Podcasts about joy unspeakable contemplative practices

All songs and texts used with permission. All rights reserved. Opening Prayer written by Cassidhe Hart Opening Song: May This Body Be a Bridge by Te Martin from the album Cultivating Sees of Liberation: Songs of Justice and Joy Sung Psalm Opening and Doxology: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan from the album Monk in the World: Songs for Contemplative Living Psalm 13: Interpretation, musical setting, and sung by Simon de Voil Reading of the Night: Barbara Holmes, Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church. Fortress Press (2017) page 111. Closing Song: Prayer of St. Francis  by Simon de Voil from the album Monk in the World: Songs for Contemplative Living Closing Blessing written by Cassidhe Hart Prayers, readings, and blessings voiced by Claudia Love Mair and Jo-ed Tome. Audio engineering by Simon de Voil. Please note: All of the songs and prayer responses are published on albums in the Abbey of the Arts collection unless otherwise noted. In addition, these songs & responses have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding video collections.  Audio and video recordings of the Prayer Cycles are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

All songs and texts used with permission. All rights reserved. Opening Prayer written by Claudia Love Mair Opening Song: We Rise by Batya Levine (a queer Jewish artist) © 2020, from the album Karov  First Reading: Kat Armas, Abuelita Faith: What Women on the Margins Teach Us about Wisdom, Persistence, and Strength. Brazos Press (2021) page 72. Sung Psalm Opening and Doxology: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan from the album Monk in the World: Songs for Contemplative Living Psalm 37: Interpretation by Christine Robinson, adaptation, musical setting and sung by Simon de Voil Second Reading: Barbara Holmes, Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church. Fortress Press (2017) page 11. Prayers of Concern: Claudia Love Mair Sung Response: Words by Abbey Dream Team. Music by Betsey Beckman. Arranged and performed by Alexa Sunshine Rose and Simon de Voil  © 2025 Closing Song: We Shall Be Known by MaMuse from the album Prayers for Freedom Closing Blessing written by Claudia Love Mair Prayers, readings, and blessings voiced by Claudia Love Mair and Jo-ed Tome. Audio engineering by Simon de Voil. Please note: All of the songs and prayer responses are published on albums in the Abbey of the Arts collection unless otherwise noted. In addition, these songs & responses have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding video collections.  Audio and video recordings of the Prayer Cycles are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

I can't think of a better way of not only concluding this week's reflection but of capping this entire nine-week journey through Beautiful Resistance than encouraging each of us to allow these poetic stanzas from the pen of BarbaraHolmes in her book Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices from the Black Church–which dovetails nicely withBonhoeffer's experience with the black church in New York, as related in Tyson's epilogue.

https://abbeyofthearts.com/prayer-cycle/the-love-of-thousands/ Credits: All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer: Written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: You Are Sweet (Mechtild of Magdeburg) by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan from the album The Love of Thousands: Singing with Angels, Saints, and Ancestors Sung Psalm Opening and Doxology: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan from the album Monk in the World: Songs for Contemplative Living Psalm Version: Tune: Rathlin Island (Brian Connors), Words: Kiran Young Wimberly © 2022. From the album Celtic Psalms: May We Rise. Reading of the Night: Barbara Holmes, Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church, Augsburg Fortress Publishers (2004), page 130. Closing Song: This World Is Pregnant with God (Singing with Angela of Foligno) by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan from the album The Love of Thousands: Singing with Angels, Saints, and Ancestors Closing Blessing: Written by Christine Valters Paintner to companion her book The Love of Thousands : How Angels, Saints, and Ancestors Walk with Us Toward Holiness (Ave Maria Press) Please note: All of the songs and prayer responses are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs & responses have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). Audio and video recordings of the Prayer Cycles are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

Claudia Love Mair and Christine Valters Paintner have a conversation about Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church by Barbara A. Holmes. Joy Unspeakable focuses on the aspects of the Black church that point beyond particular congregational gatherings toward a mystical and communal spirituality not within the exclusive domain of any denomination.

Spiritual teacher, activist, and scholar Dr Barbara A. Holmes unpacks her game-changing book Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church. She gently and brilliantly invites us to move beyond a Eurocentric imagination and into the deeper Christian stream that connect us all. 

Our good friend Phileena Heuertz is back with a new book, Mindful Silence! She joins us to talk about centering prayer and the role that things like solitude, silence, and stillness play in our callings to social action.Things we mention in this episode/other resources:- Phileena’s last appearance on CXMH: episode 51 - Pilgrimage of a Soul- Obviously, the book we talk about in this episode! Mindful Silence: The Heart of Christian Contemplation- MindfulSilence.org, where you can learn all about the book.- Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church (2nd edition) by Barbara A. Holmes- Insight Timer, a meditation app (we have a CXMH group within Insight Timer, search for it and join us!)Connect with Phileena on her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Or buy her books on Amazon!Quotes:- “Contemplative spirituality is anything that helps us wake up and see more clearly who we are and who God is.” (tweet)- “The capacity to see and to know who we are is fundamental to the Christian experience.” (tweet)- “How many of us are really living into the reality of being a child of the divine? Someone with divine DNA?” (tweet)- “Contemplative prayer & social action must go hand in hand for effective social change.” (tweet)- “As we give ourselves to contemplative prayer we grow in discernment, hearing ‘this is yours to do, this is not.’” (tweet)- “We don’t practice presence very well.” (tweet)Connect with Robert on his website, Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.Connect with Holly on her website or Twitter.Connect more with CXMH on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest.Ways to support CXMH:- make a pledge on Patreon and get rewards like an exclusive Facebook group, a mug, sticker, t-shirt, or more!- give a one-time gift using PayPal- Do your Amazon shopping through this link- Leave us a rating & review on iTunes or Google Play- Check out our CXMH merchandise to show off your support- Listen to the Cxmhunity Spotify playlist here- Check out other episodes and find your favorites guests on our website.Intro/Outro music for this episode is ‘Fall Down’ by Rivers & Robots.

How does the encounter with silence usher us into mystery? And how is our relationship with silence shaped by, or challenged by, the challenges and dynamics of social difference and privilege? What is the relationship between contemplation and community, and how is community actually essential to authentic contemplation? How are tears, and moaning, and dancing, and lament, essential to contemplation — especially among those persons and communities who experience oppression? “Silence has power, positively, it’s life-giving... and it also can be a hiding place for people of the dominant culture.” — Dr. Barbara A. Holmes These are just a few of the questions we explore in today’s episode, a conversation with scholar and contemplative the Reverend Dr. Barbara A. Holmes. Dr. Holmes is the author of Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church, and has emerged as a leading voice calling for affirming and celebrating contemplation as it emerges in the lives of all people, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or religious affiliation. “The women in my family were the ones who really seeded contemplation into my very being. I watched them — I saw that mysticism didn’t have to be weird. It was very weird, but you could still make biscuits! You didn’t have to go berserk; you could do your normal life, be loving,  kind, help others, and still host these magical moments, wondrous moments, awe-inducing moments, and still do ordinary things like meet your kids at the stop on the school bus.” — Dr. Barbara A. Holmes Her thoughtful and insightful reflection on silence and contemplation is grounded in her family of origin — coming from the Gullah people of the SC/GA low country — and her work which explores the intersection between spirituality, stillness, and social justice. “Silence isn’t the word that I often use. Just simply because of the problem for people of color, and women, who have been silenced... I tend to use the language of stillness, of centering, and of embodied ineffability.” — Dr. Barbara A. Holmes Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Barbara A. Holmes, Joy Unspeakable Barbara A. Holmes, Race and the Cosmos Barbara A. Holmes, Dreaming Audre Lorde, Your Silence Will Not Protect You Jane Elliott, A Collar in My Pocket: The Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes Exercise Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander Thomas Merton, Echoing Silence Margaret Barker, Temple Mysticism The Desert Mothers and Fathers, Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Janet McKenzie, Holiness and the Feminine Spirit: The Art of Janet McKenzie Matthew Fox, Creativity Beyoncé, Dangerously in Love Kendrick Lamar, Revolution Music John Coltrane, A Love Supreme Jimi Hendrix, The Best of Jimi Hendrix: Experience Hendrix Taizé, Chants for Peace and Serenity June Jordan, Directed by Desire: The Collected Poems of June Jordan John Stewart Bell, Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Mechanics James A. Noel, “Being, Nothingness and the Signification of Silence in African-American Religious Consciousness” in Black Religion and the Imagination of Matter in the Atlantic World Stacy M. Floyd-Thomas, Deeper Shades of Purple: Womanism in Religion and Society Kelly Brown Douglas, Sexuality and the Black Church: A Womanist Perspective Katie Cannon, Black Womanist Ethics Howard Thurman, Essential Writings Barbara Ransby, Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement  “The willingness to listen, on both sides, is the beginning of reconciliation.” — Dr. Barbara A. Holmes Episode 26: Silence as Unspeakable Joy: A Conversation with Dr. Barbara A. Holmes Hosted by: Cassidy Hall With: Kevin Johnson, Carl McColman Guest: Barbara Holmes Date Recorded: May 24, 2018

How does the encounter with silence usher us into mystery? And how is our relationship with silence shaped by, or challenged by, the challenges and dynamics of social difference and privilege? What is the relationship between contemplation and community, and how is community actually essential to authentic contemplation? How are tears, and moaning, and dancing, and lament, essential to contemplation — especially among those persons and communities who experience oppression? “Silence has power, positively, it’s life-giving... and it also can be a hiding place for people of the dominant culture.” — Dr. Barbara A. Holmes These are just a few of the questions we explore in today’s episode, a conversation with scholar and contemplative the Reverend Dr. Barbara A. Holmes. Dr. Holmes is the author of Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church, and has emerged as a leading voice calling for affirming and celebrating contemplation as it emerges in the lives of all people, regardless of ethnicity, gender, or religious affiliation. “The women in my family were the ones who really seeded contemplation into my very being. I watched them — I saw that mysticism didn’t have to be weird. It was very weird, but you could still make biscuits! You didn’t have to go berserk; you could do your normal life, be loving,  kind, help others, and still host these magical moments, wondrous moments, awe-inducing moments, and still do ordinary things like meet your kids at the stop on the school bus.” — Dr. Barbara A. Holmes Her thoughtful and insightful reflection on silence and contemplation is grounded in her family of origin — coming from the Gullah people of the SC/GA low country — and her work which explores the intersection between spirituality, stillness, and social justice. “Silence isn’t the word that I often use. Just simply because of the problem for people of color, and women, who have been silenced... I tend to use the language of stillness, of centering, and of embodied ineffability.” — Dr. Barbara A. Holmes Some of the resources and authors we mention in this episode: Barbara A. Holmes, Joy Unspeakable Barbara A. Holmes, Race and the Cosmos Barbara A. Holmes, Dreaming Audre Lorde, Your Silence Will Not Protect You Jane Elliott, A Collar in My Pocket: The Blue Eyes/Brown Eyes Exercise Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander Thomas Merton, Echoing Silence Margaret Barker, Temple Mysticism The Desert Mothers and Fathers, Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Janet McKenzie, Holiness and the Feminine Spirit: The Art of Janet McKenzie Matthew Fox, Creativity Beyoncé, Dangerously in Love Kendrick Lamar, Revolution Music John Coltrane, A Love Supreme Jimi Hendrix, The Best of Jimi Hendrix: Experience Hendrix Taizé, Chants for Peace and Serenity June Jordan, Directed by Desire: The Collected Poems of June Jordan John Stewart Bell, Speakable and Unspeakable in Quantum Mechanics James A. Noel, “Being, Nothingness and the Signification of Silence in African-American Religious Consciousness” in Black Religion and the Imagination of Matter in the Atlantic World Stacy M. Floyd-Thomas, Deeper Shades of Purple: Womanism in Religion and Society Kelly Brown Douglas, Sexuality and the Black Church: A Womanist Perspective Katie Cannon, Black Womanist Ethics Howard Thurman, Essential Writings Barbara Ransby, Ella Baker and the Black Freedom Movement  “The willingness to listen, on both sides, is the beginning of reconciliation.” — Dr. Barbara A. Holmes Episode 26: Silence as Unspeakable Joy: A Conversation with Dr. Barbara A. Holmes Hosted by: Cassidy Hall With: Kevin Johnson,

Barbara Holmes served as president of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, as well as professor of ethics and African American religious studies. She was ordained in the Latter Rain Apostolic Holiness Church in Dallas, Texas, and has privilege of call in the United Church of Christ and recognition of ministerial standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). In addition to her work with law firms, Holmes has worked with homeless missions, HIV/AIDS ministries, and international ministries in Kenya (the Presbyterian Church of East Africa) and Japan. The author of five books and numerous articles, her most recent publications include: Dreaming (Fortress Press, 2012), Liberation and the Cosmos: Conversations with the Elders (Fortress Press, 2008), and Joy Unspeakable: Contemplative Practices of the Black Church (Augsburg Fortress, 2004). Holmes earned an MS from Southern Connecticut University, an MDiv from Columbia Theological Seminary, a PhD from Vanderbilt University, and a JD from Walter F. George School of Law at Mercer University. (adapted from The Association of Theological Schools' website) In this episode, Barbara shares about her own contemplative lineage, reflections on the contemplative aspects of the Black Lives Matter movement, the contemplative and social impact of Kendrick Lamar and Beyonce,  and her sense of hope in the next generation.