Doxology
Doxology is a posture of wonder, gratitude, and awe in a world crowded with noise and exhaustion.
Doxology is a 3-day gathering in Holland, Michigan, for pastors and poets, carpenters and caregivers, business leaders, therapists, teachers, and stay-at-home parents (for all of us) —who long for the simple, sacred life that flows from the Father, Son, and Spirit. We gather to nurture humility, joy, and holy resistance against the forces that dehumanize, choosing instead the quiet beauty of being God’s beloved in God’s astounding world.
2026 Pricing
2026 Schedule
Monday, Oct 5 | Day 1
2:00 – 3:00 | Optional Prelude Session w/ Kenneth Tanner
2:30 – 4:00 | Name Tag Check in
4:00 | Welcome & Worship
4:30 | Plenary Session – Sophfronia Scott
5:30 | BBQ Feast
7:00 | Break
7:30 | An Evening of Art w/ Bruce Herman
Tuesday, Oct 6 | Day 2
7:15 – 8:45 | Taco Truck
8:00 – 8:20 | Morning Office
9:00 | Worship & Plenary Session – Frederick Bauerschmidt
10:30 | Worship & Plenary Session – Sophfronia Scott
11:15 | Speakers in Conversation
12:00 | Lunch
1:30-2:30 | Workshops 1
3:00-4:00 | Workshops 2
5:30 | Dinner
7:30 | An Evening of Music w/ Andy Squyres
9:15-11:00 | Doxology After Hours
Wednesday, Oct 7 | Day 3
7:15 – 8:45 | Coffee Truck
8:00 – 8:20 | Morning Office
8:30 | Break
9:00 | Worship & Plenary Session – Bruce Herman
9:30 | Plenary Session – Frederick Bauerschmidt
10:15 | Speakers in Conversation
11:30 | Ending & Blessing
2026 Speakers
Sophfronia Scott
Sophfronia Scott is a novelist and essayist known for her thoughtful writing on faith, race, motherhood, and resilience. She is the author of several books including The Seeker and the Monk: Everyday Conversations with Thomas Merton, Love’s Long Line, This Child of Faith, and Wild, Beautiful, and Free. She lives in the Midwest and holds a BA in English from Harvard, an MFA in Writing from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and is currently a PhD in Creative Writing candidate at Bath Spa University. Sophfronia is the founding director of Alma College’s Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing, a low-residency graduate program based in Alma, Michigan.
Sophfronia’s Prayer for Doxology:
May your strength give us strength. May your faith give us faith. May your hope give us hope. May your love bring us love. Amen. (Bruce Springsteen – Into the Fire)
Frederick (Fritz) Bauerschmidt
Frederick Bauerschmidt is a Catholic theologian and educator known for his work on medieval theology, spirituality, and the relationship between faith and reason. Fritz serves as a professor of theology at Loyola University Maryland where he teaches courses on Thomas Aquinas, Christian doctrine, and ethics. He is also a deacon of the Archdiocese of Baltimore (ordained in 2007). He is the author of several books including, The Love That is God, How Beautiful the World Could Be, Why the Mystics Matter Now, Catholic Theology: An Introduction, and most recently a collection of essays: Thinking Through Aquinas.
Frederick’s Prayer for Doxology:
O God, whose glory shines forth in light and in cloud, in plenty and in poverty, in the beloved and in the stranger: may the beauty of that glory draw us forth from our isolation to live in you, so that we in turn might reflect to others your glory, which comes to dwell among us through Christ our Lord, who lives with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
2026 Art & Music
Bruce Herman
oBruce Herman is a visual artist, author, speaker, and educator. He is known for expressive paintings that engage history, literature, and the spiritual imagination. Working primarily in oil, he draws on sources ranging from Old Master painting to contemporary abstraction, creating work marked by luminous color and emotional depth. For nearly 40 years, he taught art at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts and has exhibited widely in the United States and internationally, with works held in public and private collections. He is also the author of Makers by Nature, published in 2025 by IVP Academic Press.
Andy Squyres
Andy Squyres is an author and musician whose work blends storytelling with sound. As a writer, he crafts character-driven narratives marked by curiosity, empathy, and a sharp ear for voice. As a musician, he explores melody and rhythm to create atmospheres that deepen emotion and meaning. Squyres’ creative practice crosses disciplines, drawing inspiration from literature, live performance, and everyday experience. Whether on the page or the stage, his work invites audiences to listen closely, reflect honestly, and find connection.
Doxology FAQs
Anyone who is hungry for a life infused with God. We’ll have a good number of pastors, a good number of writers and musicians, a good number of Christians who care deeply about living with fidelity and hope amid a disorienting world.
Email [email protected] and tell us your story. We’d like to see if we can help.
Unfortunately, we won’t.
Our hub will be Pillar Church, but we’ll also take advantage of the Peterson Center’s home at Western Theological Seminary (WTS), just a block south from Pillar Church.
Grand Rapids Airport is 45 minutes away. South Bend Airport is 1.5 hours away. Chicago and Detroit Airports are both roughly 2 .75 – 3 hours away.
Uber and Lyft are often good for getting from Grand Rapids to Holland. However, the return trip is not always reliable. Rental cars and ridesharing will be the most dependable.
In addition to a number of VRBO and Airbnb properties in the area, we recommend these hotels that are within walking distance or a short drive.
Haworth Hotel (1 block away)
Tulyp Hotel by Hilton (2 blocks away)
Courtyard by Marriott (1 block away)
Holiday Inn Express (8-10 mins away)
Definitely. Dinner on Monday evening will be provided. For all other meals, we have a number of delightful dining options in downtown Holland, walkable from our gathering.
Due to our limited size and our need to order food and book venues, cancellations by September 1, 2026 may receive a full refund. Cancellations may also be gifted to the Peterson Center (which helps offset our broader costs for this event) or given to someone else – just let us know.
