Facing The Long Defeat: in Endo’s Silence and Prokofiev’s 7th Symphony (Mark Meynell)

Tolkien famously described world history as a “long defeat,” since human efforts to overcome evil are ultimately doomed to failure. But the gospel still offers hope because of Christ’s ultimate victory. Endo’s novel, Silence, depicts the crushing challenges of bringing the gospel to Japan; Russian composer Sergei Prokofiev buckled under the horrors of Stalin’s Soviet regime and expresses his pain through his 7th Symphony. However, in different ways, both articulate hope against the odds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Playing happens in boundaries. Whether it’s poetry, the playground, or praying the Psalms: things get interesting when we explore the edges. Come hear from Bowser Hutson and Sophie Killingley as they kick around a main idea from their upcoming Play Book.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Far from being an escape from reality, art can be an invitation to align with reality, both for the maker and the recipient. But developing a taste for reality requires both courage and good cheer. The life of Saint Lawrence, patron saint of comedians, will provide a starting point for a discussion of courage, humor, holiness, and creativity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you write, sing, play music, paint, sculpt, dance, etc., but you’re afraid to say you’re an artist? You are not alone! Hear from panelists who have struggled themselves with owning their artistry and still struggle sometimes. Bring questions and expect diverse answers, knowing we are in this together, figuring this thing out called artistry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oxford is brimming with stories and rousing conversations that shaped the works of people like C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien. For the last 4 1/2 years, Sally Clarkson has immersed herself in these stories and historical moments while living there and working with people from all over the world. She will share anecdotes from Lewis and wisdom gathered from experiences in Oxford, drawing from her newest book, Well Lived, a photographic journal of Oxford.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ned will draw from Leslie’s writings in her recent book Tiny Thoughts That I’ve Been Thinking, his book with Stephen Roach called Naming the Animals, and a lifetime of obsessive naming of things to consider why naming matters and why we should invest our time and creativity into not leaving any of our work “untitled”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this session from Hutchmoot 2024, Breezy Brookshire, Caleb Christopher Edwards, & Will Kelly tell their stories of facing one of the modern artist’s biggest challenges and invite you into a conversation about what it looks like to manage relationships, parenthood, responsibilities, and community while finding balance in a creative calling in the modern age.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This talk will help churches develop a fresh vision for the arts that will enrich the faith of their local congregation and reach their local communities with the beauty of the gospel. Whether you’re an artist, pastor, or a lover of art, this session is an invitation to be part of a new renaissance of Christianity and the arts by making your church a place of beauty and Kingdom creativity that will bring the hope of the gospel to the world through the arts.   Click here for a sample chapter of Winfield's new book, How Beauty Will Save the World: Recovering the Power of the Arts for the Christian Life, available now!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Church and culture often tell us that art is a nice luxury but of no use when a crisis hits or for the chronic difficulties of life. But what if art is actually a divinely gifted set of tools, a way to bear witness to our shared humanity? Sophie Killingley takes you through stories of art history and her own experiences ofgrief to uncover the necessity of creativity as a sacred way to fully engage a trauma-filled world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where do myths come from? For many, the friendship between C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien is a familiar story, but a new book explores the braid of complexity woven throughout their 40 year friendship with a new lens. John Hendrix presents the major themes from his new graphic novel, The Mythmakers. This lecture will illuminate the history of mythology, the purpose of story, and the rich value of an artistic community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.