Baptized for Life
An Episcopal Discipleship Initative
by BFL Spiritual Director Kathy Staudt — When I think of the practice of “Blessing” invited in the Way of Love, I immediately hear a song that has been a welcome “earworm” on my personal spiritual soundtrack: the Jewish singer and cantor Debbie Friedman’s lovely “l’chi lach” (Listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8WrShnKTWY) The Hebrew words refer to God’s call …
by Francie Thayer – Spiritual Director Some days when I wake up, there is a musical refrain in my head. Frequently I can trace them back to something I heard on the radio on my 45 minute commute to and from work, but Saturday I had no idea where it had come from . I …
by BFL Spiritual Director Kathy Staudt This semester I’m teaching in 2 places (Wesley Seminary and Virginia Seminary) a course on what I call “contemplative writing” – the practice of using writing as a way to clear the space in our hearts and minds to attend to the presence of God. What I call “contemplative …
Today we are proud to introduce St. Phillip’s in Greenville, South Carolina. The mission of St. Phillip’s is: “To fulfill the Great Commission of God which involves comforting and renewing God’s people by providing spiritual, physical, social and mental well-being to God’s people through local, national and world mission programs.” Even though they are a small …
The Way of Love: to LEARN –– Dreaming with God through Scripture by BFL Spiritual Director, Kathy Staudt “Why do we always have to hear that story on Christmas Eve?” my husband asks, every year. It sounds like an angry God punishing God’s children – not very Christmas-y at all.” He is responding to the first …
Today we would like to introduce you to All Saint’s Episcopal in Richland, Washington. All Saints’ welcomes, nurtures, and encourages people to explore their passion/desire for spiritual growth, worship and service. As a result, the Holy Spirit’s impact is felt within and beyond the parish. Richland was a small farming community (population 200) in southeastern Washington …
by Kathy Staudt, BFL Spiritual Director One of my favorite prayers in the baptism service is the one we say over the newly baptized – and especially the last part of it: Heavenly Father, we thank thee that by water and the Holy Spirit you have bestowed on these your servants the forgiveness of sin …
It’s December 2, the beginning of Advent, and a wonderful parade of old friends will be arriving throughout the day. First will be the procession that moves around the Advent wreath in the center of the old farm table. New candles each year brings it a freshness, but it’s been with us for over 2 …
November: my other Eastertide Years of observance and practice in the Episcopal church’s tradition has made something of a “liturgical animal” of me. I find I am tuned in to the seasons of the Church year, and the rhythms of feast days and remembrances that are part of our practice. Some of these rhythms …
Today we would like to introduce you to Methow Episcopal in Methow Valley, Washington. Methow Episcopal began as a small gathering of Methow residents hoping to start a progressive liturgical worship in the Methow Valley. The first service was held on Ash Wednesday 2015 in Mazama using ashes from the Methow Trails fire pit. Currently …
Grow and Bloom As I was walking into the beauty of outdoors and the morning splendor yesterday, I looked with deep intention at the plants and birds and all of creation which surrounded me. Spending a few days regularly each month at The Retreat House is a true blessing as it is located on about …
“Turning” – our Baptismal Journey of Transformation by Kathy Staudt A church sign I passed some weeks ago read “Come as You Are: You can Change Inside.” I’ve been pondering this from a number of different angles: I think it says something to us about how counter-cultural the Baptismal message can seem, with its invitation …
