{"podcast":{"title":"Grace for All","slug":"grace-for-all-6595211","podcast_index_feed_id":6595211,"rss_url":"https://feeds.captivate.fm/graceforall/","website_url":"https://1stchurch.org","image_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/2428ce1f-9c22-4f5a-acd7-88e0a40ad9bf/Grace-for-All-3000.jpg","author":"Jim Stovall, Greta Smith, First United Methodist Church, Maryville, TN","episode_count":300,"summary":"\"Grace for All\" is a daily devotional podcast from the laity of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. Each episode presents scripture and a brief reflection, written and recorded by members of our church. These short episodes are meant to inspire you and support your journey of understanding and faith. We believe the central message of Jesus is one of grace. Grace for all human beings. Grace for All is a podcast ministry of First United Methodist Church, Maryville, TN","last_synced_at":"2026-07-17T16:20:38.196226+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/grace-for-all-6595211"},"episode":{"title":"The Little Brown Church in the Vale","slug":"the-little-brown-church-in-the-vale","published_at":"2026-06-08T07:30:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/grace-for-all-6595211/the-little-brown-church-in-the-vale","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/grace-for-all-6595211","url":"https://graceforall.captivate.fm/episode/the-little-brown-church-in-the-vale-podcast","audio_url":"https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/ee66ecfc-9479-4519-9f28-d49182263b91.mp3","summary":"Psalm 100 (KJV) Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name. For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. How can you make a joyful noise when your heart is breaking? In the fall of 2001, my mother came to visit us in Iowa. On April 4 of that year, my dad had tragically collapsed and died in her arms. She was inconsolable. This visit was the first time she had left home since his death. I cast around for something she would enjoy doing. She was a devout Christian and I remembered she had once asked if I knew where ‘The Little Brown Church in the Vale” was located in Iowa. It was the beloved song that prompted her: “Oh, come to the church in the wildwood Oh, come to the church in the vale No spot is so near to my childhood As the little brown church in the vale.” The Little Brown Church in the Vale is located in Nashua, IA, about two hours from our home at the time in Cedar Rapids. It has a fascinating history, as it came about by a coincidence--- or a miracle. In 1856, a young music teacher named William Pitts happened to travel through the community. He walked down Cedar Street and noticed a beautiful wooded empty lot. The thought came to him that it would be the perfect setting for a church. Inspired, he wrote a poem titled “Church in the Wildwood.” Later, he set it to music. Pitts moved on, married and settled in Wisconsin. In the years following, the community actually built a church on the site with donate…","meta_description":"Psalm 100 (KJV) Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the Lor…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":408,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/grace-for-all-6595211/episodes/the-little-brown-church-in-the-vale/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/grace-for-all-6595211/the-little-brown-church-in-the-vale.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}