Create In Me

A throw back to our first season when Brian shared his love of improv and we wonder together about what improv can teach us as a way to practice our faith and worship together.  

In an interview with Kyra Tessmann we explore the world of collegiate ballroom dancing and wonder together about what we can learn from dance to inform how we worship God.  Check out this article by Kathleen Kline-Chessen if you want to dig deeper in your own thinking about dance as worship.  

Brian and Rebecca talk about how we share our faith, specifically what we believe about salvation.  How does what we believe get communicated in and through our practices of worship and why it matters.  For reference check out James Choung's four circles diagram https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCVcSiUUMhY.  

Looking back on some previously unpublished content we came across some thoughts on ritual that we wanted to explore more fully.  Enjoy some of the bonus content and then hear our reflections on ritual now.  

Brian and Rebecca talk with Fran about her book and her work writing litanies and prayers for the Church.  We hope you enjoy our conversation!

Rev. Fran Pratt is a pastor, writer, musician, and mystic. Making meaningful and beautiful liturgy to be spoken, practiced, and sung, is at the heart of her creative drive. Fran is author of a new book of congregational litanies, and regularly creates and shares modern liturgy on her website and Patreon. Her prayers are prayed in churches of various sizes and traditions across the globe. She writes, speaks, and consults on melding ancient and new liturgical streams in faith and worship gatherings and spiritual practice. Fran currently serves as Pastor of Worship and Liturgy at Peace of Christ Church in Round Rock, Texas, where she lives with her spouse and two young daughters. 

Her book _Call and Response: Litanies for Congregational Prayer_ can be purchased on Amazon. Check it out and follow Fran on Instagram @thelitanist and on facebook at Fran Pratt.  You can also become a supporter at Patreon.com/franpratt.  

Brian and Rebecca talk about how the practice of discomfort in worship can prepare us for the invitation of following Jesus into the world.  What do we do to prepare for the disruption that comes when choosing the Way of Jesus?  How can the Moravian Motto, "In Essentials, Unity; In Non-Essentials, Liberty; In All Things Love," give us a framework for faithful disruption?

Rebecca and Brian talk with Jill Peters who runs the Crossroads Lay Leadership Program at Moravian Theological Seminary.  She tells us about the worship class and give lots of wonderful examples of how worship can be re-imagined to help make deeper connections with God.  We hope that some of you might check out the Crossroads Program for your own spiritual formation and growth.  It is a wonderful resource!  

https://www.moravianseminary.edu/academics/crossroads

Brian and Rebecca talk about one of the basic building blocks of Christian worship, the Bible.  The story of God and of God's relationship with human beings and creation is where many worship leaders start to create worship experience.  Why is that?  Hear us think aloud about the importance of the stories we tell and how they impact the stories of our own lives.