Faith in Process

What does it really mean to worship God — and can it happen anywhere besides a Sunday morning church service?In this third installment of their 12-part journey through Let Our Joys Be Known: A Brethren Heritage Curriculum, Pastor Harry Jarrett and producer Grayson Preece dig into one of the most fundamental questions of the Christian life: Why do we worship, and what is worship, anyway?Grayson opens by reflecting on worship as a deeply personal commitment — a simple, meaningful hour that anchors his week and connects him to community. Harry pushes that definition outward, drawing on his background as a missionary and pastor to reframe worship not as a one-hour weekly event, but as the ongoing practice of assigning worth — recognizing the sacred presence of God woven through all of creation, all of our relationships, and every ordinary moment of the day.The conversation wanders beautifully from a highway drive through the Virginia countryside to the starry sky on a late-night walk, from a formative season at Camp Bethel to a surprising dinner conversation with a man in Italy who was convinced he’d mastered the Ten Commandments by avoiding relationships entirely. Along the way, Harry and Grayson explore the Pietist and Anabaptist roots of the Church of the Brethren, the Christian mystical tradition’s understanding of God’s ever-present nearness, and why the experience of feeling absent from God is itself a form of awareness that God exists.The episode builds to a passionate argument Harry makes for something most of the Christian church has quietly let slip away: foot washing. It is, Harry contends, the one practice Jesus most explicitly commanded — and the one that is hardest to do precisely because it demands genuine vulnerability, humility, and trust. He believes it could radically reshape how Christians relate to one another and to God.Wherever you are in your own faith journey — whether you show up every Sunday or haven’t set foot in a church in years — this conversation will invite you to ask: When did I last notice God? And what was it that helped me see?RUN OF SHOW00:00 — Welcome & Series Introduction Producer Grayson Preece introduces the episode and places it as Part 3 of the 12-part Let Our Joys Be Known series.00:45 — Why Do You Come to Worship? Grayson shares his personal reason for showing up every Sunday — the power of a simple, repeated commitment to a community and a time.03:40 — The Hour on Sunday Harry references Nancy Beach’s book and reflects on how, for most people, Sunday morning is the only intentional hour spent thinking about God, faith, or theology all week.05:50 — Worship Beyond the Sanctuary Harry expands the definition of worship: its root meaning is “assigning worth,” and his pastoral vocation has pushed him to help people see God not just on Sundays but in the entire arc of life.07:00 — Acts 17 and “In God We Live and Move” Harry discusses the Apostle Paul’s speech to the Athenians as a foundation for understanding God as permeating all of creation — a thread running through the Pietist and Anabaptist traditions that shaped the Church of the Brethren.08:00 — Seeing God on the Interstate Grayson shares a personal moment of divine awareness during a highway drive — turning off the music and suddenly noticing beauty, presence, and the sacred all around him.09:15 — Being in the Same Room Is a Miracle A reflection on the wonder of human presence and how those moments when the “veil” parts reveal something of the divine.10:00 — Does God Need Our Worship? Harry asks a provocative question: does God actually need us to worship? He reframes worship as building our own awareness and deepening our relationship with the divine, not informing God of God’s own greatness.12:00 — Worship as Preparation and as Remembrance Grayson and Harry discuss how the Sunday hour might function as both a launching pad for the week ahead and a space to recognize God in what has already happened — “That was God on Thursday.”13:50 — Camp Bethel and Worship in Creation A warm detour into the transformative experience of working at Church of the Brethren summer camps — and how an entire week immersed in relationship, community, and creation functions as extended, full-body worship.14:30 — The Three Relationships at the Heart of Faith Grayson names what he sees as a “holy trinity” for the camp experience: relationships with God, with creation, and with each other — and how none of the three can thrive in isolation.16:00 — Books Harry Is Reading Harry shares three books shaping his current theological reconstruction: Tony Jones’ The God of the Wild Places, and Richard Rohr’s Everything Belongs and The Universal Christ — all pointing toward a God who was already present, everywhere, before we arrived.17:30 — Noticing God as an Act of Worship The simple act of naming “I see God here” — in a person, a place, a moment — is itself worship.18:00 — The Absence of God and the Christian Mystics Harry draws on the Christian mystical tradition to suggest that even the feeling of God’s absence is a spiritual signal — you can’t miss what was never there. God is never absent; we are simply not always aware.19:20 — Personal vs. Communal Faith Grayson notices the language of “I” in worship discussions. Harry reflects on the tension between personal and communal faith, the risk of becoming a spiritual hermit, and the story of the man in Italy who followed all Ten Commandments — because he had no relationships to challenge him.22:40 — Foot Washing: The Ordinance We’re Missing Harry makes his most passionate case of the episode: that foot washing — the one practice Jesus most directly commanded — has been all but abandoned by the wider church, while the passive act of taking communion has become central. Why? Because foot washing requires you to do something. It demands vulnerability on both sides.25:00 — Grayson’s Camp Bethel Foot Washing Memory Grayson recalls the foot washing ritual at summer staff closing — who he would and wouldn’t ask, how intimate and unsettling it felt, and what that discomfort reveals about us.26:50 — What Foot Washing Could Do for the Church Harry’s bold claim: a regular, literal practice of washing one another’s feet could radically change the paradigm of the North American Christian church — binding people together in ways nothing else can.27:07 — Closing & Listener Invitation The hosts wrap up and invite listeners to order Let Our Joys Be Known through Brethren Press and to continue the conversation with a friend, with or without the book.RESOURCE GUIDE📖 The Series TextLet Our Joys Be Known: A Brethren Heritage Curriculum for Adults by Richard B. Gardner and Kenneth M. Shaffer Jr. — Brethren Press The 12-session adult curriculum Harry and Grayson are working through together. Designed for Sunday school settings, it explores the heritage, theology, and practices of the Church of the Brethren. 🔗 Order from Brethren Press: www.brethrenpress.com📚 Books Referenced in This EpisodeAn Hour on Sunday: Creating Moments of Transformation and Wonder by Nancy Beach A book exploring the deep, shaping forces that can make the Sunday worship hour a time of transformation and wonder — for both believers and seekers alike. Beach served as Programming Director at Willow Creek Community Church and later as a leadership coach. She is also the author of Gifted to Lead: The Art of Leading as a Woman in the Church. 🔗 Find on Amazon | Author’s websiteThe God of Wild Places: Rediscovering the Divine in the Untamed Outdoors by Tony Jones (Rowman & Littlefield, 2024) The story of a pastor’s journey out of the church and into the woods, in pursuit of the God he’d lost — paddling a canoe, hunting with his dog, butchering deer. Jones is also the author of Did God Kill Jesus? and The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life, and he hosts the Reverend Hunter Podcast. He teaches at Fuller Theological Seminary. 🔗 Find on Amazon | Author’s websiteEverything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer by Richard Rohr One of Richard Rohr’s most popular books, offering the conviction that we have no real access to who we really are except in God — and that only when we rest in God can we find the safety and freedom to be fully ourselves. A defense of contemplative prayer in which God is presented as a lover who receives and forgives everything, and in which the central insight is: “We cannot attain the presence of God. We’re already totally in the presence of God. What’s absent is awareness.” 🔗 Find on Amazon | CAC BookstoreThe Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe by Richard Rohr (Convergent Books, 2019) — New York Times Bestseller Drawing on scripture, history, and spiritual practice, Rohr articulates a transformative view of Jesus Christ as a portrait of God’s constant, unfolding work in the world — arguing that faith becomes less about proving Jesus was God, and more about learning to recognize the Creator’s presence all around us, and in everyone we meet. 🔗 Find on Amazon | Penguin Random House🏕️ Camps & Places MentionedCamp Bethel — Fincastle, Virginia A Christian summer camp and year-round event center on 470 sacred acres of forests, fields, ponds, streams, and hills in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, operated by the Virlina District Church of the Brethren since 1927. Their mission: TOGETHER — with God, with each other, and with creation. 🔗 campbethelvirginia.orgBrethren Woods Camp and Retreat Center — Keezletown, Virginia A year-round camp and retreat center owned and operated by the Shenandoah District of the Church of the Brethren, located in the Shenandoah Valley just 12 miles northeast of Harrisonburg, seeking “to provide Christian educational opportunities, facilities, and programs for all ages in an inviting woodland setting.” They always need summer counselors! 🔗 brethrenwoods.org📖 Scripture References* Acts 17:28 — “In him we live and move and have our being” (Paul speaking to the Athenians in Athens)* John 13:14-15 — Jesus washing the disciples’ feet and commanding them to do the same* Revelation 4:11 — “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things”Faith in Process is hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett, live from Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. New episodes air weekly. Subscribe on Substack, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. 🔗 pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/s/faith-in-process Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In this bonus episode of Faith in Process, Pastor Harry Jarrett and producer Grayson Preece take the podcast on the road to a retired ministers and spouses lunch at Bridgewater Retirement Community. With an introduction from Christy Doughty, Harry and Grayson tell the story of how Faith in Process began, why it is recorded as a live Sunday school class, and how a podcast can become a new kind of “cassette tape ministry” for the digital age.Harry reflects on returning to pastoral ministry after 13 years away, needing fresh theological fuel, and wanting a space where honest questions could be asked out loud. Grayson shares what happens behind the scenes as editor and producer, from cleaning up audio to shaping each episode into a more cohesive listening experience. Together they explain how Faith in Process tries to serve both the people in the room and those listening later, creating a local conversation that can travel far beyond Weyers Cave.The episode also includes a thoughtful question and answer time about podcasts, Substack, digital access, community, Sunday school, and how churches can use new media without giving up the importance of face-to-face conversation. Faith in Process is hosted on Substack and is also available through Apple Podcasts and Spotify.Run of Show00:00:08 | Welcome from Grayson Preece00:00:43 | Christy Doughty introduces Harry and Grayson00:03:47 | Harry welcomes the live audience at Bridgewater Retirement Community00:05:45 | Grayson introduces himself as editor and producer00:06:33 | How Faith in Process began00:07:20 | Harry’s return to ministry after burnout00:08:18 | What is a podcast?00:09:02 | Podcasting as a new cassette tape ministry00:11:29 | Why create a Sunday school class as a live podcast?00:13:34 | Recording, editing, and publishing through Substack00:14:17 | How Grayson became the podcast producer00:16:48 | What podcast editing actually involves00:20:01 | Intros, outros, music, and distribution00:22:31 | Why the podcast focuses on published authors and accountable words00:24:29 | Asking the questions pastors are often afraid to ask00:27:42 | Reaching out to authors, professors, and Brethren voices00:29:11 | Faith at Work and Faith in Process as weekly rhythms00:30:10 | Grayson on why hard questions matter00:31:48 | Religious trauma series with Lonnie Yoder00:32:14 | The original 18 to 35 audience and the actual audience showing up00:33:00 | Audience questions begin00:34:11 | How remote guests join by Zoom00:35:03 | Why the podcast is audio-only00:35:53 | What does “pod” mean in podcast?00:36:44 | How does podcasting build in-person community?00:41:17 | How to subscribe or follow on Substack00:44:42 | How to find Faith in Process on Apple, Spotify, and other apps00:46:11 | Do listeners need Substack?00:47:27 | How to find other podcasts00:50:14 | Podcast recommendations from the audience00:50:51 | Closing thanks from Harry00:51:49 | Grayson’s outro and invitation to keep processingPull Quotes from the Transcript“Faith in Process, the podcast where we talk with real people about how they process their faith in their writing, in their work, and in their everyday lives.”“A podcast is just a new-fangled cassette ministry that costs a lot less to produce.”“What if we created a Sunday school class for this sector of the congregation, but we did it as a live podcast?”“There were questions that I was either not allowed to ask or I was afraid to ask.”“We are doing things that do build community, do build engagement, do build face-to-face conversation, but it is augmented.”Resource GuideFaith in ProcessThe main podcast home for Harry Jarrett’s weekly conversations about faith as something alive, changing, and still unfolding. Available on Substack, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.Faith at WorkHarry’s sermon podcast and writing home on Substack. The Substack page describes Harry as producing both Faith at Work and Faith in Process.Pleasant Valley Church of the BrethrenThe home congregation for Faith in Process: Sunday’s Cool. Pleasant Valley lists its location as 91 Valley Church Road in Weyers Cave, Virginia, with Sunday School at 9:30 AM during September through May.Bridgewater Retirement CommunityThe setting for this bonus recording. Bridgewater Retirement Community describes itself as a retirement community in Bridgewater, Virginia.On Being with Krista TippettMentioned during the audience recommendation portion of the episode. On Being is associated with Krista Tippett’s long-running conversations about meaning, spirituality, ethics, and human life.Letters from an American by Heather Cox RichardsonMentioned as another podcast recommendation. Heather Cox Richardson’s Substack describes Letters from an American as a newsletter about the history behind today’s politics, and the Apple Podcasts listing describes it as her narrated newsletter.The Cottage by Diana Butler BassMentioned as a podcast and conversation space. Diana Butler Bass describes The Cottage as a newsletter on Substack, and its podcast listing frames it as “part retreat, part think tank” about culture, faith, and spirit.Faith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack.Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Faith in Process, Pastor Harry Jarrett sits down with Millard Driver for a freeform conversation about power, responsibility, and the image of God. The conversation begins with the story behind the podcast itself: a friendship formed through lunch conversations, honest questions, and what Millard calls the gift of having a “soul friend.” From there, Harry and Millard explore what power is, whether it is neutral, and how every person carries some measure of power, whether they recognize it or not.Together with the Sunday school class at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren, they wrestle with the difference between power over and power with. Is power over always harmful, or can it serve the common good? How do we know when power becomes coercive, self serving, or abusive? What does it mean to use power in ways that are persuasive, loving, creative, and faithful to the way of Jesus?The conversation moves through examples from government, parenting, teaching, addiction recovery, incarceration, abuse, forgiveness, and even Spider Man and Cocaine Bear. Along the way, the episode keeps returning to a deeply Christian question: if we are created in the image of God, how are we called to use the power we have?Run of Show00:00:08 Welcome to Faith in Process00:00:35 How the podcast began through conversations with Millard00:03:21 Introducing the topic: power00:03:45 Soul friends, Celtic Christianity, and the gift of honest conversation00:05:09 Lonnie Yoder’s earlier comments on power00:06:19 Defining power as capacity, ability, authority, influence, and control00:08:15 Government, democracy, and power for the common good00:09:32 Power over, power with, and who gets the final word00:12:23 Millard connects the topic of power to his image of God00:13:26 Created in the image of God and created with intrinsic power00:15:03 Old Testament images of God, Jesus, and the God revealed in persuasive love00:17:44 Class discussion begins00:18:00 Parenting as an example of power used for good or harm00:18:38 Asking whether power serves the good of the other00:20:49 Richard Rohr, Everything Belongs, contemplation, and the true self00:23:03 Lonnie Yoder’s classroom example: the professor as the most powerful person in the room00:24:21 Spider Man and “with great power comes great responsibility”00:24:29 Everyone has power, whether they realize it or not00:25:01 Richard Rohr, prison, freedom, and agency00:26:39 Corrie ten Boom, Desmond Tutu, Jesus, and forgiveness as a form of power00:27:27 Alcoholics Anonymous and the power of example00:28:33 Why recognizing our power creates responsibility00:29:01 Cocaine Bear as an image of unrecognized, destructive power00:31:10 Abuse of power in academic settings00:32:45 Helping people recognize they are not powerless00:34:54 Safe community, shame, fear, and the courage to bring harm to light00:35:31 Closing the conversation00:36:10 Outro: continuing the conversation about power dynamicsResource GuideRichard Rohr, Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative PrayerHarry mentions listening to Richard Rohr’s Everything Belongs while reflecting on contemplation, the true self, and our tendency to manipulate other people or the world around us. The Center for Action and Contemplation describes the book as one of Rohr’s best known works on contemplative prayer and seeing through God.Anam Cara and the Celtic idea of the “soul friend”Millard refers to a Celtic Christian idea that everyone should have at least one “soul friend.” The Irish phrase often associated with this idea is anam cara, meaning soul friend. This as a kind of spiritual friendship where honest conversation, disagreement, prayer, and companionship can deepen faith.Spider Man and “with great power comes great responsibility”The class jokes that all good theology comes from Marvel comics after someone quotes the famous Spider Man line. The phrase is closely associated with Uncle Ben and has even been cited by Justice Elena Kagan in a 2015 Supreme Court opinion involving Marvel.Corrie ten Boom and forgivenessA class participant names Corrie ten Boom as an example of forgiveness in the face of great harm. Ten Boom, a Dutch Christian who helped Jews escape the Nazis and later survived Ravensbrück concentration camp, became widely known for her witness to forgiveness and reconciliation.Desmond Tutu and restorative justiceDesmond Tutu is mentioned as another example of forgiveness and power. Tutu chaired South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a process that sought to confront apartheid’s harms through truth telling, accountability, and the possibility of reconciliation.Clean Air Act and Clean Water ActMillard uses environmental law as an example of public power used for the common good. The EPA notes that the basic structure of the Clean Air Act was established in 1970, with major revisions in 1977 and 1990, while the Clean Water Act took shape through major 1972 amendments to earlier federal water pollution law.Cocaine BearHarry uses Cocaine Bear as a humorous image of unrecognized and destructive power. The real story involved a black bear that died in Georgia in 1985 after ingesting cocaine connected to drug smuggling. The later movie takes significant creative liberties with that event. Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Faith in Process, producer Grayson Preece steps into the host chair while Pastor Harry is away and talks with Ewan Benjamin, a graduate student in conflict transformation at Eastern Mennonite University and Conscientious Objection Fellow with On Earth Peace. Together, they explore what it means to be a conscientious objector, why the Church of the Brethren has historically taught that “war is sin,” and how young people, families, and congregations can begin preparing now.Ewan explains why conscientious objection is not just a private belief, but a practice shaped by community, documentation, spiritual formation, and courage. The conversation moves from personal conviction to Selective Service, from Brethren history to Civilian Public Service, from the Sermon on the Mount to present-day organizing, and from fear about the military system to hope rooted in conflict transformation.This episode is especially helpful for youth, parents, grandparents, pastors, Sunday school teachers, and anyone who wants to understand the Brethren peace witness in a changing world. Based on the uploaded episode transcript.Run of show00:00Welcome and introduction00:35Grayson hosts while Harry is away and introduces Ewan Benjamin01:20What conscientious objection means02:40Selective Service registration and the missing “CO checkbox”04:12How to document a conscientious objection claim07:25Why family, friends, and church community matter09:24Objecting to one war versus objecting to all war12:00A brief history of Brethren conscientious objection14:43World War II, alternative service, and Brethren Volunteer Service15:49Automatic draft registration and current concerns17:25Audience question: non-registration, risks, and consequences21:00How churches can support youth and teach peace23:53Biblical foundations for the Brethren peace witness27:42Just war tradition and early Christian nonviolence30:13God’s creativity beyond violence30:57On Earth Peace resources and closing invitation32:24Closing thanks and “Happy processing”Resource guide with linksChurch of the Brethren Conscientious Objection pageA denominational starting place for understanding conscientious objection, the Brethren peace witness, and available resources for youth and congregations.https://www.brethren.org/peacebuilding/co/Call of Conscience curriculumA Church of the Brethren curriculum designed to help youth explore peace, conscience, allegiance, and the practical steps of preparing a conscientious objector claim.https://www.brethren.org/peacebuilding/co/introduction/Church of the Brethren Conscientious Objector ToolkitA practical guide for creating a CO file, writing a statement of belief, documenting convictions, and preparing before a draft crisis.https://www.brethren.org/peacebuilding/co/toolkit/Center on Conscience & WarA national organization offering counseling, legal support, Selective Service information, and resources for conscientious objectors.https://centeronconscience.org/Center on Conscience & War: Selective Service informationA helpful resource for understanding registration, non-registration, state consequences, and conscientious objection.https://centeronconscience.org/selective-service-info/Selective Service System: Who Needs to RegisterThe official government page explaining who is required to register for Selective Service.https://www.sss.gov/register/who-needs-to-register/Selective Service System: Conscientious ObjectorsOfficial Selective Service guidance on how conscientious objector claims are handled if a draft is authorized.https://www.sss.gov/conscientious-objectors/Selective Service System: Automatic RegistrationOfficial Selective Service information about automatic registration connected to the FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.https://www.sss.gov/about/On Earth PeaceThe organization where Ewan Benjamin serves as Conscientious Objection Fellow. https://www.onearthpeace.org/On Earth Peace Team pageEwan Benjamin is listed as the Robert C. and Ruthann K. Johansen Fellow in Nonviolence, Justice, and Peace.https://www.onearthpeace.org/teamOn Earth Peace: “I Object! Now What?”A May 17, 2026 online Sunday school session for youth, parents, grandparents, and church leaders exploring conscientious objection, Selective Service, and preparation.https://www.onearthpeace.org/2026_05_17_co_sunday_schoolCivilian Public Service and alternative service in World War IIA National WWII Museum overview of Civilian Public Service, the alternative service program shaped by the Historic Peace Churches.https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/conscientious-objectors-civilian-public-serviceShoes of Peace: Letters to Youth From PeacemakersA Brethren Press collection of letters from peacemakers written for younger readers.https://www.brethrenpress.com/product_p/9780871780454.htmBrethren Volunteer Service historyA Church of the Brethren overview of Brethren Volunteer Service and its history.https://www.brethren.org/bvs/history/Seagoing Cowboys and Heifer ProjectA resource from Swarthmore’s Peace Collection on seagoing cowboys, Civilian Public Service, Brethren Service Committee, and the Heifer Project.https://www1.swarthmore.edu/library/peace/conscientiousobjection/CPSResources/SeagoingCowboys.htmlThe Church of the Brethren and War by Rufus D. BowmanA bibliographic listing for the historical work referenced by Ewan in the conversation.https://www.journal33.org/salvjudg/html/chrwar.html Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Faith in Process, Pastor Harry Jarrett welcomes Scott Holland, Professor Emeritus at Bethany Theological Seminary, for a rich conversation about Rubem Alves and the roots of liberation theology.Together, they explore why Alves matters, especially for listeners who may never have encountered his work before. Scott introduces Alves as an early and often overlooked voice in liberation theology, then follows the arc of his thought from justice for the poor and marginalized toward a wider vision of life, beauty, embodiment, imagination, and what Alves called an “erotic exuberance for life.”This episode moves beyond abstract theology into questions that feel urgent today. What drives us to seek justice in the first place? Why does beauty matter in Christian faith? What happens when churches care more about souls than bodies? And how might younger adults, artists, pastors, and seekers hear Alves as an invitation to recover a more integrated life?The conversation also touches on theopoetics, psychoanalysis, war and nonviolence, the inner life, and the tension between the life drive and the death drive in both culture and church. Along the way, Scott offers accessible entry points for anyone who wants to begin reading Alves for themselves.If you have ever felt that faith has become too dry, too rigid, or too disconnected from beauty, art, desire, and human flourishing, this conversation opens another way.Run of Show00:00 Opening and producer intro. Grayson explains that this episode begins before the usual formal introduction.00:00 to 09:16 Pre-conversation. Harry and Scott talk about church planting, ministry in Italy, Brazil, Bethany students, and Scott’s early connection to teaching Rubem Alves.09:16 to 11:34 Harry’s formal welcome and setup for the episode on Rubem Alves.11:34 to 13:28 Who Rubem Alves was, why he matters, and his place in liberation theology.13:28 to 17:59 “Erotic exuberance for life,” Eros and Thanatos, and why ethics alone is not enough.18:00 to 19:10 “Outside of beauty, there is no salvation” and Alves’s challenge to narrow church thinking.19:10 to 23:27 Connections to Bart Ehrman, Thomas Jay Oord, the inner life, psychoanalysis, and theopoetics.23:27 to 28:25 Beauty, ugliness, Easter, embodiment, and “I Believe in the Resurrection of the Body.”28:25 to 32:45 Gnosticism, crusading theology, the body, Jesus and Socrates, and why resurrection matters.32:45 to 38:27 Grayson’s questions on younger adults, art, joy, integration, and listening to the inner life.38:27 to 41:12 Where to start reading Rubem Alves and how Bethany’s theopoetics program connects.41:12 to end Closing reflections, church banter, and final signoff.Resource GuideRubem AlvesA Brazilian theologian, educator, writer, and psychoanalyst, Alves is widely recognized as one of the early Protestant voices in Latin American liberation theology. His legacy has also grown through interest in theopoetics and theological imagination. The Instituto Rubem Alves serves as an official home for his legacy and writings.The Poet, the Warrior, the ProphetThis is probably the best starting place for listeners who want to enter Alves’s thought. Scott specifically recommends it in the episode, and it remains one of the key English language introductions to his theological and poetic voice.Transparencies of EternityA short contemplative work by Alves that includes the chapter Scott references, “Outside of Beauty, There is No Salvation.” This is a strong follow up for listeners drawn to the beauty, contemplation, and spiritual imagination themes in the episode.Tender ReturnsScott recommends this as a gentle, contemplative collection for devotional style reading. The volume was assembled after Alves’s death by his daughter Raquel Alves and gathers short translated writings.I Believe in the Resurrection of the BodyThis book becomes especially important in the episode because Scott reads from it to explore embodiment, nonviolence, and resistance to forms of theology that diminish the body. It is a central text for the Easter and embodied faith themes in the conversation.Bethany Theological Seminary, Theopoetics and WritingScott points listeners toward Bethany’s theopoetics work as a place where Alves’s legacy continues to be taught and explored. Bethany currently offers both a Master of Arts in Theopoetics and Writing and a certificate option.Bart Ehrman, Love Thy StrangerHarry mentions Bart Ehrman’s recent work on altruism and Jesus’ expansion of neighbor love. This could be a useful side path for listeners interested in ethics, neighbor love, and how Jesus reshaped moral imagination.Thomas Jay Oord, A Systematic Theology of LoveHarry also mentions Thomas Jay Oord’s recent work as another conversation partner for themes of relationality, love, and theology beyond rigid systems. That makes it a good companion resource for process minded listeners.Oscar Cullmann, Immortality of the Soul or Resurrection of the Dead?Scott references Cullmann’s classic contrast between Socrates and Jesus to underscore why Christian faith should not dismiss the body. This is a helpful background text for the embodiment section of the episode.On Earth Peace and Matt GuynnScott briefly mentions former Bethany student Matt Guynn and his connection to peacebuilding work shaped by theopoetic imagination. Listeners interested in practical peace work may want to explore On Earth Peace.Faith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack.Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Faith in Process, Pastor Harry Jarrett talks with returning guest Angela Finet about chapter two of her book Sabbath: God’s Call to Peace. Together they explore how Sabbath begins with naming our idols, why overwork can become a form of slavery, and how peace with God opens the way for peace within ourselves, our churches, and our communities. Along the way, they reflect on identity beyond productivity, the strain many pastors and congregations feel around rest, and the radical possibility that Sabbath is not just personal renewal but also a challenge to systems of inequality, empire, and constant demand. The episode includes discussion of Angela’s book, the contrast between peace with God and the peace of God, the church’s uneasy relationship with rest, and the idea of Sabbath as resistance.This conversation is pastoral, practical, and deeply timely for anyone trying to follow Jesus without being consumed by anxiety, performance, or the pressure to always be available.Run of Show00:00 Intro and welcome from Grayson Preece00:00:45 Harry welcomes listeners and introduces Angela Finet00:01:42 Beginning a four part series on Sabbath and peace00:02:08 The five words exercise and how Sabbath reshapes identity00:05:42 Why Angela begins chapter two with idols00:06:16 Exodus, liberation, and God’s concern for Sabbath00:07:34 Alexis de Tocqueville, abundance, and idolatry00:08:12 Common modern idols such as money, status, body image, and approval00:09:15 Is God really our first love, or does that grow over time?00:11:50 Peace with God versus the peace of God00:14:22 Sabbath as a circular rhythm that fills the tank00:15:48 Marva Dawn, connection, ceasing, and reconnecting00:16:16 Why the church often disdains rest00:17:05 Pastoral overwork, humble service, and resentment00:19:03 Why pastors need to preach and model Sabbath00:19:43 Angela’s Friday Sabbath and teaching congregational boundaries00:21:19 When people turn the pastor into an idol00:22:31 Sabbath as resistance to overwork, inequality, and empire00:23:43 Joanna Harader on chaos, predictability, and internal injustice00:24:38 Walter Brueggemann and Sabbath as resistance00:24:49 Closing thoughts and invitation to continue the seriesResource GuideAngela Finet, Sabbath: God’s Call to PeaceThis Brethren Press study presents Sabbath as far more than a break from work. It frames Sabbath as God’s call to peace, including peace with God, creation, and neighbor, along with peace as freedom and justice for all. Link: Sabbath: God’s Call to PeaceMarva J. Dawn, Keeping the Sabbath WhollyA classic and deeply practical guide to Sabbath keeping. Dawn describes Sabbath through four movements, ceasing, resting, embracing, and feasting, which makes this a helpful next read for listeners who want to practice what the episode discusses. Link: Keeping the Sabbath WhollyJoanna Harader, Spacious FaithJoanna Harader’s Spacious Faith offers spiritual reflections, worship resources, sermons, and devotional writing shaped by a spacious, justice minded Christian imagination. It is a valuable resource for pastors, church leaders, and anyone seeking a thoughtful and grounded spiritual life. Link: Spacious FaithWalter Brueggemann, Sabbath as Resistance: Saying No to the Culture of NowBrueggemann’s book argues that Sabbath is not merely personal rest but a way of resisting the culture of endless productivity and demand. It is especially relevant to this episode’s final section about overwork, empire, and the social meaning of Sabbath. Link: Sabbath as ResistanceFaith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack.Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Faith in Process, I sit down with producer Grayson Preece for a thoughtful and honest conversation about baptism, faith, and what it means to follow Jesus in the Church of the Brethren. What begins as a discussion about baptism opens into something much deeper. We talk about the language of sin, the wounds many people carry from rigid religious frameworks, and the need for communities of faith that make room for honesty, healing, and growth.One of the central ideas in this episode is that baptism is not about having everything figured out or reaching some kind of spiritual perfection. Instead, it is about direction. It is a way of saying that we want our lives to move in the way of Jesus. That shift in understanding opens up a much richer and more grace-filled conversation about faith, discipleship, and belonging.Grayson shares some of his own wrestling with baptism and why it has felt difficult for him at times. Together, we explore how the Brethren tradition has understood believer’s baptism, why it matters, and how it can become a powerful and meaningful act when it grows out of genuine desire rather than pressure or expectation. We also reflect on the kind of church many people are longing for today, not a community built on fear or certainty alone, but one rooted in love, kindness, welcome, and transformation.Later in the episode, Terry joins the conversation and adds another perspective on baptism, age, and personal choice. Altogether, this episode is an invitation to think more deeply about what it means to belong to the body of Christ and how the church can create space for people to grow into faith with freedom and sincerity.Whether you have long been part of the church, are reconsidering the meaning of baptism, or are simply longing for a more compassionate and honest faith, I think this conversation will resonate with you.Run of show00:00 Introduction and episode setup00:53 Baptism, confession, and discomfort with the language of sin02:53 Baptism as direction rather than perfection04:08 Chosenness, anxiety, and black and white religion07:07 Stages of faith and moving beyond certainty10:10 Contemplative faith, suffering, and deeper maturity12:26 Why the Brethren tradition feels different13:48 Kindness, peacemaking, and giving up our rights16:27 Reaching young adults without oversimplifying faith20:15 What kind of church young adults are looking for23:03 The access point to faith community24:53 Belong, believe, and behave27:47 Grayson reflects on reconsidering baptism29:42 Believer’s baptism in Anabaptist and Brethren tradition31:07 Stories of baptism and transformation35:37 God is less interested in perfection than direction38:29 Terry joins the conversation38:53 Baptism as personal choice rather than rite of passageFaith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack.Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In this first episode of a four-part series, Pastor Harry Jarrett sits down with returning guest Lonnie Yoder to begin an honest and thoughtful conversation about religious trauma. Together, they explore a working definition of religious trauma as emotional and psychological harm caused by religious beliefs, practices, or communities that produce fear, shame, control, or distress over time. They also discuss why this subject is often more complex than people realize, especially when questions of power, authority, church structure, and personal identity are involved.This conversation introduces several important themes that will shape the series ahead, including spiritual abuse, the trauma experienced by clergy who are defrocked for theological reasons rather than misconduct, and the lasting impact of persecution on faith communities. Along the way, Pastor Harry and Lonnie reflect on the role of pastors, teachers, and church leaders, the ethical weight of power in congregational life, and the need for healthier, more self-aware faith communities. This episode is a meaningful starting point for anyone who has experienced harm in religious settings or who wants to help build communities marked by wisdom, humility, and care.00:00 Introduction to the series04:28 Defining religious trauma08:27 Power and authority in religious systems12:43 Trauma versus offense15:20 Preview of upcoming episodes18:19 What does defrocked mean22:14 Why people often miss their own power31:14 Control, power, and authority in everyday lifeFaith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack.Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In this Faith in Process Sunday’s Cool conversation from Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia, Pastor Harry Jarrett welcomes returning guest Audrey Svay. Audrey is an ordained minister in the Church of the Brethren, a professional writing consultant, and an adjunct English professor, and she brings both pastoral wisdom and practical writing tools to the question so many of us are living right now: how do we carry grief with honesty, and still find rest?Together, Harry and Audrey widen the definition of grief beyond death to include less visible losses like shifts in belief, changing communities, aging, retirement, and the quiet ache of losing roles and identity. They explore why many of us hesitate to name these losses as grief, and how our values can get tangled up in the roles we once held.Audrey offers a gentle framework of “grief and rest” held in harmony, using the image of waves that come in and recede. You will hear concrete Sabbath practices for real life, including journaling to release what you are carrying, creating a simple ritual of “trust,” small daily moments of restoration, and writing exercises like letters you do not have to send. Harry reflects on the often overlooked Holy Saturday pause between Good Friday and Easter morning, and why that day matters when we are learning to live faithfully through loss.Mentioned in this episode Audrey’s book: Between You and Me (available at Brethren Press)Segment guide with timestamps00:00 Welcome and introduction to Audrey Svay00:03 What counts as grief: roles, identity, and less visible losses00:07 Why rest and Sabbath matter for grief processing00:09 Practical Sabbath in grief; Luke 23 and the forced pause of rest00:11 Writing practices for sleep, trust, and letting go00:13 The cup metaphor; why rest belongs on the to-do list00:18 Holy Saturday and the blessing of the pause00:21 Community, listening, and telling the grief story00:25 Poetry, letters, and honest writing as grief work00:31 Retirement, identity, and the body keeping score00:35 Closing encouragementFaith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack. Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Faith in Process, Pastor Harry Jarrett and co-host Grayson Preece begin a new series exploring the core convictions of the Church of the Brethren through the book Let Our Joys Be Known. The first conversation centers on one powerful theme: radical obedience.What would it take to follow Jesus if it were illegal?Travel back to 1708, when Alexander Mack and seven others stepped into the Eder River in Germany to baptize one another as adults. This act was not just symbolic. It defied both church and state. In a world where infant baptism functioned as a civic registry tied to taxation and military service, choosing believer’s baptism carried real social, economic, and political consequences.Harry and Grayson explore:• Why this act of baptism was considered dangerous• How Pietism shaped the Brethren’s emphasis on Bible study, lay leadership, and lived faith• The tension between Luke 14 and Matthew’s call to love God above all• The cost of dissent in a church-state system• What “counting the cost” means for young adults today navigating money, vocation, and meaningThis conversation moves beyond history. It asks whether radical obedience still has a place in a culture of distraction and financial pressure. What does it mean to prioritize Christ when everything else competes for attention?Recorded live at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia, this episode launches a 13-part series examining the theological callings that have shaped the Brethren for more than three centuries.If your faith is still forming, still questioning, still becoming, you are in the right place.Welcome to the process.Faith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack.Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

How can followers of Jesus respond faithfully to immigration enforcement, social justice issues, and political division? In this powerful conversation, host Harry Jarrett sits down with Dr. Scott Holland, Professor Emeritus of Peace Studies at Bethany Theological Seminary, to explore what it means to be good neighbors in turbulent times.Drawing inspiration from Fred Rogers’ ministry of neighborliness, Scott reframes activism as neighboring—a practice of loving our neighbors as ourselves, even when we disagree on solutions. The discussion tackles pressing questions: What does the way of Jesus look like amid ICE raids in Minneapolis? How do we cultivate a “democracy of the soul” in our divided democracy? How can we move beyond doctrine to create cultures of peace?This episode offers no easy answers but provides thoughtful guidance for processing faith in the real world. Scott and Harry explore the tension between different visions of peace, the power of prophetic imagination, the importance of wonder and empathy, and practical ways to engage in peacemaking—from contacting representatives to being present with those who are threatened.Whether you’re confused, concerned, or searching for faithful next steps, this conversation offers wisdom from the Church of the Brethren peace tradition, insights from thinkers like Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Walt Whitman, and an invitation to continue “living the questions” together.Faith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack.Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

Ego Consciousness vs. God Consciousness: A Conversation on Paradigm ShiftsWhat does it mean to truly embody God consciousness in our everyday lives? In this organic, unscripted conversation, hosts Harry and Millard dive deep into the contrasts between ego consciousness and God consciousness—exploring how Jesus modeled a nonviolent, loving, and persuasive way of being that stands apart from the dominant cultural paradigms we navigate today.Millard frames the discussion around “the end times”—but not in the way you might expect. Instead of apocalyptic predictions, the conversation shifts to examining how we think, act, and relate to power and politics through the lens of faith. From the founding principles of the American republic to the challenges of living faithfully in a culture driven by self-interest and disinformation, the discussion raises critical questions about what it means to follow the way of Jesus in any political or social context.Harry responds with his own perspective: that followers of Jesus are called to live as “salt and light” in every culture and system, embodying the timeless principles of the kingdom of God rather than pledging ultimate allegiance to any earthly nation or government. The conversation touches on virtue, shared facts, and whether America’s founding ideals align with—or fall short of—the kingdom Jesus proclaimed.This episode is more conversational and exploratory than usual, so we’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a comment or email us with your reflections as you continue processing these themes in your own life.Topics explored:* Ego consciousness vs. God consciousness* The nature of God as love and nonviolence* Living out Jesus’ way in different political systems* American civic principles and their relationship to faith* The enduring nature of the kingdom of GodFaith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack.Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In this special episode, host Harry Jarrett and producer Grayson Preece step into the spotlight to share their own faith journeys and how they each found their way to the Church of the Brethren.Harry reveals his winding path through Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, Pentecostal, and Mennonite traditions before discovering his deep family roots in the Brethren church—connections he never knew existed until his wife found his ancestors’ names in the Pleasant Valley Church graveyard. From new age spirituality in college to twenty years as a Mennonite pastor, Harry’s story culminates in a return to his Brethren heritage.Grayson shares how he went from a childhood disconnected from church to finding authentic spiritual community at Camp Bethel, a Church of the Brethren camp. His experience as a camp counselor and his time at Bridgewater College shaped his understanding of faith as relational, accessible, and centered on community.Together, they explore what drew them to the Church of the Brethren: the emphasis on belonging before believing, the peace tradition, the priesthood of all believers, and a welcoming spirit that invites people to process their faith together. They also discuss why they’re launching a new series on Brethren heritage and what makes this denomination unique in the broader Christian landscape.Whether you’re curious about the Church of the Brethren, interested in different faith journeys, or simply enjoy honest conversations about spirituality, this episode offers an intimate introduction to the voices behind Faith in Process.Episode Highlights:* Harry’s surprising discovery of his Brethren family lineage* How Camp Bethel transformed Grayson’s spiritual life* The difference between “believe, behave, belong” and “belong, behave, believe”* What makes the Church of the Brethren’s approach to peace and community distinctive* Why faith is always in process, whether we realize it or notFaith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack.Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Faith in Process, Harry and Millard dive deep into Walter Brueggemann’s concept of “royal consciousness” and what it means for the church today. Drawing from Brueggemann’s book The Prophetic Imagination, they explore how empire creates a numbness in the populace—convincing people that the way things are is the way things must be.Key Topics Discussed:* Royal consciousness vs. prophetic imagination: How empires maintain power by numbing people to injustice and suffering* Beyond individual tyrants: Why focusing on single leaders misses the systemic nature of empire consciousness* Civil religion in America: How American civil religion has created its own form of royal consciousness from the nation’s founding* The Church’s response: Are we as the church numb to what’s happening around us? How do we wake up?* Jesus and empire: How Jesus addressed the Roman Empire and elite religious systems in his context* Venezuela and peace theology: Wrestling with the Church of the Brethren’s peace position in light of recent events* The need for honest conversation: Why transparent dialogue about messy, difficult topics is essential for transformationHarry shares insights from his reflection paper on Chapter 5 (I said four, but it is five; oops) of The Prophetic Imagination and connects it with Dana Cassell’s class on addressing tyranny. Together, Harry and Millard consider what it means to practice prophetic imagination in an age dominated by empire consciousness—and how the Church of the Brethren motto “continuing the ministry of Jesus, simply, peacefully, together” offers a framework for response.This conversation challenges listeners to ask: Are we numb? What alternative vision are we offering? And how do we help people imagine that something else is possible?Referenced in this episode:* The Prophetic Imagination by Walter Brueggemann* Harry’s Substack article: “Beyond Herod Comparisons: Practicing Prophetic Imagination in the Age of Royal Consciousness.”* Dana Cassell’s “Outwit” class on addressing tyrannyJoin the conversation and continue processing your faith with us.Faith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack.Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

I Can See the Change and the Improvement: A Conversation with Don FitzkeeHow do we know when change actually makes us more like Christ? In this episode, Harry sits down with Don Fitzkee—2026 Church of the Brethren Annual Conference moderator and pastor of worship at Lancaster Church of the Brethren—to explore this vital question.Don shares insights from his recent Messenger magazine article “I Can See the Change and the Improvement,” examining how the Church of the Brethren has evolved over the decades and which changes represent genuine spiritual growth. From the shift from non-resistance to active peacemaking, to navigating the “second half of life” faith described by Richard Rohr, this conversation wrestles with what it means to honor tradition while remaining open to transformation.The discussion touches on Brethren theology, the authority of Scripture, and how we interpret the Bible through a Christ-centered lens. Harry and Don also explore insights from N.T. Wright and Walter Brueggemann about reimagining old truths for new contexts—which forms the heart of Don’s “Imagine” conference theme for 2026.In a powerful moment, Sunday school participant John shares about finding more authentic spirituality in AA meetings than in church, raising challenging questions about honesty, vulnerability, and what it really means to encounter God together.This is a thoughtful exploration for anyone processing how faith traditions change, grow, and sometimes struggle to hold together when we see things differently.Faith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack.Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Faith in Process, Pastor Harry Jarrett sits down with Lonnie Yoder to explore the question: How do we experience the divine in the midst of trauma, before, during, and after?Lonnie helps us name trauma in its different forms, including single-event trauma, repeated trauma, and the way present events can trigger historical trauma. Together, Harry and Lonnie talk about the difference between a cause and a trigger, and what it looks like to walk with people who are still living with the effects of what happened.The conversation draws on spiritual and theological frameworks like Ignatius and consolation and desolation, Brueggemann and orientation, disorientation, reorientation, and the cross and resurrection as a doorway into honest Christian reflection on suffering and God’s presence.You will also hear practical wisdom for resilience and pastoral care: the grounding gift of weekly worship, scripture as a living resource (including Psalm 139), and a simple prayer practice shaped around divine presence, divine protection, and divine peace. Lonnie also reflects on cross-cultural lessons in healing, including a story from Jamaica about music as a way to process pain when words are not enough.Listener note: this episode includes brief mention of gun violence and sexual abuse. Please listen with care.Faith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack.Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Faith in Process, Harry and Millard sit down for a thoughtful and lively conversation on the process theology of Alfred North Whitehead. They explore three core ideas shaped by Whitehead’s work: that value is woven into the fabric of reality, that religion serves as the bridge between vision and action, and that God’s way in the world is persuasive love rather than coercive force. Concepts they both learned by listening to Tripp Fuller in his podcast episode “Finding Our Way Forward: How Whitehead Shows Us Religion as Life’ Creative Force”Together, Harry and Millard unpack their understanding of Whitehead’s shift from mathematician to philosopher, the roots of process thought, and how these ideas intersect with contemplative Christianity, Genesis, John’s Gospel, and Richard Rohr’s vision of a Christ soaked universe. Along the way they wrestle with questions many faith seekers ask. Is God embedded within creation? What responsibility do humans carry in the unfolding of God’s future? Does God need our yes? How do these ideas hold up amid global suffering and injustice?This episode offers an entry point into process theology through the lens of friendship, curiosity, and honest wondering. If you are exploring a more relational, dynamic understanding of God and creation, this conversation will meet you right where you are.Faith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack.Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Faith in Process, Pastor Harry welcomes David Radcliff—director of the New Community Project and author of the Covenant Bible Series study God’s Earth. Our Home. David’s life and ministry are rooted in the belief that creation care, justice, and faith belong together.David shares how a formative trip to Central America reshaped his understanding of the world and launched him into decades of global service. We explore New Community Project’s partnerships in places like South Sudan, Nepal, Rwanda, Malawi, Borneo, and the Ecuadorian Amazon, where they support girls’ education, women’s empowerment, reforestation, and Indigenous defenders of threatened ecosystems.Closer to home, David describes the work of NCP’s Sustainable Living Centers in Harrisonburg, VA, and Starksboro, VT, where sustainable living is practiced, taught, and shared through community engagement.This conversation moves from ecological theology to climate realities, from global justice to personal transformation. David reminds us that hope grows when we “aim high and look low”—staying aware of the big challenges while finding inspiration in the small, faithful actions that change lives and landscapes.Join us as we explore:• The spiritual foundations of creation care• Why justice and sustainability are inseparable• How experiential learning transforms lives• What faithful stewardship looks like in a changing world• How we keep hope alive when the challenges feel overwhelmingA rich and grounded episode for anyone seeking to follow Jesus in ways that heal the earth and uplift its most vulnerable people.Faith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack.Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

Naming God, Training Our ImaginationThis episode with Scott Holland found me standing at the meeting point of several streams I have been wading in lately: Dana Cassell’s Outwit class on resisting tyrants, Walter Brueggemann on prophetic imagination, and Scott’s work in theopoetics. What tied them together was not only a topic but a practice, imagination as the way faith learns to see differently and then to live differently.Reason walks where imagination has cleared a pathEarly on, we named something simple and bracing, language does not only report our faith, it forms it. Scott spoke of poetic imagination as a way of knowing, a God consciousness that refuses to stop at bare rationality. He echoed Richard Rorty’s insight that reason only follows after imagination has opened new paths. That landed for me. If our God talk is cramped or control heavy, our lives will feel the same. If our language makes room for awe, lament, and neighborliness, it opens space for new practices rather than only new opinions.Reading Exodus without shrinking itFrom there we turned to Exodus. I put on the table a question I have been carrying, did the plagues have to happen exactly as reported in order to be true, or did they literarily happen, told as a theopoetic way to unmask Pharaoh’s system and to name God’s liberating work. Scott affirmed the legitimacy of reading the narrative as a literary imagination of liberation, one that trains our vision for what God is doing among oppressed peoples. In that light, each plague can read like a memo to a different department of empire, water, labor, economy, religion, and more, until the regime’s spell is broken and a new people can be born.From a military metaphysics to a poetics of peaceScott drew on years with the World Council of Churches and the turn from Just War to Just Peace, imagine security not as control but as relationship, covenant with God, neighborliness with one another, care for creation. That reframes Exodus. Instead of a bigger tyrant muscling a smaller one, we hear a call to leave Egypt’s imagination behind and to practice an economy of enough, Sabbath, Jubilee mercy, and shared flourishing. It also reframes our congregational life, new words invite new habits.Is creation a witnessWe ventured to wonder, does creation speak back to oppression. Scott pointed to recent ecological wisdom that treats nature not as an it but as a thou. In process language, God lures the world, human and more than human, toward life. However we parse the mechanics, Scripture’s metaphors give us permission to notice creation as participant, not prop. That kind of imagination leads to practice, river cleanups as confession, gardens as parables, shared harvest as doxology.A democracy of the soulWhen Grayson asked how Just Peace addresses real conflict, Scott reached for deep democracy, not simple majoritarianism, but communities that make honest space for the minority voice. He linked that outer work to inner work, a democracy of the soul, where we host many voices with humility and attention. That is discipleship language I can pray with this week.Three small practices I am taking with me* Audit our prayers for control speak. Shift from God take over to God teach us to partner, and listen for how that change reshapes us.* Add Sabbath economy moments in Advent. Name one neighborly practice each week, debt relief, gleaning generosity, shared meals, and invite participation.* Let creation testify. Each Sunday, bless one story where the more than human world helps heal, feed, or reconcile neighbors.This episode with Scott confirmed something I am learning as a pastor. If imagination opens the path, language makes it walkable. I am grateful for Scott’s companionship and for the chance to keep learning how to name God in ways large enough for mystery and strong enough for liberation.Question for you, where have you seen new words, poems, songs, or metaphors create space for new life. Reply and tell me a story.Faith in Process: Sunday’s CoolRecorded live on Sunday mornings at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, Virginia. Hosted by Pastor Harry Jarrett.Join us in person or listen on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or Substack.Learn more about our congregation at pleasantvalleyalive.org Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of Faith in Process… we sit down with pastor and author Angela Finet to explore a paradigm-shifting way of understanding Sabbath—not as something we collapse into after six days of striving, but as the first gift of our lives with God. Drawing from her new Brethren Press study Sabbath: God’s Call to Peace, Angela helps us rethink the Genesis rhythm of “evening and morning,” and how humanity’s very first full day began not with labor, but with resting in God’s presence .Angela shares how this insight reshaped her own daily rhythms—from setting a bedtime alarm as the true start of the day, to reframing Sabbath as preparation for relationship rather than a list of prohibitions. Together we talk about the justice-shaped heart of Sabbath practice, the difference between resting from and resting for, and the modern pressures—especially on young adults—to be endlessly available, productive, and exhausted.This wide-ranging conversation touches on:* The deep rhythm embedded in the creation story* The Jewish practice of preparing for rest and why it matters* How Sabbath reconnects us with God, our bodies, and one another* What healthy boundaries look like in an always-on culture* Why rest is a peace practice—not an escape from responsibilityWhether you’re a student, a young professional building a career, a parent trying to hold life together, or anyone who feels stretched thin, Angela offers practical wisdom and gentle invitations to begin again with rest, relationship, and peace.Slow down with us. Start with Sabbath. And discover what God might be restoring in you. Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

Millard Driver: The Pursuit of HappinessIn this episode of Faith in Process, Pastor Harry Jarrett sits down with Millard Driver to rediscover what the Founding Fathers really meant by “the pursuit of happiness.” Far from today’s focus on pleasure, success, or wealth, the Founders envisioned happiness as the lifelong pursuit of virtue and moral growth. Drawing from Benjamin Franklin’s thirteen virtues and John Adams’ belief that democracy depends on a virtuous and religious people, this conversation explores how early American ideals align with biblical teachings on character, freedom, and community.Together, Harry and Millard unpack insights from Pursuit: The Founders’ Guide to Happiness—a podcast featuring Jeffrey Rosen, Robert P. George, and filmmaker Ken Burns—and reflect on how spiritual disciplines and the fruit of the Spirit mirror the Founders’ own vision for a flourishing society.Listeners will discover:* The connection between American founding principles and Christian discipleship* How biblical virtues in 2 Peter and Galatians align with classical philosophy* Practical ways to cultivate virtue, character, and spiritual maturity todayThis episode invites you to reimagine happiness not as a fleeting feeling but as a daily pursuit of virtue that leads to true contentment, freedom, and the common good.📅 Join us live every Sunday morning at 9:30 a.m. at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren in Weyers Cave, VA—or online—for the live recording of Faith in Process: Sunday’s Cool. Come be part of the conversation, ask questions, and help shape the dialogue as we explore faith that’s still in process. Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

DescriptionOrdained in the Church of the Brethren, Audri Svay served as a pastor for several years and currently works as the professional writing consultant for the University of St. Francis in Fort Wayne, IN where she teaches writing courses as an adjunct English professor. Svay has written for Messenger Magazine (2023), and Brethren Life and Thought (2024), and is the author of the poetry book Between You and Me, published through Brethren Press in June 2025. She has been featured as theopoet-in-residence at the Sing Me Home Festival (2023, 2024) and was recently awarded Manchester’s University’s “2024 Young Alumni of the Year.” Svay is currently working on her PhD in Literature and Criticism through Indiana University of Pennsylvania.BookBetween You and Me (Brethren Press, June 2025) — a debut collection described as “an intimate conversation about the distance between people,” blending personal storytelling with theopoetics to probe acceptance, assumptions, and identity. Order/info page at Brethren Press. brethrenpress.com Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode, Lonnie Yoder joins me for a warm, candid conversation about his “Signs of Hope”—simple practices that help real people notice grace in ordinary life. Lonnie is a longtime professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling at Eastern Mennonite Seminary (1991–2021), former Associate Dean and Director of Distance Learning, and a seasoned interim pastor; he holds a Ph.D. in Religion and Personality from the University of Iowa.We record this as a live Sunday school–style podcast (“Sunday’s Cool”), and the vibe is family: Lonnie was my seminary professor and walked with me as a spiritual director during a hard ministry season, so we’re building on years of trust. We trace the origin of “Signs of Hope” in his home congregation’s pandemic worship—members submitted weekly photos (often kids, life milestones, and nature) set to music—which still shapes his vision for church life now. Lonnie shares why he commends churches to become more nimble than solid, more permeable than bounded, and more artistic than scientific, with practical stories: contextual worship he learned in Jamaica’s “lively choruses,” and an embodiment exercise churches can use in business meetings to help people talk across differences.If you’re curious how faith takes shape beyond programs and propositions—and want a simple weekly rhythm for noticing hope—this episode is for you. Listen and subscribe on Substack: https://pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/s/faith-in-process Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

Summary In this episode, we dive into an engaging conversation with Professor Emeritus Scott Holland of Bethany Theological Seminary. We explore the concept of Theo-Poetics, its relevance, and its importance in modern theology. Scott shares insights from his background, including his work in theology, culture, and pastoral roles, as well as his pivotal role in establishing the Theopoetics program at Bethany. We also discuss the historical and contemporary significance of figures like Hans Denk, and how their perspectives can inform our spiritual journeys today. Along the way, we tackle questions about faith, doubt, and the integration of creative expressions in religious practiceScott John HollandScott Holland served for twenty-three years as the Slabaugh Professor of Theology & Culture and Director of Peace and Cross-Cultural Studies at Bethany Theological Seminary. Bethany is in partnership with the Earlham School of Religion in Richmond, Indiana. In 2022, he transitioned to Emeritus Professor teaching Theopoetics & Writing in the flourishing program he helped establish.Before joining the faculty of Bethany Seminary in 1999, Scott Holland pastored Mennonite and Church of the Brethren congregations in Ohio and Pennsylvania and taught courses ranging from the humanities to peace studies to religion at Carlow College, Westminster College, Seton Hill College, Malone College, Duquesne University and Ashland Theological Seminary.For the past twenty-five years he has been actively engaged in the World Council of Churches (WCC) Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV), Just Peace, and Pilgrimage of Justice and Peace programs. This work has taken him to consulting, speaking and writing assignments in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. He was the North American member of the drafting team that composed An Ecumenical Call to Just Peace (2011). He is currently also a member of the of the Steering Committee for the Global Anabaptist Peace Network (GAPN).In addition to his ecumenical, interfaith, academic and public work in seeking cultures of peace, Holland is recognized for his public lectures and publications in the emerging genre of Theopoetics. This wide range of scholarship finds expression in the classes he teaches at Bethany Theological Seminary and the Earlham School of Religion, which includes courses in both flourishing Theopoetics and Peace Studies programs.AuthorshipHolland, Scott. How Do Stories Save Us? An Essay on the Question with the Theological Hermeneutics of David Tracy in View. Louvain: Peeters / Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2006.“From Theo-logics to Theopoetics: Mystery, Metaphor and Meaning-making.” Messenger (Church of the Brethren), April 2017. (Open PDF of issue with article) — https://www.brethren.org/messenger/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2020/12/messenger-2017-4-done.pdf Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

“What Is the Mission of the Church?” — Continuing the ConversationThis post expands on our latest Faith & Process conversation with Millard Driver, exploring the mission of the church, how we read Scripture, and why a Jesus-shaped vision still compels. Why “mission” is the right first questionIn the episode, Millard suggests that a church’s mission should align with “what Christ had in mind for the movement he started,” framing it as nothing less than the reconciliation of all creation to God. That claim is deeply biblical and widely affirmed in missional theology.* Scripture touchpoints:* 2 Corinthians 5:18–20 — ministry of reconciliation, entrusted to the church* Colossians 1:19–20 — in Christ, God is reconciling “all things…on earth or in heaven”For those of us in the Church of the Brethren, this resonates with our long-cherished motto: “Continuing the work of Jesus. Peacefully. Simply. Together.” It’s not a slogan in search of a mission; it distills one—active, communal, and peace-shaped.From “rules” to relationship: how Jesus recenters the lawWe wondered whether Christians sometimes default to a “rules and retribution” reading of the Old and New Testaments. Two clarifications help:* Jesus’ summary of the LawWhen asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus fuses two Torah texts:* Love God (Deuteronomy 6:4–5)* Love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18)He then says all the Law and the Prophets hang on these (Matthew 22:34–40; Mark 12:28–34). Jesus doesn’t discard Torah; he re-centers it on love of God and neighbor. It presents an image of God that is consistent with this center.* The “do’s” are there—often for the vulnerableLeviticus commands landowners to leave the edges of their fields so the poor and the foreigner can glean (Leviticus 19:9–10; 23:22). That’s not retribution; it’s economic mercy written into farming.Takeaway: Jesus fulfills Torah by bringing its core—love—front and center, then pushing that love outward to enemies, outsiders, and creation itself. Providing us with a reconstructed image of the Divine.Did “empire” change Christianity?We tossed around a quip: that Christianity “was doing fine until Caesar adopted the faith.” History is more complex, but two moments matter:* Edict of Milan (313, Constantine): Legalized Christianity and restored confiscated property. It did not make Christianity the state religion.* Edict of Thessalonica (380, Theodosius): Made Nicene Christianity the empire’s official faith, cementing orthodoxy by law and coercing “heresy.”Anabaptists (and many Brethren) read this “Constantinian shift” as a drift toward power. Whether you accept every part of that critique, it explains why contemporary mission talk emphasizes witness over domination and service over control.So…what is the mission of the church?A biblically grounded synthesis from this conversation might read like this:Join God in reconciling all things in Christ—by loving God wholeheartedly (Deut 6), loving neighbors as ourselves (Lev 19), embodying practices that protect the vulnerable (Lev 19; 23), and announcing and enacting the good news that God is making all things new through and with us (2 Cor 5; Col 1).For Brethren people, this looks like continuing Jesus’ work peacefully, simply, together—a community whose life (economics, worship, peacemaking, neighbor-love) enacts the reign of God in this realm.Reading Scripture “more fully” (not just “correctly”)A helpful frame from missional theology is to read with the grain of the gospel—through the lens of God’s reconciling mission and Jesus’ love-command. That’s not modern spin; it’s how Jesus interprets the law’s center.Some in our community also find language from open and relational theology useful: God relates to us in real time, inviting collaborative love rather than coercion, with an emphasis on God’s responsive, self-giving love.Practicing the mission this week* Leave your “field’s corners.” Build margin in your budget, schedule, and church programs to prioritize the poor, the newcomer, and the wounded (Leviticus 19:9–10; 23:22).* Make love measurable. Establish a practice that embodies “love your neighbor”—a grocery gift-card fund, shared childcare, or an ecumenical partnership.* Practice non-coercion. Let your speech, social posts, and politics bear the imprint of Jesus’ non-dominating love—witness, not weaponization.Join the conversation* When you hear “mission of the church,” what do you picture first: saving souls, serving neighbors, changing systems—or all of the above? Why?* Where have you seen reconciliation—between people, churches, or in your neighborhood?* What “field corners” could you leave this month? What resource, privilege, or space could you share?If you’re new here, Faith & Process is a weekly recorded conversation at Pleasant Valley Church of the Brethren where we wrestle—honestly and hopefully—with God, church, and life. Subscribe, join the comments, and share this post with a friend who’s rethinking what faith can be. Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe

Podcast Episode SummaryIn this inaugural episode, Harry sits down with long-time friend and conversation partner Millard to dream out loud about a new Sunday-morning podcast for 18- to 35-year-olds at Pleasant Valley. They swap stories about repurposing COVID-era gear, sketch out a live-audience format with text-in questions, and name their first big topic: an honest dive into process and practical theology. Using the early Anabaptists’ radical baptism as a springboard, they explore why embodied acts of faith still matter, how suffering fits (or doesn’t) into discipleship, and whether God not only desires but actually needs relationship with creation. The conversation ranges from Paul’s “mind of Christ,” to Thomas Merton’s ever-creating God, to confessions about killing spiders—and ends with a shared conviction that the church’s real calling is to midwife the Kingdom of Heaven now, not just hand out tickets to the afterlife. Get full access to Harry Jarrett at pastorharryjarrett.substack.com/subscribe