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Homepage / Pivot Podcast /#105: Reclaiming Advent — Simple Church Activities for Sacred Presence

#105: Reclaiming Advent — Simple Church Activities for Sacred Presence

Rev. Dr. Steve Thomason shares how to simplify Advent with art, stillness, and meaningful spiritual practices.

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Tired of endless church Advent activities that leave everyone exhausted? In this episode, the Rev. Dr. Steve Thomason shares a revolutionary approach to the Advent season—one that subtracts rather than adds. As both an artist and theologian, Steve offers practical wisdom for church leaders seeking to create meaningful spiritual experiences without overwhelming their congregations. Learn how simple practices like communal meals, guided meditation, and contemplative art can transform your church’s approach to Advent.

Rather than adding more programming, discover how your congregation can embrace the counter-cultural gift of stillness and sacred presence. From historic traditions of the northern church to modern applications in busy congregations, this episode provides concrete tools for reimagining church Advent activities. Plus, don’t miss details about a free 4-day Advent Challenge that combines art and contemplation to help your congregation slow down and listen for God’s whisper.

Resources Mentioned

Featuring

Steve Thomason
Steve Thomason
Dean of the Chapel and Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation and Discipleship, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota

Rev. Dr. Steven Thomason is an artist, pastor, and teacher, passionate about studying and teaching the Bible. He earned a Ph.D. in Congregational Mission and Leadership from Luther Seminary and is the Dean of the Chapel and Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation and Discipleship for Luther Seminary.

He is the author of “A Cartoonist’s Guide to the Bible” and “The Visual Preacher: Proclaiming an Embodied Word.” In his work as an artist, he regularly focuses on writing and drawing about Spiritual Formation, Biblical Studies, Theology, and Art. 

He is a graduate of Wheaton College, where he studied art (BA, 1990), Bethel University, where he focused on Biblical Studies (MDiv, 2002), and Luther Seminary (Ph.D., 2015).

Hosts

Faith+Lead Headshot of The Rev. Dr. Dwight Zscheile, VP of Innovation, Luther Seminary.
Dwight Zscheile
Professor of Congregational Mission and Leadership, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota

Dwight Zscheile is professor of congregational mission and leadership at Luther Seminary. His latest books are The Starter’s Way (with Ed Olsworth-Peter) and Embracing the Mixed Ecology (with Blair Pogue).

Terri Elton
Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Leadership, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota

The Rev. Dr. Terri Martinson Elton began teaching at Luther Seminary as an adjunct instructor in 2004 before becoming the director of the Center for Children, Youth and Family Ministry in 2008. In addition to her continued work with the Center, Elton accepted the position of associate professor of Children, Youth and Family Ministry in 2010 and associate professor of Leadership in 2014.

Prior to her call to Luther Seminary, Elton served as an associate to the bishop in the Saint Paul Area Synod where her responsibilities included working with congregations, leadership development, First Call theological education and youth and family ministry.

Elton holds a B.A. degree in communications from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. (1986). She earned both her M.A. (1998) and Ph.D. (2007) degrees in Congregational Mission and Leadership from Luther Seminary.

About Pivot Podcast

Join us on Pivot Podcast, where we journey beyond church-as-usual to discover how God is reshaping ministry for today’s world.

Each week, we dive into conversations with innovative leaders and practitioners who are navigating four game-changing pivots: shifting from quick fixes to deep listening, from membership to discipleship, from rigid models to creative ministry ecosystems, and from clergy-centered leadership to unleashing everyone’s gifts.

Whether you’re a member of the clergy seeking fresh inspiration or a volunteer stepping into new leadership territory, Pivot Podcast equips you with the insights and practical wisdom to follow Jesus into a faithful future.

Through their work with diverse cohorts of preachers, they’ve discovered that the most compelling sermons aren’t necessarily the most polished – they’re the ones where preachers have learned to listen deeply to both God and their congregations. Learn practical tools for gathering meaningful feedback, understand why vulnerability matters more than ever in preaching, and discover how shifting from evaluation to understanding can deepen your sermon’s impact. Plus, hear why reimagining God’s agency in preaching might be the key to unlocking more powerful proclamation.

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Featuring

Steve Thomason
Steve Thomason
Dean of the Chapel and Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation and Discipleship, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota

Rev. Dr. Steven Thomason is an artist, pastor, and teacher, passionate about studying and teaching the Bible. He earned a Ph.D. in Congregational Mission and Leadership from Luther Seminary and is the Dean of the Chapel and Associate Professor of Spiritual Formation and Discipleship for Luther Seminary.

He is the author of “A Cartoonist’s Guide to the Bible” and “The Visual Preacher: Proclaiming an Embodied Word.” In his work as an artist, he regularly focuses on writing and drawing about Spiritual Formation, Biblical Studies, Theology, and Art. 

He is a graduate of Wheaton College, where he studied art (BA, 1990), Bethel University, where he focused on Biblical Studies (MDiv, 2002), and Luther Seminary (Ph.D., 2015).

Hosts

Faith+Lead Headshot of The Rev. Dr. Dwight Zscheile, VP of Innovation, Luther Seminary.
Dwight Zscheile
Professor of Congregational Mission and Leadership, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota

Dwight Zscheile is professor of congregational mission and leadership at Luther Seminary. His latest books are The Starter’s Way (with Ed Olsworth-Peter) and Embracing the Mixed Ecology (with Blair Pogue).

Terri Elton
Dean of Academic Affairs and Professor of Leadership, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota

The Rev. Dr. Terri Martinson Elton began teaching at Luther Seminary as an adjunct instructor in 2004 before becoming the director of the Center for Children, Youth and Family Ministry in 2008. In addition to her continued work with the Center, Elton accepted the position of associate professor of Children, Youth and Family Ministry in 2010 and associate professor of Leadership in 2014.

Prior to her call to Luther Seminary, Elton served as an associate to the bishop in the Saint Paul Area Synod where her responsibilities included working with congregations, leadership development, First Call theological education and youth and family ministry.

Elton holds a B.A. degree in communications from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minn. (1986). She earned both her M.A. (1998) and Ph.D. (2007) degrees in Congregational Mission and Leadership from Luther Seminary.