Rev. Renée Machiniak has been serving as pastor of the Church of the Holy City in Royal Oak, MI since 1995. She also serves as a community police and oncology chaplain. She and her husband, Joe, reside in Royal Oak and enjoy participating in community charity organizations and events, singing in church and community choirs, and caring for their little pup Gertie.
keywords: love, trauma, bulimia, healing, Christ, Swedenborgian Church, presence, listening, vastation, honesty, use, prayer, vision, universalism, church, doubt, care
summary: In this deeply moving episode of the Be Love podcast, the Sage interviews Rev. Renée Machinak, a friend, mentor, and colleague, about her personal experiences with love and faith. Renee shares her journey from feeling emptiness and loneliness, grappling with bulimia and trauma, to a transformative vision of Christ that renewed her sense of love and purpose. She discusses how these experiences have shaped her ministry and her commitment to help others find their own sense of profound love and belonging. The conversation explores the role of presence, listening, and honesty in nurturing community and living a life filled with divine love.
Chapters:
00:00 Introduction and Gratitude
00:39 Exploring the Role of Love in Church
01:07 Renee's Childhood and Search for Love
02:25 Struggles with Bulimia and a Vision of Christ
05:39 The Transformative Power of Love
08:12 Honesty and Healing in Relationships
10:32 A Call to Ministry and Overcoming Trauma
14:15 Living with Divine Love
22:53 The Importance of Presence and Attention
25:12 The Power of Presence and Listening
25:44 A Personal Story of Loss and Support
26:40 The Importance of Love in Ministry
28:29 Self-Care and Personal Practices
29:00 A Vision Quest Experience
31:36 A Miraculous Healing Journey
33:37 The Role of Love in Overcoming Loneliness
36:14 Struggles with Faith and Identity
41:55 The Healing Power of Community
44:15 Embracing Universal Love
Our Theme Music is “I Love it,” by Luke Concannon www.lukeconcannon.com
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