As the season of Advent approaches, it’s important to remember that for some, this time of year brings to the surface broken relationships, mental wellness struggles and painful experiences of grief and loss. This week, Rev. Daniel Hawkins speaks with Rev. Madison Boboltz from First United Methodist Church of Arlington about how her church has been addressing grief and loss in their community through their Empty Mangers Retreat. They discuss the significance of creating a compassionate space, the process behind planning meaningful events and the importance of collaborating across churches in the Horizon Texas Conference.

Remembering loss during the holiday season is especially difficult, and this free event is open to anyone, man or woman, who is grieving this type of loss, as well as those who would like to learn more about this area of caring and healing ministries. To Learn more and to sign up visit: firstumcarlington.churchcenter.com/calendar/event/170192093

https://www.gatheringhope.net/suckysisterhood
The Sucky Sisterhood Podcast (formerly Slaying The Stigma) is a series focused on changing the narrative of pregnancy and infant loss, one mother at a time.

Join us on this episode of POD Strangely Warm, where we talk about the rich traditions and impactful experiences at Bridgeport’s Midwinter Camp. Host Rev. Daniel Hawkins is joined by CJ Rice, Hailey and Leo, who share personal stories of how their faith has grown at Bridgeport Camp. From the transformative worship at the hilltop cross to the fun and unique camp activities, this episode delves into how camping ministries shape faith and foster deep connections among young people. To sign up for Midwinter, visit: https://www.bridgeportcamp.org/rentals/ntcumc-retreats/

Today is Election Day, and whether you’re on your way to vote or waiting on the results, tune in to hear Rev. Daniel Hawkins sit down with Rev. Joe Stobaugh from University Park United Methodist Church and Rev. Marilyn Jones from First United Methodist in Stephenville. The conversation delves into the challenges of maintaining respectful discourse and the profound impact of small, intentional acts of kindness during election season and beyond. Learn about their church’s initiatives to promote unity and understanding, including a unique kindness bingo game.

This week, we wrap up our series of getting to know the leadership of the new Horizon Texas Conference. Rev. Daniel Hawkins sits down with Christine Peirce, the Director of Children and Youth Empowerment, and Rev. Emma Williams from University Park UMC to discuss how the Horizon Texas Conference aims to Champion Children and Youth. Christine is putting together a team across the conference and re-evaluating what it looks to empower, support and advocate for the spiritual, emotional and social needs of our conference children and youth.

Continuing our series of getting to know the leadership in the newly unified Horizon Texas Conference, today we’re talking finances with the only members of the Stewardship department that had spare time to be on the podcast. Rev. Daniel Hawkins learns a little bit about Rev. Jeffrey Pehl’s woodworking skills and gets golfing tips from Scot Yarbrough. The Stewardship department is still working hard behind the scenes to keep our legacy conferences running and keeping an open mind about how the new Horizon Texas Conference can run even more efficiently!

This week we are back in the studio after the Horizon Texas Unifying Conference to introduce you to another important team from our HTC staff. The thread that keeps us all working together: The Operations Team. Now, the studio isn’t big enough for all seven members of Operations, so Rev. Daniel Hawkins invited Dr. Kevin Walters and the newest member of the HTC staff, Kofi Williams, to learn about everything they do behind the scenes to keep the conference running smoothly.

While at the Horizon Texas Unifying Conference in Abilene, Rev. Daniel Hawkins invited Rev. Todd Salzwedel, Rev. Danielle Kim and Rev. Ruben Saenz III to a friendly essentials draft pick of what they want to see in the new Horizon Texas Conference. Tune in as they pick where they want the next annual Conference to be, their favorite strategic priority, and which cabinet member they would like to have a beverage with. Let us know who you think had the best draft pick!

This week POD Strangely Warmed journeyed all the way to Abilene for the Horizon Texas Unifying Conference! It's finally here, and Rev. Daniel Hawkins tracks down Jordan Cramer and learns what he's looking forward to in the new unified conference, Lisa Peterson tells about her experiences from the Northwest Texas Conference and the work she will be doing as a Co-Lay Leader of the unified conference, Rev. Ricky Harrison welcomes us all to Abilene, we meet one of our up and coming students, Keaton, who tells us about his favorite experience from camp this summer, and of course no podcast on the road is complete without running into Rev. Marcus Jones!