Create In Me

We talk a lot about what worship is but what isn't worship? What ways can we, in community, discern our ways of worship? What might we discover along the way?

Brian and Rebecca talk about Lenten practice, the possibilities of the season and about what they have learned from Lent in the past.

We talk about Matthew 21:18-22 and Exodus 4:24-26 and what we'd do in worship with no limits. We welcome Revs Staci Marrese-Wheeler and Andrew Heil.

Brian and Rebecca are back with season 4 and hoping to explore how the conversation can expand. Where might you be called to join in? What do you want to learn about or share with us? We'd love to hear from you!

Brian and Rebecca talk with Rev. Kerry Krauss about his writing, daily essays published on his Facebook feed and how spiritual gifts can blossom in the midst of changing times. As we close up our season, how has change, changed us and will we hold onto what we have learned?

Rebecca and Brian reflect on the year of focusing on change, change agents and what we have learned during this season of Covid. What has changed the most for you this year? What lessons do you want to carry with you into the future?

Christy is a trainer transitional minister who shares her insights into the changes the Church is experiencing and how some lessons from the practices of transitional or intentional interim ministry could be helpful as we discern the way forward.

Rebecca and Brian return to a favorite topic...creativity. Digging deeper to get to the root of what we mean when we talk about creativity and an expansive understanding of the creative process and intention.

Rebecca and Brian talk with friends and colleagues in Nepal as we share perspectives on the impact of the changes that have come due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We talk prayer life, song writing and much more!

Using a quote from Susan Beaumont's Book, "How to Lead When You Don't Know Where You're Going: Leading in a Liminal Season," Brian and Rebecca consider how practices of wonder and curiosity might serve the church in this time between pre-Covid and post-Covid worlds.

We talk online community specifically in youth ministry during the Covid-19 pandemic. Cynthia shares her experiences and insight into online community building that works beyond just youth and young adults. What changes will we keep as the pandemic eases and how will we decide? Here are some links she shared of resources: https://yaleyouthministryinstitute.org/resource/guide-to-taking-youth-ministry-online/ https://pres-outlook.org/2021/02/moving-forward-after-the-pandemic-bruce-reyes-chow-speaks-to-apce/ https://www.downloadyouthministry.com/ Article: Christianity in the Digital Age (article is from 2017 but still informative) https://irepos.unijos.edu.ng/jspui/bitstream/123456789/2890/1/Christianity%20and%20the%20Digital%20Age-%20Sustaining%20the%20Online%20Church.pdf

Brian and Rebecca talk embodiment and wonder about how worship can help us live into the Incarnation of Jesus Christ in the world. What might it do for our openness and faithfulness to the Gospel to attend to our bodies more directly in our practice of worship communally and individually?

We dig deeper into the idea of travellers with a conversation about the experience of walking a historic pilgrimage. Thanks to Andrew and Jenna for sharing their journey and reflections with us.

Brian and Rebecca consider how technologies of all kinds are utilized in our practices of worship and what is the core question that helps us in our planning and decisions about what technology we will use or not?

We are going back to the beginning with this re-released episode about the benefits of worship. Why is worshiping God so important and the impact that is has on the way we live. In the midst of this pandemic, many of us are going back to the basics and wrestling with questions about what do we keep doing and what can be left behind in favor of the new things that are coming forth.

Brian and Rebecca talk about how we see and experience the journey of faith. How does our perspective change our experience? What would it be like if we practiced a discipline of a traveler mindset instead of that of a tourist?

Mandy Mastros joins Brian and Rebecca to talk about how her congregation is doing years after a major transition in there ministry and location. We talk about the ways we can use this time during the pandemic to figure out "why" we do what we do as the Church and to listen for God's leading in how we might be transformed for the future.

We read scripture, reflect on experiences, make connections and witness to the world about who Jesus is. But how often do we center ourselves or anything other than God in worship? What are the consequences? Why might a practice and attention to de-centering be helpful as we are confronted by changes in the world? We spend some time thinking about the need to for attention to the story we tell about God from various perspectives.

Join us in a conversation with the former Archivist of the Moravian Church in North America- Southern Province, Rev. Dr. C. Daniel Crews, as we talk about changes in the church beginning with the 2nd temple. To look towards the current changes and the future we take a step into the past.

Season 3 will focus on the ways the Church experiences societal shifts and how those changes affect worship creation and experience. Rebecca and Brian consider the impact of change and wonder about how the way we approach changes can help or hinder our response to them.

We'll spend season three talking about societal changes that have impacted the ways we worship. We look forward to learning from the past as we move into the future. The current challenges of Covid-19 and the racial reckoning in the US are calling us to respond in different ways of worship. We look forward to conversations that we hope will help you navigate today with lessons from yesterday.

Tracy and his wife Rhonda, Co-pastor Esperanza for Bethlehem in Bethlehem, PA. We talk new worship space, community ministry and how to be amazed at what God is doing!

Brian and Rebecca reflect on the rebuilding of the temple in Ezra 3 and what lessons we might begin to unpack from the Biblical narrative around exile to inform our practices of worship in this time or dramatic change in the ways we worship "together." Check out Rev. Dr. Eileen Edwards Godly Play video about exile.

Brian and Rebecca chat with Nathan Corona about his faith, work as a creative and his inspirations. Check out Nathan's current work at https://www.dustbrandfilms.com/

We’re happy to welcome Jon Pumper and Elise Joyce to the podcast. Jon has been creating and sharing piano covers/tutorials and comedy sketches on YouTube sine 2016. His channel has 129K subscribers and over 50 million views. Jon is also Musical Director at the Brave New Workshop comedy improv theater in Minneapolis. Elise Joyce is a film technician with production and camera credits on a number of projects for film and television including the Food Network show “Girl Meets Farm” and the award-winning 2017 feature thriller “Tolerance.” We talk about how to create online worship and some do's and don'ts. And Brian and Rebecca ask questions about creating in the midst of Covid-19 and other ideas.

In this interview Brian and Rebecca learn about GOHOP, a local expression of the world-wide 24/7 prayer movement. Nina Schuurman Drenth is the Communications Director at GOHOP. Peter Tigchelaar was introduced as a Benedictine Oblate and Folk Psalmist We encourage you to check out their stuff Here’s Nina’s Etsy https://www.etsy.com/shop/pebblesfortheway Her Instagram https://www.instagram.com/ninaspebbles/ And, a link to the Greater Ontario House of Prayer https://www.gohop.ca/

Rebecca and Brian reflect on preaching. Why we do it. How it fits into worship. And what we might like to do differently. Check out the invitation to let us know what you think about preaching at the end of the podcast and send us a message!

Rebecca and Brian talk with Ken Read about his practices of music, martial Qi Gong and yoga. Exploring how the practices of attending to spiritual life and awareness connect us to our bodies and our faith life. This interfaith conversation explores points of connections and invites us to think about where God is working in our lives and how it is made visible through our worship and prayer practices.

Brian and Rebecca get a little meta and talk about the podcast on the podcast. We have a lot of ideas around where Create in Me might be going and are wondering what you...our listener would like to see happen and better yet do you want to be a part of making some new things happen? We look forward to hearing from all of you with ideas and inspiration that will help us all to keep on creating! Email us at moraviancreateinme@gmail.com!

Brian and Rebecca enjoy a conversation with Theresa Cho about her creative worship blog and the work of creativity in congregations that can support the process of organizational change over time. Check out her blog at https://theresaecho.com/ where she shares resources for prayer stations, retreats and inter-generational worship experiences. We also reference her congregation's website which can be found at /. https://www.stjohnssf.org

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.

Brian learned about Evan Koons and his work through a curriculum called, "For the Life of the World." You can check it out at https://letterstotheexiles.com/ or watch this trailer   Brian and guest co-host Rev. Dan Miller talk with Evan about his recent conversion to Orthodox Christianity and his perspective on the adventure of following Jesus.  We also recommend checking out his video on Church Appropriate Dance Moves and a parody called, "Camp Manna".  

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.

History of music in the Moravian Church, hymn writing and more!

Find out more about who Brian is and why he is so interested in worship and the process of creating

We talk about the difference between hymn writing and song writing, process and hear some beautiful tunes too!

Re-released episode on Co-host Rebecca and her interest in worship...where it started and more

We talk preaching, prophecy and community

This is a re-release if our very first episode. We talk about where Create in Me got it’s start and more!

Peg has worked for justice in many ways, specifically through her ecumenical work in Minnesota. Have a listen to our conversation about how worship and justice are most vibrant when they form a basis for our life together.

What do our clothes say about us? In worship settings? In Daily Life? And what do we chose to say through our expression? Brian and Rebecca riff on these ideas and follow the conversation about clothes through a variety of places. We hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Brian and Rebecca talk about Easter in the Moravian Tradition in the context of the ChristChurch Massacre in New Zealand. How do we show up for Easter? What are we ready for and how are we changed by it?

A historical perspective on creativity in the music of the Moravian Church over the centuries. How do we En-Courage (give courage) to each other to create and share what the Spirit of Christ is doing now?

Hear a little about Rebecca's story and the people that have helped her to understand worship and to love it! The art and creation side of Rebecca's passion for congregational worship.

We talk about making guitars, the spiritual practice of creating and hear some beautiful music. Here are some helpful links if you want to know more: Email Zach for more information about his guitars at zdease36@gmail.com Zinzendorf: https://www.christianitytoday.com/history/people/denominationalfounders/nikolaus-von-zinzendorf.html