Imagination Redeemed

Anselm Society
  • 5.0 (34)
  • CHRISTIANITY

It’s easy to see this world as disenchanted, and to give up hope that there’s more. But you were made to see the world with the eyes of heaven. And to live a bountiful life that participates in the life of God. Delve with Brian Brown and Sarah Howell into the great stories and their meaning for real life.

  1. 4D AGO · BONUS

    A Christmas Oratorio (Not the Messiah)

    A pre-New Year's bit of gorgeousness for you--Brian and Sarah read and discuss W.H. Auden's poem "For The Time Being: A Christmas Oratorio," and share a couple things to look forward to next year!

    16 min

  2. 12/19/2025 · BONUS

    Luci Shaw: "Mary's Song"

    A little end-of-Advent treat for you!

    7 min
  3. St. Nicholas and the Art of Joy

    12/02/2025

    St. Nicholas and the Art of Joy

    "Joy and suffering are interconnected." What if joviality isn't just a personality trait—but a virtue we're called to cultivate? In our newest Imagination Redeemed episode, Joffre Swait takes us on a journey through the story of St. Nicholas to explore how generosity, celebration, and community can restore our capacity for joy—even in a culture that's forgotten how to be grateful. We talk about: ✨ Why joy and suffering are inseparable 👑 How joviality reflects a kingly nature 🎉 The role of celebration in cultivating gratitude 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 How to parent with joviality (without pretending suffering doesn't exist) This conversation is an invitation to rediscover the deep comedy at the heart of existence—and to claim your place in it.

    1h 9m
  4. Winter (and Season 5) Preview!

    11/29/2025

    Winter (and Season 5) Preview!

    Brian and Sarah break down our plans for the next three months of the podcast, reflect on divine abundance and the scandal of the incarnation, and more.

    42 min
  5. Hope That Holds Your Grief

    11/17/2025

    Hope That Holds Your Grief

    Life often feels like discord—a song gone wrong. Whether you're walking through grief, loss, or the quiet melancholy of longing for something more, it's easy to get stuck in wistfulness or despair. Through Tolkien's Ainulindalë, this episode explores how to hold both sorrow and hope together. You'll discover how to remember that life is gift—God's original theme of abundance and goodness—while also honestly stepping into what Tolkien called the music of "immeasurable sorrow." This isn't about toxic positivity or ignoring your pain; it's about learning to sing a third theme that weaves your grief into a larger, more beautiful story. As Thanksgiving approaches, this conversation offers a way to feast differently, carrying your homeward ache with both tears and joy.

    1h 21m

  6. 11/05/2025

    Feasting in Troubled Times

    Many of the conditions of Middle-earth in its Third Age mirror those of our own day: grapples for power, technological advances used for good and ill, and a high opinion in many circles of efficiency and maximized production. What does a feast signify and entail in such times? Earlier this fall the Anselm Society had the privilege of gathering for our fall retreat. Part of this retreat was focused on extended workshops; a time to be filled, to grow in knowledge or craft, and connect our vocations to the life of God. What you are about to hear is one of our speakers from our morning workshops, Amy Baik Lee.  Amy takes the time to linger at three festal tables in The Lord of the Rings, drawing what we can learn from them about the practice of sharing art, celebration, and fellowship — and ponder why this practice is vital to the journey of the Church and its saints. We are delighted to share this incredible talk. If you want access to the other five and a half hours of content from the fall retreat workshops, consider becoming a monthly partner at any level, and we will send you the complete video recordings as a ‘thank you.’ (Anselmsociety.org/fallgiving)

    30 min
  7. On Halloween, Death, and “Traditions of Men”

    10/23/2025

    On Halloween, Death, and “Traditions of Men”

    Should we be afraid of Halloween? What about death? What about just…the past? Whether it's our own trauma, fears of the occult, family history, or that big scary word tradition, many of us feel caught between two extremes: either cutting ourselves off from it all, or feeling so surrounded by it that we feel trapped. In this episode, we journey back to medieval England to discover what Hallowtide—the three-day feast that became Halloween—actually looked like, and why it might hold keys to a healthier relationship with all of it–death, tradition, and the past. Along the way, we'll mythbust everything you think you know about Halloween, explore the meaning of “honor your father and mother,” and discover practical ways to connect our own stories to the Great Story.

    1h 20m

  8. 10/15/2025

    The Lost Tools of Singing - Part 2

    Brian Brown, Matthew Clark, and Terri Moon continue their conversation, exploring the concept of 'we songs' in worship, songs that connect congregants to God and each other. In this episode, we discuss the importance of melody, accessibility, and the role of instruments in creating a hospitable worship environment, one that instills confidence in the normal congregant and that inherently prioritizes the voice of the congregation. Within that framework, we delve into how singing serves as a spiritual discipline, the significance of familiar songs, and the need for crafting music that encourages congregational participation. Chapters 00:24 Introduction to We Songs 01:32 The Purpose of We Songs 02:01 The Composition of We Songs 02:51 Melody and Accessibility 03:39 The Role of Instruments in Worship 04:48 Hospitality in Worship 06:13 The Voice of the People 07:03 Worship Wars and Music Choices 07:30 Cultural Context in Worship Music 08:57 Fostering Congregational Singing 09:31 The Role of the Worship Leader 10:18 Musical Hosting and Participation 11:19 Different Musical Traditions 12:45 Call and Response in Worship 13:38 Learning and Growth in Worship 14:54 Navigating Musical Preferences 16:32 Voice First Composition 17:08 The Importance of Simplicity 18:40 The Role of the Organ 20:00 Historical Context of Worship Music 22:19 Fostering Confidence in Singing 23:29 The Challenge of New Songs 25:20 The Structure of Worship Songs 26:38 Familiarity and Participation 28:51 Songwriting for Accessibility 29:05 The Songwriting Process and Accountability 31:09 The Role of Corporate Singing in the Church 35:34 Singing as a Spiritual Discipline 39:35 The Importance of Familiar Songs 43:12 Crafting Songs for Congregational Participation 47:03 The Relationship Between Melody and Lyrics 50:12 Understanding Sacred and Common Art 53:55 The Vision of the Church and the Role of Music

    1h 2m
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5
out of 5
34 Ratings

About

It’s easy to see this world as disenchanted, and to give up hope that there’s more. But you were made to see the world with the eyes of heaven. And to live a bountiful life that participates in the life of God. Delve with Brian Brown and Sarah Howell into the great stories and their meaning for real life.

Information

  • Creator
    Anselm Society
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    80
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Anselm Society
  • Show Website
    Imagination Redeemed

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