Episodes

What spiritual rhythms is God drawing you into today? In this Art and Prayer episode, Rev. Rob McPherson explores Hilma af Klint’s Altarpiece No. 1 (Group X), a profound visual journey through spiritual ascent and descent that mirrors the dance of faith.

Ephesians 4:5-10

What if God’s refining fire is found in the furnace of solitude? Explore Saul’s dramatic conversion through Michelangelo’s art and Acts 9, inviting radical honesty and transformation. Step into the light—and discover how God might be shaping your life today.

Acts 9:1-9

What does it mean to come home—and what grace leads you there? Through Cody F. Miller’s The Mystery of Grace, this prayerful meditation explores themes of home, sacrifice, and forgiveness. Listen deeply—and discover the God who prepares a place for you. This episode includes clips of Cody's Interview with Makers and Mystics Podcast.

John 14:2-3

What kind of soil are you today? Through Georg Pencz’s engraving and Jesus’ parable of the sower, this episode invites you into quiet reflection and deep listening. Let the lines of scripture and art open you to the surprising ways God is at work within you.

Matthew 13:18-23

What might the face of Christ reveal to you in silence? Rev. Rob McPherson reflects on the ancient icon Christ Pantocrator from St. Catherine’s Monastery, exploring its asymmetry and mystery. Philippians 2:5-11 frames this time of contemplative prayer, inviting viewers to encounter Christ in a deeply personal way.

Philippians 2:5-11

What if the earth itself could preach? Rev. Rob McPherson explores Alma Thomas’s Earth Sermon: Beauty, Love, and Peace, reflecting on how creation proclaims God’s beauty, love, and peace. Isaiah 55:12–13 and Thomas’s inspiration guide a time of prayerful contemplation, inviting viewers to hear God’s personal word for them today.

Isaiah 55:12-13

What happens when prayer doesn’t comfort but challenges? In this episode, Käthe Kollwitz’s Drawing for People and the parable of Lazarus confront us with the reality of suffering and the call to see, listen, and act. Join Rev. Rob McPherson in a time of reflection that may change the way you look at both art and your calling.

Luke 16:19-21

When God calls you to work in the vineyard, how do you respond? In this episode, Friedrich Wasmann’s A Vineyard at Merano and Jesus’ parable of the two children challenge us to reflect on our willingness to follow through. Join Rev. Rob McPherson in a prayerful exploration of calling, commitment, and courage.

Matthew 21:28-31a

Step into the ancient Catacomb of Priscilla and meet the Veiled Woman, whose faith still speaks across centuries. Through her story and Hebrews 11, discover how faith endures amid hardship and invites us to courage. This episode offers a profound reflection on living faith as a lasting witness in today’s world.

Hebrews 11:1-4

Discover the powerful grace of God in Murillo’s Return of the Prodigal Son, where forgiveness meets restoration. This episode invites viewers to reflect on their own place in the story and to hear God’s call to welcome and celebrate. Join in the invitation to live out God’s mercy and joy in your everyday life.

Luke 15:20-24

Step into the mystery of the Holy Spirit with Anna Cassel’s abstract No. 98 Pentecost. This episode invites viewers to pray through symbolism, seeking divine insight beyond words and images. Embrace patience and openness as the Spirit reveals new visions and dreams for your life.

Acts 2:17-21

Experience the sacred connection between heaven and earth in Garofalo’s Ascension of Christ. This episode invites reflection on Christ’s ongoing presence as he empowers believers through the Spirit. Discover how prayer bridges our earthly struggles with divine grace and promise.

Acts 1:7-11

What does it mean to truly expect grace in your life? Join artist Wayne Forte and Rev. Rob McPherson as they explore the Parable of the Vineyard Workers through powerful art and scripture. Discover how God’s generosity invites us to embrace grace in surprising and transformative ways.

Matthew 20:8-16

Have you ever missed God’s presence until later, when suddenly everything became clear? Explore Velázquez’s Supper in Emmaus and discover how God might be quietly at work in your everyday life. Join Rev. Rob McPherson in a prayerful reflection on recognizing the unseen and awakening to grace.

Luke 24:13-35

What does freedom truly look like, and where do you find it in your life? Journey with Rev. Rob McPherson as he explores Edmonia Lewis’ sculpture Forever Free, a bold testament to emancipation and hope. Together, reflect on God’s promise of liberation and discover where God might be calling you to break chains today.

Exodus 6:2-7

What if the beauty of nature could speak directly to your soul? Join Rev. Rob McPherson as he explores Monet’s The Japanese Footbridge and the Water-Lily Pool and Jesus’ invitation to trust God beyond worry. Discover how art and scripture together inspire a deeper peace and a call to live in harmony with God’s creation.

Luke 12:22-31

What happens when faith meets doubt? Journey with Rev. Rob McPherson into Caravaggio’s The Incredulity of St. Thomas and the story of Thomas’ powerful encounter with the risen Christ. Discover how Christ’s peace breaks through fear and sends us forth renewed.

John 20:19-29

How do you stand with those who mourn and bear witness? Join Rev. Rob McPherson in exploring Rubens’ The Descent from the Cross and the courage it calls forth in us. Discover where God is inviting you to serve in faith and love today.

John 19:38-42

Discover the sacred fragments of life and faith in Jan Richardson’s Palm Sunday as Rev. Rob McPherson shares an joyful conversation with the artist. Journey through prayer, brokenness, and hope woven into collage and scripture. Where is God calling you to move along the golden road today?

John 12:12-16

Experience the raw honesty of Jesus’ prayer in Bellini’s Agony in the Garden as Rev. Rob McPherson invites you into a moment of anguish, surrender, and hope. Where are you in this sacred scene—awake, asleep, anguished, or called to act? What new life might God be leading you toward beyond the darkness?

Matthew 26:36-42

Join Rev. Rob McPherson in prayer with Robert Bateman’s The Pool of Bethesda, a vivid meditation on waiting, hope, and healing. Where are you in this scene of longing and promise? What message might Jesus be speaking directly to your heart today?

John 5:1-9

Join Rev. Rob McPherson in prayer with William H. Johnson’s Ezekiel Saw the Wheel, a powerful vision of God’s presence amid suffering and hope. Where does your heart linger in this vibrant scene? What might God be calling you to do, and how does God assure you in the task?

The Spiritual "Ezekiel Saw De Wheel"

How do you find peace when life feels overwhelming? Join Rev. Rob McPherson as he prays with Xu Jihua’s Wedding at Cana, exploring God’s presence in the midst of stress and transformation. What part of your life might God be inviting you to bring into this moment of prayer?

John 2:1-10

How do you experience repentance and renewal in your life? Join Rev. Rob McPherson as he prays with Marianne von Werefkin’s Ash Wednesday, exploring themes of humility, mortality, and God’s mercy. What is God inviting you to leave behind and what new path might God be calling you to walk?

Joel 2:12-13

Feeling weary from life’s demands? Join Rev. Rob McPherson in a contemplative prayer inspired by Loïs Mailou Jones’ Brother Brown, where rest and renewal meet. Discover how Jesus’ invitation to “come to me” offers peace for your soul today.

Matthew 11:28-30

How do you experience God’s presence in your grief? Join Rev. Rob McPherson in prayer with James Tissot’s Jesus Wept, discovering a God who shares our deepest sorrow. Find comfort in knowing that even in pain, hope and resurrection are near.

John 11:32-37

How do you bring your spiritual mountaintop moments into the everyday struggles of life? Join Pastor Rob McPherson as we pray with Raphael’s The Transfiguration, exploring the tension between divine glory and human suffering. Discover hope and God’s call to live fully as children of God amid it all.

Romans 8:18-19

How can a simple image like Praying Hands deepen your prayer life? Join Pastor Rob McPherson as we meditate on Albrecht Dürer’s iconic drawing, exploring the power of simplicity and physical posture in prayer. Experience a peaceful moment to claim scripture, listen for God’s voice, and be renewed.

Psalm 61:1-5

How can ancient icons open a window into your spiritual life? Join Pastor Rob McPherson as we explore Natalia Goncharova’s Four Evangelists, discovering how art can guide us to deeper wisdom and union with God. Experience a quiet prayer time inviting revelation and the light of God’s presence.

Ephesians 1:17-19

What might need to be left behind in order to respond fully to God’s invitation today? Caravaggio’s The Calling of Matthew captures the moment Jesus calls a tax collector to leave behind his old life and follow. The painting invites reflection on the distractions and hesitations that may block openness to God’s call.

Luke 5:27-32

How might pausing throughout the day to recognize God’s presence transform your experience of everyday moments? Millet’s The Angelus invites viewers into a daily rhythm of prayerful pause, connecting ordinary work with sacred presence. The Angelus prayer calls for continual awareness of God’s incarnation and ongoing invitation into relationship.

The Angelus Prayer

In moments of despair or doubt, what does God invite you to see and listen to in your life today? Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night and the story of Job both explore faith amid struggle and the search for meaning in suffering. The encounter with God invites humility, calm, and renewed trust even when feeling small or lost.

Job 38:1, 31-38

What gifts do you bring to God’s call, and how might you respond to God’s leading in your life today? Gentileschi’s Adoration of the Magi invites viewers to enter the biblical story of seeking and honoring Christ with gifts of reverence and love. The painting calls attention to God’s guidance and the unique gifts each person brings in response.

Matthew 2:1, 10-12

What is God inviting you to see or hear in this moment of sacred stillness? This intimate Nativity by Joseph Mulamba-Mandangi invites viewers to kneel in worship alongside Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, entering the quiet holiness of Christ’s birth. The painting and scripture together call us to see, know, and hear God’s presence in our lives.

Luke 2:6-7

The shepherds’ journey to witness Christ’s birth invites us to come and see God’s presence in our lives today. Through scripture and art, we explore what it means to adore and be with the vulnerable Christ. How might you recognize and respond to God’s invitation to “come and see” in your own spiritual journey?

Luke 2:8-20

Contemplative prayer calls for stillness amid life’s busyness, inviting a deeper awareness of God’s presence. Through scripture and a village scene painting, participants reflect on recognizing Christ in ordinary moments. How might you find space for quiet attentiveness to God amid your daily distractions?

Luke 2:1-5

Hospitality opens the heart to God and neighbor, transforming relationships through attentiveness and love. Mary and Elizabeth’s visitation models a sacred exchange of support and grace. How can you embody true hospitality by listening deeply and welcoming others with an open heart?

Luke 1:39-56

On Thanksgiving, we explore gratitude through Philippians 4 and Tanner’s The Thankful Poor, learning to give thanks in all circumstances. This intimate prayer invites us to find peace and contentment in God’s presence. How might focusing on gratitude transform your experience of life’s challenges today?

Philippians 4:6-13

The tomb is empty—but the story is still unfolding in us. With Revelation’s vision and André Kamba Luesa’s radiant painting of the Risen Christ, this session invites you to witness resurrection as both cosmic and personal. Come celebrate new life—and discover what Christ is raising within you.

Revelation 1:13-18

What if prayer felt like the quiet embrace of a caring presence. This episode invites you to rest in Mary Cassatt’s tender Nurse and Child alongside Psalm 131, opening space for peace and trust. Step into stillness—and experience God’s nurturing love in the silence.

Psalm 131

As Jesus carries the cross, where do you find yourself in the crowd? Through scripture, prayer, and Ghirlandaio’s poignant Procession to Calvary, this session invites you to walk with Christ through suffering and surrender. Come, listen deeply—and discover what God is asking you to carry, release, or hold with love.

Luke 23:26-32

What if God feels distant—even when you pray? Through scripture, communion, and Salvador Dalí’s mystical Sacrament of the Last Supper, this session gently explores how divine presence often comes through mystery. Come with your questions, and stay open to how God might be reaching for you in silence and symbol.

John 14:18-21 & Luke 22:14-20

What does love look like when it’s inconvenient, risky, or costly? This session explores the parable of the Good Samaritan alongside Luca Giordano’s stirring painting, inviting you to see compassion as a sacred calling. Let Christ’s words—and your own hands and heart—become instruments of mercy.

Luke 10:30-37

Where is God when the storm is raging? Through scripture, prayer, and Rembrandt’s powerful painting of Jesus calming the sea, this session invites you to find divine presence in life’s chaos. Step into the boat—and listen for peace in the midst of the winds.

Mark 4:35-41

When Mary Magdalene meets the risen Christ, everything changes—could it for you too? This contemplative session invites you into Lavinia Fontana’s tender resurrection scene and the gospel of John, where art and scripture speak in harmony. Step closer, and listen for how the Gardener of your soul might be calling your name.

John 20:11-17

In a world of constant motion, can you make space to simply be with God? This contemplative session explores the story of Mary and Martha through scripture, prayerful stillness, and Vermeer’s luminous art. Come, sit at Jesus’s feet—and listen for what God might be whispering in the quiet.

Luke 10:38-41

What does it mean to truly see with the eyes of faith? This contemplative session blends scripture, stillness, and Bruegel’s haunting Parable of the Blind to awaken spiritual insight. Step into sacred silence—and discover where God might be guiding your gaze.

Matthew 15:12-14

Step into the wilderness with Christ—and discover the renewal solitude brings. Through scripture, silence, and the evocative painting Christ in the Wilderness, this session invites you to retreat from distraction and draw close to God. Let the quiet speak, and listen for how the Spirit meets you in stillness.

Mark 1:12-13