Rev. Molly Vetter - Podcast Details

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Westwood United Methodist ChurchRevelation of Hope – Worthy is the LambSunday, May 11, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter Pastor Molly explores the hopeful, radical message of the Book of Revelation, challenging its typical fear-based interpretations. It centers on the image of the slaughtered lamb—symbolizing sacrificial love—as the one worthy to reveal God’s truth, rather than power or domination. Tied into Mother’s Day, the message honors all forms of caregiving, especially those who mother in nontraditional ways, and emphasizes the importance of community, care, and chosen family. The preacher calls for deeper connection and celebration through song, showing that theology is not just ideas, but lived exp...2025-05-1127 min

Westwood United Methodist ChurchRevelation of Hope – The Alpha and The OmegaSunday, May 4, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter The Book of Revelation has been frequently misused, often to engender fear. In this sermon series, we are diving in to give it a fresh look. What we find is not a code for the end times, but a bold declaration from an exiled man that despite the power of empire, God still reigns—Alpha and Omega, beginning and end. Revelation isn’t about fear; it’s about resistance, faithfulness, and the transformative love of Christ, the pierced one who turns suffering into new life. On this weekend of annive...2025-05-0425 min

Westwood United Methodist ChurchEverything in Between: Grief and HopeSunday, April 20, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter The resurrection of Jesus is a profound symbol of God’s transformative power–not a denial of grief, but a simultaneous embrace of both grief and hope. Drawing from the Gospel of Luke, the resurrection story highlights the courage of the women who first encountered the empty tomb, and how their faith allowed them to remember Jesus’ promise of resurrection even when others dismissed it. Today, we live into the resurrection by creating sanctuary—not in buildings, but in compassionate, inclusive communities that honor every person’s dignity. Looking through co...2025-04-2022 min

Westwood United Methodist ChurchEverything in Between: Shouting and SilenceSunday, April 13, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter Wave palm branches and sing “Hosanna” as we celebrate Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem; little children will lead the procession. When the religious leaders try to silence the crowd, Jesus tells them that the noise level isn’t the point—even the stones would cry out if they were silent. It takes wisdom to know when our voice is needed and when it’s just noise. Our Westwood Kids Choir will join the Chancel Choir for a special Palm Sunday anthem, too. We invite ALL our children to be a part of our...2025-04-1322 min

Westwood United Methodist ChurchEverything in Between: Righteousness & MercySunday, April 6, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter Today we sit in the tension between things that seem opposed to each other—not to solve it, but to honor it. Between righteousness and mercy, justice and forgiveness, we’re invited not to choose sides but to dwell in the holy space between. Like Zacchaeus, who climbs a fig-laden sycamore tree and ends up the host of Jesus, we find that true transformation doesn’t come from punishment or exclusion, but from the mercy that leads to repair. Justice isn’t about keeping score—it’s about making things right...2025-04-0628 min

Westwood United Methodist ChurchEverything in Between: Lost & FoundSunday, March 30, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter Reading the Parable of the Lost Sheep from Luke 15, we are invited into the tension between being lost and being found. We are invited to see beyond simple binaries and recognize the communal nature of belonging. God persistently and compassionately pursues those who are lost, not as isolated individuals, but as integral members of a larger community. Salvation is not, after all, a solitary experience, but a gift of restoration within the whole. Drawing from theological reflections from Sallie McFague as well as Wendell Berry’s poetry, we hear a...2025-03-3033 min

Westwood United Methodist ChurchEverything in Between: Rest & GrowthSunday, March 23, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter Throughout Lent, we’ve explored the tension between seemingly opposite words, only to find that they are deeply connected. Today, we consider rest and growth through Jesus’ parable of the fig tree in the vineyard—a tree that doesn’t seem to belong yet has a role beyond mere productivity. Like the fig tree, we are not defined by what we produce but by our place in God’s creation. Rest is not just a pause between work but a sacred practice, woven into creation itself, that allows for unseen gro...2025-03-2329 min

Westwood United Methodist ChurchEverything [in] Between: Faith and ActionSunday, March 16, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter [powerpress url=”] Faith and action share deep connections, despite how they are often set up as if they exist in opposition. The story of Mary and Martha deserves a new look: Mary’s choice to “sit at Jesus’ feet” is better understood as bold discipleship rather than passivity. Faith is made real through action, just as action is enriched by faith. Rigid binaries—whether in theology, gender, or identity—deserve questioning, for the sake of a more inclusive and dynamic understanding of God’s work in the world. Ultimately, we are called to...2025-03-1600 min

Westwood United Methodist ChurchEverything in Between: Stranger and NeighborSunday, March 9, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter [powerpress url=”] This Lent we focus on “everything in between,” exploring the complexities and tensions between opposing concepts, like “good” and “evil,” and how these binaries often limit our understanding of the world. Today we look at the parable of the Good Samaritan from the Gospel of Luke to challenge traditional ideas of neighborliness, calling us to embrace compassion not only toward those we consider friends but also toward those we might view as enemies or strangers. It invites us to rethink how we categorize people and encourages empathy and hospitalit...2025-03-1000 min

Westwood United Methodist ChurchOnward and DownwardSunday, March 2, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter Our worship invites us (always) to contemplate the glory of God. After all, the centerpiece of our magnificent stained glass window is a depiction of the Transfiguration. Our experiences of glory give us courage to go out, down from the mountain, to practice compassion and love. 2025-03-0326 min

Westwood United Methodist ChurchWE ARE Meant to Do Hard ThingsSunday, February 23, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter Jesus sets a high expectation: we are supposed to love even our enemies. But also, we find the confidence to believe we are up to this challenge, because we trust in the grace of Christ. This is the final Sunday of our Epiphany series, which explored who we are, together. This Sunday, we also celebrate the sacrament of baptism, welcoming Callan James Penrose and Cerelia Skye Abernethy into the family of faith; we will also reaffirm the baptism of Thea Sloane Abernethy. We celebrate each of these young people...2025-02-2424 min

Westwood United Methodist ChurchWE ARE Meant to ChangeSunday, February 16, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter The blessing that Jesus proclaims to the world comes with the promise of change. It gives us hope in what will be. It also reminds us of words that are sometimes comforting, and sometimes uncomfortable: that it won’t always be like this. 2025-02-1626 min

Westwood United Methodist ChurchWE ARE Meant for Great ThingsSunday, February 9, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter The story of the church is a story of people like us, who respond to the call of God, and do things far beyond the capacity of what we believed ourselves capable of. 2025-02-0926 min

Westwood United Methodist ChurchWE ARE meant to loveSunday, February 2, 2025 Rev. Molly Vetter This Sunday, we will read beloved words about love from 1 Corinthians 13. Though frequently read at weddings, they do not belong to ceremonies and celebrations where love is evident; they describe the high demands of love, give voice to what can go wrong to distance us from love, and set love as the standard for difficult times. They speak needed words, perfect for this moment in our city, nation and world. 2025-02-0224 min

Double P PodcastsLet's Solve ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING season 4 episode 10 'My Best Friend's Wedding' Recap TheoryOMITB Season Finale: Charles and Oliver get outside of the Arconia to go see Mabel, while a killer kills a killer and Wedding Fountain is NOT made of chocolate! We review every single clue in ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING Season 4, Episode 10 "My Best Friend's Wedding" 00:00 Intro 00:15 We know Lester, don't we? 01:12 Let's Solve Only Murders in the Building 02:12 Credit Clue Easter Eggs 02:34 Movie Title Reference 02:53 Your Rank of the Seasons 04:09 Subscriber Goal 04:33 What I Got Wrong 06:09 Season 4 Superlatives! 07:47 Season 4 Not-Quite Superlatives! 10:18 Season 5 Questions 10:40 The Left-Handed...2024-10-3012 min

Double P PodcastsLet's Solve ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING season 4 episode 9 'Escape from Planet Klongo' Recap TheoryDid 2 people work together to kill Sazz? Penultimate Episode 9 drops some big reveals, yet questions remain! + Glen gets Ben'ed! We review every single clue in ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING Season 4, Episode 9 "Escape from Planet Klongo" 00:00 Intro 00:15 Who was the accomplice? 01:22 Let's Solve Only Murders in the Building 01:55 Rank the seasons 02:18 Credit Clue Easter Eggs 02:44 Movie Title Reference 03:14 Upcoming podcasts 04:10 Suggest our next Let's Solve series 04:37 Subscriber Goal 05:11 Victim Profile: Sazz Pataki 05:46 Marshall 07:27 Jan 07:45 Stunt man Glen 08:17 Bartender 08:45 Westies 09:19 Rudy Thurber 10:32...2024-10-2319 min

Academy PodcastSpirituality and Embodiment with Molly VetterThis month, the Academy Podcast features Molly Vetter's teaching from Academy #42 in 2023 on the topic, "Spirituality and Embodiment." In this episode, Molly Vetter reflects on the intersection of scripture, art, and spirituality, inviting listeners to see how sacred traditions and personal experiences converge in daily life. Join us for a thought-provoking discussion that invites us to see our faith embodied in everyday life, to find the sacred in art and community, and to live faithfully—even when it challenges institutional norms. Rev. Molly Vetter is passionate about many things: building community with unlikely and diverse people, making the church more bo...2024-10-0731 min

5 Things In 15 Minutes: Good Vibes in DEIKeep Going with Molly VetterMolly Vetter (she/her), Senior Pastor, Westwood Church, and I recap the latest 5 Things (good vibes in DEI) in just 15 minutes. Molly and I were friends at college and she was a strong and visible ally and advocate during the United Methodist Church’s recent decision to lift bans on LGBTQ+ clergy and same-sex weddings. She shared some of that story with us. Here are this week's good vibes:80% of Mattel Games Are Color-Blind AccessibleFirst-Ever Nursery at Olympics Athletes VillageCaroline’s Carts Debuting At WalmartJPMorgan’s Second Chance Agenda is WorkingNPS’s First-Ever LGBTQ Visitor Center Is Open 2024-07-2321 min

The Loft LA - Progressive Christianity in Podcast FormLoft Gathering: Beyond the Binary: Gender, God, and Liberation Everest Harvey and Rev. Molly Vetter - In listening to the lives and stories of Trans siblings, we understand more about God, who exists beyond the boundaries of our categories. www.TheLoftLA.org 2024-06-1049 min

Bar of the ConferenceGospel Clarity with Rev. Molly VetterWelcome to Season 2 of Bar of the Conference - a podcast about the stories shaping the future of the United Methodist Church. Today’s episode is with Molly Vetter. Molly is an elder in the California-Pacific Annual Conference and serves as senior pastor of the Westwood United Methodist Church in Los Angeles. In our conversation, we talk about her upbringing as the daughter of a UM pastor, her journey in exploring her call to ministry and her thoughts on how our denomination has been held captive by our disagreements around human sexuality. Molly reminds us of our Gospel commitment to lo...2023-11-101h 25

Where Do We Go From Here, UMC?Making a Way When There’s No Map - Derrick Luruth Scott IIIDerrick Scott III is Co-Lay Leader of the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church. A Black, Gay man, and a Gen-X leader in the church, he has spent much of his career in campus ministry in Florida, helping prepare the church to be ready to receive the generations of leaders who come after him.Audio Podcast, Transcription, and Discussion Questions - http://www.WhereDoWeGoUMC.com 2022-11-0237 min

Where Do We Go From Here, UMC?We Call Each Other Family - Rev. Tweedy Sombrero NavarreteRev. Tweedy Evelene Sombrero Navarrete is Executive Director of the Four Corners Native American Ministry. She is Diné (Navajo), and an ordained elder in Desert Southwest Conference of the United Methodist Church. Previously, she served as pastor at congregations in Arizona.Audio Podcast, Transcription, and Discussion Questions - http://www.WhereDoWeGoUMC.com 2022-10-2638 min

Where Do We Go From Here, UMC?The Keyword Is Accountability - Rev. Gary KeeneRev. Gary Keene spent 23 years in ministry as a clergy person working alongside Bishops in the United Methodist Church; as a Council Director, Director of Connectional Ministries, and Assistant to the Bishop, he served in ministry alongside episcopal leaders in the church. From that unique, long perspective, he offers insight about the leadership we need most from our Bishops, and what difference it makes in our local congregations. Now retired, Gary also served as a pastor of local congregations, including, finally, Camarillo UMC.Audio Podcast, Transcription, and Discussion Questions - http://www.WhereDoWeGoUMC.com 2022-10-1234 min

Where Do We Go From Here, UMC?Get Out of the Institutional Mindset and Into the World - Bishop Grant HagiyaBishop Grant J. Hagiya is a graduate of Claremont School of Theology and Pepperdine University, as well as the author of the book, Leadership Kaizen, published by Abingdon Press in 2013. As a Bishop, he has served as the episcopal leader in the Greater Northwest area, and now in the Los Angeles area. Prior to his election to the episcopacy, he served as the Los Angeles District Superintendent, Executive Director of the Center for Leadership Excellence, and as a faculty member at Claremont School of Theology.Audio Podcast, Transcription, and Discussion Questions - http://www.WhereDoWeGoUMC.com 2022-10-0535 min

Where Do We Go From Here, UMC?We Queer Folks Are Here Because We Love Jesus - Rev. Hannah Adair BonnerRev. Hannah Adair Bonner is the Director of Frontera Wesley, the Wesley Foundation of Tucson. She also serves as the Executive Director of the Campus Christian Center and the President of the University Religious Council at the University of Arizona. She received her MDiv at Duke Divinity School, and was ordained an Elder in the Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference in 2012. A sought after speaker and writer, Hannah has been recognized as a “Faith Leader to Watch” by the Center for American Progress, received the Prathia Hall Social Justice Award from Women Preach, Inc., and had writings published by Abingdon. She...2022-06-2833 min

Where Do We Go From Here, UMC?We Must Do The Work of Decolonizing Our Denomination - Rev. Lloyd NyarotaLloyd Nyarota is a United Methodist elder in the Zimbabwe East Conference, and a GBGM missionary spouse. Lloyd is on an ecumenical appointment in the United Church of Canada, where he serves a shared ministry at St John's United Anglican Church in the province of Alberta; his wife Tazvi is serving ethnic minority congregations in Canada. He has served as a consultant for the United Methodist Board of Church and Society. Nyarota is a founding member of the Central Conference Outreach team, who wrote and promote the Christmas Covenant legislation on regionalization that was submitted to General Conference.2022-06-2131 min

Where Do We Go From Here, UMC?Whenever The Holy Spirit Shows Up, The Community Widens - Bishop Karen OlivetoBishop Bishop Oliveto Oliveto serves as Bishop of the Denver Area. She was elected to the episcopacy in 2016, as the first openly lesbian bishop in The United Methodist Church. Before her election, she was senior pastor of the 12,000-member Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco. She is the first woman to serve as senior pastor in one of the denomination’s 100 largest U.S. congregations. Her wife, Robin Ridenour, a nurse anesthetist, is a deaconess in The United Methodist Church.Transcript and discussion questions are available at www.WhereDoWeGoUMC.com.2022-06-1422 min

Where Do We Go From Here, UMC?Pensions, Property, and the Gospel - Lonnie ChafinPastor Molly checks in with Lonnie Chafin who has been Conference Treasurer for the Northern Illinois Conference for over 20 years, drawing on his skill in interpreting financial minutiae in ways that help us see the big picture. In addition to serving as president of the National Association of Annual Conference Treasurers and a member on the Connectional Table, he has been a 4 time General Conference delegate, and a leader in the organizing work of UMCNext and United Methodists. He was a GBGM missionary serving in Hungary and Philadelphia prior to moving to Chicago, where he cares for the world’s...2022-06-0732 min

Bearded TheologiansBeardcast for 6.2.22 with Rev. Molly VetterThis week Matt and Zack sat down with Rev. Molly Vetter to talk about her podcast “Where Do We Go From Here, UMC?” it is is a weekly podcast featuring conversations between Rev. Molly Vetter and denominational leaders about the challenges ahead as we live toward a United Methodist Church that is fully inclusive of our LGBTQ+ siblings. You can find that podcast here: https://wheredowegoumc.com/ or wherever you listen to podcast. You can connect with the Bearded Theologians at https://www.linktr.ee/Beardedtheologians 2022-06-0231 min

Where Do We Go From Here, UMC?I Am An Institutionalist and a Revolutionary - Randall Miller, Ph.D.Pastor Molly checks in with Randall Miller, one of the most United Methodist people she knows. As a lay person, he has served as a delegate to every GC since 1988, as a Director the Board of UMCOR and the General Board of Church and Society, and as an alternate member of the Judicial Council. He has been an active leader in the Reconciling Ministries Network, and serves on their Board RMN, and was a member of the Mediation Team that crafted the Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through Separation. He lives in San Francisco with his husband, Glenn.2022-05-3124 min

Where Do We Go From Here, UMC?So...What's Going On In United Methodist Church? - Bishop Tom BickertonPastor Molly checks in with Bishop Bickerton about what's going on, now that General Conference is postponed to 2024 and the Protocol has fallen apart. Maybe it’s not all bad news: instead, this can be a season of permission and faithfulness. Bishop Tom Bickerton is the President of the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church, and was a member of the Mediation Team that crafted the Protocol for Reconciliation and Grace through Separation.Transcript and discussion questions are available at www.WhereDoWeGoUMC.com.2022-05-2019 min

Redondo Beach First UMC (Sermons)6-23-19 SermonJune 23, 2019 Sermon Scripture Reading: Galatians 2: 23 - 29 Rev. Molly Vetter 2019-06-2400 min

Redondo Beach First UMC (Sermons)6-16-19 SermonJune 16, 2019 Sermon "Words of Wisdom" Scripture Reading: Proverbs 8: 1 - 4, 22 - 31 Rev. Molly Vetter 2019-06-1700 min

Redondo Beach First UMC (Sermons)6-09-19 SermonJune 9, 2019 Pentecost Message Scripture Reading: Acts 2: 1 - 21 Rev. Molly Vetter 2019-06-1000 min

Redondo Beach First UMC (Sermons)5-26-19 SermonMay 26, 2019 Sermon "Love Without Limits: Crossing Borders" Scripture Reading: Acts 16: 9 - 16 Liturgist - Jackie Heite Rev. Molly Vetter 2019-05-2800 min