S18 E1 - Word of the Year
Abiding Together
Abiding Together
4.9 • 3.9K Ratings
🗓️ 19 January 2026
⏱️ 41 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Welcome to season 18 kickoff with our annual tradition of the Word of the Year episode! Each year, we ask God to give us a theme to focus on for the new year and invite you to do the same. After personal prayer and reflection, we share what our words for 2026 mean to us and chat about the Saints journeying with us this year. We are excited to be back and look forward to what this year will bring!
Heather's One Thing - Big God, Little Devil by Dr. Sean Tobin (listen to Dr. Sean on the Restore the Glory Podcast too!)
Heather's Other One Thing - Let There Be by Amanda Cook
Sister Miriam's One Thing - Friendship in the Lord by Fr. Paul Hinnebusch, OP (buy on Amazon here)
Michelle's One Thing - Theo of Golden by Allen Levi
Other Resources Mentioned:
Announcement:
Our 2026 Lenten book study will be "The Way of Trust and Love" by Fr. Jacques Philippe. Scepter Publishers has offered 15% off with the code ABIDE15. They also offer an ebook version as well. We will announce more information about the study in the coming weeks!
Journal Questions:
- What was my word for 2025? How did the Lord work in and through me with that word?
- What is my word for 2026?
- How does my heart sit with the word revealed to me?
- How is the Lord inviting me into deeper love & intimacy in this new year?
- What is the Lord asking me to delight in?
- Has the Lord entrusted a particular saint to journey with you this year?
Discussion Questions:
- Reflect on and share about your word for 2025 and the graces you encountered through that word.
- What images, phrases, artwork, or Scripture verses have been on your mind when praying about your word of the year?
- What is your word for 2026? How did the Lord reveal it to you?
- Do you feel surprised, apprehensive, or delighted by your word for 2026? How can you hold onto hope this year?
- What is the Lord asking you to grow in?
Quotes to Ponder:
"For last year's words belong to last year's language, and next year's words await another voice." (T.S. Eliot, "Little Gidding")
"Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love." (St. Elizabeth of the Trinity)
Scripture for Lectio:
"Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary." (Isaiah 40:31)
Sponsor - CORDA:
CORDA translates the stories of the saints into scents, and helps you create a place of prayer and peace in your home with their handcrafted Catholic candles.
Backed by 3,500+ 5-star reviews, CORDA candles have a beautiful modern design, are made with great ingredients like clean coconut wax and phthalate-free fragrances, and have an awesome burn time of 45 hours!
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You should also check out their special wedding favors, bulk order discounts for nonprofits and businesses, and their super easy Catholic fundraisers!
Learn more and explore all of CORDA's handcrafted Catholic candles at cordacandles.com/abiding
Timestamps:
00:00 CORDA
01:38 Intro
02:25 Lent Announcement
03:10 Welcome
06:43 Scripture Verse and Quote to Ponder
08:24 Sister Miriam's Word of the Year
12:28 Heather's Word of the Year
17:16 Michelle's Word of the Year
25:13 Being Honest with Ourselves and with God
29:20 Our Saints of the Year
33:18 What if I don't have a Word of the Year?
34:26 One Things
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello, friends. This episode is sponsored by Cora. If you've ever prayed and prayed asking God what he wants you to do with your life, then the husband and wife team behind Cora are your people. Before starting Cora, Anna had prayed for six years because she felt like God was calling her to something more. She just didn't know what. And then one day during Mass, she suddenly had an idea that was a total gift. Translate the lives of the saints into scents |
| 0:22.2 | and make those scents into beautiful candles. Through Corta, Anna and her husband Michael handcraft |
| 0:27.3 | Catholic candles to bring the light of the saints into your home. Corta candles have a modern |
| 0:31.4 | design and they're made with really great ingredients like clean coconut wax and phthalate-free fragrances, |
| 0:36.9 | and they have an awesome burn |
| 0:38.4 | time of 45 hours. |
| 0:40.7 | So when you enjoy a quart of scent, it's going to truly connect you to the holy men and women |
| 0:45.5 | who have gone before us. |
| 0:46.8 | For example, the candle inspired by our Lady of the Annunciation has scents of strawberry |
| 0:51.3 | and acacia wood. |
| 0:52.7 | The strawberry plant symbolizes Mary as both virgin and mother |
| 0:55.6 | because it flowers and fruits at the same time, while acacia wood recalls Mary's role as the Ark of the |
| 1:00.9 | Covenant. Corta offers more masculine sense, too, like their candle for St. Pierre, Giorgio Fassotti. |
| 1:06.6 | It smells like mountain air and pipe tobacco. There's so many unique and prayerful Catholic candles that you can get from Cordo. |
| 1:13.5 | Plus, if you're a part of a Catholic group, school, or ministry, be sure to check out their super easy Catholic fundraisers. |
| 1:19.3 | Abiding Together listeners can receive a free mini candle plus 10% off your next order. |
| 1:24.6 | To receive your discount and free gift, simply visit corder candles.com |
| 1:28.5 | slash abiding, available now through April 30th, 2026. That's cordocandals.com slash abiding. |
| 1:36.5 | We hope you enjoy this episode. Hello and welcome to season 18 of the Abiding Together podcast. |
| 1:43.6 | The Abiding Together podcast is a place where you can find connection, rest, encouragement, |
| 1:49.5 | and strength on your journey with Jesus Christ. |
| 1:53.0 | My name is Sister Miriam James Heidland, and every week I'm joined by two of my very dearest |
... |
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