On today's episode...

We’re in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, which are a combined story of the return of the Judeans from Babylon under Persian rule.

We talk first about the various feasts which are brought back in these texts, including the Feast of Tabernacles, Sukkot.

Then we discuss the Aramaic language being used as the official language of the Persian empire, and how its use lasted into Jesus’ time.

We move on to the growing standardization of temple liturgy during this period, as they try to reconstruct the temple in Jerusalem. Why did the first people to return begin rebuilding by starting with the altar, rather than the foundation of the Holy of Holies? We notice the opposition to the rebuilding, and how we find opposition to new things in our own day.

We also encounter some things in Ezra and Nehemiah that can be a bit troublesome. We consider how neither of them is ever quoted in the Gospels. In fact, Elliot points out several passages of Luke that stand in direct contradiction to the impulses of the writers of Ezra and Nehemiah. So, we wonder, how do we read these texts as Christians today?

In the end, we do find some joy in these two books, especially in the way the people rejoice and contribute both money and effort into the rebuilding of the temple, and in the freedom of getting to be themselves and come into their own again as a people.

Cross Connections is a ministry of ⁠⁠St. David’s Episcopal Church in Wayne, PA⁠⁠. Season two, Cover to Cover is hosted by the Rev. Rick Morley, Elliot VanHoy, and Natalee Hill.

A full copy list of readings for 2025 may be found on our website at ⁠⁠https://stdavidschurch.org/crossconnections⁠⁠

If you have questions for us, you can call us at 484.588.5656 and leave a voicemail with your name, where you’re from, and your question or comment. Please note, we may use your recorded voice in an upcoming episode of Cross Connections. You can also email us at crossconnections@stdavidschurch.org.

Logo graphic design and podcast production by Natalee Hill. Stock Media Music provided by Marscott and MoodMode / ⁠⁠Pond5⁠⁠.

You are welcome to learn more about all of St. David’s worship offerings and ministries at ⁠ https://stdavidschurch.org/.

On today's episode...

We’re in the fourth and final of the Gospels, the Gospel of John. What’s clear here is that (in a sing-song voice) “one of these things is not like the other ones.”

John is missing parables and miracles are reframed as “signs.” His focus is strongly on belief, but why is that exactly?

Recorded during Holy Week 2025, on Maundy Thursday, we noted that John’s Gospel is missing the institution of The Lord’s Supper, the Holy Eucharist.

We also discussed the phrase “eternal life” and what it probably means to John.

We wrestled a bit with the history of how the Gospel of John, and many of our Gospels have been used throughout Christianity, for better or worse.

Finally, we ranked our Gospels in order of favorite to least favorite. Call in to tell us your own!

Does our podcast need groupie names? Let us know.

And if you didn’t recognize “Signs” by Five Man Electrical Band either, you can listen to it here: https://youtu.be/CxrsVV5N06I?si=AIy-661pil_C38Xe

Cross Connections is a ministry of ⁠⁠St. David’s Episcopal Church in Wayne, PA⁠⁠. Season two, Cover to Cover is hosted by the Rev. Rick Morley, Elliot VanHoy, and Natalee Hill.

A full copy list of readings for 2025 may be found on our website at ⁠⁠https://stdavidschurch.org/crossconnections⁠⁠

If you have questions for us, you can call us at 484.588.5656 and leave a voicemail with your name, where you’re from, and your question or comment. Please note, we may use your recorded voice in an upcoming episode of Cross Connections. You can also email us at crossconnections@stdavidschurch.org.

Logo graphic design and podcast production by Natalee Hill. Stock Media Music provided by Marscott and MoodMode / ⁠⁠Pond5⁠⁠.

You are welcome to learn more about all of St. David’s worship offerings and ministries at ⁠⁠ https://stdavidschurch.org/.

We continue the first part of this new section of the Old Testament/Hebrew Scriptures written the Chronicler. This person (or group of persons) is responsible for first and second Chronicles and for Ezra and Nehemiah.

Today we focus mostly on the Temple, the heart to be found here in Chronicles, and a few niggling issues with some of what is here.

Are issues of the heart and pride bigger concerns for the Chronicler?

We also make note of what is not here, notably the faults of some of the kings of Judah, and specific prophets who took up so much of the text in Kings. This is probably in part because references to the northern kingdom of Israel are few and far between. This text continues to focus almost entirely on Judah, and only mention Israel (meaning the northern kingdom, rather than the whole of the Jewish people) when in direct relationship to the activities of Judah.

What of any of this content carries through into the New Testament and into modern day?

Cross Connections is a ministry of ⁠⁠St. David’s Episcopal Church in Wayne, PA⁠⁠. Season two, Cover to Cover is hosted by the Rev. Rick Morley, Elliot VanHoy, and Natalee Hill.

A full copy list of readings for 2025 may be found on our website at ⁠⁠https://stdavidschurch.org/crossconnections⁠⁠

If you have questions for us, you can call us at 484.588.5656 and leave a voicemail with your name, where you’re from, and your question or comment. Please note, we may use your recorded voice in an upcoming episode of Cross Connections. You can also email us at crossconnections@stdavidschurch.org.

Logo graphic design and podcast production by Natalee Hill. Stock Media Music provided by Marscott and MoodMode / ⁠⁠Pond5⁠⁠.

You are welcome to learn more about all of St. David’s worship offerings and ministries at https://stdavidschurch.org/.