S2E11 - Sorcha Connell

S2E11 - Sorcha Connell

In this episode, Sorcha graces us with her sharp mind, gift for clear communication, and spiritual attentiveness as she reflects on her experience of living with several intentional Christian communities: Taizé (France), Poverello (Belgium), the St. Damien Community (Belgium), the Community of St. Anselm (London), and the Nazareth Community (London). Sorcha vividly describes each community, naming both their operational strengths and limitations. She also invites us into spirited and vulnerable conversation, exploring themes of longing, belonging, young adult community, discernment and long-term spiritual formation. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lakshmipiette.substack.com [https://lakshmipiette.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

S2E10 24/7 Prayer | Order of the Mustard Seed | UK New Monasticism | Poeima - Pete Ward

Pete Ward was heavily involved in the early stages of the now global 24/7 prayer movement and played a key part in developing the closely associated dispersed community, the Order of the Mustard Seed. Most recently, heeding to God’s call has led Pete and his wife, Andrea, to establish the Poeima community and retreat house in Loweswater, Cumbria. In this episode, Pete takes us on a spiritual journey, sharing his lifelong involvement in prayer movements and intentional Christian communities. We also discuss the past, present and future of new monsticism/intentional Christian community in the UK. Correction: At 38min I say the Nurturing Communities Network [https://www.nurturingcommunities.org/] is an American network, when it is in fact international in scope. It’s well worth checking them out!! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lakshmipiette.substack.com [https://lakshmipiette.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

S2E09 Englewood - Chris Smith & Joe Bowling

Englewood Church is a 130-year-old church congregation on the Near Eastside of Indianapolis, IN (USA). Around the mid-1990s, the congregation transitioned to being intentionally locally rooted, with members deliberately relocating to be closer to the church. 80% of the congregation now live in the immediate neighbouring blocks to the church. Whilst not technically an intentional Christian community, Englewood are an incredibly inspiring witness of how intentional community can be fostered in a congregational context - a rare blend of the intentional and institutional being married together in really quite cool ways! Their intentionality around love of neighbour and neighbourhood has also born awe-inspiring fruits. Listen in to learn more about this hopeful, humble, energised, vocationally driven, church congregation with a huge heart for love of neighbour and neighbourhood community. You can subscribe to the mentioned Englewood Review of Books’ substack here :): [One of the two mics unfortunately ran out of storage 30min into the interview so apologies for the slightly inferior audio quality of the second half.] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lakshmipiette.substack.com [https://lakshmipiette.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

S2E08 Amistad Catholic Worker - Mark Colville

In this interview Mark shares of Amistad Catholic Worker’s 30 yr journey - from moving into the neighbourhood and sweeping the sidewalk to get to know people, to opening their backyard and house as a place of refuge and community for the formerly unhoused. Listen in for an exploration of homelessness in the US, what radical hospitality can look like today, and to hear the wisened reflections of a longtime communitarian. An inspiring and thought-provoking listening! More about Amistad CW can be read about here: https://amistadcw.wordpress.com/ [https://amistadcw.wordpress.com/]https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/tiny-homes-new-haven-homeless-backyard-encampment-18645323.php [https://www.nhregister.com/news/article/tiny-homes-new-haven-homeless-backyard-encampment-18645323.php] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lakshmipiette.substack.com [https://lakshmipiette.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

S2E07 CRECHE - Isaac Everett

CRECHE - the Charles River Episcopal Co-Housing Endeavor - is a “nonprofit organization that creates and supports a network of mixed-income, inter-generational co-housing communities in partnership with The Episcopal Church”. In providing church-affiliated community housing, CRECHE helps individuals secure long-term affordable housing amid the hostile Boston housing/rental market and provides opportunities to belong to, and be blessed by, long-term community living. By virtue of their stability and their wider commitment to community, CRECHE houses also nourish their congregations and work to improve and revitalise their neighbourhoods. Listen in to be inspired by CRECHE’s compelling model for church-affiliated community housing and to hear of the abundance of God through a number of Spirit-filled events. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lakshmipiette.substack.com [https://lakshmipiette.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]