Squawking the Gospel:
Podcasts by Rev. Dr. Renee McCoy
Welcome to Squawking the Gospel Podcasts ! These recordings focus on how the scriptures can guide and strengthen our lives and our communities. Each is based on specific passages of the bible, which are identified at the beginning, so you just might need a bible to be fully informed! Here's what the squawk is all about:
The title of these podcasts actually comes from watching crows. Every evening the crows in my neighborhood gather. As the sun begins to set, hundreds of them appear out of nowhere to position themselves on wires stretched across the sky or gather in groups on the lawns and rooftops. As they gather they squawk. At times, the noise is almost deafening, making you wonder what they are saying. Why must they be so loud and intrusive? What is the big deal? Well, when I checked around I learned their squawking and gathering really is a big deal! Crows gather each at dusk each evening to survive as a group. Their primary goal is safety. They are better protected from predators as a group than they would be as individuals. During the day, crows do whatever they need to do to take care of basic needs and return to their flocks to rest so they can continue being crows another day. It is just safer to sleep together. Another reason for returning to the flock is warmth. A bunch of crows together creates more heat than one solitary bird on a limb.
In my opinion, crows can gather to roost and do whatever they do as long as they are quiet about it. The problem is the loud chatter that drives us crazy each night. If they did not make such a racket they would not be so noticeable. It’s all about that squawk for me. The squawk, however, is an essential activity for the crows. It is their way of communicating with one another. When they come together each evening they also share information about their day. They tell one another where to find food, where danger is lurking, and where to find other crows looking for romance and excitement. Their loud and seemingly belligerent chatter positions them to become better crows, more efficient and more productive creatures of God.
When I consider what is happening around us, I cannot help but wonder why the church universal - the communities of people of faith who make up the numerous religious denominations and church groups - has decided to be so eerily silent these days. Sometimes I just want all people of faith – whatever faith – to stand tall and speak with voices loud enough to thunder away the pain and suffering cluttering our lives these days. After all, we are the Church and the Church is all of us. As the bleakness of an uncertain future closes around us, now is not the time for us to wonder from where our hope will come. Now is the time for people of faith to gather together and squawk the gospel! It's all about that squawk!!
The title of these podcasts actually comes from watching crows. Every evening the crows in my neighborhood gather. As the sun begins to set, hundreds of them appear out of nowhere to position themselves on wires stretched across the sky or gather in groups on the lawns and rooftops. As they gather they squawk. At times, the noise is almost deafening, making you wonder what they are saying. Why must they be so loud and intrusive? What is the big deal? Well, when I checked around I learned their squawking and gathering really is a big deal! Crows gather each at dusk each evening to survive as a group. Their primary goal is safety. They are better protected from predators as a group than they would be as individuals. During the day, crows do whatever they need to do to take care of basic needs and return to their flocks to rest so they can continue being crows another day. It is just safer to sleep together. Another reason for returning to the flock is warmth. A bunch of crows together creates more heat than one solitary bird on a limb.
In my opinion, crows can gather to roost and do whatever they do as long as they are quiet about it. The problem is the loud chatter that drives us crazy each night. If they did not make such a racket they would not be so noticeable. It’s all about that squawk for me. The squawk, however, is an essential activity for the crows. It is their way of communicating with one another. When they come together each evening they also share information about their day. They tell one another where to find food, where danger is lurking, and where to find other crows looking for romance and excitement. Their loud and seemingly belligerent chatter positions them to become better crows, more efficient and more productive creatures of God.
When I consider what is happening around us, I cannot help but wonder why the church universal - the communities of people of faith who make up the numerous religious denominations and church groups - has decided to be so eerily silent these days. Sometimes I just want all people of faith – whatever faith – to stand tall and speak with voices loud enough to thunder away the pain and suffering cluttering our lives these days. After all, we are the Church and the Church is all of us. As the bleakness of an uncertain future closes around us, now is not the time for us to wonder from where our hope will come. Now is the time for people of faith to gather together and squawk the gospel! It's all about that squawk!!
Squawking the Gospel: Episode 101