In this episode, I sit down with Pastor Katie McNeal of St. John Lutheran Church in Mars for a thoughtful conversation about faith, creativity, and connection.
Pastor Katie joined the St. John congregation in 2022, bringing with her a wide-ranging background, from Camp Lutherlyn and youth ministry work to earning advanced degrees at Yale Divinity School. Along the way, she's also been a kickboxing instructor, a gardener, a musician with the Pittsburgh Philharmonic, and a pastor deeply committed to meeting people where they are.
We talk about what it means to share the Good News in ways that feel engaging and accessible, and we reflect on a small but powerful symbol inside the church, the IHS engraving on the pulpit, the first three letters of Jesus' name in Greek, serving as a reminder of presence, meaning, and faith in everyday life. We also discuss the annual Live Nativity St. John Lutheran performs for the Mars, PA community joining with another church in the neighborhood, LIVE animals and all, even a donkey!
This episode is a moment of pause and reflection as we head into the holiday season and a reminder of the power of presence, community, and storytelling.
Note: The podcast will take a brief break for the holidays and return with new episodes in the new year.
Episode Resources:
https://www.facebook.com/stjohnchurchmars
Sponsors:
https://www.betterhelp.com/altereagle
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Hosted, Produced & Edited By: Laura Crago
