Once a month a group gathers at West Central Abbey in Spokane for Vinyl Lounge. Tim Martin, the Abbey's Music Steward, chooses a vinyl LP, sets up a turntable and speakers in the church's sanctuary, puts out snacks, and plays the album for those who are gathered. After listening, they discuss the album and its spiritual implications. They've listened to many types of records in the year they've been doing it. At the last Vinyl Lounge, they heard an album from the black metal band, Liturgy. Tim Martin joined the Religion Desk to discuss why he does this and the spiritual connections in the music they hear. The next Vinyl Lounge happens on September 18, 2026, at West Central Abbey in Spokane.

For the Love of God Brewing, a brewpub and restaurant located not far from the destruction of recent wildfires in Spokane, Washington, chose to donate all proceeds from Tuesday, August 4, 2026, to fire victims through the H.O.M.E Starts Here Fund. Owner, Steve Moss, joined the Religion Desk Podcast to talk about why they were choosing to help fire victims and why their business has such a curious name. For the Love of God Brewing is at 2617 W Northwest Blvd in Spokane, Washington.

In the past, work as a leader of a faith community was usually considered a pathway to the middle class. As churches have changed, and more congregations are smaller, paying a full-time clergyperson becomes a challenge. In Signs of Rebound Amid Uneven Recovery: The Changing Congregational Landscape, a report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, it’s noted that smaller congregations still struggle. 40% of congregations in the United States have 50 or fewer people attending. Another 27% have 51 to 100. Many of these faith communities are unable to pay a full-time salary. It's estimated that about one-third of clergy hold some type of other employment. Two bivocational pastors, the Rev. Karisa Rickard from Opportunity Christian Church in Spokane Valley, Washington and Pastor Dan Koehler from Spirit Lake Presbyterian Church in Spirit Lake, Idaho, joined the Religion Desk to talk about their experiences as bivocational clergy. Dr. Darryl Stephens, editor of Bivocational and Beyond: Educating for Thriving Multivocational Ministry shared, too, on his research into bivocational ministry.