Create In Me

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.  

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!  

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.  

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!

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.  

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 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?

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.  

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? 

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.