ILLUMINATE

Artists have a way of seeing the unseen. Especially what is unseen to majority of society. Audrey Assad & Brady Toops are two people who definitely see what most others don't. And they're no longer afraid of sharing what it is they see.  Both have created & recreated careers in the liminal landscape that hosts the intersection of musical entertainment & leading worship. They share some raw & hilarious thoughts on who they used to be & where they find themselves today. And they share a little bit of their art along the way.  ___________________________ @audreyassad | audreyassad.com @bradytoops | bradytoops.com Opening Theme Music by Future of Forestry To watch the conceptual short films featuring composer Tony Anderson, go to http://youtube.com/TonyAndersonMusic or http://vimeo.com/TonyAndersonMusic Look out for Tony's new album, CHASM. Available 10.10.18 COMING SOON: new stock visuals licensing site, http://shop.illuminate.us A NIGHT OF HOPE tour: Nov 29 - Dec 2 (featuring Ann Voskamp & Christy Nockels): http://christynockels.com Featured Music in this episode:  - "Chasm" by Tony Anderson - "Oyarsa" by Tony Anderson - "Immersion" by Tony Anderson - "Deliverer" by Audrey Assad - "Walk in Love" by Brady Toops - "Unfolding" by Audrey Assad - "Drawn to You" by Audrey Assad - "Let You Go" by Brady Toops - "The River Jordan" by Brady Toops

Artist & author Makoto Fujimura illuminates the relationship between faith & art like no other person I've met. His artwork (based on an ancient Japanese painting style called Nihonga) has been featured in contemporary art galleries around the world, in places like Chelsea New York, Haifa Israel, & Hong Kong.  While "Mako" has one step in the art world, he has his other foot in the Church, speaking life into Her artists, adding color a black-&-white world of religion that has been stripped of beauty & visual theology. He especially has a sensitive heart for artists in the Church, who often feel used, misunderstood, & ultimately exiled. His passion for curating a "theology of making" has landed him a role at Fuller Seminary as the Director of Culture Care Initiative at the Brehm Center.  Mako is back on the ILLUMINATE podcast to talk about the concept & practice of "Culture Care", something I believe both the Church & the culture at large so desperately needs in these divisive times.  ______________________________________________ Mako on Twitter & IG: @iamfujimura Nihonga Refractions on Instagram: @nihongarefractions See Mako's work @ makotofujimura.com/works SilenceAndBeauty.com IAMculturecare.com  Two places to see Mako's work in person: All Saints Church in Princeton, NJ + Waterfall Mansion in NY Opening Theme Music: "Homeward" by Future of Forestry Additional Music: "Breathing Strings" by David Swick (breathingstrings.bandcamp.com) + "River Crossing" by The Radial Conservatory (theradialconservatory.com) 

When it comes to leading worship, liturgist & writer Aaron Niequist likes to swim in the deep end. Coming from a small stream of evangelicalism, Aaron has wrestled & fought with questions like, "Is this all there is? Is there more to worship than a setlist & a sermon?"  His questions about worship styles & Sunday morning practices only scratch the surface, for Aaron is always swimming deeper, seeking after the substance beneath all the worship styles.    During this journey through doubt & deconstruction, Aaron discovered the rich treasure of ancient Christian practices & the beauty of liturgical worship. And he's spent years experimenting with the concept of importing these ancient practices into modern worship settings. Through many successes & failures, Aaron has gleaned much wisdom, which he shares in his new book, "The Eternal Current: how a practice-based faith can save us from drowning".  And I'm so grateful to Aaron for coming onto the podcast to share some of the stories of swimming in the Eternal Current.  To support this podcast & keep it going, please consider donating at least $1 a month: https://www.patreon.com/illuminateus   _____________________________________ Follow Aaron on all the socials: @aaronieq  "The Eternal Current" is available as a book & audiobook wherever you buy books.  https://www.aaronniequist.com/ Pastors, Priests & Guides retreat: https://www.pastorspriestsandguides.com/ A New Liturgy: https://www.anewliturgy.com/ Theme Music by Future of Forestry ("Homeward" on the album "Awakened to the Sound" Additional Music: Aaron Niequist/A New Liturgy + The Radial Conservatory  http://illuminate.us  

With Daniel Henderson, the craic is always 90. That's Irish for "pretty great." Over the last few years, Daniel has become one of my closest friends. Legend has it he won the Irish Brewer's Cup & competed on the worldwide stage in Melbourne for World's Best Cup of coffee. He does make a pretty mean cup. A year later, that would lead Daniel set out with his friends to open up a cafe in Northern Ireland called "Lost & Found". On this episode, Daniel shares the ups & downs of chasing big dreams, losing his identity to his creative passions, & the journey of finding himself again in the world of professional ministry.  _______________________________ Daniel Henderson is @surfmister on Instagram. Lost & Found is located in Coleraine, Northern Ireland.  Theme Music: "Homeward" by Future of Forestry "No Greater Unknown" by Jonah Ramey (search on Spotify or iTunes) "The Eternal Current" by Aaron Niequist (available on Amazon) Please consider supporting this podcast by giving at least $1 a month via Patreon: http://patreon.com/illuminateus   

Traveling the world is one of the main things that has inspired my creativity & shaped my worldview. In this episode, I sit down with longtime friend & fellow globetrotter Jonathan Smyth (aka "Biscuet") to talk about living overseas, traveling to unlikely places, & how that's affected the way we see the world around us.  "Biscuet" has had his hands in the worlds of video production, event producing, English teaching, & marketing. He's applied all of these gifts at his current job with ELIC, an English-teaching organization that sends teachers all over Asia & the Middle East. _________________________________ Jonathan Smyth: @Biscuet on all the socials http://elic.org 

The practice of tea ceremonies is an ancient liturgy that dates back many centuries. More than a simple drink, tea has been used to welcome dignitaries, stop wars, & cloak Christians celebrating Communion in secret.  In June 2018, I joined illuminator Makoto Fujimura & a group of artists for a unique trip to Israel-Palestine. Our main objective was to perform Rikyū tea ceremonies in key "holy sites" throughout the Holy Land, bringing a spirit of peace & Shalom to this very conflicted land. Joining Mako is Japanese Tea Master-Apprentice Keiko Yanaka & her husband, Osamu.  Photos from our tea ceremonies in Israel: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bk5--_9BX5d/?taken-by=sproctor   _________________________ Makoto Fujimura: Twitter & IG @iamfujimura, http://makotofujimura.com  Keiko Yanaka: Twitter @joyinthehouse7 Osamu Yanaka: Twitter @WILLIAM_JOY Nihonga Refractions on Instagram: @nihongarefractions  Listen to more of Mako & Keiko discussing Tea & Communion here: https://fullerstudio.fuller.edu/tea-and-communion-mako-fujimura-and-keiko-yanaka/ The Philos Project: https://philosproject.org  Opening Theme Music: "Homeward" by Future of Forestry Additional Music: "Desert Crossing" by The Radial Conservatory  For more on art & liturgy, visit http://illuminate.us 

Live presentation on "visual liturgy." Presented by your host, Stephen Proctor.  Recorded on March 26, 2018 @ Nebraska Christian College (https://www.nechristian.edu) Opening Theme Music by Future of Forestry. To see & listen to more talks like this, visit: http://illuminate.us   

Let's say you happen upon a burning bush, & a voice calls out from the flames, "Make Me a cup of coffee." What type of coffee would you prepare? Why? And what does this have to do with ANYTHING?! These are the kinds of conversations that I have with Scott Davis, the most interesting person in the world I have ever met.  For the past few years, Scott has run a (pseudo) members-only coffee shop in Nashville, TN. It feels more like a speakeasy than anything else. And if I really dig down into my imagination, then I would describe Scott's space like the rabbit hole in the timeless classic "Alice in Wonderland." And Scott would no doubt be the White Rabbit. Or the Mad Hatter. I can never decide.  So before I set out on my long road trip to Portland, I sat down with Scott in his space "Noteable Blends" one last time. I hope you enjoy. ___________________________________ SHOW NOTES Scott isn't on Twitter. Or Instagram. And he hates Facebook.  It took him years to finally cave in & buy an iPhone, but he still carries an old school flip-phone which he calls the "Bat Phone."  Noteable Blends is in a liminal space of transition, but if you want to "follow" Scott & taste his coffee, then you'll need to go to Nashville & visit "Davis Cookware" in Hillsboro Village. And if you're lucky, you'll spot the White Rabbit. Just be careful, if he hands you a cup & says "drink this!", be prepared to lose track of all space & time... at least for a few hours. 

Welcome back to the ILLUMINATE podcast! This episode kicks off Season 2 with my story of moving to the City of Roses... Portland, Oregon! ______________________________________ SHOW NOTES "Breathing Strings" Live in Europe: https://www.gofundme.com/csduta-breathing-strings-in-europe Please donate to help David Swick & I make this unique concert tour & recording possible! =) The ALOHA 360 podcast & blog: http://thealoha360.com http://illuminate.us 

Instrumental music moves me more than any other art form. It's always been my dream to work with composers & orchestras to create immersive environments that fuel the imagination.  David Swick is a composer & songwriter in Nashville who’s working on a really interesting instrumental project. One of them is so unique and beautiful that I thought I’d bring him onto the ILLUMINATE podcast and let him share with you all his latest collaborative project called "BREATHING STRINGS."  Get ready to hear some beautiful music & to be inspired by David’s story & creative process.  _____________________________________________ SHOW NOTES   David Swick on Twitter: @davidwswick David on Instagram: @davidswick Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/dswick Download "Breathing Strings": https://breathingstrings.bandcamp.com/releases   The Radial Conservatory: http://theradialconservatory.com Vol I on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/volume-i/1292962281 Vol I on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7mynP0xlgxzCzoe2jRfoNM   Spotify Playlists for neoclassical music: - "Calibrate" https://open.spotify.com/user/worshipvj/playlist/1v4ScVaGoEuBTs9xLjFp6V - "Black Sand Beats": https://open.spotify.com/user/worshipvj/playlist/2tnd7x7cNZt2SR0x8ZVJG6   Music Credits: - "Breathing Strings" by D.Swick - "It's Gonna Rain" by Steve Reich - "Clapping Music" by Steve Reich - "Music for 18 Musicians: Pulses" by Steve Reich - "Sileo" by Rihian Sheehan - "Poster Child" by D.Swick

Few have explored the intersection of art & faith like David Taylor, a professor at Fuller Theological Seminary & the Brehm Center for the Arts. David is the perfect blend of artist & pastor, and his thoughtful perspective on liturgical art is a true gift for the Church these days. David has edited & authored books such as “For the Beauty of the Church”, “Contemporary Art & the Church”, & most recently, “The Theatre of God’s Glory”. In each book, he casts a vision for the arts, helping the Church develop a broader & deeper language for the role creativity plays in our faith. Much of which is shared on this episode.  ________________________________________________ SHOW NOTES David Taylor Twitter: @wdavidotaylor  http://artspastor.blogspot.com   “Contemporary Art & the Church”: https://www.amazon.com/Contemporary-Art-Church-Conversation-Theology/dp/0830850651/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496673092&sr=8-1&keywords=contemporary+art+and+the+church   “The Theatre of God’s Glory”: https://www.amazon.com/Theater-Gods-Glory-Creation-Liturgical/dp/0802874487/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1496673110&sr=1-4   “Bono & Eugene Peterson: THE PSALMS” (short film): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l40S5e90KY   http://www.brehmcenter.com  

Religion & Politics. Two of the most exhausting topics known to mankind. Jonathan Martin is a pastor & author who takes a prophetic, bold approach to these issues... especially on social media. In this episode, Jonathan & I discuss the tension of engaging in politics without becoming partisan. We'll also dive into his period of doubt & deconstruction, which led him to integrate liturgical formation & sacramental theology into his Pentecostal faith. _____________________________________________________ SHOW NOTES FOLLOW JM ONLINE: twitter: @theboyonthebike instagram: @jonathanamartin JONATHAN'S BOOK "Prototype" https://www.amazon.com/Prototype-Happens-Discover-Youre-Jesus/dp/1414373635/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1502318977&sr=8-2&keywords=jonathan+martin "How to Survive a Shipwreck" https://www.amazon.com/How-Survive-Shipwreck-Help-Already/dp/0310347971/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1502318977&sr=8-1&keywords=jonathan+martin TD Jakes' "The Polemics of Politics & the Pulpit" Part One: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCPyRVKjCMQ Part Two: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK-0LqWMjbY Produced & Edited by Chad Michael Snavely – http://chadmichael.com http://illuminate.us

Urban Doxology is a ministry that writes the soundtrack of reconciliation in the racially diverse & gentrifying neighborhood of Church Hill, Richmond, VA. An “urban doxology” is any liturgy, preaching, or music & arts that crosses boundaries in ethnicity, race, & class that prepares God’s people for the City of God. In this episode, David Bailey (Founder & Executive Director of Arrabon) talks about his church's creative ministry of reconciliation in a community historically plagued by racism & socio-economic divisions. And out of their ministry flows the most interesting & unpredictable art... both musically & visually. ________________________________________________ SHOW NOTES Follow David Bailey on Twitter – @davidmbailey, @urbandoxology & @wearearrabon http://ARRABON.com http://urbandoxology.com (best place to see their modern urban iconography) Please donate & buy their music! Edited & produced by Chad Michael Snavely - http://chadmichael.com

This is Part Two of Jeremy's Stanley's story of experiencing the Holy Fire ceremony in Jerusalem the day before Easter. His encounter with the flame left his skeptical soul filled with wonder & mystery. And it left his expensive camera with a few burn marks. Jeremy Stanley is a world-traveling photographer & videographer; he's also one of my best friends in the world. _________________________________ Jeremy Stanley - @jeremystanley For photos from his trip to Jerusalem, check out his Instagram: @jeremystanley jeremystanley.tv To learn more about Eastern Orthodox Christianity, check out the following resources: – HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH podcast: "Orthodoxy, with an Eastern Flavor" – "The Orthodox Way" by Bishop Kallistos Ware Music: Intro track: “Christos Anesti” by Petros Gaitanos Outro track: “Song of Every Soul” by Young Oceans Edited & produced by Chad Michael Snavely (chadmichael.com) For more info on art, liturgy & projection technology, visit my site: illuminate.us

Did you know that (almost) every year, mysterious fire shoots out from the tomb where Jesus was buried? Yeah... neither did I. Not only is Eastern Orthodoxy the most ancient Tradition of Christianity, it also continues to be one of the fastest growing. But despite this fact, the Eastern Orthodox Church & it's practices remain a mystery to most Protestant & Evangelical Christians. One of the greatest mysteries in the Orthodox Tradition is the ancient celebration of the Holy Fire, which takes places annually on Holy Saturday in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. (This is the site where they believe Christ was crucified & buried.) One of my best friends in the world, Jeremy Stanley, a world-traveling photographer & videographer, went to Jerusalem this past Holy Week & experienced the Holy Fire ceremony first-hand. But his journey towards the flame was not without great trial & conflict. _________________________________ Jeremy Stanley - @jeremystanley For photos from his trip to Jerusalem, check out his Instagram: @jeremystanley http://jeremystanley.tv To learn more about Eastern Orthodox Christianity, check out the following resources: – HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH podcast: "Orthodoxy, with an Eastern Flavor" – "The Orthodox Way" by Bishop Kallistos Ware Music: “Song of Every Soul” by Young Oceans “Christos Anesti” by Petros Gaitanos “Thin Place (Abbreviated)” by Tony Anderson Edited & produced by Chad Michael Snavely (http://chadmichael.com) For more info on art, liturgy & projection technology, visit my site: http://illuminate.us

What can superheroes teach us about worship music & Christian art? More than you might think. Tyler Huckabee has a fresh & honest perspective on faith, culture & the arts... one that I really enjoy. In this episode, we discuss everything from religion & politics to current trends in worship music. And as it turns out, Chance the Rapper & comic book superheroes can teach us a lot about style vs substance when it comes to our art. Tyler Huckabee – @TylerHuckabee Some of Tyler's favorite voices: Jonathan Martin – @theboyonthebike Alissa Wilkinson – @alissamarie Bradford Davis – @_BWD_ "Who killed the contemporary Christian music industry?" http://theweek.com/articles/555603/who-killed-contemporary-christian-music-industry "Table for Two" by Caedmon's Call (from 40 Aces) Outro Theme music by Thad Kopec & Mason Self Produced & Edited by Chad Michael Snavely

What happens when we use our "worship" as a tool for evangelism? And how does this affect the soul of worship leaders & artists producing seismic experiences for Sunday morning? Dr. Sarah Scott brings both her strong theological sensibilities & her loving mothering skills to the table in this conversation. Sarah's not on any of the socials but you can read more about her here: http://www.vanguard.edu/music/faculty/sarah-scott/ Theme Music by Thad Kopec & Mason Self

What is LENT all about? And how can it calibrate us in this disorienting season of violence, protesting, political turmoil, & exhaustion? This is the 3rd episode in a special series that follows the Church Calendar, featuring Fr. Chad Jarnagin of Luminous Anglican Parish in Franklin, TN. Intro Music: “Lily White as the Back of a Howling Dog's Eye” by The Radial Conservatory Fr. Chad Jarnagin – (@)chadjarnagin The Luminous Podcast – itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/lumin…d1053905000?mt=2 The Liturgists' mediations for LENT (for their patreon supporters only): https://www.patreon.com/theliturgistspodcast ON EARTH (by Michael Gungor & Tyler Chester) – https://www.musicbed.com/artists/on-earth/43617 CALIBRATE { music for meditation } – a playlist of almost 7 hours of music for LENT: https://open.spotify.com/user/worshipvj/playlist/1v4ScVaGoEuBTs9xLjFp6V

2016 was quite the year. So much that I flew all the way to England over New Years to meet up with some close friends, just so we could put up in some small, old pubs & vent about all that's taken place in the past year. One of the pubs we went to was The Eagle & Child in Oxford. The Eagle & Child has been home to some of the most fascinating & inspiring conversations between artists & writers such as C.S. Lewis, JRR Tolkien & their misfit band of "Inklings." While we are far from Inkling-status, we still thought it would be fun to hang out with their ghosts & partake in a somewhat riveting conversation about the status of the world's craziness. Luckily, I brought my podcast mic along. Enjoy. ___________________________________ SHOW NOTES Tom Read: @tom_read + http://chariotsmusic.com Jeremy Stanley: @jeremystanley + http://jeremystanley.tv Theme Music by Thad Kopec & Mason Self Produced & Edited by Chad Michael Snavely

Embracing the season of Epiphany causes us to look back & reflect on the spirit of Christmastide. This is the 2nd episode in a special series that follows the Church Calendar, featuring Fr. Chad Jarnagin of Luminous Anglican Parish in Franklin, TN. Music: “Immanuel” by Tony Anderson & Timbre Cierpke "Interlude" by LuminousCITY / Chad Jarnagin Fr. Chad Jarnagin – (@)chadjarnagin The Luminous Podcast – itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/lumin…d1053905000?mt=2

The 1st episode in a special series that follows the Church Calendar, featuring Fr. Chad Jarnagin of Luminous Parish. Music – “Immanuel” by Tony Anderson & Timbre Cierpke Chad Jarnagin – (@)chadjarnagin The Luminous Podcast – https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/luminous/id1053905000?mt=2 Advent Resources: “A Light in the Dark: Divine Readings for Advent” by AJ Sherrill – http://urbandisciple.org/A_Light_in_the_Dark.pdf “The Liturgical Year” – https://www.amazon.com/Liturgical-Year-Spiraling-Adventure-Spiritual/dp/0849901197/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1481003519&sr=8-10&keywords=liturgical+calendar+books “Why the Church Calendar?” by Glenn Packiam – http://glennpackiam.typepad.com/my_weblog/2013/11/why-the-church-calendar.html Glenn Packiam’s Advent Resources – http://glennpackiam.typepad.com/my_weblog/2013/11/advent-resources-2013-edition.html The Brilliance (great music for Advent & the Church Calendar) – http://thebrilliancemusic.com Young Oceans “Advent” – http://youngoceans.com Visual Liturgy: “The Waiting: an advent reflection series” by The Work of the People – http://www.theworkofthepeople.com/bundle/the-waiting

Exploring the intersection of pentecostal & sacramental theology. Dr. Cheryl Bridges Johns - @cb_johns Aaron Niequist - @aaronieq Dr. Chris Green - @cewgreen Dr. Jackie Johns - @jjohns1221 Pentecostal Theological Seminary - http://www.ptseminary.edu The Practice - http://www.practicetribe.com Music by Thad Kopec & Mason Self Additional Music: “Blood of the Martyrs” by Tony Anderson “More of Your Glory” by Lindell Cooley “Oh My Soul” by A. Taylor

New Zealand... a nation filled with mythical landscapes & raw creativity. NZ is also home to a quiet little church named Edge Kingsland that is writing it's own songs for worship. In this episode, I sit down with EK players Luke Oram & Jay Lucas to talk about their unique approach to liturgy & art... & their overall tension with the idea of "worship music". Kia Ora! Edge Kingland's music - http://web.edgekingsland.co.nz/music.html Promo Video for EK's The Common Good album: https://vimeo.com/148974158 Music Bed tracks: Many Meetings (from LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring soundtrack) Poi E (by Patea Maori Club) Featured Edge Kingsland music: Faith Pt.2 Wairua Tapu / HS Keep On Leading Me Will Not Forget FREE eBook “ILLUMINATE v1 : leading visual worship” @ http://illuminate.us (subscribe to newsletter) Theme Music by Thad Kopec & Mason Self Chur bruv!

A conversation with worship curator Mark Pierson about creativity & interactive sacred spaces. Recorded in Auckland, New Zealand. Music by Thad Kopec & Mason Self _______________________________ SHOW NOTES Mark's book: "The Art of Curating Worship: Reshaping the Role of Worship Leader" – https://www.amazon.com/Art-Curating-Worship-Reshaping-Leader/dp/1451400845/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1476167092&sr=8-1&keywords=the+art+of+curating+worship More of Mark's writings & work: http://www.clayfirecurator.org/author/markpierson/index.html

The podcast formerly known as ALT { art x liturgy x technology } is BACK! In this introductory episode, I (Stephen Proctor) set the stage for this newly rebranded podcast – ILLUMINATE. Music by Thad Kopec & Mason Self ____________________ SHOW NOTES NEW SITE! –> illuminate.us Updated eBook –> "The Guidebook for Visual Worship" is now "ILLUMINATE v1 | leading visual worship" – available for FREE when you sign up for my newsletter. The Liturgists Podcast – Episode on Religious Art: http://www.theliturgists.com/podcast/2016/9/6/religious-art-episode-38

Sometimes the greatest worship music sounds nothing like worship music. For this special Advent episode of the ALT podcast, I flew up to New York City to hang with two musical artists who are writing some of the most interesting liturgical music I've ever heard. Eric Marshall (of Young Oceans) & David Gungor (of The Brilliance) are a part of Trinity Grace Church, a multi-parish community spread across the neighborhoods of NYC. Just like their parishes, the music they're writing for their congregations is centered around the church calendar... but it's nothing like you might expect. This will also serve as the last episode for Season One of ALT. I'm going to take a few months off while I travel, though I'll be actively recording more conversations for Season Two, which I hope to release in the first half of 2016. Thank you to all who have listened & supported this podcast this year! And if you would like to see this podcast thrive & find new listeners, please rate & review in iTunes! =) { SHOW NOTES } Newsletter Signup + FREE Guidebook for Visual Worship: http://illuminate.us/newsletter The Work of the People: Visual Liturgies for Advent: http://www.theworkofthepeople.com/bundle/the-waiting "Immanuel" by Tony Anderson (feat. Timbre Cierpke): https://soundcloud.com/23violins/immanuel Season One music provided by Tony Anderson: http://www.tonyandersonmusic.com Eric Marshall / Young Oceans: http://youngoceans.com David Gungor / The Brilliance: http://thebrilliancemusic.com Trinity Grace Church in NYC: http://trinitygracechurch.com/ for visually enhanced Show Notes, go to: http://illuminate.us/alt-ep14-advent-edition/

Christian Nationalism & the Liturgy of the Empire: is American Evangelicalism the way of the Kingdom? On the 13th episode of the ALT podcast, charismatic pastor Brian Zahnd shares his story & unpacks all sorts of goodness. Brian is the pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri. He's also authored a few books, such as "A Farewell to Mars" & "Beauty Will Save the World." A radical shift has taken place in Brian's faith & in his church... a shift that embraces a sacramental view of the world along with ancient practices such as Liturgy & the Church Calendar. Their church now practices creeds, confession, written prayers & weekly communion while maintaining their modern style & expression. Brian's radical shift has also involved rejecting the red, white & blue nationalism that is plaguing American Evangelicalism. To whom are we pledging allegiance in our worship services? Which calendar is guiding our church? Which liturgy is shaping our faith? The Liturgy of the State? Or the Liturgy of the Kingdom? These are the questions Brian is asking himself as well as his community. Like I said, this one is packed with all sorts of goodness! And Brian boldly & graciously shares a lot of thoughts & wisdom on these topics. SHOW NOTES available here @ http://illuminate.us/alt-ep13-brian-zahnd/ P.S. My apologies to my non-American friends around the world. Much of this episode is highly focused on the American Church; we've got a lot to work through these days. =) But I hope you are still able to glean some wisdom from Brian & re-contextualize it to your culture. Or at the very least, I hope you're entertained by it!

Three podcasts unite for one big unscripted show. For this truly unique episode, I joined forces with friends from two amazing podcasts: Mike & Van from Church Tech Weekly plus Brady Shearer from Pro Church Tools. It’s like a “SuperCast”, if that’s even a thing! This was recorded live on the night before the SALT conference in Nashville. I had invited a handful of church techies & artists to gather in one of my favorite rooms in the world, a members-only coffee club curated by one of the most interesting & creative people I know. It only made sense to capture some of the conversations we had. And to top it all off, my very talented friend, Emily Carlton, created sketch notes for the entire thing, transforming our unscripted conversation into a beautiful visual. I hope you enjoy this special edition of ALT! Be sure to check out the other podcasts represented; what they are offering the Church is really cool. _____________________________ SHOW NOTES Mike Sessler: https://twitter.com/mikesessler Van Metschke: https://twitter.com/thesoundbooth Brady Shearer: https://twitter.com/bradyshearer Church Tech Weekly podcast: http://churchtecharts.org/show/ Pro Church Tools podcast: http://prochurchtools.com/pro-church-podcast/ “Throwback Liturgy & Modern Worship” - my interview on Pro Church Tools: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/063-throwback-liturgy-modern/id848673237?i=343744049&mt=2 Emily Carlton { sketch artist } http://www.emilycarlton.com SALT Nashville: http://SALTnashville.com

Saint Patrick. The Book of Kells. And transcending the division between Catholics & Protestants. This special episode of the ALT podcast was recorded live in Ireland & features two guests: Kathryn Scott & Niall McNally. Kathryn Scott is a well-known songwriter & recording artist who has penned some amazing worship songs, such as "We Still Believe", "Child of God" & "Hungry (Falling on My Knees)". She & her husband, Alan, co-pastor Causeway Coast Vineyard in Coleraine, Northern Ireland, which seeks to bring healing & unity to their community & country. Niall McNally is an ecumenically-minded Catholic who communicates the Story of God both through words & images. He's passionate about technological art-forms such as Environmental Projection & has a lot of wisdom to share in how to approach art, liturgy & technology. _______________________________ SHOW NOTES: "How the Irish Saved Civilization" by Thomas Cahill http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0385418493/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0385418493&linkCode=as2&tag=wors07-20&linkId=P2BNPDQ4PQN53PY2 Jamie George's sermon on Saint Patrick: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/sacred-broken-who-was-st./id220069761?i=337756362&mt=2 The Book of Kells app for iPad: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/the-book-of-kells/id572483284?mt=8 The Secret of Kells animated film: https://itunes.apple.com/us/movie/the-secret-of-kells/id390523341 Kathryn Scott: https://twitter.com/kathrynscott https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/kathryn-scott/id3088471 Niall McNally: https://twitter.com/niallmcnally http://CastIreland.com Celtic version of ALT Logo/Artwork by Sarah Hodges https://instagram.com/s_hodges Music: - “Siram” by Tony Anderson - A few selections from The Secret of Kells soundtrack. - “We Still Believe” & “Hungry” by Kathryn Scott - “Alleluia” by Eric Whitacre for visually enhanced show notes, go to illuminate.us/ALT-ep11-Ireland

Science. Liturgy. Brain Waves. & Environmental Projection! What's the science behind the environments we design for worship? On the 10th Episode of the ALT podcast, I talk with one of the smartest people I know: Mike McHargue – who also goes by the nickname, “Science Mike.” Rock concerts. Cathedrals. Forests. Spas. Office cubicles. And creative co-work spaces. What is happening neurologically & physiologically as we step into various styles of visual environments. As someone who creates environments for both worship & entertainment, this is the type of question that spins around in my head quite frequently… but it’s a question that I don’t have a good answer for. “Science Mike” graciously listened to my non-linear questions & philosophical musings… & then he responded with intelligent thoughts & scientific answers that absolutely blew my mind. Buckle up… this one’s sure to fire off every single synapse in your prefrontal cortex! _________________________ SHOW NOTES SALT: creative arts conference – October 21-23 – Nashville, TN – http://SALTnashville.com SALT pre-conference + evening gathering @ my members-only coffee shop (you have to register for the pre-con to attend the evening event) http://SALTnashville.com/preconf/ Science Mike on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mikemchargue & Instagram: https://instagram.com/mikemchargue/ Mike’s story of being a Christian turned Atheist turned Jesus follower: • “Lost & Found” from The Liturgists Podcast (Part One: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-6-lost-and-found-part-1/id903433534?i=320095389&mt=2) + (Part Two: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-7-lost-and-found-part-2/id903433534?i=321119450&mt=2) • Mike’s Interview with Pete Holmes on “You Made It Weird” (explicit version)– http://nerdist.com/you-made-it-weird-201-science-mike-mchargue/ http://MikeMcHargue.com http://AskScienceMike.com http://TheLiturgists.com For additional show notes & thoughts, go to: http://illuminate.us/alt-ep10-science-mike/

Art. Liturgy. And Evangelical Mega-Churches. On the 9th episode of the ALT podcast, I have a joint conversation with Willow Creek pastors Blaine Hogan & Aaron Niequist. Blaine Hogan is the creative pastor for Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, IL. He's had a career in acting, including a popular TV show. His path then led him to become the creative director of one of the largest & most creative churches in North America. His experience in merging the creative arts into modern worship settings has given him an incredible insight for emerging artists in the Church. He's recently launched a new eCourse called "Make Better" designed specifically for creators & artists. At the same church, Aaron Niequist has served as a worship leader for the past few years. Like Blaine, he's been intrigued by the ancient expressions of the Church. Aaron has experienced both success & failure as he's experimented with integrating ancient practices into their large contemporary mega-church setting. His path has led him to create two avenues for engaging Liturgy in a contemporary context. The first is "A New Liturgy", a series of 25-minute journeys through prayer, meditation & song. The second is an experimental gathering on Sunday nights called "The Practice", an ecumenical worship service that explores the unforced rhythms of grace. So both of these guys are navigating art & liturgy in one of the largest evangelical churches in America, Willow Creek... a church that has provided a refuge for many escaping dry, dead & traditional religion by creating exciting seeker-friendly worship services. Let's just say they have a lot of stories & wisdom to share! ______________________________________ SHOW NOTES There are a lot of show notes plus a few videos included for this episode. Go to http://illuminate.us/alt-ep9 to access. Thanks!

Why isn't the Church known for art anymore? What happened? On the 8th episode of the ALT podcast, I sit down with my friend Preston Sharpe, who does a brilliant job at explaining why so much of the Church has become a creative wasteland. Preston is an artist-pastor who leads Sacrament Church in East Nashville. We first met at the PRAXIS Conference where we both presented talks under the theme "Creativity & the Christian Imagination." His message mostly focused on two major events in church history: Iconoclasm & the Protestant Reformation. These controversial movements sought to excommunicate & destroy all art & imagery in the Church. And the effects of these movements can still be seen in Western Evangelicalism today. I asked Preston to share this message on the podcast. And as you can imagine, it made for a very illuminating conversation. ______________________________ SHOW NOTES Preston on Twitter: https://twitter.com/preston_sharpe Preston on Instagram: https://instagram.com/prestonsharpe/ Sacrament Church: http://www.sacramentchurch.com PRAXIS Conference: http://www.praxisconference.com Left Behind – The Video Game: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Left_Behind:_Eternal_Forces Seeing Icons With Protestant Eyes: http://illuminate.us/seeing-icons-with-protestant-eyes/ "White Man" by GUNGOR: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WybvhRu9KU Music Bed by Tony Anderson: http://www.tonyandersonmusic.com For visually enhanced show notes with photos of those crazy Reformers & images of art being destroyed, go to: http://illuminate.us/alt-ep8-preston-sharpe/ PLEASE SUPPORT THIS PODCAST BY RATING & LEAVING A REVIEW IN ITUNES! Thanks! If you have any questions, tweet me @stephenproctor *& use the hashtag #ALTcast.

Liturgy for Small Groups? What does this look like? Rusty Gates is a fellow artist & explorer who has been attracted to liturgical forms of worship. His path led him to be a part of BLOOM Church in Denver, a garden of resurrection planted by Michael & Lisa Gungor & their longtime friend Andrew Arndt. BLOOM considers itself to be a "network of house churches" where the emphasis on community & worship is expressed through what most churches call "small groups." But these are no ordinary small groups. Guided by the question "If this was someone's only encounter with the church, would this be enough?", the leaders of BLOOM have been compelled to embrace a more liturgical & sacramental approach to their small group gatherings. And eventually, Rusty was asked to come on staff to lead & guide these house churches. Now in a different city & season of life, Rusty has seen a need in the world of podcasts & decided to fill it, resulting in the creation of the (Audio) Liturgy Podcast. "ALP", as I like to call it, is a unique & highly collaborative approach to experiencing liturgy. And Rusty's been so kind to let me include one of these liturgies within this episode! What I love about Rusty is his passion to explore what liturgy can look like outside of the Sunday morning event. And I'm so glad he came on the podcast to tell us a little about that. I hope you enjoy our conversation. __________________________________ [ SHOW NOTES ] https://twitter.com/rustyjgates http://www.praxisconference.com http://www.bloomchurchdenver.com http://www.audioliturgypodcast.org Submit a contribution to the (Audio) Liturgy Podcast: http://www.audioliturgypodcast.org/submit/ If you have a moment, please rate & review this podcast in iTunes!

An honest conversation with my mentor, Roy Cochran. Some of the best conversations about faith don't happen over a pulpit or a desk in a conference room... they happen over a table... & in this case, a table on a friend's back porch on a hot summer night. In this unique "live" one-take, unedited & unfiltered episode, CJ & I sit down with one of our favorite people on the planet: ROY COCHRAN. Roy is our hero. This quiet, unassuming man has been one of the greatest voices of truth & love in our lives. His 25+ years in full-time on-stage ministry has put him in a unique position to be able to speak wisdom to the aches & passions of the church artist... including ours. He is a mentor & pastor to artists & worship leaders all over the world. And he's constantly opening his home to wounded & weary pilgrims who have been cast aside by professional 501c3 organizations that pose as churches. Bottom-line... Roy knows how to love well... especially artists in the church. Because he's been there. And yet he still chooses joy while having compassion for the cynics. We kick off our conversation with this article: "Dear Church: An open letter from one of those millennials you can’t figure out" - http://www.patheos.com/blogs/ponderanew/2015/05/13/dear-church-an-open-letter-from-one-of-those-millennials-you-cant-figure-out/ We dive into the tension-filled conversation of why so many millennials are apparently "leaving the Church" & why so many are running toward a more ancient version of Christianity that is marked by uncool, ritual-based liturgical worship. As always, Roy's compassionate & loving response drives us toward a better conversation... one that sounds more like the Kingdom of God & less like the Kingdom of church. _____________________________________________ You can follow Roy on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/worshipmentor & on Instagram @ http://instagram.com/roycochran. You can learn more about Roy & his ministry to artists on his site: http://RoyCochran.com If you're ever in the SoCal/San Diego area, be sure to look Roy up... I promise he'd love to have coffee with you. And if you've been influenced & impacted by Roy & want to support his work, please consider donating to his ministry: http://roycochran.com/donate/

The story of an Anglican priest serving in an evangelical church. What if the way we worship isn't just an expression of our faith but is part of what shapes our faith? On the 5th episode of ALT, Stephen Proctor interviews Glenn Packiam, a fellow liturgical explorer who happens to be an Anglican priest in an evangelical church. When he's not navigating those waters, he's busy authoring books, writing worship songs, recording albums, pursuing his PhD in England, & being one of the most loving husbands & fathers I've ever seen. Glenn is a beast! & I'm so thankful that he carved out a little time to share his thoughts on this episode of ALT. _____________________________ SHOW NOTES available @ http://illuminate.us/alt-ep5-glenn-packiam

Visual Worship. Environmental Projection. & Endless Possibilities. On the 4th episode of ALT, Stephen Proctor interviews visual worshiper Camron Ware, a projection artist & a pioneer of environmental projection in the Church. Camron is an incredible technologist whose passion & conviction for authentic worship can be clearly seen in his work. His curiosity & creativity has led him to innovate in ways that have made a significant change in the landscape of visual worship in the Western Church. But his story is not void of tension – tension that compels him to caution anyone who runs too eagerly to the newest & latest trends. __________________________________________________ For SHOW NOTES, visit: http://illuminate.us/alt-ep4-camron-ware/

Contemplative. Liturgical. Sacramental. These are some of the defining marks of an ancient+future faith than many evangelical Christians are longing for in their worship. On the 3rd episode of ALT, Stephen Proctor interviews Chad Jarnagin, curator of the LUMINOUS Project, a contemplative experience designed to introduce curious explorers to the ancient practices of the Church. Chad describes his journey from being a touring musician to going on staff at a large evangelical church as a worship pastor. Yet his longing for a more contemplative, sacramental life has sent him down a path that few have chosen – to become a priest & join the Holy Orders of the Anglican Church. Listen as Chad describes his luminous experiences & what it's compelling him to plant. (And something I plan to be a part of myself!) It's quite exciting! ––––––– SHOW NOTES ––––––– To see a list of recommended podcasts & books, as well as an image of "The Compass Rose", go to: http://illuminate.us/alt-ep3-chad-jarnagin/

If you're easily offended, DO NOT listen to this bonus episode! Recording the 2nd Episode of ALT with Tony Anderson was an absolutely hilarious & random experience. We chased so many rabbit-trails & spun off into crazy cynical humor that made me laugh until I hurt. Tony is one of the funniest guys I know, & he knows how to laugh at the absurdity of our own actions & culture. I thought this would be a fun little surprise bonus edition for you hardcore listeners & fans of the ALT podcast. I hope you truly enjoy this very random & slightly offensive collection of "outtakes" & bloopers. It's not all fun & games though...Tony really does get into some good serious headspace, extending some of his thoughts from the official interview... but we also spiral upward & downward during some of those thoughts that I felt like cutting it from the official interview & saving it for this bloopers reel. And please hear my heart when I say that we truly mean no ill-will or bad feelings toward humanity... our intention is to laugh in satirical & sarcastic ways. And if you are truly offended, then we apologize. =) SHOW NOTES: Catalyst: http://catalystconference.com You Won't Believe Who Doesn't Believe the Whole Bible Anymore: http://www.charismanews.com/culture/44924-you-won-t-believe-who-doesn-t-believe-the-whole-bible-anymore Tony's new worship album: http://www.sonymusic.com/platinumgoldrecords

One of the most successful film composers of my generation shares raw & honest thoughts on the landscape of creativity in today's church. A generation of young composers is rising up & filling our world with beautiful instrumental music, yet it's being mostly written & recorded using samples on computers instead of with orchestras in concert halls. On the 2nd episode of ALT, Stephen Proctor interviews sonic architect Tony Anderson. Tony is a phenomenal artist and neoclassical composer who takes an innovative approach to scoring films and music beds. This is an honest conversation where Tony shares his heart, weaknesses, frustrations & passion for the instrumental music scene, as well as his perspectives on the areas of art, liturgy and technology. ____________________________ SHOW NOTES: http://illuminate.us/alt-ep2-tony-anderson/

Introducing ALT – a new podcast that explores the intersections of ART x LITURGY x TECHNOLOGY. Hosted by Stephen Proctor & w/ occasional co-hosting by CJ Casciotta. In this introductory episode, we share the heartbeat & vision behind this new podcast. You'll also get a glimpse into each of our stories, so that you know a little about the hosts. In future episodes, we'll be interviewing fellow artists, liturgists & technologist about the ever-evolving landscape of modern worship in the Western Church. ____________________________ SHOW NOTES: http://illuminate.us/alt-podcast-an-introduction/