Image © Jan Richardson. janrichardson.com. Used by permission.

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

In this special episode of Art and Prayer, Rev. Rob McPherson introduces us to the powerful work of Jan Richardson, an ordained United Methodist minister whose art and poetry create a unique space for spiritual reflection. Rob shares excerpts from his interview with Jan, offering a rare glimpse into her creative process, where prayer and openness to God play a central role. This episode invites us not only to pray with Jan’s painting Palm Sunday but also to enter more deeply into the art’s meaning through her own voice and wisdom.

Jan describes how prayer weaves through her artistic practice—sometimes visible, sometimes hidden beneath layers of paint or collage—always inviting the presence of God. She reflects candidly on the struggles that accompany creativity, viewing them as part of a prayerful journey toward healing and revelation. Her art, made from painted tissue paper collages, embraces brokenness alongside beauty, echoing the larger story of Holy Week with all its complexity, pain, and hope.

The scripture passage from John 12 brings us into the scene of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, with the crowd shouting “Hosanna!” and waving palm branches. Rob encourages us to listen carefully for the “pieces” of this story—fragments both beautiful and difficult—and to notice how they connect with the layered pieces of Jan’s artwork. The golden road stretching beyond the horizon invites us to consider the direction of Christ’s coming and our own movement toward or away from God.

As we explore the artwork, Rob invites us to reflect on the fragments in our own lives—those parts we treasure and those we might want to discard—and to hear what God might be saying about all of them. Jan’s belief in God as the “consummate recycler” reassures us that even broken or ugly pieces can be woven into something beautiful in God’s hands. Her blessing on the painting reminds us that God’s persistent voice will not be silenced, calling us to remain open to divine guidance.

Rob closes by encouraging viewers to continue this conversation with God beyond the episode, inviting them to visit Jan’s website for more inspiration, and to share this episode with others who might find solace and hope in this sacred encounter. This episode beautifully weaves art, prayer, and personal story into an invitation to embrace the fullness of life’s fragmented beauty in God’s care.