The Table You Choose: Compassion, Community & a New Way Forward Artwork

Holy Shenanigans

Holy Shenanigans shares stories that surprise, encourage, and sometimes even turn life upside down – all in the name of love. Your muse is Tara Lamont Eastman, pastor, podcaster and practitioner of Holy Shenanigans . Join her on a journey of unforgettable spiritual adventure that is always sacred but never stuffy.

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Holy Shenanigans

The Table You Choose: Compassion, Community & a New Way Forward

August 16, 2026 • Tara Lamont Eastman • Season 7 • Episode 18

0:00 | 16:39

As summer begins to give way to fall, our calendars fill up, routines change, and we find ourselves standing at crossroads—wondering what to let go of, what to carry forward, and how we want the next season of life to feel.

In this special episode of Holy Shenanigans, Pastor Tara Lamont Eastman explores compassion through the stories of Jacob wrestling with God and Jesus feeding the crowds in the wilderness. What happens when we stop running from our regrets, fears, and uncertainty—and instead choose courage, connection, generosity, and hope?

Drawing on the image of a table, Tara invites us to consider not just what we put on our tables, but what kind of table we are creating. Will it be a table shaped by ego and scarcity, or one where compassion makes room for everyone?

As you prepare for the busy season ahead, pause for a moment. What are you ready to release? What are you determined to keep? And what would happen if compassion became the central ingredient in the life you're creating?

Come wrestle, wonder, and make a little room for some holy shenanigans. 🍂

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🎙️ Exciting news! Tara is recording a new episode of the Holy Shenanigans Podcast live at the Wild Goose Festival this September 3–6 at Vanhoy Farms in Harmony, North Carolina! Wild Goose is a faith-inspired festival celebrating social justice, creativity, spirituality, and community—a gathering of artists, activists, and seekers making a positive impact in the world. She'd love to see you there! Learn more at www.wi

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Rev. Tara Lamont Eastman is a pastor, podcaster and host of Holy Shenanigans since September of 2020. Eastman combines her love of ministry with her love of writing, music and visual arts. She is a graduate of Wartburg Theological Seminary’s Theological Education for Emerging Ministry Program and the Youth and Theology Certificate Program at Princeton Seminary. She has served in various ministry and pastoral roles over the last thirty years in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) and PCUSA (Presbyterian Church of America). She is the pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Warren Pennsylvania. She has presented workshops on the topics of faith and creativity at the Wild Goose Festival. She is a trainer for Soul Shop Suicide Prevention for Church Communities.