2026 Festival of Faith and Writing: Full Schedule

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2:30pm EDT

The Beauty in Broken Things: Writing Sadness with Grace

Thursday April 16, 2026 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT

In conversation, poets Todd Davis and Kiki Petrosino explore how sorrow can be rendered with clarity, tenderness, and artistic precision, revealing how writing about sadness can open space for truth, connection, and unexpected forms of healing. 

Book signing follows in the Covenant Fine Arts Center Lobby

Speakers

Todd Davis

Todd Davis is the author of eight books of poetry, most recently Ditch Memory: New & Selected Poems and Coffin Honey. He also edited A Literary Field Guide to Northern Appalachia and Fast Break to Line Break: Poets on the Art of Basketball. His writing has won the Midwest Book Award and the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Prize. He teaches environmental studies at Penn State University... Read More →

Kiki Petrosino

Kiki Petrosino is the author of four books of poetry, including White Blood: a Lyric of Virginia. She holds graduate degrees from the University of Chicago and the University of Iowa Writer's Workshop. Her memoir, Bright, was released from Sarabande in 2022. She is a Professor of Poetry at the University of Virginia... Read More →

Thursday April 16, 2026 2:30pm - 3:15pm EDT
Covenant Fine Arts Center, Recital Hall

Concurrent Session, Conversation

4:00pm EDT

About a Million Blessings a Day

Thursday April 16, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT

Covenant Fine Arts Center, Recital Hall

A poetry reading and writing practice is, by its very nature, a mindfulness practice. It can become a spiritual practice as well. In the tradition of William Stafford, poet Carrie Fountain has, over twenty-five years, developed an early morning writing and reading ritual that has become a kind of sleight-of-hand prayer practice. Fountain discusses how developing such a habit can, again and again, root one in the real world and attune one to the many miracles of the everyday. 

Book signing follows in the Covenant Fine Arts Center Lobby

Speakers

Carrie Fountain

Carrie Fountain is the author of three books of poetry: The Life, Instant Winner, and Burn Lake; the YA novel I’m Not Missing; and the children’s book The Poem Forest. She is currently adapting I’m Not Missing for the screen, working on a second YA novel, and finishing a th... Read More →

Thursday April 16, 2026 4:00pm - 4:45pm EDT
Covenant Fine Arts Center, Recital Hall

Concurrent Session, Solo Session

8:00pm EDT

Film Screening: Leap of Faith

Thursday April 16, 2026 8:00pm - 10:00pm EDT

Covenant Fine Arts Center, Recital Hall

Join us for a screening of Nicholas Ma’s film Leap of Faith followed by a moderated conversation with Ma and Michael Gulker of The Colossian Forum, exploring the film’s themes and the role of storytelling in nurturing dialogue, reflection, and shared understanding.
Covenant Fine Arts Center, Recital Hall

Speakers

Nicholas Ma

Nicholas Ma is an award-winning director, writer, and producer based in Brooklyn, whose film work spans an eclectic array of topics: from botany to basketball to Won’t You Be My Neighbor?, on the life of Fred Rogers.

Most recently he wrote and directed Mabel (SFIFF, 2024) and d... Read More →

Thursday April 16, 2026 8:00pm - 10:00pm EDT
Covenant Fine Arts Center, Recital Hall

Evening Activity, Film Screening

2026 Festival of Faith and Writing

2:30pm EDT

Todd Davis

Kiki Petrosino

4:00pm EDT

Carrie Fountain

8:00pm EDT

Nicholas Ma

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