From W. David O. Taylor’s Diary of an Arts Pastor, where all five videos are embedded
Featured videos:
1. Tree by Jeff Lefever. A hauntingly spare visual and musical exploration of trees, which rewards multiple viewings.
2. 40: A Video of Jesus in the Wilderness. A lovely matching of “cartoon” images of “Jesus in the wilderness” and the music of “Explosions in the Sky.”
3. Archbishop’s Reflections on Lent. This is a helpful introduction to the ecclesial practice of Lent by the former Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams.
4. Conception to birth — visualized by Alexander Tsiaras. If Lent, at one level, is about the mortification and vivification of the human creature, then what better inspiration to bring our whole selves under the good guidance and sanctifying power of Christ by his Spirit than a visually arresting reminder of our first birth. We are fearfully and wonderfully made, then and now, by a God who knows what he is doing in us.
5. The Story of the Bible in Three Minutes. While this video was originally intended to market the Chronological Life Application Study Bible from Tyndale Publishers, it’s another fine example of video work by Mothlight Creative: in this case, a stop-motion animation of the whole story of the Bible using colored sand. When we’re stuck in the seemingly impossibly hard moments of our Lenten practices, it’s nice to be reminded of the big picture. It’s also nice to be reminded that we’re not alone.
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
