Should we be afraid of Halloween? What about death? What about just…the past? Whether it's our own trauma, fears of the occult, family history, or that big scary word tradition, many of us feel caught between two extremes: either cutting ourselves off from it all, or feeling so surrounded by it that we feel trapped.
In this episode, we journey back to medieval England to discover what Hallowtide—the three-day feast that became Halloween—actually looked like, and why it might hold keys to a healthier relationship with all of it–death, tradition, and the past.
Along the way, we'll mythbust everything you think you know about Halloween, explore the meaning of “honor your father and mother,” and discover practical ways to connect our own stories to the Great Story.
Brian Brown, Matthew Clark, and Terri Moon continue their conversation, exploring the concept of 'we songs' in worship, songs that connect congregants to God and each other. In this episode, we discuss the importance of melody, accessibility, and the role of instruments in creating a hospitable worship environment, one that instills confidence in the normal congregant and that inherently prioritizes the voice of the congregation. Within that framework, we delve into how singing serves as a spiritual discipline, the significance of familiar songs, and the need for crafting music that encourages congregational participation.
Chapters
00:24 Introduction to We Songs
01:32 The Purpose of We Songs
02:01 The Composition of We Songs
02:51 Melody and Accessibility
03:39 The Role of Instruments in Worship
04:48 Hospitality in Worship
06:13 The Voice of the People
07:03 Worship Wars and Music Choices
07:30 Cultural Context in Worship Music
08:57 Fostering Congregational Singing
09:31 The Role of the Worship Leader
10:18 Musical Hosting and Participation
11:19 Different Musical Traditions
12:45 Call and Response in Worship
13:38 Learning and Growth in Worship
14:54 Navigating Musical Preferences
16:32 Voice First Composition
17:08 The Importance of Simplicity
18:40 The Role of the Organ
20:00 Historical Context of Worship Music
22:19 Fostering Confidence in Singing
23:29 The Challenge of New Songs
25:20 The Structure of Worship Songs
26:38 Familiarity and Participation
28:51 Songwriting for Accessibility
29:05 The Songwriting Process and Accountability
31:09 The Role of Corporate Singing in the Church
35:34 Singing as a Spiritual Discipline
39:35 The Importance of Familiar Songs
43:12 Crafting Songs for Congregational Participation
47:03 The Relationship Between Melody and Lyrics
50:12 Understanding Sacred and Common Art
53:55 The Vision of the Church and the Role of Music
In 386 AD, an Italian bishop taught his congregation to sing—and their voices held off an imperial army.
Why do some songs have the power to unite us, remind us who we are, and give us courage in dark times? And how can we get more of them?
Join Brian Brown, Matthew Clark, and Terri Moon as they explore the lost art of "we" songs—hymns and ballads that connect us to God, to each other, and to the great story we're all part of.
In this episode (part 2 of 2), Brian Brown, Gustav Hoyer, and Benjamin Harding talk about the intergenerational nature of Christian creativity, and explore how film scores and children's stories show us how that works.
The discussion includes:
A bonus episode cross-posted from the Beauty Through Faith podcast! In this episode, part 1 of 2, Brian joins Benjamin Harding and Gustav Hower to say as many provocative things as possible, as quickly as possible.
Things we talked about:
Join renowned Canadian artist Josh Tiessen for an inspiring evening at the Anselm Society as he shares his artistic journey and explores the intersection of Christian faith, wildlife art, and environmental stewardship.
Special edition in partnership with the Rabbit Room: how a healed relationship with food forms us to renew the world.
Want to participate in Housemoot? Learn more.
We were meant for life together. But the fallen world seeks to drive apart things that were meant to be together. People from God. Sexes and generations and tribes and individuals from each other. And the image of God from the rest of the creation (including food; through body image issues, food allergies, and McDonald's).
Meanwhile, food features prominently in so many of our favorite stories—like Lord of the Rings, Wingfeather, Redwall, and Harry Potter. Why?
In this episode, we'll delve into these fantastical realms to find a healed relationship with food—and reveal how eating can literally change how we do Christianity.
The world around us is quick to dismiss the past. And we Christians have sometimes been too quick to join our neighbors in writing things off that 'don't last.' But autumn is an opportunity to do something different: to recognize that our timeless God works in things that appear to be fleeting, and to consecrate moments for eternity.
In this episode, Sarah and Brian talk with Anselm outreach coordinator Caroline Williams about our episode plans for the fall--what you can expect, and how to get YOUR questions answered on the show!
Follow us on Substack:
We are called to participate in creation through communion, not control.
Join us as we consider living in a world with talking trees. Through C.S. Lewis’s disenchanted Narnia, Brian Brown, Amy Baik Lee, and Sarah Howell explore the relationship between humanity and creation from a Christian perspective. This conversation unpacks the importance of recognizing the goodness of creation, the role of beauty in understanding God, and the need for a re-enchanted view of the world. And that ultimately, human beings were made to not only be present to the created order, uncover the layers of meaning within it, but also to participate in creation as an act of worship.
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Get tickets now for "A Long Expected Feast" -- Sept 19-20 2025 in Colorado Springs!
A huge treat: Malcolm Guite joins the podcast!
In our fast-paced, ever-connected world, we've largely forgotten the art of being still. But what if stillness isn't simply the absence of activity—what if it's actually a practice that requires intention, ritual, and presence?
Join Brian Brown and Matthew Clark as they sit down with renowned poet and theologian Malcolm Guite for a contemplative conversation about pipe smoking as a case study in the spiritual discipline of stillness. Opening with Malcolm's own poem "Smoke Rings from My Pipe," this episode explores how a simple ritual can become a pathway to what T.S. Eliot called "the still point of the turning world."
In this episode, we discuss:
Why stillness is both desperately needed and increasingly difficult in our age
How memory and presence intersect in moments of contemplation
How physical objects and rituals can anchor us in the present moment
Far from escapism, this conversation reveals how true stillness prepares us for better action in the world—and how sometimes the most profound spiritual practice is simply learning to "enter the standing Sabbath of the trees."
Whether you're a pipe smoker or simply someone longing for deeper rest in our restless age, this episode offers both theological insight and practical wisdom for cultivating the lost art of being fully present.
"Make a place to sit down. Sit down. Be quiet." —Wendell Berry
What would it mean–for us, our families, and our vocations–if we could learn to be fully present?
Join us as we explore the story of Taran Wanderer—a young man eager to skip to mastery but forced to learn that true craft begins with getting your hands dirty in the raw materials. Through Lloyd Alexander's tale of smithing, weaving, and pottery-making, we dive into why our souls, like Taran's hands, need to be trained in stillness before they can create anything worth keeping.
From the decision fatigue of modern life to the machine expectations we place on ourselves, this conversation unpacks why we struggle to be present and offers practical wisdom for reclaiming the art of attention. Because sometimes the path to finding yourself isn't found in charging toward the next thing—it's discovered in learning to be fully present to what's right in front of you.
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Get tickets now for "A Long Expected Feast" -- Sept 19-20 2025 in Colorado Springs!
An exploration of human vocation through the lens of one of Tolkien's most strange and mysterious characters. Featuring special guest C.R. Wiley, author of "In the House of Tom Bombadil."
Do you ever feel like you're stuck in the mundane while waiting for your "real" purpose to begin?
In Disney's Encanto, Mirabel spends years wondering when she'll get her magical gift and finally enter the family story—only to discover she was already part of it all along. Like Mirabel, many of us view ordinary moments as distractions from the "real" important work of our lives, constantly waiting for that someday calling or dramatic purpose.
But what if Christianity isn't about escaping the ordinary—what if it's about discovering the Great Story right in your kitchen sink?
Join us as we explore how our daily faithfulness in seemingly mundane tasks isn't preparation for the Great Story—it's precisely how we enter the Great Story. Discover why there are no ordinary things, and how Christians can learn to mobilize the world immediately around them for the glory of God.
What does it mean to “practice resurrection,” as Wendell Berry put it?
It’s easy to look at the chaos and barrenness of the world and think we can’t make much of a difference. At least not without being some kind of superhero. What good is planting a tree in a wasteland?
In this episode, the gang explores a different vision, provided by the story, “The Man Who Planted Trees,” by Jean Giono. Because maybe, just maybe, there’s a way forward.
Who is Tom Bombadil?
Any Lord of the Rings/Tolkien fan knows that Bombadil is a very mysterious character.
But what’s interesting is that as we unpack Tom Bombadil as a character, we end up unpacking things we’ve forgotten about how to do life. Tom Bombadil opens a window into what it means to pursue our vocations.
Join Brian Brown, C.R. Wiley, and your fellow Imagination Redeemed listeners for a four-week study of vocation, calling, and mastery through a look at this enigmatic character.
Sign up at https://anselmsociety.org/bombadil.
Where do books, movies, songs, etc. fit into how we face the hard realities of life? Should they be "positive and encouraging?" Should they relentlessly portray darkness just as it is?
In this episode, we invite you into a recent Anselm Society lecture by Dr. Wesley Vander Lugt from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
Meet Julian of Norwich! This medieval woman suffered more than most of us will in three lifetimes—and prayed for more. And the first part of her book, Revelations of Divine Love, unveils a deeply encouraging vision of God that’s worth meditating on.
What makes Julian's hope so powerful is precisely that it doesn't deny or minimize suffering. Rather, her hope encompasses both the reality of present pain and the promise of ultimate restoration. In that space—between the 'already' of God's love and the 'not yet' of complete healing—we learn to hold both our joy and our weeping together.
In this episode, the Imagination Redeemed podcast tackles the subject of this tricky mystic and goes on a search for hope.
Despair tempts most of us at times–and it’s easy to listen to. You don’t have a problem, you are the problem; everything bad that’s happened is the trajectory for the future. In the face of this voice in our heads, how can we remember the hope of our place in God’s story?
In this episode of the Imagination Redeemed podcast, the hosts (and guest Elizabeth Bam) discuss stories from the Faerie Queen and the Shawshank Redemption in an exploration of how to battle despair.
Seasons of winter tend to paralyze us. We think we can’t move on until something changes. How can we learn to live well in those seasons, and participate in God’s work? Drawing from O. Henry’s short story “The Last Leaf,” Brian, Sarah, Amy, and Christina tackle this question in the newest episode of the Imagination Redeemed podcast.
In this episode, Brian, Sarah, and Christina explore the profound impact of stories on our lives and faith. They discuss how narratives—through books, movies, music, and art—profoundly influence our worldviews, emotional health, and even brain development. Dive with us into the magic of storytelling, the healing power of positive narratives, and the importance of integrating personal stories into a larger divine narrative.
