Summary

“Spirituality” and “Worship” have been hot topics recently. In this session we’ll explore the world and worship of the ancient desert monastics—Christians living in the rugged regions of Syria and Egypt in early Christian history.

Listen Online

Download audio

Details

“Spirituality” and “Worship” have been hot topics recently. In this session we’ll explore the world and worship of the ancient desert monastics—Christians living in the rugged regions of Syria and Egypt in early Christian history. We’ll ask questions like: How did these ancient Christians pray? What other key spiritual disciplines formed the rhyme and rhythm of their lives? What was their particular contribution to Christian worship and spirituality? How can we today best translate their insights (and avoid some possible mistakes) into a modern setting?

Presented at the 2012 Calvin Symposium on Worship.

Recent Media Resources

Video Music/Song Psalms/Scripture
The Voice of the Psalms: Sounding Scripture in Contemporary Contexts

This panel considers the psalms as a source of artistic and theological engagement, exploring how musicians and songwriters draw from these ancient texts to navigate the emotional complexity of the human experience. Through diverse musical approaches and cultural perspectives, the panelists will consider how the psalms continue to resonate in modern contexts by offering language for lament and praise, shaping liturgical practice, and fostering resilience in both personal and communal experience.

July 28, 2026 | 71 min video
Video Cultural Diversity Theology
Roadmap for the Rummage Sale: Latina/o Theology for Deconstruction and Reconstruction of Faith

“Deconstruction” is a popular term among young people who grew up in the Christian church. In this public lecture, Robert Chao Romero will consider the challenge of widespread deconstruction while offering a hopeful path forward. Expanding on Phyllis Tickle’s analogy of the church having a rummage sale of ideas every few centuries, Romero invites us to consider the contributions of Latina/o theology and the history of the Brown Church as valuable resources for reconstruction on the other side of deconstruction.

July 28, 2026 | 80 min video
Video Justice/Reconciliation Music/Song
Singing the Psalms as a Spiritual Practice for Resilience

In this workshop, the McGrath family and Kiran Young Wimberly will discuss how spiritual practices, particularly singing the psalms, can build resilience in our lives. In a retreat-like experience, interwoven with psalms set to Celtic music, we will sing together as we reflect on what brings us joy, strength, and hope so we can flourish in the face of daily challenges.

July 27, 2026 | 75 min video