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June - August 2025

In the church calendar, more than half of the year is given over to “Ordinary Time.” Coming from the word ordinal, which means “counted,” this time is far from a mere placeholder between holidays. We are urged to count each day, each hour, each minute like precious stones on an altar.

Yet, this simple call is not an easy one. It is often hard to recognize the moments of our days, filled with miscellaneous and routine tasks, as the holy ground where we encounter God. And while life is punctuated with extraordinary and defining moments, we live in the ordinary and average, day in and day out. Whether it is due to sheer boredom from the monotony or sheer exhaustion from our burdens, we forget to notice the everyday glories which are teeming over in praise to their creator. How do we begin to have the ears to hear, the vision to notice, and the courage to join their song? 

This season, we will seek to cast our eyes, once again, to what’s in front of us — at the glories found in the ordinary, the plain stuff that fills our schedules, our closets, and our worries — and not stopping there, but seeing through them to what Grand Story they participate in. It may, possibly, be only then that we can genuinely have the capacity to revel in the lilies of the field while not diminishing the reality of our pains and struggles. For only in the narrative of Christ’s cosmic story do both aptly fit In this season, we will focus on what “ordinary” truly is (and what it isn’t) and lean into each site of worship, no matter how routine, humdrum, simple, awful, or awesome it is. 

For this is the day the Lord has made. 

 
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June


June


Ordinary Places

The totality of our lives are mostly spent doing simple tasks: tying our shoes, doing the dishes, brushing our teeth. What are we as Christians to make of the humdrum days, tasks, and moments that pervade our schedules? What if Christians viewed those tasks, not as humdrum, but as gifts from God to mobilize the world immediately around us to the glory of God? We explore those questions this month!


Featured Content


Imagination Redeemed Podcast (June Episode)

In every episode, we retell one of the great stories, then follow its illumination to delve deeper into conversation about how to enter into the life of the Christian imagination.

Finding the Great Story In the kitchen sink

Join us as we explore Disney’s Encanto and how our daily faithfulness in seemingly mundane tasks isn't preparation for the Great Story—it is the Great Story. Discover why there are no ordinary things, and how Christians can learn to mobilize the world immediately around them for the glory of God.

Want to dive in?

Subscribe to Anselm’s Substack to receive the full show notes, which includes: a detailed list of topics covered, resources mentioned in the episode, further recommended reading and listening, and discussion questions to utilize for further thinking and conversation with friends!


Anselm Voices

Anthony esolen’s “An Encounter with the Ordinary”

How does leaving a tenured professorship at Providence College for a small liberal arts college in New Hampshire, apply to the Anselm Society? Read Anselm Fellow Dr. Esolen’s motivations and see for yourself!

 

Gianna Soderstrom's "The Kitchen of Transfiguration"

Anselm Member and Arts Guild Assistant Director unpacks the gift that comes through faithfulness in everyday obedience to the small, unseen actions given to us by God.

 

Featured June Books

Dive into the Joy found in the Ordinary Moments. | View more books in“The Library


Artifacts

Recommended Visual Media: Paintings, Films, Documentaries. (Click the images below to learn more!)

MUSIC Feature

FINDING MAGIC: IN THE MUNDANE
Noah Love reviews John Mark McMillan’s album Deep Magic in a new column from Anselm.


Artist Feature


Gatherings

Bombadil: A Four-Week Study of Vocation, Calling, and Mastery
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
7:00pm-8:30pm

Rosas & Mimosas
Saturday, June 21, 2025
10:00am – 12:00pm

Wisdom in Creation: Josh Tiessen Lecture
Saturday, June 27, 2025
7:00pm