Beloved Rising

Adventures In New Monasticism

In this episode of Beloved Rising, Rachael and Mandy wonder out loud about a quieter revolution happening in small pockets of the church.Across the world, ordinary people are rediscovering ancient rhythms of prayer, shared life, hospitality, and simplicity - sometimes called new monasticism. But what does that look like in the messy reality of modern life, families, work, and community? What might it look like for MCC.Together they reflect on the lived experience of Magdalene Community Church members prior to joining MCC: the dreams, the experiments, the failures, and the surprising beauty of trying to live differently in a world that often pulls us in the opposite direction.This episode isn’t a blueprint or a set of answers. It’s an invitation into the wondering - offered for anyone who feels called beyond just the public services and gatherings we call "church" who may be dreaming similar dreams.

Sacred Bodies

In this episode of Beloved Rising, Rachael and Mandy explore what it might mean to take our bodies seriously again.For centuries, Christian spirituality has often treated the body with suspicion - something to control, ignore, or overcome. But what if our bodies are not a problem to solve, but sacred places where God is already at work?Drawing on scripture, lived experience, and the slow wisdom of embodied faith, they reflect on how Magdalene Community Church is learning to honour bodies as good, holy, and worthy of care. From rest and movement to disability, trauma, and dignity, this conversation gently challenges the idea that holiness lives only in our heads.This episode is for anyone who has felt disconnected from their body, pressured to perform spirituality, or curious about a faith that welcomes our whole selves.

Episode 1

In this debut episode of Beloved Rising, Rachael and Mandy gently dismantle the myth of the ‘normal’ brain and explore why church can feel so exhausting, confusing, or even unsafe for neurodivergent people.Drawing on their lived experience at Magdalene Community Church, they share how MCC has unexpectedly become a home for those on the edges, and why the accommodations that support neurodivergent folk often end up making church more spacious, humane, and life-giving for everyone.This conversation is for anyone who has struggled to belong, for leaders who want to do better but don’t know where to start, and for communities curious about what might be possible when we stop asking people to fit and start reshaping church itself.