GUEST CONTRIBUTORS

We believe creativity and community belong together. As a team effort, A Sanctified Art is rooted in collaboration and creative partnership. Here are the talented artists, writers, and musicians who have contributed to our resources (in order of our most recently-released resources).

**DR. TERENCE LESTER**

***Contributor to our Lent bundle,*** ***Wandering Heart***
Dr. Terence Lester (he/him) is a storyteller, public scholar, speaker, community activist, and author who is the Founder and Executive Director of Love Beyond Walls, a nonprofit organization focused on raising poverty and homelessness awareness and community mobilization. At the age of sixteen, Terence was a high-school dropout and a member of a gang. A rebellious teen, he lived on the streets and even attempted to take his own life. At twenty, he was arrested. In jail, he met a man who talked to him about life decisions. It was the first time he had ever heard the good news. By the start of the following year, he was submitting to a call to share his testimony to change the lives of others.
He’s known for nationwide campaigns that bring awareness to homelessness, poverty, and economic inequality. His awareness campaigns have been featured on MLK50, CNN, Good Morning America, Essence Magazine, TEDx, TVONE, Creative Mornings, USA Today, NBC, Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) National Magazine, NBC News, AJC, Black Enterprise, Rolling Out, and Upworthy. These campaigns have been viewed by millions of people worldwide. He is also the author of several published books through InterVarsity Press. Terence is happily married to his best friend, Cecilia Lester, and they have two amazing children, Zion Joy and Terence II.
terencelester.org | @imterencelester | @lovebeyondwalls

**REV. DR. KAROLINE M. LEWIS**

***Contributor to our Lent bundle,*** ***Wandering Heart***
Dr. Karoline Lewis (she/her) is the Marbury E. Anderson Chair in Biblical Preaching at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, MN, where she has taught since 2007. Lewis is the author of *A Lay Preacher’s Guide: How to Craft a Faithful Sermon* (2020), *SHE: Five Keys to Unlock the Power of Women in Ministry* (including an accompanying facilitator guide, participant guide, and DVD) and *John: Fortress Biblical Preaching Commentaries*, as well as numerous articles and book chapters. Her next book, to be released in August, is *Embody: Five Steps to Leading With Integrity*.
Ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Lewis holds degrees from Northwestern University (B.A.), Luther Seminary (M.Div.), and Emory University (Ph.D., New Testament Studies and Homiletics). Lewis leads conferences, workshops, and retreats internationally on the Gospel of John, the New Testament, interpreting the Bible, preaching, leadership, and women in ministry. She is a contributing writer for Working Preacher, co-host of the site's weekly podcast, Sermon Brainwave, and regularly authors the Dear Working Preacher column. Visit karolinelewis.com for resources on preaching, leadership, and being a woman in ministry.
karolinelewis.com

**REV. NICOLETTE (FAISON) PEÑARANDA**

***Contributor to our Advent bundle,*** ***How does a weary world rejoice?**, and our Lent bundle,*** ***Wandering Heart***
Rev. Nicolette “Nic” (she/her) is a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America serving as the Program Director for African Descent Ministries. Nic is the creator of MONadvocacy, a racial justice resource grounded in play, as well as the “Talks at the Desk” series which celebrates the voices of leaders in the ELCA African descent community: livinglutheran.org/2022/02/a-love-letter-to-african-descent-communities.
She is passionate about queer Black liberation, cultivating diverse leadership in faith spaces, and the art of creation. She is also the illustrator of God's Holy Darkness, written by Sharei Green and Beckah Selnick (Beaming Books, 2022). The book deconstructs anti-Blackness in Christian theology by celebrating instances in the story of God's people when darkness, blackness, and night are beautiful, good, and holy. She resides in the Chicagoland area with her spouse, two daughters, and two cats, Penne Pablo and Rigatoni Braxton.

**REV. T. DENISE ANDERSON**

***Contributor to our Lent bundles,*** ***Again & Again***, ***Full to the Brim***, ***Seeking**, and*** ***Wandering Heart**, as well as our Advent bundle,*** ***Close to Home***
Denise (she/her) is a minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and The Director for Compassion, Peace, and Justice Ministries at the Presbyterian Mission Agency. A graduate of Howard University School of Divinity, she is the former Co-Moderator of the 222nd General Assembly (2016) of the Presbyterian Church (USA). A nationally-recognized writer and blogger, Denise’s work has appeared in The Christian Century, The Huffington Post, These Days, and on her own blog, SOULa Scriptura: To Be Young, Gifted, and Reformed: soulascriptura.com. Denise writes, preaches, and engages on issues of social justice, diversity, and reconciliation. As a gifted visual artist, she creates art that explores themes of spirituality, history, religion, and race: tdandersonart.com.

**THE CHAPEL CHURCH BAND AT FIFTH AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH**

***Contributor to our Advent bundle,*** ***How does a weary world rejoice?**, and our Lent bundle,*** ***Wandering Heart***
This Advent, our theme song will be crafted by a collective of talented creatives. The lyrics will be written by Rev. Sarah Speed (one of our Founding Creative Partners and our lead liturgy writer). Sarah is collaborating with the Chapel Church Band at Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church (New York), where she serves as Associate Pastor for Young Adults and Membership. Music director, Can Olgun, is the leader of the band, which features a rotating slate of professional vocalists singing to the rhythms of guitar, piano, and drums. Their repertoire covers a broad range of traditional and contemporary music, with a growing list of original compositions. fapc.org/chapel-church

**CAN OLGUN**

***Contributor to our Advent bundle,*** ***How does a weary world rejoice?**, and our Lent bundle,*** ***Wandering Heart***
Can Olgun (he/him) is an internationally performing pianist, composer, educator, and researcher. Originally from Berlin, Germany, Olgun moved to New York in 2008 to pursue a Master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music after being awarded a scholarship by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). He has appeared at landmark venues such as the Berliner Philharmonie, Carnegie Hall, Blue Note, A-Trane Berlin, Jazz Club Unterfahrt Munich, Winter Jazz Fest, and Jazz at Lincoln Center. While maintaining a busy schedule as a sideman, he also tours frequently throughout Europe and the U.S. He is a Ph.D. candidate at the Victoria University of Wellington/New Zealand School of Music, where he conducts research at the intersections of contemporary gospel keyboard playing, artistic research, and jazz piano improvisation. His research findings will entail a portfolio of creative work expected to be released in 2023 and 2024. canolgun.com

**REV. CECELIA D. ARMSTRONG**

***Contributor to our Advent bundle,*** ***How does a weary world rejoice?***
The Rev. Cecelia D. Armstrong (she/her) is an energetic national leader within the Presbyterian Church (USA) who preaches often for conferences and groups. She is called “CeCe” by friends and family members. She has never met a stranger and continues to collect friends and family members throughout her Christian journey through life and real-world experiences. Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, she was baptized at Calvary Presbyterian Church (USA) and remained a very active member there until her decision to make Georgia her home.
Pastor CeCe is a graduate of the Interdenominational Theological Center, where she attended Johnson C. Smith Theological Seminary and earned her Masters of Divinity. After seminary, she served Grady Memorial Hospital as a chaplain and Beth Salem Presbyterian Church (USA) as supply pastor. As an ordained Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA), Rev. Armstrong served her first call as Solo Pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church (USA) in Lantana, Florida. Now, Pastor CeCe is the very proud Associate Pastor of St. James Presbyterian Church (USA) on James Island in Charleston, SC. stjamesji.org/pastors-staff

REV. BRUCE REYES-CHOW

Contributor to our Lent bundle, Seeking

Bruce (he/him) is an active speaker and writer on topics of faith, culture, race, and technology. He is the host of the podcast, “BRC & Friends,” and the author of five books. His latest is, In Defense of Kindness (Chalice Press, 2021), and he is currently working on his next book, Everything Good about God is True: Choosing Faith (Broadleaf Books, Spring 2024). Bruce has been an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA) since 1995 and has pastored five churches and has been active in local politics in the San Francisco Bay Area for nearly three decades. He is also a Senior Consultant and Coach with Convergence and is a Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths Coach. Bruce has an active online presence and can be found on most social networks via @breyeschow with all current links here: linktr.ee/breyeschow. Reyes-chow.com

**CARMELLE BEAUGELIN**

***Contributor to our Lent bundles,*** ***Full to the Brim*** ***and*** ***Seeking**, as well as our Advent bundle,*** ***From Generation to Generation…***
Carmelle (she/her) is a Haitian-American visual artist, Human-Centered Design Consultant, and "holy cheerleader" based in Princeton, NJ. She holds an M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and as an artist, her creative focus includes abstract impressionism/expressionism painting inspired by Afro-Latin Caribbean art styles and Christian spirituality. She is the Founder and Lead Curating Artist at BeauFolio Studio, an emerging arthouse at the intersection of sacred art, human-centered design, and restorative equity. Carmellebeaugelin.com

**SPENCER LAJOYE**

***Contributor to our Lent bundle,*** ***Seeking***
Spencer LaJoye (they/them) is an award-winning folk/pop singer-songwriter, violinist, and vocal loop artist in Boston, Massachusetts, who believes everyone is made of the good stuff. They make music to remember what it means to be human, to find connection in a time of disconnection, and to feel something in a world gone numb. Spencer’s latest EP, Remember The Oxygen, was written before, during, and following their coming out as trans/gender nonbinary. Their newest single, "Plowshare Prayer," went viral among hurting and healing people around the world before the studio recording was released. It poses an answer to the question: what would a prayer sound like if used as a plowshare instead of a sword? What would a prayer sound like if it made space for actual people instead of trying to change them? spencerlajoye.com

DR. CHRISTINE HONG

Contributor to our Advent bundle, From Generation to Generation…

Christine J. Hong (she/her) is Assistant Professor of Educational Ministry at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. Her interests include anti-colonial and decolonial approaches to religious and interreligious education and life. Hong’s interests also include Asian American spiritualities, and the spiritual and theological formation of children and adolescents among BIPOC communities. Hong is a Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and has spent time as both a religious educator and youth and young adult minister in New York and Southern California. She is the author of numerous articles, chapters in books, and two monographs, the first is, Youth, Identity, and Gender in the Korean American Church, published by Palgrave, and the second is, Decolonial Futures: Intercultural and Interreligious Intelligence for Theological Education from Lexington Press. Dr. Hong has received a BA from Univ. of Washington, a ThM and MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a PhD from Claremont School of Theology. ctsnet.edu/faculty/hong-christine-j/

**REV. LARISSA KWONG ABAZIA**

***Contributor to our Lent bundle,*** ***Full to the Brim***
Larissa (she/her) is an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and founder of Courageous Spaces, inviting others to co-create spaces for disruption, transformation, and change. She also currently works as a consultant with Vandersall Collective. Larissa has dedicated her life and career to racial and gender justice, and is interested in the ways that the intersections of all parts of one’s identity can be embraced as strengths. This work brought her to denominational leadership, including service as the Vice-Moderator of the 221st General Assembly of the PC(USA) and as a current member of the General Assembly Committee on Representation. She’s a founding board member of the Collective Foundation, an organization researching and providing training concerning the fundraising practices in Christian communities of color. CourageousSpaces.com

**REV. ASHLEY DETAR BIRT**

***Contributor to our Lent bundle,*** ***Full to the Brim***
Ashley (she/her) is an ordained minister of Word and Sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She obtained her Masters of Divinity from Union Theological Seminary, a Master’s in Theater Arts from the University of Pittsburgh, and a BA in Creative Writing from Carnegie Mellon University. An outspoken advocate for youth ministry and social justice, Ashley recently served as the Co-Moderator of the Board of Directors for More Light Presbyterians and has written for the NEXT Church blog, Believe Out Loud, and the Progressive Youth Ministry Blog on Patheos. She also starred in two theological web series: "Theology Unhinged" and "A Quick Chat with Rev. Ashley." Her passion for ritual, worship, and theatre have not only pushed her to use theatrical and improvisational elements in services but also to respond to God as a worship light and sound designer, as well as a Zoom worship and ritual designer and technician. ashleybirt.com

**ADRIAN WHITE**

***Contributor to our Lent bundle,*** ***Full to the Brim***
Adrian (they/them) is a writer, Texan, and third year MDiv student at Vanderbilt Divinity School. They grew up in the PC(USA) and feel called to the work of bringing to life the church’s growing commitments to the inclusion and thriving of all children of God! They are proud to serve on the board of More Light Presbyterians. In Nashville, Adrian serves on staff at Woodland Presbyterian Church and organizes with Southerners On New Ground (SONG). When not working and studying, Adrian enjoys playing board games with their spouse Wynn and taking long walks with their dog Bex.

**PAUL DEMER**

***Contributor to our Lent bundle,*** ***Full to the Brim***
Paul Demer (he/him) is a singer-songwriter, record producer, outreach musician, and worship leader. Paul connects with diverse audiences in living rooms, bars, churches, nursing homes, and hospitals in his hometown of Dallas, TX, and across the country. Passionate about the craft of songwriting, he has released several albums of original music, and was recently selected as a finalist in Kerrville Folk Festival's New Folk songwriting competition. In addition to producing his own records, Paul has produced over 50 tracks for fellow singer-songwriters. He has played over 1,500 concerts in local nursing homes and hospitals, in partnership with the Dallas non-profit Texas Winds Musical Outreach, and he currently serves as a Music Minister at St. Matthew's Episcopal Cathedral. Paul and his wife, Trisha, live in Lower Greenville, Dallas. When not making music, he enjoys reading, spending time outside, and good conversation. pauldemer.com

**ELDER VILMARIE CINTRÓN-OLIVIERI**

***Contributor to our Advent bundle,*** ***Close to Home***
Vilmarie (she/her) is an educator and a ruling elder. Ordained for 26 years, she has served in the Presbyterian Church (USA) at the Session, Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly levels. Vilmarie holds a B.A. in Education (ESL) and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Teaching. She has taught English and English as a Second Language to teenage and adult students from all over the world. Vilmarie and her husband, Rev. José Manuel Capella-Pratts, live in Miami, FL. Along with the Rev. Cindy Kohlmann, she served as Co-Moderator of the 223rd General Assembly (2018) of the Presbyterian Church (USA), the first Hispanic Latina and first Puerto Rican person to be elected to this office. Among her loves is the love of art in its many forms. These days she feels closer to God through color, shapes, and movement, exploring watercolor painting as a form of prayer and engaging in one of her preferred spiritual practices, “Praying in Color.”

**BECKY & NATHAN BLISS OF BARNABY BRIGHT**

***Contributor to our Advent bundle,*** ***Close to Home***
Becky (she/her) and Nathan (he/him) work as musical directors for The Gathering Service at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas (vpcthegathering.org). Together they also create and perform music as Barnaby Bright (barnabybright.com).
Introduced by a booking agent in Kansas City in 2005 after college, Becky and Nathan moved to Brooklyn, got married, and started the indie folk band, Barnaby Bright. After the release of their first full-length album in 2009, they began touring extensively all over the world, playing roughly 150 shows a year. After six years of steady touring, releasing three full-length albums, winning several international songwriting awards and gracing such notable stages as Lincoln Center and NPR’s Mountain Stage, they returned to Kansas City and were thrilled to accept the position as musical directors for The Gathering service at Village Church. Their most sincere hope since they began their musical journey together over 10 years ago was that their songs and sounds would inspire, uplift, and connect audiences to something greater than themselves. Being able to do this on a weekly basis in a more focused, intentional way gives them great joy.

**DR. RAJ NADELLA**

***Contributor to our worship series,*** ***I’ve been meaning to ask…***
Dr. Raj Nadella (he/him) is the Samuel A. Cartledge Associate Professor of New Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. Dr. Nadella’s research and teaching interests include postcolonial biblical interpretation, migration, and New Testament perspectives on economic justice and their ethical implications for the Church and society. In addition, his research has focused on Mikhail Bakhtin and Biblical Studies. His work has appeared in publications such as The Huffington Post, Christian Century, and Working Preacher. Since 2018, he has served as an area editor for Oxford Bibliographies: Biblical Studies. Nadella was one of two biblical scholars who led the PC(USA) General Assembly Bible Study in 2018. In 2020, Patheos featured him as one of 50 NT scholars to follow. ctsnet.edu/faculty/nadella-raj

**REV. BRITTANY FISCUS-VAN ROSSUM**

***Contributor to our worship series,*** ***I’ve been meaning to ask…***
Rev. Brittany Fiscus-van Rossum (she/her) serves as pastor of Mercy Community Church, a grassroots ecumenical congregation that meets out-of-doors in borrowed space, parking lots, and on the streets of Atlanta, GA. As a community, Mercy strives to bring those in and out of housing together to worship, fellowship, work for justice, offer shelter, and build community. The Mercy community gathers five days of the week to share clothes and meals, study scripture together, support one another in recovery, write, study, pray, drink coffee, and spend time together. Brittany first came to Mercy Church while completing her MDiv at Columbia Theological Seminary. Brittany is passionate about the church’s vocation to be present to the poor in ways that foster mutual relationships and healthy communities. Brittany loves writing, creating, and studying theology alongside her congregants. She is jointly ordained by the PC(USA) and Mercy Community Church. mercyatl.org

**REV. REMINGTON JOHNSON**

***Contributor to our worship series,*** ***I’ve been meaning to ask…***
Remington Johnson (she/her) is an ordained PC(USA) minister who has served at the bedside of the sick and dying as a healthcare chaplain for the last ten years. Remington is currently pursuing a masters in nursing at the University of Texas. Remington is active in the research community by working as a consultant on a growing number of peer-reviewed studies and also serving a medical school think tank at the University of Texas. She regularly lectures on the complex care navigation process with a special focus on values identification. Remington is engaged to a lovely woman and mother to a delightful six-year-old. remingtonjohnson.com

**REV. AISHA BROOKS-JOHNSON**

***Contributor to our worship series,*** ***I’ve been meaning to ask…***
The Reverend Aisha Brooks-Johnson, formerly Brooks-Lytle, (she/her) is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 2018, Aisha began her role as the Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta serving 80+ congregations and encouraging 20+ new worshiping communities. She is honored and overjoyed to serve as an encourager to the congregations and leaders within a presbytery filled with a deep cultural diversity and a vast theological landscape. She believes that it is part of her call to support healthy and vital congregations and to equip healthy and innovative leaders to live into their passion and purpose as the people of God. Aisha is blessed to have her mother, Deborah, and her son, Ellington, to join her in this adventure in the Greater Atlanta region (atlpcusa.org). Aisha gives thanks to God for her recent marriage to the Rev. Dr. Alonzo T. Johnson who serves as the Coordinator for the Self Development of People for the PC(USA) headquartered in Louisville, KY (presbyterianmission.org/ministries/sdop).

**THE MANY**

***Contributors to our Advent bundle,*** ***Those Who Dream*** ***& our Lent Bundle,*** ***Again & Again***
The Many is an indie, intentionally diverse music collective from Chicago singing music of faith and doubt, hope and lament. The lead singers in The Many—Darren Calhoun, Leslie Michele, and singer/songwriter Hannah Rand—as well as writer Lenora Rand and musician/producer Gary Rand, come together around their shared love of music and commitment to honest expressions of faith, peace-making, economic and racial justice, and LGBTQ+ inclusion. The Many offer songs made for reflection, for protest, for healing, and worship. They are songs made for singing with each other, in churches, in living rooms, in basements, and in bars. . . anywhere and everywhere, in spirit and in truth. With lyrics born from scriptures, from headlines, and from their own experiences, this is not head-in-the-clouds “worship music.” These are not songs about a God who only loves some of us. These are feet-on-the-ground, heart-in-hands, scars-revealed, wild and holy songs of resistance and reconciliation and restoration. This unique group of musicians reminds us over and over again that we aren’t alone, that God so loves every one of us, and we all belong here. themanyarehere.com

**DR. MARCIA Y. RIGGS**

***Contributor to our Advent bundle,*** ***Those Who Dream***
Dr. Riggs (she/her) has an undergraduate degree in Religion from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, a Master of Divinity degree from Yale University Divinity School and a PhD in religion/ethics from Vanderbilt University. In April of 2006, Dr. Riggs was inaugurated as the first professor to hold the J. Erskine Love Chair in Christian Ethics at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. She teaches in the Master of Divinity, Doctor of Ministry, and the Master of Theology Programs at the seminary. Dr. Riggs has served on the Editorial Boards for the Encyclopedia on Women and Religion in North America, the Journal of the Society of Christian Ethics, and the Feasting on the Word Lectionary Commentary Series. She has also chaired the Womanist Approaches to Religion and Society Group and has chaired or served on committees of the American Academy of Religion, the Association of Theological Schools, and The Fund for Theological Education (currently, the Forum for Theological Exploration).
She is the founder of an educational non-profit: Still Waters: A Center for Ethical Formation and Practices that offers training in REM. Dr. Riggs is interested in the relationship between social oppression and socio-religious ethical praxis, ethical discourse that bridges the gap between womanist religious scholarship and the Church’s practice of ministry, the moral foundations for public policy, and the Church’s role in social justice ministry. ctsnet.edu/faculty/riggs-marcia

PLURAL GUILD

Contributors to our Advent bundle, Those Who Dream

The Plural Guild came together to create and curate music, poems, prayer, visual art, liturgy, experiences and community that embrace questions and doubts, as well as faith. To make work that can be used in worship gatherings that’s truly inclusive and helps everyone feel like they belong. That has eyes wide open to the pain of the world. That speaks of a God who came to this earth in Jesus to show us the way to love and live fully alive lives. Work that invites participation versus performance. For anyone…and everyone…who longs for a more loving, just, open, and abundant world. The Plural Guild is a collective led by the husband and wife team, Lenora and Gary Rand, as well as the members of The Many. pluralguild.com