Today's episode is the first of The Percolator: not an interview, but a conversation that brews deep thoughts and fills you with energy.

Join us as we consider the middle of the Gospel of John - specifically a contrasting look at Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman at the well. This discussion includes how we approach Jesus and share our faith, from a place of light or darkness, and how we show up as witnesses to that faith in our world during challenging times.

Later in the episode, we briefly lift up two black saints of the church, Moses the Black and Augustine of Hippo as we remember that our tradition is rooted in the Middle East and North Africa and to keep our picture of Christ global.

01:28 - Gospel of John review

15:40 - Lifting up the work of the Civil Rights movement, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Moses the Black and Augustine of Hippo.

19:15 - A sneak peek of our next guest, South Carolina Black History researcher Charles Egleston.

In today's episode the bishop sits down with Sister Ellen Francis, Order of St. Helena (OSH) to do a bit of demystification of monastic orders of The Episcopal Church. What does monastic life look like in our church? Do they pray "the hours"? Do they wear their habit all the all? As part of their discussion, they'll also talk about the ways in which the OSH has de-gendered prayer language in the daily office, what people could expect if they visited their home for a silent retreat weekend, and other interesting tidbits...listen for the story of the fiercely-loved cookie jar!

00:02:45 - Inclusive language in the daily office

00:08:00 - The prayer life of the monastic community

00:14:05 - The stability of living in monastic community

00:20:00 - Religious Life Sunday in the church

00:24:30 - You're invited to silent retreat weekends at the OSH

00:26:00 - Questions from the diocese

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Mentioned in today's podcast is The Order of St. Helena's Daily Office prayer app. Get that at the App Store or on Google Play.

Relevant Links:

The Order of St. Helena can be found on line at their website at https://www.osh.org.

ReligiousLifeSunday.net

Have a quick cup with the chief pastor of The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina as he explains our new podcast, Coffee with the Bishop. Each month, two-to-three episodes will drop as he talks with people all over our diocese and the world about all things Episcopal and coffee, too. Grab your favorite blend and pull up a chair.