Shows
Commons Church PodcastHildegard of Bingen - Bobbi SalkeldJoin Bobbi as she kicks off a new summer series, "Reads a Classic," by diving into the life and visions of Hildegard of Bingen, a remarkable 12th-century prophet and polymath. Discover Hildegard's revolutionary take on Eve, her concept of "viriditas" (holy greening power) flowing through all creation, and her profound vision of the Sapphire Man as Christ. Bobbi encourages us to embrace the "strength of small changes" and find God's "viriditas" in our everyday lives. Tune in for a sermon that will spark curiosity and encourage participation in God's healing and greening work!
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2025-07-1431 min
Commons Church PodcastShalom or Bust - Bobbi SalkeldWe're exploring Colossians 3:1-17, connecting cosmic theology to practical daily living. Bobbi discusses desire, how not to live, being beloved, and pursuing shalom (peace). The message includes prayer, scripture readings, and personal stories, encouraging viewers to consider God's love and apply it to their relationships and lives.
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2025-06-1631 min
Commons Church PodcastDeath and Dying - Bobbi SalkeldToday we explore themes of death, grief, resurrection, and "small d" and "big D" death, using passages from Matthew 9. Bobbi also introduces the "Dual Process Model of Coping with Bereavement" and the "Ars Moriendi," offering practical ways to think about and prepare for death and grief.
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2025-05-2629 min
Commons Church PodcastIs Marriage All There Is? - Bobbi SalkeldWelcome to Commons! Today, Bobbi explores the theme of marriage and partnership in our "Strange New World" series, reflecting on how the resurrection reshapes our lives. We'll dive into what the Bible says (or doesn't say!) about relationships, Jesus' teachings, and what it means to build "pocket parks" of love in our lives. Join us as we ponder love, healing, and community in light of Easter.Topics Covered:Marriage & partnership in a Christian contextJesus' teachings on divorce and union (Matthew 19)The role of community and spiritual familyBuilding "love infrastructure" in our...2025-05-1928 min
Commons Church PodcastDaily Bread & Polyvagal Theory - Bobbi SalkeldJoin Bobbi from Commons Church on March 23, 2025, as she explores the powerful line from the Lord's Prayer: "Give us today our daily bread." This isn't just about physical food, but about all our needs – physical, emotional, and spiritual.In this thought-provoking talk, Bobbi delves into the historical and social context of this prayer, connecting it to the Exodus story and the concept of Sabbath rest. She shares personal reflections on her own prayer journey and the many forms prayer can take.What makes this message truly unique is the integration of Polyvagal Theory. Bobbi explains th...2025-03-2430 min
Commons Church PodcastFinally King - Bobbi SalkeldIn the fifth sermon in our Becoming King series David finally becomes king! Bobbi takes us through the beginning of David’s kingship and the questions that surround his ascension.Becoming King: David is anointed by the elders of Israel and finally made king. He’s got everything a king could want, power, riches, and God on his side. However, Bobbi shows us that David’s meteoric rise to power brings with it questions like, what will the future hold for someone who seemingly has it all? What insecurities will come about for someone who has secured everyt...2025-02-2429 min
Commons Church PodcastGrowing Up, Getting Lost, and Being Found - Bobbi SalkeldJoin us for an inspiring and heartfelt exploration of Jesus’ childhood story from Luke 2:41-52. In this message titled “The Boy in the Temple: Growing Up, Getting Lost, and Being Found”, we reflect on how Jesus’ formative years reveal deep truths about divine vulnerability, growing into our humanity, and finding God even when we feel lost.This third Sunday of Advent is a time of joy and anticipation, and yet it doesn’t shy away from our struggles. Bobbi invites us to embrace the tension of the season: joy and gloom, light and darkness, searching...2024-12-1624 min
Commons Church PodcastThe Downfall of Samson - Bobbi SalkeldThe story of Samson, as told in the Book of Judges, sheds light on the complexities of human nature and our relationship with God. We see in Samson a man driven by impulses and desires, reflecting the struggles we all face in our own lives. Yet, even in his flaws, God's spirit moves through him, showing us that God can work with what is true and genuine in each of us. The story challenges us to look beyond the surface and see the deeper spiritual truths at play. As we journey with Samson, we are reminded that putting our...2024-05-2729 min
Commons Church PodcastJoy in Spirit - Bobbi SalkeldIn our conversation, we explore the deep connection between joy and suffering, pondering biblical narratives set in valleys symbolizing the depths of despair and the peaks of hope. Hear about the transformation from pastoral work to personal wellness, and the embracing of healthier habits that bridge the physical with the spiritual. As we share these stories, we are reminded that true joy is not the denial of pain but the acknowledgment and transcendence of it, offering a path to a joy that persists day after day.
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2024-04-2929 min
Commons Church PodcastEaster Sunday - Bobbi SalkeldOur journey through the Gospel of Mark continues as we unpack the profound narratives of Jesus feeding thousands and walking on water. These stories are not merely historical accounts but invitations to societal transformation and expanded generosity. We delve into the socio-economic messages within these miracles, pondering the notion of abundance and communal care. Furthermore, we consider the moments of divine presence in everyday life, discussing how ordinary acts of kindness hold as much significance as the miraculous. By the end of our time together, you may find yourself with a broader spiritual imagination, ready to recognize the divine...2024-04-0327 min
Commons Church PodcastBoundary Markers - Bobbi SalkeldOur journey through the Gospel of Mark continues as we unpack the profound narratives of Jesus feeding thousands and walking on water. These stories are not merely historical accounts but invitations to societal transformation and expanded generosity. We delve into the socio-economic messages within these miracles, pondering the notion of abundance and communal care. Furthermore, we consider the moments of divine presence in everyday life, discussing how ordinary acts of kindness hold as much significance as the miraculous. By the end of our time together, you may find yourself with a broader spiritual imagination, ready to recognize the divine...2024-03-0428 min
Commons Church PodcastResurrection and the Body - Bobbi SalkeldConfidence to be ourselves. Together.We forget how diverse the first Christian communities were. Maybe it’s because we’re from a long line of “if you don’t agree, go somewhere else.” Or we’re used to finding people like us at church, not people different from us. Or we think similarity is what the healthy body of Christ looks like. The groups of people in churches like the one Paul started in Corinth would have found each other strange. Paul gets that, and still, in the face of conflict he keeps saying, “Draw closer. Draw closer to each...2024-02-1227 min
Commons Church PodcastAll about The Tongues - Bobbi SalkeldConfidence to be ourselves. Together.We forget how diverse the first Christian communities were. Maybe it’s because we’re from a long line of “if you don’t agree, go somewhere else.” Or we’re used to finding people like us at church, not people different from us. Or we think similarity is what the healthy body of Christ looks like. The groups of people in churches like the one Paul started in Corinth would have found each other strange. Paul gets that, and still, in the face of conflict he keeps saying, “Draw closer. Draw closer to each...2024-02-0528 min
Commons Church PodcastAdvent Mountains - Bobbi SalkeldAt its heart, this season holds the mystery of how God became human. And if it’s true, the story of Christmas celebrates the full extent of divine fragility. If it’s true, it asserts a bold claim: that God stands in solidarity with our shared experience. This is a solidarity for life’s deepest valleys and soaring heights. For its lush and flourishing places and also those dry and forgotten places in our hearts.This Advent, we trace the landscapes of our lives in search of the path God takes toward us.
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2023-12-1830 min
Commons Church PodcastCalm That Storm - Bobbi SalkeldMark We explore the contrasting approaches of Jesus and the Pharisees, as described in the second narrative package of Mark. In this section of Mark, Jesus begins to confront his religious critics, the Pharisees, who, despite their liberal ideologies, were often at odds with Jesus. We discuss an enlightening debate between Jesus and the Pharisees about prioritizing faith over tradition, a topic that unveils Jesus' remarkable ability to challenge and transform pre-existing notions.We also see Jesus' unique approach toward his religious critics and his ability to expand our imagination. We reflect upon an instance where J...2023-11-2028 min
Commons Church PodcastAll That Soil - Bobbi SalkeldMark 4We explore the contrasting approaches of Jesus and the Pharisees, as described in the second narrative package of Mark. In this section of Mark, Jesus begins to confront his religious critics, the Pharisees, who, despite their liberal ideologies, were often at odds with Jesus. We discuss an enlightening debate between Jesus and the Pharisees about prioritizing faith over tradition, a topic that unveils Jesus' remarkable ability to challenge and transform pre-existing notions.We also see Jesus' unique approach toward his religious critics and his ability to expand our imagination. We reflect upon an instance where...2023-11-1328 min
Commons Church PodcastEmpowered by Spirit - Bobbi SalkeldThe start of season ten! Sometimes, I can hardly believe it’s been that long. And while we are still a year away from our tenth anniversary, it seems like a good time to go back and ground ourselves in some core ideas. For years now, we have included some of our foundational theological narrative on the first page of the journal. In this series, we will dive into each of the six statements that have kept us on course. And we will trust that God will help us journey even deeper into the Way of Jesus as we do...2023-10-1630 min
Commons Church PodcastLetting the Angry God Go - Bobbi SalkeldThe start of season ten! Sometimes, I can hardly believe it’s been that long. And while we are still a year away from our tenth anniversary, it seems like a good time to go back and ground ourselves in some core ideas. For years now, we have included some of our foundational theological narrative on the first page of the journal. In this series, we will dive into each of the six statements that have kept us on course. And we will trust that God will help us journey even deeper into the Way of Jesus as we do...2023-09-2528 min
Commons Church PodcastHanging Out - Bobbi Salkeld“....Happiness is not an ideal of reason but of imagination” –Immanuel KantTwo years ago, we had a blast doing a series like this...and we think you did too.So, we’re bringing happiness back.In part, because this is a practice of community. To share stories. To make meaning. To brighten faces. But also because it’s a practice of imagination. To shape futures. To inspire choices. To chart new pathways.Life has a way of making us feel limited at times, as though the patterns and options we have are set. As an...2023-09-0430 min
Commons Church PodcastMary Oliver - Bobbi SalkeldThis one is about Mary Oliver***The Christian tradition has always recognized certain individuals as playing an important role in its formation and development. These people are often singled out - their stories recorded - their contributions remembered. From Paul to Ignatius, and from Julian of Norwich to Teresa of Calcutta, we call them saints. Saints are often memorialized by the places they’re from, by the disciplines or fields they worked in, or by the times they lived. Their holiness directly tied to the ways they shaped people and communities and institutions. And one of...2023-08-0129 min
Commons Church PodcastRenewed Covenant - Bobbi SalkeldExodus 33-40***There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers.We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering.It's a universal experience not to know the way forward but to press on anyway. Two steps ahead, one step back. Up a ladder, down a snake.2023-07-0328 min
Commons Church PodcastAll Those Plagues - Bobbi SalkeldExodus 7+12***There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers.We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering.It's a universal experience not to know the way forward but to press on anyway. Two steps ahead, one step back. Up a ladder, down a snake....2023-05-2931 min
Commons Church PodcastBurning Bush - Bobbi SalkeldExodus 3+4***There are claims that Exodus is the essential book in the Bible. It's where we meet God by name, learn to trust a God who hears the cries of the oppressed, and experience awe for a God who guides wanderers.We can relate to Exodus. We wonder about who God is, we wonder about who God helps, and we know the feeling of waiting and wandering.It's a universal experience not to know the way forward but to press on anyway. Two steps ahead, one step back. Up a ladder, down a snake....2023-05-2227 min
Commons Church PodcastConsolation and Desolation - Bobbi Salkeld1 Corinthians 6***Some people – maybe you’re one of them – turn to pastors to make good choices. They want to know if what they think is acceptable to God, if what they do is pleasing to God, and if what they consider is in the will of God.There’s something blessed about wanting affirmation from someone you trust. But what if your pastors don’t have the perfect answer and can’t give you the ideal guidance? Are there other waysto make good choices? Of course, there are. Wisdom is boundless like that.In the early...2023-04-2428 min
Commons Church PodcastGood Friday - Bobbi SalkeldThings weren’t going to end well.Even after doing so much good, sharing so much love, and bringing so much hope, Jesus kept telling his friends that his enemies would get the best of him. And then, in the final moments of his life - With his body taken and broken by violence - Jesus seemed to pause as death approached.He turned his face to heaven, and taught his friends a prayer for broken hearts. Simply asking, “Why?”Which is the question we bring with us to the end of Holy Week.2023-04-1022 min
Commons Church PodcastIt's Good That I Go - Bobbi SalkeldFifth Sunday of Lent: JOHN 15:18-16:15A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story.John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20).But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory” doesn’t mean much to most of us. It feels stodgy and strange. But what if we replace it with its de...2023-03-2726 min
Commons Church PodcastLetting Go Through Lent - Bobbi SalkeldFirst Sunday of Lent: JOHN 13:18-38A Gospel’s structure is a roadmap – a way to get your bearings in a story.John structures his Gospel in four parts (stay with me). There’s the Prologue, the Book of Signs, the Book of Glory, and the Appendix. This Lent, we’ll work through the Book of Glory (John 13-20).But maybe you’re like, “So what?” And you’re right about something there. That word “glory” doesn’t mean much to most of us. It feels stodgy and strange. But what if we replace it with its de...2023-02-2729 min
Commons Church PodcastCuriosity and Intimacy - Bobbi SalkeldRight now, more than any time we can remember, we are polarized, on edge, and ready to attack each other. That doesn't mean there aren't good reasons to be cautious. We all know people who engage in bad faith, intent not on dialogue but on manipulation or deceit. However, if we allow that caution to transform us into essentially uncurious persons, we will miss out on much of what God has available for us. Being human is a limited experience of the world. And therefore, it is only when we open our perspective to the knowledge of t...2023-01-1625 min
Commons Church PodcastFeeling Dazzled - Bobbi SalkeldThe lead-up to Christmas is full of big feelings. You can think of feelings in two categories: feelings when your needs are unmet and feelings when your needs are met. When your needs are unmet, you might feel cranky or annoyed. When your needs are met, you might feel joyful or calm. All of those feelings are expressions of biology. We feel emotions in our bodies. So there’s a wonderful connection between feelings and Advent. Advent is the season of divine embodiment. The story of Jesus’ arrival starts with ordinary humans feeling big feelings. Joseph is worri...2022-12-1227 min
Commons Church PodcastThe Beasts - Bobbi SalkeldThe book of Revelation deals on a cosmic scale with good and evil, politics and empire, community and eternity. It has intrigued and frustrated readers for millennia. How do we make sense of John's prophetic vision of cosmic war in light of the nonviolence Jesus embodies in the gospels? What does John mean to tell us about Jesus, our world, and the fate of all things? As End Times conspiracy theories surge, it's more important than ever that we read the final book of the Bible without distorting the true message of Jesus.Based on the book...2022-11-1429 min
Commons Church PodcastRiders of the Apocalypse - Bobbi SalkeldThe book of Revelation deals on a cosmic scale with good and evil, politics and empire, community and eternity. It has intrigued and frustrated readers for millennia. How do we make sense of John's prophetic vision of cosmic war in light of the nonviolence Jesus embodies in the gospels? What does John mean to tell us about Jesus, our world, and the fate of all things? As End Times conspiracy theories surge, it's more important than ever that we read the final book of the Bible without distorting the true message of Jesus.Based on the book...2022-10-2428 min
Commons Church PodcastJesus at the Centre - Bobbi SalkeldThere is no denying the sheer largeness of our Biblical faith. There is a lot to know: story and truth and history. But in the middle of all this stands the simple, the basic, the essential, the pure: “love God and love your neighbour.” We want to begin our year together by going back to the basics to help answer the frequently asked questions that inevitably arise when something new begins.Who are we?By what do we define ourselves? How will we live together as a community?We know not every question can b...2022-09-2624 min
Commons Church PodcastMary Magdalene - Bobbi SalkeldThere are stories about people in the bible that we love to love. These are the stories everyone seems to know: famous daughters, brave judges, and influential church planters.They wait in broad daylight for us to discover something new, as if to say, “There’s more to me than what you think you know and love.”For as much as the bible is about God, it would be nothing without people. And the thing about people is that even while they change, they also stay the same. Century after century, people get lost, make a new...2022-09-0426 min
Commons Church PodcastDeborah - Bobbi SalkeldThere are stories about people in the bible that we love to love. These are the stories everyone seems to know: famous daughters, brave judges, and influential church planters.They wait in broad daylight for us to discover something new, as if to say, “There’s more to me than what you think you know and love.”For as much as the bible is about God, it would be nothing without people. And the thing about people is that even while they change, they also stay the same. Century after century, people get lost, make a new...2022-08-2225 min
Commons Church PodcastBathsheba - Bobbi SalkeldThere are so many stories about people in the bible that, with eyes wide open, disturb. In the history of interpretation, explanations abound. We hear that these folks had it coming, that their differences were unacceptable, that they were vulnerable and weak.As disturbing as these stories feel, they don't disappear. They wait in the shadows as if to say, "Our pain is real and held by God in this sacred story."For as much as the bible is about people, it's about God. And while God elevates people to positions of priest, prophet, and...2022-07-1928 min
Commons Church PodcastNoah - Bobbi Salkeld"Genesis is a book about origins: the origins of humankind, the origins of Israel, and the origins of the unique relationship between God and a particular people." —Nahum Sarna. We will listen to the memory of ancient Israel wrapped in poetic narratives. We will spend time with the strangeness of these stories, attending to the faith embedded in them. We will let the text draw us into a cosmic account of creation, the epic beginning rooted in the stories of the ancient Near East and artfully reshaped to tell the good news: Creator calls the world into bei...2022-06-2627 min
Commons Church PodcastColossian Hymn - Bobbi SalkeldWe all have a guilty musical pleasure. Admit it.A band we return to as the soundtrack to some other season.An album we replay because it.still. holds.up.The song we blast in the car when it comes on — lyrics flowing freely, dance moves optional.Because music stirs us, evokes emotion, forms memory, and helps us return to ourselves.Which is why we shouldn’t be surprised that, at times, early Christian authors seem to have drawn on the songs and poetry around them as they wrote. Pulling meaningful words, rhythm,and...2022-05-0928 min
Commons Church Between SundaysSeason 3 Episode 5 - The LandIn the final episode of this season of Between Sundays, we speak with Nicole Scott to talk about the land. Nicole is a educator, mother, partner, daughter, and sister. She works with a diverse group of high school students within Outreach Education, and lives and works in treaty 7 territory within the city limits of Calgary. Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld. Produced by Jonathan Petkau. Artwork by Angie Ishak.Follow us on Instagram @btwsundays.
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2022-04-271h 08
Commons Church PodcastEaster Sunday - Bobbi SalkeldEaster Sunday is here. Resurrection has come for us. Today we awake knowing that the story is not over. And it is a celebration!But this is also our first Easter Sunday gathering together to worship in three years, and we are ecstatic.The Christian faith is an Easter faith. That means it is ultimately a joyous and hopeful view of the universe. Christhas triumphed over the enemies of life and love. Death, and sin, and isolation, and despair have been given an expiry date. Love, and hope, and mercy, and grace have...2022-04-1825 minCommons Church Between SundaysSeason 3 Episode 4 - Science LabsIn the fourth episode of this season of Between Sundays, Paul Stewardson (PhD Candidate in Medial Science) sits down to talk about science labs. Bobbi also pays Paul a visit in his own lab to talk about how different scientific disciplines collaborate together.Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld. Produced by Jonathan Petkau. Artwork by Angie Ishak.Follow us on Instagram @btwsundays.
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2022-04-131h 15Commons Church Between SundaysSeason 3 Episode 3 - Independent FilmIn the Third episode of this season of Between Sundays, filmmaker Ingrid Vargas sits down to talk about her love of independent films. You'll also hear heard Ingrid provide some director's commentary on one of her short films, All Saints.Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld. Produced by Jonathan Petkau. Artwork by Angie Ishak.Follow us on Instagram @btwsundays.
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2022-03-301h 14
Commons Church PodcastPool of Bethesda - Bobbi SalkeldJohn 5***Jesus endlessly fascinates. There is not a single moment, word, or action in his life that is not pregnant with something more. There is a qualitative difference that is unmistakable about Jesus, though. John puts in simply, "In him was life and that life was the light of all people." (John 1:4) As John writes about Jesus, he knows that he is touching the infinite. He charmingly says that the world was too small to record what could be said about him. (John 21:25)So, what to do? How to tell a story too b...2022-03-2028 minCommons Church Between SundaysSeason 3 Episode 2 - Board GamesIn the second episode of this season of Between Sundays, Josh Field (board game enthusiast) sits down to talk about his love of board games. You'll also hear excerpts from noted non-board game person Bobbi Salkeld's family game night.Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld. Produced by Jonathan Petkau. Artwork by Angie Ishak.Follow us on Instagram @btwsundays.
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2022-03-161h 14Commons Church Between SundaysSeason 3 Episode 1 - Children's LiteratureIn the first episode of this season of Between Sundays, Sonia (MA in English) sits down to talk about her love of stories for the young and old. You'll also hear two short readings from Sonia from The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett and Journey to the River Sea by Eva Ibbotson.Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld. Produced by Jonathan Petkau. Artwork by Angie Ishak.Follow us on Instagram @btwsundays.
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2022-03-021h 03
Commons Church PodcastThe Spirit Feminine - Bobbi Salkeld“There is little doubt that our doctrine of the Holy Spirit is one of the least developed areas in mainstream Christianity.” —Alwyn MarriageWhether you’ve been around the Christian story for a while—or you’ve recently started exploring, there’s a certain mystique around the idea of God as Spirit.And that mystique is all the more compelling when we acknowledge that many of us feel some distance between Jesus’ promise to send the Spirit to his friends and our experience in the world. An advocate? To help us?So let’s be honest — the nature of the Di...2022-02-2728 min
Commons Church PodcastRelearning Friendship Part 3 - Bobbi SalkeldThe experience of the global pandemic has changed us. And it has changed our friendships. Some may have deepened, while others have dwindled without getting a solid chance to take root.Let's begin the new year with a conversation on that deeply personal connection with others we all long for but often struggle to cultivate.Friendship is essential to our humanity. It is also a gift that we are free to receive and to offer. Some friendships help us become our true selves.You might remember with fondness the name of your childhood...2022-01-2329 min
Commons Church PodcastAdvent as Mystery - Bobbi SalkeldTry this thought experiment. What moments in your life do you consider pivotal? Maybe it’s a big trip, grad school graduation, or the birth of a child.Now, imagine yourself taking ten minutes to write from memory what happened, how you felt, and who said what. Next, imagine someone else who was with you writing down what they saw, how they felt, and who said what.Can you imagine the differences? One story feels intimate, the other distant. One story catches a mortifying detail, the other only fondness. One stirs sadness, and the other st...2021-12-2028 min
Commons Church PodcastAdvent as Comedy - Bobbi SalkeldTry this thought experiment. What moments in your life do you consider pivotal? Maybe it’s a big trip, grad school graduation, or the birth of a child.Now, imagine yourself taking ten minutes to write from memory what happened, how you felt, and who said what. Next, imagine someone else who was with you writing down what they saw, how they felt, and who said what.Can you imagine the differences? One story feels intimate, the other distant. One story catches a mortifying detail, the other only fondness. One stirs sadness, and the other st...2021-12-0528 min
Commons Church PodcastDoers - Bobbi SalkeldChurch tradition holds that 16th-century reformer Martin Luther despised the epistle of James, going so far as to say that it contained little to none of “the nature of the Gospel.” One of Luther’s biggest complaints was that this early Christian letter contains only the slightest mention of Jesus, which is why he thought it had so little to offer. But part of why we think the book of James deserves our attention is because, if you look close enough, it says some profound things about what it means to be like Jesus. And it doesn...2021-10-3127 min
Commons Church PodcastSurprise Pearls - Bobbi SalkeldOne of Jesus' key ideas was that of the kingdom of God. An imagination for the world as it could be pervades not only Jesus' teaching but all of his interactions. In fact, this is a uniquely human ability to think in sequence and to understand meaning through the lens of past, present, and future. Simply put, we live in a storied world, and one of the most important questions for any story is, "Where is it going?" Jesus taught from these three aspects of reality: There is a past from which we live—an explanation for the...2021-10-1029 min
Commons Church PodcastPlace - What Makes You Happy - Bobbi Salkeld“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.”–Mahatma GhandiDoesn’t it feel like there’s a shortage of true happiness? Whether the news—or our own experience—or a string of rainy afternoons, we can find ourselves wondering why the world always seems to be frowning.Which is why—this summer—we’re striking out in search of some real, wholesome, happy-face-emoji moments. And in this series, we’re gathering individuals and stories from our community to answer the question “What makes you happy?”And we promise—2021-09-0829 min
Commons Church PodcastSacred/Secular - Both/And - Bobbi SalkeldThere are times in life when either/or decisions are super important. Life-saving, even. Is this food good for me or bad? Is this relationship what I want or isn’t it? Do I believe this thing about God or don’t I?The answers to these questions may serve us well for a time. Maybe even a long time. But there are some questions that aren’t settled with either/or answers. Contemplative thinkers even insist that an either/or posture to the world is antithetical to human life. After all, we know ourselves to be not on...2021-08-0328 min
Commons Church PodcastQuiet/Loud - Both/And - Bobbi SalkeldThere are times in life when either/or decisions are super important. Life-saving, even. Is this food good for me or bad? Is this relationship what I want or isn’t it? Do I believe this thing about God or don’t I?The answers to these questions may serve us well for a time. Maybe even a long time. But there are some questions that aren’t settled with either/or answers. Contemplative thinkers even insist that an either/or posture to the world is antithetical to human life. After all, we know ourselves to be not on...2021-07-1333 min
Commons Church PodcastMyyy Queen 05: Revenge Fantasy - Bobbi SalkeldThe legend of Esther is about a Jewish queen in the Persian empire. It’s a story of imperial power, wise beauty, and devious plots. It’s got lavish banquets, rebel queens, and conniving court officials. The story of Queen Esther is found in the Hebrew Festival Scroll. The Book of Esther is tied to the Feast of Purim. It’s a feast that celebrates the near-miss of disaster. It celebrates all the times we are outnumbered but aren’t ruined, bullied but not overwhelmed, pushed to the sidelines only to find our voice needed at the centre of the stor...2021-05-0926 min
Commons Church PodcastMyyy Queen 03: What To Do With Hate? - Bobbi SalkeldThe legend of Esther is about a Jewish queen in the Persian empire. It’s a story of imperial power, wise beauty, and devious plots. It’s got lavish banquets, rebel queens, and conniving court officials. The story of Queen Esther is found in the Hebrew Festival Scroll. The Book of Esther is tied to the Feast of Purim. It’s a feast that celebrates the near-miss of disaster. It celebrates all the times we are outnumbered but aren’t ruined, bullied but not overwhelmed, pushed to the sidelines only to find our voice needed at the centre of the stor...2021-04-2528 min
Commons Church PodcastMyyy Queen 02: Limitations of a Beauty Queen - Bobbi SalkeldThe legend of Esther is about a Jewish queen in the Persian empire. It’s a story of imperial power, wise beauty, and devious plots. It’s got lavish banquets, rebel queens, and conniving court officials. The story of Queen Esther is found in the Hebrew Festival Scroll. The Book of Esther is tied to the Feast of Purim. It’s a feast that celebrates the near-miss of disaster. It celebrates all the times we are outnumbered but aren’t ruined, bullied but not overwhelmed, pushed to the sidelines only to find our voice needed at the centre of the stor...2021-04-1825 min
Commons Church PodcastMyyy Queen 01: Opulence and Letting Go - Bobbi SalkeldThe legend of Esther is about a Jewish queen in the Persian empire. It’s a story of imperial power, wise beauty, and devious plots. It’s got lavish banquets, rebel queens, and conniving court officials. The story of Queen Esther is found in the Hebrew Festival Scroll. The Book of Esther is tied to the Feast of Purim. It’s a feast that celebrates the near-miss of disaster. It celebrates all the times we are outnumbered but aren’t ruined, bullied but not overwhelmed, pushed to the sidelines only to find our voice needed at the centre of the stor...2021-04-1125 min
Commons Church PodcastReframing Our Ritual Part 2 - Bobbi SalkeldWe’ve talked about ritual before—the rhythms of life, and faith, and practice that ground us in the Christian tradition.And one of the reasons we keep coming back to these conversations is because— well—that’s what ritual requires of us. We don’t ever outgrow the need for persistent daily patterns.We don’t ever get beyond having to build better habits for our good.We don’t ever discover the best of rituals by neglecting the care they require.So, we’re excited for how a return to old ideas and f...2021-02-0727 min
Commons Church PodcastReframing Our Ritual Part 1 - Bobbi SalkeldWe’ve talked about ritual before—the rhythms of life, and faith, and practice that ground us in the Christian tradition.And one of the reasons we keep coming back to these conversations is because— well—that’s what ritual requires of us. We don’t ever outgrow the need for persistent daily patterns.We don’t ever get beyond having to build better habits for our good.We don’t ever discover the best of rituals by neglecting the care they require.So, we’re excited for how a return to old ideas and f...2021-01-3126 min
Commons Church PodcastAdvent: Shepherds - Bobbi SalkeldPreparing for Christmas is often all about excess.Getting the Christmas presents. Preparing the splendid meals. Packing the tree with so many ornaments that the branches bend under the weightof them all. Excess can be beautiful. Party-worthy, even. But what about the years when you can’t afford Christmas extravagance? What if you just don’t have the energy for it all? What about the years when you don’t have enough?The cast of characters in the Christmas story invites us to see that God works with limitations. In fact, it seems to be...2020-12-1322 min
Commons Church PodcastMaking More Room: One on One - Bobbi SalkeldWe believe in a God who wants us to know that we are welcome. The narrative arc of the gospel—from creation to a restored earth—keeps expanding to include individuals, families, tribes, kingdoms, and finally, the multitudes of nations. God never stops making more room. Last year we talked about different ways our hospitality reflects our room— making God. This year we want to build on that conversation and explore God’s vision for what we create as we gather. How we move from isolation into connectedness, from caring for some to caring f...2020-11-0826 min
Commons Church PodcastWhy Did You Doubt? - Bobbi Salkeld“It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.” –Eugene IonescoA good question is a superpower.So why don’t we ask more questions? Maybe we are a bit egocentric—eager to impress with our own thoughts and stories. Perhaps we are apathetic— thinking we might be bored by the response. Or perhaps we just worry that we’ll ask the wrong question and be viewed as rude or incompetent.But often the biggest challenge is that we simply don’t understand how beneficial good questioning can be. If we did,we might end far fewer se...2020-10-0429 minCommons Church Between SundaysSeason 2 Episode 5 - StuckIn the final episode of this season of Between Sundays, marriage and family therapist Jonathan McGregor joins us to talk about the feeling of being stuck.Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld. Produced by Jonathan Petkau. Artwork by Angie Ishak.Follow us on Instagram @btwsundays.
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2020-06-031h 13
Commons Church PodcastHow to be Angry Part 2 - Bobbi SalkeldTake a moment to remember how many times you’ve been angry or irritated this week. No really, check in with yourself. Were you angry once, twice, two hundred times?Maybe something tiny triggered you. Maybe something massive enraged you. Maybe your anger feels so constant you don’t know life without it. The scriptures honour all of these layers, and when we lean in to listen to their words, we will find wisdom for all our anger.Like, there’s a way to be angry that gets to the heart of the matter. And there’...2020-05-2429 minCommons Church Between SundaysSeason 2 Episode 4 - ContemptIn the fourth episode of this season of Between Sundays, registered psychologist Rachel du Plessix joins us to talk about contempt.Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld. Produced by Jonathan Petkau. Artwork by Angie Ishak.Follow us on Instagram @btwsundays.
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2020-05-201h 20
Commons Church PodcastHow to be Angry Part 1 - Bobbi SalkeldTake a moment to remember how many times you’ve been angry or irritated this week. No really, check in with yourself. Were you angry once, twice, two hundred times?Maybe something tiny triggered you. Maybe something massive enraged you. Maybe your anger feels so constant you don’t know life without it. The scriptures honour all of these layers, and when we lean in to listen to their words, we will find wisdom for all our anger.Like, there’s a way to be angry that gets to the heart of the matter. And there’...2020-05-1724 minCommons Church Between SundaysSeason 2 Episode 3 - AngerIn the third episode of this season of Between Sundays, provisional psychologist Brad Lewis of Cultivate joins us to talk about anger.Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld. Produced by Jonathan Petkau. Artwork by Angie Ishak.Follow us on Instagram @btwsundays.
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2020-05-061h 17Commons Church Between SundaysSeason 2 Episode 2 - PanicIn the second episode of this season of Between Sundays, psychologist Trina Pypers of Wild Path Counselling joins us to talk about panic.Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld. Produced by Jonathan Petkau. Artwork by Angie Ishak.Follow us on Instagram @btwsundays.
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2020-04-221h 18Commons Church Between SundaysSeason 2 Episode 1 - DespairWelcome to a new season of Between Sundays. In the first episode, community artist and art therapist Allan Rosales (@a.b.rosales) joins us to talk about despair.Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld. Produced by Jonathan Petkau. Artwork by Angie Ishak.Follow us on Instagram @btwsundays.
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2020-04-081h 19
Commons Church PodcastA Great Second Chance -Bobbi SalkeldIt’s not always easy to see ourselves as we truly are. But stories can help. When we listen carefully to a story that is authentic to the human experience, we come to know ourselves in new ways. The book of Jonah is one such story. Despite its rather fantastical qualities, the story of Jonah is a real human tale. A story of human failure and divine grace, a story of the interplay between duty observed and plain disobedience. A story of the internal conflict between authentic honesty and dishonest selfishness. It’s all here, all of the m...2020-03-2232 min
Commons Church PodcastBumble For Your Soul - Bobbi SalkeldSwipe Right is a phrase that entered the common lexicon through the arrival of Tinder, an app designed to help people skip past the hard work of investing in the kind of healthy mature relationships we all really long for.But here’s the truth; healthy relationships are a matter of life-and-death importance because we are far more than sexual beings; we are human beings with all that is entailed.In this series, we intend to move past sermons on dating and relationships and talk about what it means to be a human with a br...2020-01-1934 minCommons Church Between SundaysSeason 1 Bonus Episode - DaveArtist Dave Vegt (@davidvegt) joins us on Between Sundays for a bonus episode.Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld. Produced by Jonathan Petkau. Artwork by Angie Ishak.Follow us on Instagram @btwsundays.
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2020-01-151h 10Commons Church Between SundaysSeason 1 Episode 5 - ElysePhotographer Elyse Bouvier (@elysebouvier) joins us on Between Sundays to talk about seismic shifts in her family, all kinds of creative projects, and sensuality in sexuality.You can check out Elyse's website portfolio right here. Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld. Produced by Jonathan Petkau. Artwork by Angie Ishak.Follow us on Instagram @btwsundays.
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2019-12-251h 25
Commons Church PodcastThe Gloria in Excelsis - Bobbi SalkeldWhat do your prayers sound like at this time of year? Please God, make time stand still so I can get readyfor Christmas. Please God, help me find a parking spot at the mall. Or, more seriously, Please God, turn this Christmas chaos into something calm.Advent is a season of waiting, expectation, and hope. It doesn’t mean that all longings are realized, though.And even as the story of Jesus begins with the angel announcing the birthof the Saviour to Mary and the world, everyone in the story is gi...2019-12-2235 minCommons Church Between SundaysSeason 1 Episode 4 - JayFilmmaker Jay Gould (@itsgoodtobejay) joins us on Between Sundays to share his evolving story, his fascination with the stories of others, and how the creativity of God flows in all of it.You can watch the first episode of Car People (@carpeopleofficial) right here. You can find the Inspired Indigenous YouTube Channel right here.Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld. Produced by Jonathan Petkau. Artwork by Angie Ishak.Follow us on Instagram @btwsundays.
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2019-12-111h 08
Commons Church PodcastThe Fiat Mihi - Bobbi SalkeldWhat do your prayers sound like at this time of year? Please God, make time stand still so I can get readyfor Christmas. Please God, help me find a parking spot at the mall. Or, more seriously, Please God, turn this Christmas chaos into something calm.Advent is a season of waiting, expectation, and hope. It doesn’t mean that all longings are realized, though.And even as the story of Jesus begins with the angel announcing the birthof the Saviour to Mary and the world, everyone in the story is gi...2019-12-0134 minCommons Church Between SundaysSeason 1 Episode 3 - ChristiActor, director & writer Christi Dos Santos-Wing (@christibisti) joins us on Between Sundays to share her experiences of being encouraged to follow her creative passions to uncomfortable yet rewarding places.Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld. Produced by Jonathan Petkau. Artwork by Angie Ishak.Follow us on Instagram @btwsundays.
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2019-11-271h 12Commons Church Between SundaysSeason 1 Episode 2 - BenMusician, world barista champion and co-founder of Monogram Coffee Ben Put ( @benajminput) joins us on Between Sundays to share his experience of ritual through musical performances, competition and more.Check out Monogram Coffee here. Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld. Produced by Jonathan Petkau. Artwork by Angie Ishak.Follow us on Instagram @btwsundays.
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2019-11-131h 13
Commons Church PodcastLet Your Hair Down - Bobbi Salkeld“Hospitality is not to change people, but to offer them space where change can take place.”—Henri NouwenWe’ve all likely had the experience where someone made space for us.A grandparent, a dear friend, a stranger who didn’t speak our language, or even someone we didn’t agree with.Maybe they offered us welcome. They made us feel safe.They chose to be vulnerable.They extended kindness when they could have withheld it.Whatever the case, these kinds of experiences show us how powerful hos...2019-11-1234 minCommons Church Between SundaysSeason 1 Episode 1 - EmmanuelPoet and rapper Emmanuel (aka Oliver Throne, @oliverthrone) joins us on our inaugural episode of Between Sundays to discuss live performance, cultural connections and more.Check out Oliver Throne’s new track Crater here. Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld. Produced by Jonathan Petkau. Artwork by Angie Ishak.Follow us on Instagram @btwsundays.
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2019-10-301h 05Commons Church Between SundaysIntroducing Between SundaysComing soon from Commons Church and the Commons Podcast Network, a podcast about finding the sacred in the everyday. In our first season, we will explore the theme of "The Creative Urge" with our guests. Hosted by Bobbi Salkeld.
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2019-10-2301 min
Commons Church PodcastWhy Worry - Bobbi SalkeldThe Sermon on the Mount is one of the most famous speeches ever given. This is Jesus at his most accessible. The intriguing phenomenon is, however, that the closer one looks the more one becomes fascinated with the beauty through which Jesus addresses each topic. “The experience can be compared with visiting famous old castles or cathedrals. Tourists may put in thirty minutes to walk through, just to get an impression, and that is what they get. But if one begins to study such buildings with the help of a good guidebook, visions of whole worlds open up. Whether it...2019-09-3033 min
Commons Church PodcastPsalm 99+100 Bobbi SalkeldPrayer is a pretty big deal. After all, at Commons we opened this year with prayer and we’re closing the year with prayer. From the Lord’s Prayer in the fall, to the Psalms prayer book in the summer, we’ve got instructions and illustrations to shape our prayerful souls in all seasons. So what’s prayer to you? Is it the recitation of prayers you learned as a kid? Is prayer the words that spring up inside you like “thank you,” “help me,” and “I’m so sorry”? Maybe prayer is becoming less wordy and more connected to deep breaths, centr...2019-09-0233 min
Commons Church PodcastPsalm 32 - Bobbi SalkeldPrayer is a pretty big deal. After all, at Commons we opened this year with prayer and we’re closing the year with prayer. From the Lord’s Prayer in the fall, to the Psalms prayer book in the summer, we’ve got instructions and illustrations to shape our prayerful souls in all seasons. So what’s prayer to you? Is it the recitation of prayers you learned as a kid? Is prayer the words that spring up inside you like “thank you,” “help me,” and “I’m so sorry”? Maybe prayer is becoming less wordy and more connected to deep breaths, centr...2019-08-0533 min
Commons Church PodcastPsalm 13 - Bobbi SalkeldPrayer is a pretty big deal. After all, at Commons we opened this year with prayer and we’re closing the year with prayer. From the Lord’s Prayer in the fall, to the Psalms prayer book in the summer, we’ve got instructions and illustrations to shape our prayerful souls in all seasons. So what’s prayer to you? Is it the recitation of prayers you learned as a kid? Is prayer the words that spring up inside you like “thank you,” “help me,” and “I’m so sorry”? Maybe prayer is becoming less wordy and more connected to deep breaths, centr...2019-07-2132 min
Commons Church PodcastChange 03 - Bobbi SalkeldAre you one of those people who loves change or hates change? Maybe somewhere in the middle? Maybe you see the necessity of change but you don’t like the discomfort it brings. Maybe you rage against change and then, when you finally give in, you realize you need it. Everything in life is touched by change. Our bodies change and age, our relationships struggle and grow, and our world is full of change and instability too. But what about our relationship with God? Can our dance with the sacred withstand significant change? Let’s look at a time in a...2019-05-2032 min
Commons Church PodcastChange 02 - Bobbi SalkeldAre you one of those people who loves change or hates change? Maybe somewhere in the middle? Maybe you see the necessity of change but you don’t like the discomfort it brings. Maybe you rage against change and then, when you finally give in, you realize you need it. Everything in life is touched by change. Our bodies change and age, our relationships struggle and grow, and our world is full of change and instability too. But what about our relationship with God? Can our dance with the sacred withstand significant change? Let’s look at a time in a...2019-05-1231 min
Commons Church PodcastChange 01 - Bobbi SalkeldAre you one of those people who loves change or hates change? Maybe somewhere in the middle? Maybe you see the necessity of change but you don’t like the discomfort it brings. Maybe you rage against change and then, when you finally give in, you realize you need it. Everything in life is touched by change. Our bodies change and age, our relationships struggle and grow, and our world is full of change and instability too. But what about our relationship with God? Can our dance with the sacred withstand significant change? Let’s look at a time in a...2019-05-0632 min