I've released a new book! Beholding: Deepening Our Experience of God is an invitation to a God-soaked life of seeing and being seen by God. It tells my story, the story of consumerism in our times, and invites the reader into spiritual renewal through a recalibration of what we mean when we say the word, prayer.To celebrate I'm sharing an episode here from the book's experiential accompaniment the Beholding Prayer podcast which hosts guided prayer meditations for you to practice in your own time and space.Window of The Soul is the first of these.Find my new book Beholding and it's accompaniment the Beholding Prayer podcast wherever good books and podcasts are found.

I've released a new book! Beholding: Deepening Our Experience of God is an invitation to a God-soaked life of seeing and being seen by God. It tells my story, the story of consumerism in our times, and invites the reader into spiritual renewal through a recalibration of what we mean when we say the word, prayer. To celebrate I'm sharing an episode here from the book's experiential accompaniment the Beholding Prayer podcast which hosts guided prayer meditations for you to practice in your own time and space. Window of The Soul is the first of these. Find my new book Beholding and it's accompaniment the Beholding Prayer podcast wherever good books and podcasts are found.

Beholding Prayer | Window of The Soul

To close Season 3 of the CC Podcast I want to share with you a written homily I shared  with a local church earlier this month. It's about the spiritual fruit of goodness, and how we reclaim goodness in a cultural context in which it basically means whatever we feel or personally believe it is. Thank so much for listening to this season!As always a big ol' thanks to Jonathan Class for helping to produce this podcast with me. If you like the music from this episode you'll find it on our first EP 'LAUDS' under Commoners Communion &amp; Jonathan Class on Spotify and all other streaming platforms. All music is written, performed and produced by the incredible Jonathan Class (thanks brother!)

To close Season 3 of the CC Podcast I want to share with you a written homily I shared  with a local church earlier this month. It's about the spiritual fruit of goodness, and how we reclaim goodness in a cultural context in which it basically means whatever we feel or personally believe it is. Thank so much for listening to this season! As always a big ol' thanks to Jonathan Class for helping to produce this podcast with me.  If you like the music from this episode you'll find it on our first EP 'LAUDS' under Commoners Communion &amp; Jonathan Class on Spotify and all other streaming platforms. All music is written, performed and produced by the incredible Jonathan Class (thanks brother!)

Goodness Has Some Bite (on the counter-cultural nature of godly goodness)

Thank you for listening to the Commoners Communion Podcast!If you would like to support what I'm doing you can find a link to donate to my work at commonerscommunion.com/contact (just scroll down to the donate button). All gifts are deeply appreciated and go a long way to helping me to continue to create this content free of charge and advertising.Huge thanks as always to Jonathan Class for helping to produce this podcast with me. If you like the music from this episode you'll find it on our first EP 'LAUDS' under Commoners Communion &amp; Jonathan Class on Spotify and all other streaming platforms. All music is written, performed and produced by the incredible Jonathan Class (thanks brother!)

Thank you for listening to the Commoners Communion Podcast! If you would like to support what I'm doing you can find a link to donate to my work at <a href="http://commonerscommunion.com/contact" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">commonerscommunion.com/contact</a> (just scroll down to the donate button). All gifts are deeply appreciated and go a long way to helping me to continue to create this content free of charge and advertising. Huge thanks as always to Jonathan Class for helping to produce this podcast with me.  If you like the music from this episode you'll find it on our first EP 'LAUDS' under Commoners Communion &amp; Jonathan Class on Spotify and all other streaming platforms. All music is written, performed and produced by the incredible Jonathan Class (thanks brother!)

Sacred Dialogue (on speaking like Christ in divisive times)

This Friday I'll be releasing the first article in a series called 'A More Christlike Apocalypse' (explanation in the intro of this episode) to my email subscribers only. If you'd like to come along on the journey with me over the next few months head to commonerscommunion.com, scroll down to the bottom of the page and sign up to my email list. You'll get a link this week and access to the home page for the series.'Old Friends Carry These Things Together' is a prayer and poem from my book 'Prayer Vol.02'. You can purchase it from commonerscommunion.com.And if you like the music from this episode you'll find it on our first EP 'LAUDS' under Commoners Communion &amp; Jonathan Class on Spotify and all other streaming platforms. All music is written, performed and produced by the incredible Jonathan Class (thanks brother!)

This Friday I'll be releasing the first article in a series called 'A More Christlike Apocalypse' (explanation in the intro of this episode) to my email subscribers only. If you'd like to come along on the journey with me over the next few months head to <a href="http://commonerscommunion.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">commonerscommunion.com</a>, scroll down to the bottom of the page and sign up to my email list. You'll get a link this week and access to the home page for the series. 'Old Friends Carry These Things Together' is a prayer and poem from my book 'Prayer Vol.02'. You can purchase it from <a href="http://commonerscommunion.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">commonerscommunion.com</a>. And if you like the music from this episode you'll find it on our first EP 'LAUDS' under Commoners Communion &amp; Jonathan Class on Spotify and all other streaming platforms. All music is written, performed and produced by the incredible Jonathan Class (thanks brother!)

Old Friends Carry These Things Together (on the long-game love of God).

'My Ordinary Self' is a prayer and contemplation from my book 'Prayer Vol.02'. You can purchase it from commonerscommunion.com.And if you like the music from this episode you'll find it on our first EP 'LAUDS' under Commoners Communion &amp; Jonathan Class on Spotify and all other streaming platforms. All music is written, performed and produced by the incredible Jonathan Class (thanks brother!)

'My Ordinary Self' is a prayer and contemplation from my book 'Prayer Vol.02'. You can purchase it from <a href="http://commonerscommunion.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">commonerscommunion.com</a>. And if you like the music from this episode you'll find it on our first EP 'LAUDS' under Commoners Communion &amp; Jonathan Class on Spotify and all other streaming platforms. All music is written, performed and produced by the incredible Jonathan Class (thanks brother!)

My Ordinary Self (on the mystery of a God-infused life)

Welcome to Q &amp; R -  a weekly spot where I respond your questions about life, spirituality, prayer, art or whatever else is on your mind. Email strahan@commonerscommunion.com with the subject line 'Podcast Q &amp; R' to ask your question and it may just crop up on a weekly release somewhere in the future!

Welcome to Q &amp; R -  a weekly spot where I respond your questions about life, spirituality, prayer, art or whatever else is on your mind. Email strahan@commonerscommunion.com with the subject line 'Podcast Q &amp; R' to ask your question and it may just crop up on a weekly release somewhere in the future!

Q & R: What Does Your Creative Process Look Like?

'Save Me From Professional Prayer' is a prayer and contemplation from my book 'Prayer Vol.02'. You can purchase it from commonerscommunion.com.And if you like the music from this episode you'll find it on our first EP 'LAUDS' under Commoners Communion &amp; Jonathan Class on Spotify and all other streaming platforms. All music is written, performed and produced by the incredible Jonathan Class (thanks brother!)

'Save Me From Professional Prayer' is a prayer and contemplation from my book 'Prayer Vol.02'. You can purchase it from <a href="http://commonerscommunion.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">commonerscommunion.com</a>. And if you like the music from this episode you'll find it on our first EP 'LAUDS' under Commoners Communion &amp; Jonathan Class on Spotify and all other streaming platforms. All music is written, performed and produced by the incredible Jonathan Class (thanks brother!)

Save Me From Professional Prayer (on the importance of staying rookie)

Q & R: How Can We 'Know God'?

'Good Morning, Father' is a prayer and contemplation from my book 'Prayer Vol.02'. You can purchase it from commonerscommunion.com.And if you like the music from this episode you'll find it on our first EP 'LAUDS' under Commoners Communion &amp; Jonathan Class on Spotify and all other streaming platforms. All music is written, performed and produced by the incredible Jonathan Class (thanks brother!)

'Good Morning, Father' is a prayer and contemplation from my book 'Prayer Vol.02'. You can purchase it from <a href="http://commonerscommunion.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">commonerscommunion.com</a>. And if you like the music from this episode you'll find it on our first EP 'LAUDS' under Commoners Communion &amp; Jonathan Class on Spotify and all other streaming platforms. All music is written, performed and produced by the incredible Jonathan Class (thanks brother!)

Good Morning, Father (on keeping time and place with God)

Q & R: How Can I Feel Closer To God When He Feels So Far Away?

Hosted by writer and folk-psalmist Strahan, the Commoners Communion podcast is a conversational look at Christian spirituality through the lens of beauty, mystery and revelation.

One of the best discoveries was being introduced to Commoners Communion Instagram page which led to buying the Prayer Book Vol. 1. That led to doing a zoom class with Strahan and now I learn about the podcast. One blessing after another.

A blessing

Strahan’s contemplations are so well-crafted and well thought-through. In this space, he leads you to consider the beauty, mystery and friendship of God. His podcasts remind me to allow our own creativity and conversations with God to find expression - because God speaks through each of us. It just so happens that Strahan’s way of communicating God in him takes on such poetry and artful form in these episodes. Can’t recommend these podcasts enough. Psyched for season 2! Been waiting for this!

A hidden gem in the podcast world

Commoners Communion Podcast

We don't often celebrate the beauty of not-knowing in our walk with God, but if he truly is Spirit, truly the God of all existence, then embracing mystery is foundational to our walking with him. God is not always interested in telling us the why of what we're going through, because in the tension between our longing and our lack he's making his goodness all the more satisfying to us.  The music in this podcast is kindly provided by Rhys Machell from his meditative album 'In Glass'. Click here to hear more.Visit www.commonerscommunion.com to join the conversation.

We don't often celebrate the beauty of not-knowing in our walk with God, but if he truly is Spirit, truly the God of all existence, then embracing mystery is foundational to our walking with him. God is not always interested in telling us the why of what we're going through, because in the tension between our longing and our lack he's making his goodness all the more satisfying to us.  The music in this podcast is kindly provided by Rhys Machell from his meditative album 'In Glass'. Click here to hear more.Visit <a href="http://www.commonerscommunion.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.commonerscommunion.com</a> to join the conversation.

Episode 3: Mystery

It can sometimes be hard starting a new year. What do we do with unmet promises from the year before? How do we hope for flourishing in times of transition or tension? Just as there are times and seasons in the earth and times and seasons in our lives, there are also times and seasons in kingdom spirituality. In this episode I share what I feel God has been saying to me over these past months about 2018 and how we can start the year open heartedly and with intention.  The music in this podcast is kindly provided by Rhys Machell from his meditative album 'In Glass'. Click here to hear more.

It can sometimes be hard starting a new year. What do we do with unmet promises from the year before? How do we hope for flourishing in times of transition or tension? Just as there are times and seasons in the earth and times and seasons in our lives, there are also times and seasons in kingdom spirituality. In this episode I share what I feel God has been saying to me over these past months about 2018 and how we can start the year open heartedly and with intention.  The music in this podcast is kindly provided by Rhys Machell from his meditative album 'In Glass'. Click here to hear more.

Episode 4: New

God is not an idea, a political persuasion or a theology we can knit tight. He is a Person who transforms knowledge into revelation through the process of spending time with him. In today's information age we need more than ever to sit with him, and others, in the tension of what we think we know and that which we don't. Revelation is the way in which we draw God's eternal present into the social, economic, political and ideological battles we face and it's the deeper beauty of our claim of living within the life God himself.

God is not an idea, a political persuasion or a theology we can knit tight. He is a Person who transforms knowledge into revelation through the process of spending time with him. In today's information age we need more than ever to sit with him, and others, in the tension of what we think we know and that which we don't. Revelation is the way in which we draw God's eternal present into the social, economic, political and ideological battles we face and it's the deeper beauty of our claim of living within the life God himself.

Episode 5: Revelation

Practicing newness isn't just a nice idea, it's the gritty foundation of our entire Christian spirituality.The music in this podcast is kindly provided by Rhys Machell from his meditative album 'In Glass'. Click here to hear more.

Episode 9: Practicing Newness

I'm doing something a little different in this episode. I sat down last week to record an entirely different episode and couldn't deny the leading to go off script a little and share what I was feeling the Spirit saying to a few of us. Not everything in this episode will apply to everyone listening but I hope it's an encouragement to those whom it does connect with. You may know someone who could be encouraged to hear this one and if you do feel free to pass it on.Spiritual life is about seasons, and sometimes there can be a shift seasonally that applies to both individuals and a whole. I sense that we're in one of those seasons right now and by voicing that we're not alone we can gain a little strength to step out of it together. Commoners Communion is really a community of people searching for a new way of being in a social, political and spiritual landscape that is rapidly changing around us. If you've found this podcast it's probably because you feel that, and in some way you've experienced your own kind of estrangement in the process. If that's you, this podcast is my word to you. With love, and a whole lot of personal vulnerability.Arohanui,Strahan.The music in this podcast is kindly provided by Rhys Machell from his meditative album 'In Glass'. Click here to hear more.

Episode 7: Poor In Spirit

The second stage of our journey is about protecting and growing that which God has sown in us.

Practicing Newness Devotional: Watching Over

The first step in the process of God sowing his seed in our lives is His providing the nourishment that brings us the promise. We receive.

Practicing Newness Devotional: Receiving

The next stage in our journey is the harvesting of the seed we have sown and watched over. The initial promise has bloomed and it’s time to remove what’s fully grown and make new space for the movements of God in our tomorrows.

Practicing Newness Devotional: Removing

Before the wheat of any harvest can be used for sharing and baking it must be threshed.

Practicing Newness Devotional: Persevering

To finish off this first season we'll be embarking on a five-week devotional journey through Isaiah 55. Each week there will be questions to wrestle with, devotionals to meditate on and prayers to prompt you into your own space with God.

Practicing Newness - Season One Devotional

Following on from our last episode, this week I'm looking at the concept of exile - spiritual, physical, emotional, societal - and how we both flourish in the wilderness and find our way back into the city afterwards. Exile can be the seedbed for character growth, destiny, newness and a more loving life. I share how I've found this to be true in my own life and we look at an important historical figure who experienced exile in their own profound way. The music in this podcast is kindly provided by Rhys Machell from his meditative album 'In Glass'. Click here to hear more.

Following on from our last episode, this week I'm looking at the concept of exile - spiritual, physical, emotional, societal - and how we both flourish in the wilderness and find our way back into the city afterwards. Exile can be the seedbed for character growth, destiny, newness and a more loving life. I share how I've found this to be true in my own life and we look at an important historical figure who experienced exile in their own profound way. The music in this podcast is kindly provided by Rhys Machell from his meditative album 'In Glass'. Click here to hear more.

Episode 8: Exile

In a daring move of unprecedented nervousness, I'm taking Commoners Communion on the road!I'm hoping to invite more people to join us in these conversations and to connect face to face with all of you who have been listening, writing and sharing. Throughout the North Island tour, I'll be sharing on living a life of poetry (maybe even sharing some of my own poetry God-willing), starting some discussion, Q &amp; R and maybe even a little liturgy to ground us in the Great Tradition.My hope for the tour is that we can start brewing a community that crosses cultural, denominational and social boundaries to encourage each other to live a life of beauty, mystery and revelation. It feels like there has never been a more important time to see beauty in the other nor to find new language and ways of being in a world starved for connection and intimacy.I'm really excited to come hang out with you guys and share the love.Arohanui,Strahan.Permalink

In a daring move of unprecedented nervousness, I'm taking Commoners Communion on the road! I'm hoping to invite more people to join us in these conversations and to connect face to face with all of you who have been listening, writing and sharing. Throughout the North Island tour, I'll be sharing on living a life of poetry (maybe even sharing some of my own poetry God-willing), starting some discussion, Q &amp; R and maybe even a little liturgy to ground us in the Great Tradition. My hope for the tour is that we can start brewing a community that crosses cultural, denominational and social boundaries to encourage each other to live a life of beauty, mystery and revelation.  It feels like there has never been a more important time to see beauty in the other nor to find new language and ways of being in a world starved for connection and intimacy. I'm really excited to come hang out with you guys and share the love. Arohanui, Strahan.<a href="https://www.commonerscommunion.com/podcast/poor-in-spirit-jpbj7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Permalink</a>

Announcing The 'Prose To Poetry' Tour!

Love Ache

Maybe we can't truly love like God does - with an achy, gritty and unrelenting love - until we arrive at the end of ourselves; where, out of gas we finally admit we must be conduits that pay forward, rather than reservoirs that withhold grace.Let Love Ache is a prayer and contemplation from Prayer Vol.01. You can find the book and more details about Commoners Communion at www.commonerscommunion.com.Produced by Strahan Coleman &amp; Jonathan Class.Music by Jonathan Class.Mastered by Alex Dobbert.Episode art by Leah Surynt.Visit www.instagram.com/commoners_communion for more written prayers and contemplations and to keep in touch.

Maybe we can't truly love like God does - with an achy, gritty and unrelenting love - until we arrive at the end of ourselves; where, out of gas we finally admit we must be conduits that pay forward, rather than reservoirs that withhold grace. Let Love Ache is a prayer and contemplation from Prayer Vol.01. You can find the book and more details about Commoners Communion at <a href="http://www.commonerscommunion.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.commonerscommunion.com</a>. Produced by Strahan Coleman &amp; Jonathan Class. Music by Jonathan Class. Mastered by Alex Dobbert. Episode art by Leah Surynt. Visit <a href="http://www.instagram.com/commoners_communion" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.instagram.com/commoners_communion</a> for more written prayers and contemplations and to keep in touch.

Let Love Ache (and on coming to the end of ourselves)

In moments when things are difficult and hopeless, remembrance is a way of disempowering suffering - of subverting it. Remembering is prophetic, it's present-shaping, and it transforms how we lean into our tomorrow. Remembrance Is Anxieties Antidote is a prayer and contemplation from Prayer Vol.01. You can find the book and more details about Commoners Communion at www.commonerscommunion.com.Produced by Strahan Coleman &amp; Jonathan Class.Music by Jonathan Class.Mastered by Alex Dobbert.Episode art by Leah Surynt.Visit www.instagram.com/commoners_communion for more written prayers and contemplations and to keep in touch.

In moments when things are difficult and hopeless, remembrance is a way of disempowering suffering - of subverting it. Remembering is prophetic, it's present-shaping, and it transforms how we lean into our tomorrow. Remembrance Is Anxieties Antidote is a prayer and contemplation from Prayer Vol.01. You can find the book and more details about Commoners Communion at <a href="http://www.commonerscommunion.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.commonerscommunion.com</a>. Produced by Strahan Coleman &amp; Jonathan Class. Music by Jonathan Class. Mastered by Alex Dobbert. Episode art by Leah Surynt. Visit <a href="http://www.instagram.com/commoners_communion" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.instagram.com/commoners_communion</a> for more written prayers and contemplations and to keep in touch.

Remembrance Is Anxieties Antidote (and the practice of subverting suffering)

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