Best Liturgists Podcasts (2024)

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[Ep08] Fostering Musical Growth in Churches w/ Composer and Liturgist Greg Wilbur 30:58

4d ago30:58

30:58

In this episode, Magnus Gautestad and Greg Wilbur discuss the role of music in churches and how it can empower evangelism and worship. They delve into the importance of creating music that reflects God's attributes and how different styles can be integrated to unify the body of Christ. Greg emphasizes the pastoral role of music leaders and the need…

1
Bishop Stowe preaches on the climate crisis for Good Shepherd Sunday 27:08

11h ago27:08

27:08

“I think there's a major concern for living more in harmony with creation, which is a result of conversion,” says Bishop John Stowe, OFM Conv., “But I think Pope Francis is also, as our good shepherd, calling us to greater urgency to act because time is slipping away and we haven't done much.” Bishop John Stowe is a Conventual Franciscan, the third…

1
#136 – Tiffany Yecke Brooks: Spiritual Anxiety & Religious Trauma 1:02:46

2h ago1:02:46

1:02:46

Listen to the after show where Nate & Shelby debrief and shore more thoughts about this conversation with Tiffany Tiffany Yecke Brooks discusses her evolution from fundamentalist roots, questioning long-held doctrines, and identifying spiritual anxiety as a trauma response. She advocates for reinterpreting biblical stories and emphasizes the import…

1
To be a good preacher, pray more and read widely 24:51

4d ago24:51

24:51

Good preaching requires mastery of rhetoric, in particular the tools of repetition and organization. “Otherwise, they’re not gonna remember,” says John Baldovin, S.J. “This is a no-brainer, but beginning, middle and end, and not trying to make too many points” are key to a compelling homily. He also adds with hyperbolic emphasis, “If you want to be…

1
#135 – Thomas Jay Oord: Open Relational Theology 1:08:41

7d ago1:08:41

1:08:41

Listen to the Utterly Heretical after show episode that Nate & Shelby recorded debriefing this conversation with Thomas Jay Oord Dr. Thomas Jay Oord delves into open relational theology, highlighting a non-controlling, relational God and rethinking traditional omnipotence. Check out his book God After Deconstruction with Tripp Fuller. We addresses …

1
Striking a chord: The debate on singing in the homily 34:15

9d ago34:15

34:15

“Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!” This is how Kim Harris starts her homily for the Second Sunday of Easter—in joyous song. “When Thomas first the tidings heard / How they had seen the risen Lord / He doubted the disciples’ word. Alleluia!...” Such daring from the ambo has long struck a controversial chord with preachers and liturgists alike, promptin…

1
When preparing to preach, treat your homily like music 35:54

15d ago35:54

35:54

In the Judeo-Christian tradition, God often makes Godself known through sound: be it a voice from a burning bush, a resounding clap of thunder or the blast of a trumpet. “God is revealed through sound,” affirms Ed Foley, O.F.M. Cap. “I think of a homily as sound theology,” he adds, “it’s acoustic engagement.” When preparing to preach, Ed, the Duns …

1
Episode 31: Found Family, Found Footage 1:03:22

16d ago1:03:22

1:03:22

In this episode, we interview Michael and Martha DeFrancesco, a Cincinnati couple who enjoyed a life-long friendship with Fr. Rivers that can only be described as “found family.” Martha and Michael share personal memories and wonderful details about Fr. Rivers the man (rather than the legend). They also share a few treasures in the form of footage …

1
#134 – Dr. Laura Anderson: Sex, Dating, Courtship and Trauma 1:02:25

20d ago1:02:25

1:02:25

Listen to the 20-minute Utterly Heretical after show episode that Nate & Shelby recorded debriefing this conversation with Dr. Laura Anderson Dr. Laura Anderson tackles religious trauma, explaining it as our physiological response to religious experiences, distinct from the events themselves. She critiques purity culture for its detrimental effects…

1
Ukraine military chaplain: Preaching hope to a world at war on Good Friday 32:12

23d ago32:12

32:12

When reflecting on the life, death and resurrection of the Lord while living in a state of military invasion and active war, Andriy Zelinskyy, S.J., says that “everything becomes more authentic.” For this Jesuit priest, who serves as the chief military chaplain of the Ukrainian-Greek Catholic Church, the task of preaching to those suffering in Ukra…

1
#133 – David Fitch: Is God's Love Coercive? 59:23

27d ago59:23

59:23

Listen to the extra 20-minute Utterly Heretical episode that Nate & Shelby recorded debriefing this conversation with David. Does Hell or even annihilationism mean that God's love is coercive? David Fitch (author of Reckoning With Power) debates with Nate and Shelby about whether we can call God's love "non-coercive". Thoughts, questions, stories? …

1
A Preacher’s Guide to Holy Week: These are long liturgies. Be brief! 42:53

29d ago42:53

42:53

The liturgies of Holy Week need to be seen as a unity. With two weeks remaining before the start of this summit of the Christian year, the “Preach” team sought the expertise of two esteemed liturgical scholars and practitioners to give preachers a whistle-stop tour of the readings and liturgies for this sacred week. In conversation with “Preach” ho…

1
#132 – Elaine Pagels: Trump and Doubting Thomas 1:05:53

1M ago1:05:53

1:05:53

Elaine Pagels presents the compelling theory that the Gospel of John might have intentionally silenced the Gospel of Thomas. This interview not only explores the hidden gospels but also challenges us to rethink the foundational narratives of Christianity through the insights of Elaine Pagels. Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email almostheretic…

1
Father Rob Galea’s preaching strategies for reaching disengaged youth 33:23

1M ago33:23

33:23

“Explain the resurrection to me in two minutes without using any church language.” This is the challenge that Father Rob Galea sets for his staff to ensure they can easily relate to the young people they serve. “That takes practice, and that takes hanging out with the kids and understanding the way they speak, the way they reason.” Rob, originally …

1
#131 – Peter Rollins: The Philosophy of Deconstruction 1:21:09

1M ago1:21:09

1:21:09

We sit down with philosopher and theologian Peter Rollins to explore the intricate landscape of faith, doubt, and the philosophy of deconstruction. Rollins discusses the importance of embracing our uncertainties and the transformative power of questioning traditional religious narratives. Through a deep dive into philosophical theology, we uncover …

1
Worship Leaders as Loved and Sent (Cloeter) 32:55

1M ago32:55

32:55

In this episode we share Rev. Jeff Cloeter's plenary from the 2023 Worship Arts Leader Initiative (WALi) Summit: Worship Leaders as Loved and Sent. Be encouraged - you are much, much more than your achievements - you are loved by God in Jesus! SHOW NOTES Links to Pastor Cloeter's Book:https://www.amazon.com/Loved-Sent-Words-Define-Matter/dp/1938840…

1
How a deacon’s past as a taxi driver fuels his preaching 43:43

1M ago43:43

43:43

The best formation Deacon Steve Kramer has ever received were the four summers he spent as a taxi and limo driver. “It really prepared me for pastoral counseling,” he says of his year’s shuttling people back and forth. “They sit, they open their heart, and pretty much they figure out that they’ll never see you again. So they open up in a different …

1
293: Psalm 23 Ignatian 29:04

2M ago29:04

29:04

Through imagery & visualization we enter into the scene of Psalm 23 with a slight twist.. we meet Yeshua as Shepherd there! This track is great for calming anxiety & for going deeper into connection with God. Let the beautiful, peaceful scene described in Psalm 23 take you into a moment of Stillness & Peace. Support for Harkening Deer: Harkening De…

1
Episode 30: Having Church all Week with Scott Patterson 1:01:04

2M ago1:01:04

1:01:04

We’re still talking about that phenomenal recording of Fr. Rivers and the Hawkins Family in a new episode of MFR! And we talk about so much more as well. Bonus content from our interview with composer and former Church musician Scott Patterson, featured in Episode 29, forms the content of this episode of Meet Father Rivers. Eric tells us more about…

1
#130 – Anna Gazmarian: Religious OCD and Mental Illness 45:16

2M ago45:16

45:16

Listen to the full, unedited episode with extra 15 minutes Anna Gazmarian shares her profound journey of doubting faith, getting fired from a church, sexual assault, and confronting her mental health diagnosis within the church. How does faith intersect with the challenges of Religious OCD, scrupulosity and mental health? Discover her path to under…

1
Meet a woman who teaches priests to preach 35:14

2M ago35:14

35:14

“Effective preaching is like good butter sinking into warm toast,” says Karla Bellinger. “You’ve gotta give the Holy Spirit a little bit of time to do some work.” As the founding executive director of the Institute for Homiletics at the University of Dallas and president of the Catholic Association of Teachers of Homiletics, Karla is filled with bi…

1
292 - Be Still (An Apophatic Meditation) 27:03

2M ago27:03

27:03

An Apophatic Meditation to create space for us to simply be with Christ. Support for Harkening Deer: Harkening Deer | Meditation Harkening Deer Podcast Join us on Patreon. Donate to Harkening Deer Check out creator & host of Harkening Deer, Sean J Stevens on Insight Timer, Aura, & Instagram. Keep in touch about Live Events with Sean J Stevens. Chri…

1
#129 – Did Noah's Ark Actually Happen? 46:55

2M ago46:55

46:55

If the Bible isn't about being true or false, then what is the point of stories like Noah's Ark? Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email almostheretical@gmail.com Become a member and get: 1. Bonus episodes of Utterly Heretical (our private podcast) every month 2. All full-length episodes 3. Access to our private community of 350+ listeners Becom…

1
Try something new this Lent: Map out your homilies like an org chart 42:55

2M ago42:55

42:55

Russell Pollitt, S.J., approaches his homilies in a manner unlike any other preacher the “Preach” team has yet seen. While some rely on verbatim manuscripts, detailed linear plans, or simply loose notes, when this South African Jesuit priest sits down to write his homily after praying on the Scriptures, the first thing he does is produce an org cha…

1
#128 – Nephilim and Gender Dynamics (Genesis 6:1-4) 47:30

2M ago47:30

47:30

Curious about the Nephilim and the "sons of God" mentioned in Genesis 6:1-4? Join Nate and Shelby as they delve into ancient texts like the Book of Enoch, exploring the implications these stories have on gender dynamics and biblical narratives. Thoughts, questions, stories? Please email almostheretical@gmail.com Become a member and get: 1. Bonus ep…

1
[Ep07] Toward a New Era of Diverse, Varied, and Excellent Worship Music w/ The Church Van 1:07:23

2M ago1:07:23

1:07:23

The episode delves into the challenges worship leaders face in the contemporary Christian music scene, emphasizing the need for more diversity, variety, and excellence in worship. The conversation highlights the importance of offering the best in music to God and suggests a shift from "music for evangelism" to focusing on all music being for the wo…

1
The Vatican’s chief liturgist on why preachers need to take their homilies more seriously 46:09

2M ago46:09

46:09

Cardinal Roche opens the Lenten season on “Preach: The Catholic Homilies Podcast” with a heartfelt message taken from the Scripture readings for Ash Wednesday: “Come back to me with all your heart.” When asked by host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., why he chose the theme of “Welcome Home” and not to preach “in a heavier way,” to emphasize the penitential …

1
291: New Year 2024 (AMAs & New Mercies meditation) 41:55

3M ago41:55

41:55

Support for Harkening Deer: Harkening Deer | Meditation Harkening Deer Podcast Join us on Patreon. Donate to Harkening Deer Check out creator & host of Harkening Deer, Sean J Stevens on Insight Timer, Aura, & Instagram. Keep in touch about Live Events with Sean J Stevens. Christian. Meditation. Podcast. =============================================…

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Episode 29: Freeing the Spirit with Fr. Rivers and the Hawkins Family 1:21:02

3M ago1:21:02

1:21:02

Eric and Emily and special guest Scott Patterson discuss a concert Fr. Rivers hosted on August 19, 1971, recorded live at the Detroit Institute of Arts auditorium and produced by the National Office of Black Catholics. The concert—and the week-long workshop that preceded it—were intended as “an act of freedom on the part of contemporary American Bl…

1
An update from the Preach team 38:35

3M ago38:35

38:35

You may have seen that we haven’t had any episodes for the last two weeks. We are taking a break after the bumper set of episodes we put together for you during the Advent and Christmas seasons. We are reviewing the results of our survey—which you can still respond to here— and planning our offering for Lent. In the meantime, in this great week whe…

1
The star first leads the wise men to Jerusalem—where Old and New Testament meet—not Bethlehem 34:07

3M ago34:07

34:07

Preaching on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, David Neuhaus, S.J., explores a curiosity in the story of the Wise Men’s journey from the East to the Bethlehem manger. “Why didn’t the star take them straight to Bethlehem? Why did it take them to Jerusalem?,” he asks. "I think it took them to Jerusalem, as we are always taken to Jerusalem, b…

1
A Syriac Catholic priest and father in Bethlehem preaches on the Feast of the Holy Family 34:48

4M ago34:48

34:48

Yunan Frédéric, a Syriac Catholic priest living in Bethlehem with his Latina-American wife and their three children, preaches on the Feast of the Holy Family, even though the Syriac Church does not observe this feast in its liturgical calendar. For the past two years, he has served as the pastor of the Syriac Catholic community in Bethlehem; a smal…

1
The Birth of Yeshua (Advent 2023 - Week Four) 23:22

4M ago23:22

23:22

Week Four of Advent 2023 is an Ignatian Exercise on The Birth of Yeshua. During this week the focus of our mediation is on Love. Let this Visualization transport you to the birth of Yeshua. LinkTree: Sean J Stevens Support for Harkening Deer: Harkening Deer | Meditation Harkening Deer Podcast Join us on Patreon. Donate to Harkening Deer Check out c…

1
[Ep06] Worship Leaders' Principles For Fitting Church Music w/ Composer & Organist Frederik Magle 31:40

4M ago31:40

31:40

In this episode, we have Frederik Magle, a prominent classical composer from Denmark, on the show talking about the role of music in church and the challenges faced by church leaders. Magle discusses the principles of music that give glory to God and the importance of striving for excellence in musical expression. Magle stresses the need for mutual…

1
[Ep05] Powerful Praise and Worship Music from Searched Hearts w/ Classical Composer Lennart Östman 39:17

4M ago39:17

39:17

In this thought-provoking discussion on praise and worship music, and Christian music in general, Magnus Gautestad and Lennart Östman explore the concept of creating music that glorifies God, emphasizing the importance of the heart behind creativity. They discuss the interconnectedness of beauty, truth, and goodness in music and the significance of…

1
Episode 28: Christmas with Fr. Rivers 56:51

4M ago56:51

56:51

Eric and Emily discuss an archival recording of a Christmas liturgy Fr. Rivers designed and presided over from 1972, then later published in his 1974 book Soulfull Worship. Emily and Eric discuss the recording, play clips, and compare and contrast worship practices from 1972 until now. Fr. Rivers' signature style is on full display in this special …

1
Keeping Christmas joy alive in our preaching—even amid war, violence and poverty 35:17

4M ago35:17

35:17

The anticipated joy of Christmas unfolds against a backdrop of pain and violence this year. “I think one of the most important things in these extremely troubled times is that we do have the lights, both metaphorically and physically,” says Barbara Reid, O.P. “Our most important gift and our most important approach, not only to the advent and Chris…

1
The Journey (Advent 2023 - Week Three) 20:30

4M ago20:30

20:30

Week Three of Advent 2023 is an Ignatian Exercise on Mary & Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. During this week the focus of our mediation is on Joy. Let this Visualization transport you to the road from Nazareth to Bethlehem - as we embrace the Joy in the Journey. LinkTree: Sean J Stevens Support for Harkening Deer: Harkening Deer | Meditation Harkeni…

1
Psalm 65 (Hope Has An Answer): Behind the Music w/ Mike Middendorf and Kip Fox 40:31

4M ago40:31

40:31

In this conversation with Rev. Dr. Mike Middendorf and Kip Fox, we explore the song "Psalm 65 (Hope Has an Answer)" based upon the text of Psalm 65 - a part of The Center for Worship Leadership's Psalm Library. We discuss: 1. the exegesis of Psalm 65, 2. what it is like for a songwriter to work with an academic theologian (and vice versa), and 3. g…

1
Preaching about joy starts with paying attention to life’s difficulties 31:19

4M ago31:19

31:19

This week on 'Preach,' the script is flipped: Ricardo da Silva, S.J., the regular host, becomes the guest preacher, and Maggi Van Dorn, a usual producer, takes the mic as the host. Maggi and Ricardo, who work together extensively on “Preach,” “Hark! The stories behind our favorite Christmas carols” and “Inside the Vatican,” compare how preachers an…

1
The Annunciation (Advent 2023: Week Two) 19:33

4M ago19:33

19:33

Week Two of Advent 2023 is an Ignatian Exercise on Mary receiving the news of her pregnancy (The Annunciation). During this week the focus of our meditation is Peace. Let this Visualization transport you to Ancient Roman-Occupied-Israel as we await the arrival of Christmas — as Mary awaited the birth of her miracle baby. LinkTree: Sean J Stevens Su…

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