Welcome to this first episode of the 6th season of Holy Shenanigans. Advent is a time for reflection and new beginnings. This festive season, Tara invites you to slow down and embrace hope. Download a new episode every Tuesday in December for uplifting stories and spiritual insights.

 A sister article to this podcast episode at the Chautauqua Gazette HOPE Edition. 

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Pastor Tara Lamont...

Pastor Tara  welcomes authors Rebecca & Steven Grabill to discuss their new book, The Joy of Advent: Family Celebrations for Advent and the 12 Days of Christmas. Explore how this resource helps families find deeper meaning and joy during the Advent season. Learn about the inspiration behind the book, practical tips for creating family traditions, and the importance of nurturing faith in the home. Plus, enjoy a special prayer an...

Pastor Tara invites you to reflect on the seasons of Halloween & All Saints Day as a time for soul-searching and new beginnings. She reminisces about her childhood love for Wonder Woman, drawing parallels between superheroes in comics and everyday acts of love and service inspired by Jesus' teachings. Tara shares spiritual practices and reflective questions for the week, encouraging us to be agents of love and change in ou...

In today's fast-paced world, finding ways to connect spiritually while staying grounded in our daily lives is crucial. In this episode of Holy Shenanigans, host Tara Lamont Eastman and Pastor Kyle Delhagen have an impromptu conversation about the evolving landscape of digital ministry. They highlight the unexpected nature of ministry work and how the pandemic has reshaped their roles. Tara explains the inception of the Holy Sh...

Tara has a heartfelt conversation with Dawn Trautman & Ruth Hetland of the Created Creative podcast, as they explore creativity during tumultuous times. They discuss their unique practices, such as car poems and morning pages, and share insights on processing emotions and encouraging creative expression. The dialogue delves into societal challenges, including the undervaluation of women's voices and the need for supportive...

Tara Lamont Eastman interviews life coach, podcaster, theologian, and author Dawn Trautman about her new book, Parables of a Resilient Nomad. The episode explores themes of spiritual and physical nomadism, community, creativity, and the importance of courageous conversations. Dawn shares personal stories of her nomadic experiences, outlines critical components of community, and discusses practical ways to build resilience and navig...

In this episode of Holy Shenanigans, Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman offers encouragement and strategies for transitioning from summer to fall. She presents a 'Top 10 Back to School' list and introduces the story of Pelagius, an influential but controversial Celtic theologian. Tara explores the themes of peace, love, and harmony through Pelagius' teachings and concludes with an original poem 'It's Only Just the ...

In this episode recorded at the Wild Goose Festival 2024, Tara interviews Jennie Lea, the creator of Dudes in Cute Shirts. They discuss the importance of forming connections through simple joys and shared moments, such as complimenting bright shirts or dancing in the rain. They also touch on the challenges of isolation, especially during the pandemic, and the significance of community and authentic self-expression. Jennie Lea share...

In this episode of the Holy Shenanigans podcast, host Tara Lamott Eastman speaks from the Wild Goose Festival 2024. She introduces Chantal McKinney, a practitioner focused on reawakening and repairing the awareness of divine love within individuals and communities. Chantal discusses the decline of traditional church structures and the importance of shifting towards a decentralized, community-oriented model. Through sharing her pers...

In this special episode of Holy Shenanigans, recorded at the Wild Goose Festival 2024, host Tara Lamont Eastman delves into connection, community, and the divine dance of the Holy Spirit. Joined by guests Frances Cutshaw, Joy Celeste Crawford, Deborah Roof and Rebecca Daugherty Kaye, the episode features heartfelt stories and an interactive discussion with the audience about the sacred moments, or "holy shenanigans" that ...

Tara revisits conversations with two friends from the Wild Goose Festival. First Frances Cutshaw talks about her journey with self-love and the Order of St. Hildegard. She shares her struggle and dedication to caring for herself spiritually and physically, inspired by divine calling and sources like Brene Brown and Enneagram studies. She speaks about the founding principles and goals of the Order of St. Hildegard which seeks to emp...

In this episode of Holy Shenanigans,  Tara  reflects on finding the sacred in daily life. Using the biblical story from Mark 4 where Jesus calms a storm, Tara discusses the metaphorical storms of life and how we can navigate them. She shares her experiences and emphasizes the importance of a 'rule of life'—a personal guide crafted through prayer and discernment. Tara recounts her baccalaureate address for Jamestown High S...

In this episode, Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman discusses the theme of 'wild love' and draws parallels between the protective nature of wild geese and the Holy Spirit, often symbolized as a wild goose in Celtic Christianity. Through a relatable story of encountering a protective goose family and the Gospel account of Jesus' unwavering commitment to his mission despite opposition, Tara emphasizes the unpredictable and bol...

In 'Holy Shenanigans' hosted by Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman, listeners are encouraged to explore the sacred in daily life and open up to different facets of love. Tara shares personal stories, including a bubble-blowing practice with her children for relaxation and reflection, and a heartwarming story of a father surprising his daughter in a Santa suit. She also draws lessons from a biblical account of Nicodemus seeking Je...

An episode exploring the power of little ascensions and the connection between music, love, and encouragement.

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Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman is an Ordained Minister of Word & Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She is the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Warren Pennsylvania. She is a contributing writer to the Collaborate Lutheran Student Bible and the Connect Sunda...

Author Debie Thomas discusses her new book "A Faith of Many Rooms" with Pastor Tara. They delves into topics such as the messy journey of faith, the significance of doubt, and the concept of spiritual "nada" or homeland.

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Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman is an Ordained Minister of Word & Sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She is the Pastor of First Presby...

Why go to the Wild Goose Festival?

Everyone's answer to this question is different. Some go for the music, others for the camping, some take in theological lectures, poetry slams, social justice forums, late night campfires, silent disco, art exhibits, book store and so much more! One thing follow Goose attenders can agree as their why in attending are the connections that are made - that carry on well after the f...

This week Tara discusses spirituality and nature with special guest Tony Jones. They reminisce about the  the emergent church movement, the intersection of faith and nature, and even the role of dogs in spiritual journeys. Tony shares insights from his new book 'God of the Wild Places' and reflects on finding God in the wilderness. The conversation touches on the limitations of organized religion and the transformative po...

Writing is spiritual practice. Where do you begin, if you want to try it out?
Pen.
Pencil.
Journal.
Laptop.

Yes, all of these tools can help with your writing practice, but first you need yourself and a community to support your practice.

Rev. Dr. Eileen Campbell-Reed, is an academic entreprenuer and  host of the Writing Table, who, in this week's episode, shares her own journey with writin...