Songs of Power and Renewal: A Songwriting Retreat for Creation Justice

For the second year in a row, Creation Justice Ministries hosted a songwriting retreat to bring the themes of our annual resource, The Power of God: From Extractive Theology to Transformative Faith, to life through music and worship. With generous support from the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship, this year’s retreat gathered an incredible group of songwriters at Sister Grove Farm, a beautiful retreat space owned and operated by Creation Justice Ministries’ Board President, Sarah Macias.

At the heart of this gathering was Ken Medema, the renowned singer-songwriter and storyteller who has been composing and performing for over 50 years. Ken, who is legally blind, has an extraordinary gift for musical improvisation and has worked with communities across the world to create songs that reflect their unique stories. Once again, he served as the retreat’s primary coordinator, guiding our team of songwriters through an inspiring creative process. You can read more about Ken's story here.

A Gathering of Songwriters
The group of musicians included both returning and new voices:
🎵 John and Alyssa Creasy – A married duo from Pittsburgh, they have been performing together since high school as the leaders of This Side of Eve, blending folk, rock, and worship music.
🎵 Julian Reid – A musician, speaker, and writer, Julian is the founder of Notes of Rest®, a ministry that invites the weary into God’s rest through biblical reflection and Black music traditions.
🎵 Darrell Adams – A singer-songwriter from Louisville, Kentucky, and the executive director of MedWater, an organization dedicated to community-driven clean water solutions.
🎵 Mark Miller – A Professor of Music at Drew Theological School, Mark has dedicated his career to creating music that inspires justice and inclusion in faith communities.
🎵 Lindy Thompson – A poet and lyricist from Franklin, TN, Lindy’s work explores themes of faith, justice, and connection.
🎵 Thomas Graham – A talented bass player and singer from Kentucky, bringing depth and rhythm to the creative process.

A Journey of Reflection and Creation
Before gathering in person, the songwriters met twice—first, to build community and get to know one another, and later to hear a presentation on the impacts of extraction on the climate, grounding their creative process in theological and ecological reflection. At Sister Grove Farm, they spent three days immersed in collaboration, worship, and songwriting.
They listened to one another’s music, explored the themes of The Power of God, and reflected on how faith, justice, and creation intersect through song. Dr. Brian McLaren, author of Life After Doom, joined the retreat, offering insights on finding hope and purpose in the face of ecological crises. By the end of the retreat, these gifted musicians had crafted seven original songs, each one a powerful expression of faith, justice, and transformation—a call to reimagine power and renew our commitment to creation.

​Music as a Call to Action
The songs born from this retreat will be featured in The Power of God resource, providing churches and faith communities with worship materials that inspire action. Music has always been a powerful tool for justice, and these songs serve as a reminder that faithful resistance and renewal can be woven into our worship and daily lives.
We are incredibly grateful to Ken Medema, our songwriters, the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship, and Sister Grove Farm for making this retreat possible. 
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Listen to the seven songs and learn more about The Power of God: From Extractive Theology to Transformative Faith by clicking here.