christian
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Pruned: A Parable
In a garden in the desert there was a tree. She was beautiful, lush and healthy and growing with a swiftness unknown to most desert plants. She had been planted in good soil and her roots drank deeply from a nearby stream. One day, the Gardener was walking along the stream. As he went, he… Continue reading
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Theology of Worship Panel – Part 2
I had the absolute joy of speaking on music-making, spiritual formation, and worship last night at Redemption Church Arcadia. It was such a fruitful time of sharing my thesis on musical practice as spiritual formation and then discussing how this factors into congregational worship. You can watch and listen here (slides included below): “There is… Continue reading
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Four Reasons Your Church Should Have a Choir
If you’ve read this blog at all, I’m sure you’ve noticed that I care deeply about choral singing, not merely because I enjoy making music, but because I wholeheartedly believe that singing together is foundational to human community and central to Christian communion. Singing together is foundational to human community and central to Christian communion.… Continue reading
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Theology of Worship Panel – Part 1
On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to collaborate with some fantastic musician-theologians to present a panel on theology of worship/music. Follow the link below to watch/listen and, as always, feel free to share your thoughts! We will be continuing our discussion next week at the same link. https://youtu.be/PVd4U9EmdCg Continue reading
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Be Thou My Breath
My favorite hymn is “Be Thou My Vision,” not merely because it is a beautiful Celtic melody but because I can use its verses to structure my day-to-day activities. When I rise and open my eyes, I can murmur, “Be Thou my vision.” As I drive to work in the soft morning light or home… Continue reading
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Wonderful: Preventative Grace in a Classic Film
As per tradition, my mom and I watched It’s a Wonderful Life on Christmas day, cozy and sleepy after an early morning. Although I’ve seen this movie countless times, it struck me very differently than ever before. Perhaps it is because this year has been so turbulent, so full of disappointed hopes and thwarted expectations,… Continue reading
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Stand Out and Show Up
In addition to my work as an editor and church organist, I help teach choir at a Christian high school. This week, in place of regular classes, the school put on a conference (masks required!) during which multiple breakout sessions were offered. I was asked, because of my particular background, to prepare a session on… Continue reading
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Midweek Rhythm: “Nearer, My God, to Thee”
Throughout college, I rehearsed at my church on Wednesdays. After a full morning of classes, I would hide away in the sanctuary to practice. Often, these practice sessions became restful, transformative, and worshipful experiences. As I settle into a completely new season of my life, it is comforting to return to this midweek rhythm. It… Continue reading
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Rejoice, the Lord is King: Feeling Follows Action
Today, I felt like the human equivalent of an eye roll. I’m usually a morning person who hops out of bed and goes on a refreshing run before savouring a second cup of coffee. Today, it took everything just to get up and get out the door. After several months of intense stress, my body… Continue reading
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A-boat Mercy
“It’s the boats!” On a walk with my mother along the Oceanside pier just a few days ago, we saw “the boats.” I knew exactly which boats she meant as she pointed them out: the boats that taught me mercy. You see, when I was about three years old, my family vacationed along this exact… Continue reading
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Unmasking Cognitive Dissonance
It is difficult lately to know which contemporary issue to address. Every morning, I wake to discover another potential disaster. (Today, it was the threat of “meth-gators,” which thankfully do not seem to be a likely threat as I’m pretty sure Steve Irwin would have been the only person capable of dealing with that.) Today,… Continue reading
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The Word Kept: a reflection on John 1:1
“IN PRINCIPIO ERAT VERBUM” The Latin for “in the beginning was the Word” is inscribed on the gates of my college at St. Andrew’s. Each day, I was reminded as I walked beneath them why I was studying, why I am a writer, and why I was in that particular place. After all, what is… Continue reading
Recent Posts
- In All Things Thee to See
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- Church Body Dysmorphia
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Ryanne Molinari 