Sunday Morning Matinee

On this week's episode of Sunday Morning Matinee, Matt and Adam talk with Nate Stucky, Director of the Farminary at Princeton Theological Seminary about farming, harmony, theology and the new film, The Biggest Little Farm.  In 2011, Los Angeles couple John and Molly Chester decided to upend their cosmopolitan lifestyle and bought a piece of dried-out land north out of the city and dedicated themselves to converting it into a fully biodiverse agricultural utopia named Apricot Lane Farms. This move was in accordance with Molly’s long-held dream, but John also happens to be an Emmy-Award winning director and cinematographer, so over the eight years of bringing this farm to life he has been chronicling their story on film, which now comes together as the feature documentary The Biggest Little Farm. Because it’s John and Molly telling their own story, this thing is profoundly personal -- it’s not a critical look, it’s a reflective love letter to the dream they had and the way in which it has grown and changed them over time. In the first segment, Justification by Faith, Matt, Adam and Nate discuss what lessons for ministry we might take from The Biggest Little Farm. In the second segment, Preaching to the Choir, the discussion turns to the lectionary passages for May 12 and Nate spins some amazing stories about lambs, chickens and what it means to take a life. Finally, in the last segment, Postludes, Matt and Adam reflect on an early death and how to remember.  SHOW NOTES:  Nate Stucky is the Director of the Farminary Project at Princeton Theological Seminary and the author of Wrestling with Rest: Inviting Youth to Discover the Gift of Sabbath.

The end is nigh! On this week’s Sunday Morning Matinee, Matt and Adam talk with Eric Barreto about redemption, the apocalypse, and  Avengers: Endgame. In case you have been living in a monastic hut, Avengers: Endgame was released on April 25th and made nearly 1.2 Billion dollars in a single weekend. The movie is a pop culture goliath. But is it any good? Does it preach? In the first segment, Justification by Faith, Matt, Adam and Eric describe the theological themes within Avengers: Endgame and how the movie affected them. In the second segment, Preaching to the Choir, the crew discusses how the lectionary passages for May 5th, Easter 3, Year C, intersect with Avengers: Endgame. Finally, in the Postludes, Matt discusses Free Comic Book Day and Adam talks about his pop culture smorgasbord.

On this week’s episode of Sunday Morning Matinee, Matt and Adam sit down with Matt Skinner, NT Testament Professor at Luther Seminary, to talk about Easter, Crucifixion and the greatest story ever told (sort of), Monty Python’s Life of Brian. In the first segment, the discussion centers around Monty Python’s  absurd spin on the ancient world that helps us see religion, power, and Jesus from a new vantage. In the second segment, Preaching to the Choir, the group examines Luke’s resurrection account and the idle tales that make up our Easter preaching. Finally, Matt and Adam play to type. Matt talks about The Simpsons and Adam talks about Chrysostom. Remember friends, Brian is not the Messiah, he is a very naughty boy. If that reference makes any sense then you are sure to love this week’s episode.

On opening day for the 2019 baseball season, Adam and Matt welcome Kathryn Reklis to the Sunday Morning Matinee to talk about Penny Marshall's 1992 film, A League of Their Own. In the first segment, the conversation explores the theological and social themes of A League of Their Own, noting the ways in which the motivation and desires of Dottie, the protagonist, remain elusive and curious. In the second segment, Preaching to the Choir, the discussion turns to the intersections of the movie with the lectionary passages for the fifth week in Lent, Year C, April 7. Finally, in the final segment, Postludes, Matt talks about robots and Adam talks about kilts. Support the war effort and come and listen!

New name, same nerds! Sunday Morning Matinee travels back to the nineties to talk memory, refugees, and Marvel’s newest superhero movie, Captain Marvel. In our first segment, Justification by Faith, we talk about the theological themes of Captain Marvel. Specifically, the conversation revolves around memory, assimilation, and the Marvel genre. In our second segment, Preaching to the Choir, we discuss how Captain Marvel might intersect with the lectionary passages for Lent 2, Year C, March 17, 2019. Finally, with our closing Postludes, Matt talks about Star Trek (again) and Adam talks about a documentary (again). So grab your popcorn, your flannel shirt, and your alien cat, it is time for Sunday Morning Matinee. Also, support for Technicolor Jesus comes from Emory University's Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. They have just begun offering a two year master's degree in religious leadership. Learn more at: Candler.emory.edu/sundaymorning

As part of their yearly tradition, Matt and Adam reflect on the 2019 Academy Awards and the year in filmmaking. Besides discussing favorite moments, the guys discuss the merits of Green Book and the absence of Spike Lee within the history of the Academy Awards. Finally, in an effort to reach a broader audience (among other things) the name of the podcast is going to change. The subscriptions won't be affected and we will still be working with The Christian Century, but the name and artwork of the show will change before the next episode on March 11. The new name of the podcast will be..."Sunday Morning Matinee" Stay tuned for new and interesting things happening in the near future. Also, support for Technicolor Jesus comes from Emory University's Candler School of Theology in Atlanta. They have just begun offering a two year master's degree in religious leadership. Learn more at candler.emory.edu/technicolorjesus

On the heels of NBA All-Star weekend and in anticipation of March Madness, this week Matt and Adam sit down with Aisha Brooks Lytle to talk about Love and Basketball. In the first segment, Justification by Faith, the group discusses what Love and Basketball has to do with life, ministry and the world. In the second segment, Preaching to the Choir, the trio discusses how Love and Basketball intersects with the lectionary passages for the Seventh sunday in Epiphany, Year C. Specifically, they spend most of their attention on the story of Joseph and the role of family systems in the formation of identity. Finally, as postludes, Matt sees the groundhog and Adam learns to love his city. Come for the good conversation, stay for Adam’s list of best Basketball movies. Friends, it’s time for Technicolor Jesus.

In anticipation of the newly released Glass, Adam and Matt are joined by Yale Divinity School professor Greg Mobley to discuss comics, stories, and M. Night Shyamalan’s first installment in his superhero trilogy, Unbreakable. In our first segment, the group discusses the theological themes of Unbreakable. Conversation centers around the formative power of stories and pressing questions of strength and weakness. In the second segment, the conversation turns to how Unbreakable might intersect with the Fifth Sunday of Epiphany, February 10th. Spending time with the story of Isaiah’s call, the discussion centers on identity and mission. Finally, in the postludes, Matt reflects on Rent and Adam struggles with Huck. Before you see Glass, spend a little time with Unbreakable and your friends at Technicolor Jesus.

This morning the Academy Award Nominees were released. Leading the way is Alfonso Cuaron’s masterpiece Roma. On this week’s Technicolor Jesus, Adam and Matt discuss water, work, and Roma. In our first segment, Adam and Matt discuss the theological themes of Roma. With potent images of water, fire, birth, and work, Roma is a deep subject for theological inquiry. In the second segment, Matt and Adam discuss how Roma might intersect with the third Sunday of Epiphany, January 27th. Spending time with Nehemiah and Paul, the discussion centers on preaching and bodies. Finally, in the final postludes, Matt gets postmodern and Adam gets mushy. If you needed a reason to watch Roma (it’s brilliant, you should watch it), here it is. When you are finished come and join the conversation.

On this special Christmas Eve edition of Technicolor Jesus, Adam and Matt talk with Jennifer Howe Peace about masculinity, the baby Jesus and Die Hard. In the first segment, Justification by Faith, Matt, Adam and Jenny discuss what Die Hard has to do with life, ministry, theology and the world. Specifically, is Die Hard a Christmas movie? And what exactly makes a Christmas movie? Is it some semblance of the gospel or a different set of semantic tropes? In the second segment, Preaching to the choir, the crew asks how Die Hard might aid the understanding the lectionary texts for Christmas Eve. Does John McClane and Hans Gruber have anything to offer to our understanding of Christmas? Finally, in the last segment, Postludes, Matt endorses his library and Adam gushes about Roma. Yippee Kay Yay and Hark the Herald Angels Sing! It’s time for Technicolor Jesus!

On this week’s episode of Technicolor Jesus, Matt and Adam talk death, the wild west, advent, and The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. In our first segment, Justification by Faith, Matt and Adam discuss what Joel and Ethan Coen’s new film, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs has to do with life, ministry, theology and the world. Released on Netflix, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs tells six separate stories of the wild west connected thematically by questions of life, death, and human agency. In the second segment, Preaching to the Choir, Matt and Adam ask how The Ballad of Buster Scruggs might aid the understanding the lectionary texts for Advent 2, Year C. Specifically, Zechariah’s song provides a rich background for talking about promise, finitude and potential. Finally, in the last segment, Postludes, Adam rants about the NSA’s favorite elf and Matt reflects on the movie that got away. So get out your cowboy hats and spurs, it’s time for another episode of Technicolor Jesus.

On this week’s Technicolor Jesus, Matt and Adam talk about deterrence, peace, kingship and Stanley Kubrik’s 1964 masterpiece, Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb. In the first segment, Matt and Adam talk about what Dr. Strangelove’s themes of violence, sex, and politics has to say about our theology, our ministry and our work within the world. In the second segment, Preaching to the Choir, Matt and Adam discuss what Dr. Strangelove has to do with the lectionary Sunday of November 25, the Reign of Christ Sunday. Finally, in the segment, Postludes, Adam talks about tacos and Matt has some movie recommendations.

On the eve of the US midterm election, Adam and Matt talk with Duke Divinity School professor, Jerusha Matsen Neal about honesty, authenticity, destiny, and Alexander Payne's 1999 film, Election. In the first segment, Justification by Faith, the group discusses what Election has to do with life, ministry and the world. The conversation revolves around ideas of election, the trauma at the heart of the movie, and how our deepest desires manifest in terrible ways. In the second segment, Preaching to the Choir, the group discuss the intersections of Election and the lectionary passages for October 11th. In the final segment, Postludes, Matt talks about video games and Adam talks about genies. If the midterm results did little to quell your anxiety, well then distract yourself with a little Technicolor Jesus!

Fifty! On this special fiftieth episode of Technicolor Jesus, Matt and Adam welcome back UPenn University chaplain Chaz Howard to talk about Ryan Coogler’s 2015 film, Creed. In the first segment, Justification by Faith, the discussion revolves around Philadelphia, race, and what it means to fight for something you believe in. In the second segment, Preaching to the Choir, Matt, Adam and Chaz discuss the intersection of Creed and the lectionary passages for this coming Sunday, October 28. Finally, in the last segment, Postludes, Matt can’t tell fact from fiction and Adam can’t stop listening to Jason Isbell.

On this episode Matt and Adam welcome back Pastor and writer Becca Messman to discuss the classic movie, Mary Poppins. In the first segment of the show, the group considers the value of play and laughter and the angelic person of Mary Poppins. In the second segment of the show, the group discusses the lectionary passages for October 14th, the 21st Sunday after Pentecost. With the theme of lament and woe evident in this week’s lectionary the discussion turns to Mary Poppin’s model of prophet and High Priest. Finally, in our last segment, Adam promotes something so stupid it is smart and Matt rests softly in the mellow tones of a baking show. This is a good episode, practically perfect even.