that both those who embrace “deconstruction” and those who warn against it often have a distorted view of what deconstruction is. For Derrida, virtually everything is interpreted. Whether it is a Biblical text or a summer sunrise, you as the reader or viewer are part of interpreting the meaning. Deconstruction aims to see these layers of interpretation. In this episode we also mention Alain de Botton. He is a contemporary philosopher who though he frequently mentions that he is an atheist, has some tremendously helpful and appreciative things to say about faith and the church. Finally we mention the new Arcade Fire album, “We”. Art such as the music on that album demonstrates a thoughtful consideration of some of these important religious, cultural and philosophical themes.

In 2021, a book by Canadian writer and broadcaster David Cayley was published. The book was a biography of Ivan Illich who, in the 1970’s, became quite well known for his criticism of the church, and for institutions of education and medicine.   We find Ivan Illich compelling because he speaks about faith and society in ways that can shape and inform hopeful theology. If you have pushed away from rigid examples of religion, you will likely find many of Illich’s ideas helpful.   In this episode we talk about Cayley’s book and about Illich with our friend and Orthodox theologian David Goa.   Note – You may find some language in this episode offensive. Hopefully not much, but maybe a little.