Podcasts about paraclete press

"Help us forgive each other as a mother forgives her children." About today's speaker: Henry Lebedinsky currently serves as Missioner for Music at St. Augustine's in-the-Woods Episcopal Church on Whidbey Island, Washington, and an active organist, harpsichordist, and conductor. He is co-director of the San Francisco Bay Area-based AGAVE and is in demand as an international performer and speaker. A composer and poet, his sacred music for choir and organ is published by Paraclete Press, Carus-Verlag Stuttgart, and CanticaNOVA. _____________________ Join us throughout the Advent season for Divine Feminine, a daily podcast Advent Calendar. How are we changed if we pray, "Our Mother, who art in Heaven," or, "We believe in one God, the Mother Almighty?" If humans are created in God's image, perhaps our understanding of and imagination for God has been too narrow. Every day in Advent, tune in to spend a few minutes with God's femininity – as we prepare for her humanity.

Anna Kamienska was a poet, translator, critic, essayist, and editor. She published numerous collections of her own work and translated poetry from several Slavic languages, as well as sacred texts from Hebrew and Greek.Astonishments, a selection of her poetry in translation is available from Paraclete Press. Get full access to The Daily Poem Podcast at dailypoempod.substack.com/subscribe

Send us a textSummaryIn this episode, Valerie interviews author Maria Antonia about her picture book, The Christmas Elephant, A Nativity Story. They discuss family Christmas traditions, sibling dynamics, and the inspiration behind the book. Maria shares her writing journey and the process of getting her book published. They also talk about their favorite books and what to expect from Maria's upcoming projects. Takeaways Family traditions around Christmas can vary, such as when to put up the Christmas tree.The Christmas Elephant is a picture book about two sisters putting on a Christmas play and the younger sister's desire to be the Christmas elephant.The book explores themes of imperfection, uniqueness, and finding joy in unexpected moments.Maria's writing journey began with writing stories for her nieces and nephews as birthday gifts.Critique groups and online communities can provide valuable feedback and support for writers.The Christmas Elephant was published after a two-book deal with Paraclete Press.Maria's next picture book, The Runaway Sheep, is based on the parable of the lost sheep.Readers can find more about Maria and her books on her website, where she also offers downloadable activities for kids.  Maria Antonia | children's picture book author (mariaantoniawrites.com)Amazon.com: The Christmas Elephant: a Nativity Story: 9781640609570: Antonia, Maria, Zarrin, Laura: BooksLet's discover great books together!Follow for more:FB: @bookworthypodcastInstagram: @bookworthy_podcastYouTube: BookWorthy Podcast - YouTubetiktok: @valeriefentress

Over the years, as a family, the Grabill family began to celebrate the joy of Advent. In their new book from Paraclete Press, Rebecca and Stephen map out a devotional for family life to deepen their prayer, understand our faith tradition, and share experiences together. Buy the book: https://paracletepress.com/products/the-joy-of-advent Learn more about their projects: http://joyofadvent.com You can buy Fr. Edward's Advent Book here: https://www.amazon.com/Praying-Church-Through-Advent-Edward/dp/B0CZCVBJ81/

Elizabeth Tomlin and Professor Catherine Cavadini share a conversation about a new family book, Saints: A Family Story, that she co-authored with her Father Professor John Cavadini of the University of Notre Dame. In this episode we talk about ways that Katie's family has integrated the saints and the Catholic faith into their family - through a habit of prayer, storytelling, and reading. The book arose from John sending “coupons” to his grandchildren during the pandemic, on which they could request a story of saint. John began writing saint stories to his grandchildren, and together, John and Katie compiled this collection of saint stories to share more broadly. Saints is gorgeously illustrated by Tess Cassady in a way that brings each of these saints to life and invites reader to imagine these  holy people are our family members – because they are.  You can can find a PDF of some of the illustrations is on Paraclete Press's website DG-9781640607545.pdf Link to Saints: A Family Story Author and Illustrator Bios Dr. Catherine Cavadini Katie is Associate Teaching Professor at the University of Notre Dame where she directs the Masters of Arts Program in Theology. Katie typically offers courses on scriptural interpretation, spirituality, and the stories of the saints. She and her husband, Anthony, live in South Bend, Indiana, with their four children.  Dr. John Cavadini is Professor of Theology and Director of the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame. John's work as a theologian arises from his love for the Church Fathers, especially St. Augustine. Knighted by Pope Benedict XVI for his service to the Church, John lives in South Bend, Indiana, where he and his wife, Nancy, receive daily diversion through visits from any number of their 18 grandchildren.  Anastassia Cassady Tess studied art at the University of Michigan and teaches art history at Trinity School in Greenlawn in South Bend. She's a freelance artist residing in South Bend.

In this episode of Playfully Faithful Parenting, host Joy Wendling welcomes back guest Valerie Ellis, a mom of two and children's book author. Valerie shares about her online resource, Our Everyday Parables, which helps parents engage with their children about faith and compassion through meaningful conversations and the use of children's books. Valerie also discusses the challenges of parenting preteens and how she learns from her boys, particularly in navigating anxiety. She highlights the importance of finding joy in everyday moments and offers a book recommendation to address anxiety in a playful way. Lastly, Valerie excitingly shares about her upcoming book, "Share the Joy: A Christmas Lift the Flap Book", which encourages families to celebrate the holiday season with fun and faith. Don't miss this insightful and inspiring conversation about raising faithful children. Valerie's Bio: Valerie Ellis is a children's book author, speaker, and founder of the multi-author online resource Our Everyday Parables, which offers book reviews and parenting resources for families pursuing faith and compassion. A certified teacher, Valerie is passionate about helping kids and parents connect with God and each other in the everyday moments. Her books—releasing October 2023 from Paraclete Press, February 2025 from Tyndale, and October 2025 from Waterbrook—are designed to serve families at the intersection of faith and fun. Valerie is a member of MOPS/MOMSnext, SCBWI, and the Texas Library Association. She is also a nonprofit consultant, trainer, and grant proposal writer in the Houston area, where she lives with her husband, Josh, and their two boys. For more information, visit OurEverydayParables.com for parenting and book resources, ValerieEllis.com for speaking events and classroom visits, and ShareTheJoyBook.com for free “share the joy” resources. Valerie would love to connect with you at @iamvalerieellis. Links from the episode: (This may contain some affiliate links, which means I receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. For more information, please see my disclosure policy.) valerieellis.com Share the Joy! A Christmas Lift-the-Flap Book Pre-order Share the Joy! Our Everyday Parables Blog Instagram: @iamvalerieellis Blog Instagram: @oureverydayparables Playfully Faithful Parenting Podcast is a ministry of CreatedtoPlay.com. For more resources, tips, devotions, and tools check us out online: https://createdtoplay.com . Freebies for you: Want to work with me? Sign up for a 15-minute free coaching call: https://createdtoplay.com/free-coaching Join my free 5-day Bible Play Challenge: https://createdtoplay.com/challenge Get 17 fun, free kid's blessings for meals: https://createdtoplay.com/kids-blessings Even though I'm an introvert, I'm social!  Let's connect! Instagram: https://instagram.com/createdtoplay Facebook: https://facebook.com/created2play Twitter: https://twitter.com/createdtoplay Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/createdtoplay Did you enjoy the show? Subscribe and leave me a 5-star review on Apple Music and make me giddy. Music by jorikbasov from Pixabay. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joy-wendling/message

In this episode of the poetry edition, Rose Postma interviews Bill Stadick about his poem “Nominal APR as Call to Worship, or the Glorious Application of the Immutable Rule of 72 to the Words of the Prophet.” Bill has published poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction in The Christian Century, The Windhover, Relief Journal, The Ekphrastic Review, First Things and other publications. His poetry chapbook, Family Latin, is available from Finishing Line Press and selections of his work appear in two anthologies: In a Strange Land: Introducing Ten Kingdom Poets, available from Wipf and Stock as part of its Poiema Poetry Series and Taking Root in the Heart: A Collection of 34 Poets from The Christian Century, available from Paraclete Press. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/reformed-journal/message

Over the season of lent we've been reading excerpts from Gayle Boss' Book Wild Hope. In this episode we talk to Gayle about where the book came from and about how the stories of wild and imperiled creatures can help us into the story of Christ and his journey to the cross.  Find out More about Wild Hope and Gayle's other books. Thanks to Paraclete Press which gave permission for the experts from Wild Hope throughout lent. www.paracletepress.com Join a conversation about this episode on the BioLogos Forum.

This Lent we're reading reflections from Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing, by Gayle Boss. We'll end with an interview with Gayle Boss in the last week of Lent.  The reflections from Wild Hope are grouped into five different weeks, with four creatures in each week, through the season of Lent and four more during Holy Week. Week five is "the Hunted" and the story is about the hawksbill turtle. Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing by Gayle Boss, illustrated by David G. Klein Copyright 2020:  text by Gayle Boss, illustrations by David G. Klein Used by permission of Paraclete Press www.paracletepress.com Help us out by taking our survey!

Meister Eckhart's Book of Darkness and Light with Mark S. Burrows & Jon M. Sweeney This book of Meister Eckhart meditations is for people seeking the “wayless way.” It is not for those looking for a simple path. Many people in our time still go looking for a straight path toward a defined goal, without detours, led by a guide who tells them what to do and what not to do. They would be uncomfortable with Meister Eckhart—a Christian mystic from the century of Rumi and Francis of Assisi—who said to “take leave of God for the sake of God.” These fresh, stunning renderings of his writings in poetic form bring life to one of the great spiritual voices of any age. They reveal what it means to love God and find meaning in darkness. In a culture that craved light—and what culture does not?— Eckhart dared to imagine that the darkness is what matters most. Jon M. Sweeney is an independent scholar, critic, and writer. Several of his books have become History Book Club, BOMC, Crossings Book Club, and QPB selections. He served as an editor at Jewish Lights and Paraclete Press and is currently the editorial director at Franciscan Media. Mark S. Burrows is a poet, translator, and professor of religion and literature at the Protestant University of Applied Sciences in Bochum, Germany. His poetry has appeared in Poetry, The Cortland Review, Southern Quarterly, Weavings, and a number of other periodicals. ********************************************* For more information about BITEradio products and services visit: http://www.biteradio.me/index.html

This Lent we're reading reflections from Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing, by Gayle Boss. We'll end with an interview with Gayle Boss in the last week of Lent.  The reflections from Wild Hope are grouped into five different weeks, with four creatures in each week, through the season of Lent and four more during Holy Week. Week four is "the Poisoned" and the story is about the olm. Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing by Gayle Boss, illustrated by David G. Klein Copyright 2020:  text by Gayle Boss, illustrations by David G. Klein Used by permission of Paraclete Press www.paracletepress.com Help us out by taking our survey!

This Lent we're reading reflections from Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing, by Gayle Boss. We'll end with an interview with Gayle Boss in the last week of Lent.  The reflections from Wild Hope are grouped into five different weeks, with four creatures in each week, through the season of Lent and four more during Holy Week. Week three is "the Homeless" and the story is about the North Atlantic right whale. Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing by Gayle Boss, illustrated by David G. Klein Copyright 2020:  text by Gayle Boss, illustrations by David G. Klein Used by permission of Paraclete Press www.paracletepress.com Help us out by taking our survey!

This Lent we're reading reflections from Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing, by Gayle Boss. We'll end with an interview with Gayle Boss in the last week of Lent.  The reflections from Wild Hope are grouped into five different weeks, with four creatures in each week, through the season of Lent and four more during Holy Week. Week two is "the Sick" and the story is about the Indiana bat. Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing by Gayle Boss, illustrated by David G. Klein Copyright 2020:  text by Gayle Boss, illustrations by David G. Klein Used by permission of Paraclete Press www.paracletepress.com Help us out by taking our survey!  

This Lent we're reading reflections from Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing, by Gayle Boss. We'll end with an interview with Gayle Boss in the last week of Lent.  The reflections from Wild Hope are grouped into five different weeks, with four creatures in each week, through the season of Lent and four more during Holy Week. Week one is "The Hungry" and the story is about the red knot. Wild Hope: Stories for Lent from the Vanishing by Gayle Boss, illustrated by David G. Klein Copyright 2020:  text by Gayle Boss, illustrations by David G. Klein Used by permission of Paraclete Press www.paracletepress.com

In this episode of the Poetry Edition, Rose Postma interviews Marjorie Maddox about her poem “The 200 Pagan Students of St. Cassian of Imola.” Marjorie has published fourteen collections of poetry and is Professor of English and Creative Writing at Lockhaven University. This poem is part of her newest poetry collection entitled Begin with a Question from Paraclete Press. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/reformed-journal/message

About my Guest: Amos has earned bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees—all in religious studies. He is a former wrestler and mountain climber. Now he is an avid hiker, long-term centering prayer practitioner and workshop leader, writer, family man, and certified counselor. Amos published his first book, Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity's Mystic Roots with Wipf & Stock Publishers in 2013. The book has been well received and reviewed and is part of the curriculum for the Living School of The Center for Action and Contemplation [CAC | Richard Rohr]. Amos' second book, Be Still and Listen: Experience the Presence of God in Your Life, was published by Paraclete Press in 2018 and has been popular with study groups. Amos' third book titled Journey of Holistic Mysticism: Experiencing the Integrated Spirituality of the Quakers will be published by Anamchara Books in January 2023. In workshops Amos emphasizes that centering prayer and contemplative arts have been the saving grace of his life, so he is compelled to share them. What we Discussed: - Explaining Centering Prayer - His studies in Religious Studies - Connecting his wrestling and mountain climbing to Meditation - His 3 Books - Healing of the body - Silent Retreats - Teaching Non Violence and more How to Contact Amos: https://twitter.com/amossmi https://www.linkedin.com/in/amos-smith-56a19742/ https://www.facebook.com/amoszsmith https://www.instagram.com/rcmr5/ e-mail amossmi(at)gmail.com ========================================== More about the Meditation Podcast All Episodes can be found at www.meditationpodcast.org All Social Media + Donations link linktr.ee/meditationpodcast Our Facebook Group can be found at www.facebook.com/meditationpodcast.org All my 5 Podcast or Podcast Coaching can be found at bio.link/podcaster

All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer: Written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: The World Is My Monastery by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan from the album Singing with Monks and Mystics Sung Psalm Opening and Doxology: Richard Bruxvoort Colligan from the album Monk in the World: Songs for Contemplative Living Psalm Translation: Wilda C. Gafney, A Woman's Lectionary for the Whole Church © 2021 Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY 10016, (Year W) page 270. Reading of the Night: Judith E. Smith, from “This Ground is Holy Ground” in Weavings Journal Closing Poem: “How to Be a Pilgrim” written by Christine Valters Paintner from Dreaming of Stones: Poems, Paraclete Press, Brewster, MA, 2019. page 48. Closing Song: Following the River Home by Lorraine Bayes from the album Earth, Our Original Monastery: Singing Our Way to the Sacred Please note: All of the songs and prayer responses are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs & responses have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). Audio and video recordings of the Prayer Cycles are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

A special birthday – a special Baby! Join Mary and Joseph, angels, shepherds, sheep, and various stable critters as they celebrate the birthday of a very special baby in this rhyming counting book for little readers and their families. Count to TEN with Mary and Joseph as they await the birth of Baby Jesus in this sweet rhyming board book for the littlest ones. Published by Paraclete Press and illustrated by Gabi Murphy with plenty to notice and count on each spread, it's a charming introduction for the littlest ones to the real gift of Christmas – Jesus!Written by bestselling author Laura Sassi and illustrated by Gabi Murphy, Happy Birthday, Christmas Child! celebrates the warmth, wonder, and excitement of the night Jesus was born. Written in gentle rhyme with bright illustrations and lots of things for little ones to notice and count, it's sure to be a Christmas favorite. Laura Sassi has a passion for telling stories in prose and rhyme. She is the author of multiple books for young children including the best-selling Goodnight, Ark, Love Is Kind, Little Ewe, and Bunny Finds Easter. Her new counting board book, Happy Birthday, Christmas Child is out now and coming in 2023, she's looking forward to the release of My Tender Heart Bible and My Tender Heart Prayer Book.Laura had a successful teaching career before becoming a children's author. She's been a homeschool mom, children's ministry director, historic museum interpreter, and more. She writes daily from her home in New Jersey and finds special joy in sharing messages of kindness, comfort, and faith through stories at school visits, church gatherings, and other events.Happy Birthday, Christmas Child is available in bookstores and online now. Be sure to visit the book's landing page at https://happybirthdaychristmaschild.com to get your own activity kit to goes with the book!You can find the book at https://happybirthdaychristmaschild.comPlease share StoryJumpers with a friend if you enjoyed this episode. StoryJumpers is still growing, and your positive review and 5-star rating would help.The Bridge Podcast Network is made possible by generous support from The Boardwalk Plaza Hotel and Victoria's Restaurant on the boardwalk in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - Open 7 days a week, year-round - Learn more at https://boardwalkplaza.comFeedback, or Show Ideas? Send an email to podcast@wearethebridge.orgDownload The Bridge Mobile App to get the latest podcast episodes as soon as they are published!

In today's episode, recorded live at the Catholic Marketing Network, Lisa Hendey and Allison Gingras welcome Sr. Estelle Cole who serves as Marketing and Sales Representative at Paraclete Press to discuss the joy of children's literature. Sr. Estelle offers a sampling of the many beautiful new books being offered by Paraclete. Links:  Paraclete Press  Children's Books at Paraclete Press

Episode 53 of Messy Jesus Business podcast, with Sister Julia Walsh. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe: Google Podcasts | Stitcher | Email | RSS | More IN THIS EPISODE: In this episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh talks with author, scholar, and translator of spiritual texts Carmen Acevedo Butcher about the messiness of spirituality, healing and relationship. Together they discuss the wisdom Brother Lawrence and the relevance of his message for today. They also get into the mess of contemplation and the human experience. And, they talk about sacredness of words and the ordinary and how religious devotion ought not to be transactional. ABOUT THE GUEST Carmen Acevedo Butcher, Ph.D., is an internationally acclaimed speaker, author, educator, poet, and translator of spiritual texts. Her dynamic work in spirituality and the power of language has garnered interest from various media, including the BBC, Religion News Service, and NPR's Morning Edition, Georgia Gazette, and Dante's Old South, among others. From a young age, she immersed in the presence prayer. With degrees in medieval studies and a linguistics background, Carmen brings history to life, making its wisdom accessible and useful to us for healing, growth, peace, and actively loving others. She is the award-winning translator of classics such as Practice of the Presence (Broadleaf) by Brother Lawrence, The Cloud of Unknowing (Shambhala) by Anonymous, and Hildegard of Bingen: A Spiritual Reader and A Little Daily Wisdom with medieval women mystics (Paraclete Press). A Carnegie Foundation Professor of the Year and Fulbright Senior Lecturer, she currently teaches at the University of California, Berkeley, in the College Writing Programs. Learn more about Carmen and her work at www.carmenbutcher.com. MESSY JESUS BUSINESS is produced and hosted by Sister Julia Walsh.  Email us at messyjesusbusiness@gmail.com BE SOCIAL:https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MessyJesusBusiness Twitter: @messyjesusbiz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/messyjesusbusiness SUPPORT US: https://www.patreon.com/messyjesusbusiness LISTEN HERE:

10:00 a.m. Sunday Worship Service. Incarnate Sermon by the Rev. Rachel Pedersen Download bulletin: https://www.bmpc.org/resources/worship-bulletins-sermons/worship-bulletins-2019/1239-sunday-june-5-2022-10-00-a-m-bulletin/file ----------------------------- Response - Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow Text: Brian Wren, 1989. Music: Geistliche Kirchengesäng, 1623; harm. Hal H. Hopson, 1998. Text: ©1989 Hope Publishiong Company. Music Harm: ©1998 Hope Publishing Company. Reprinted and streamed with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-716211. All rights reserved. Anthem - Make Our Church One Joyful Choir Text: Thomas H. Troeger, 1994. Music: Jonathan Crutchfield, 1994. Text and Music: ©2000 Oxford Music/U.S.A. Reprinted and streamed with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-716211. All rights reserved. Hymn - As the Wind Song Text: Shirley Erena Murray, 2004; Chinese trans. Ee Suen Wong, 2005. Music: Swee Hong Lim, 2004. Text and Music: ©2005 Hope Publishing Company. Reprinted and streamed with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-716211. All rights reserved. Offertory Anthem - Come, Holy Ghost Text: Edward Caswall (1814-1878). Music: William Ferris (1937-2000). Text and Music: ©2005 Paraclete Press, Orleans, MA. Reprinted and streamed with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-716211. All rights reserved. Postlude - Variations on “Come, Holy Ghost” Text: Rabano Mauro (9th cent.). Music: Maurice Duruflé, 1929. ©1931 Editions Durand, Paris, France. All rights reserved.

In a wide-ranging and erudite interview, poet and translator Ryan Wilson joins the podcast to discuss how the poet makes use of the classical virtue of xenia or hospitality, what poets can learn from the work of translation, the "romantic turn" (inner vision) and the "classical turn" (communication/craft) in poetry, the great Latin poet Horace, and more. Ryan performs, in his dynamic style, classic poems by Horace and others, as well as his own poems. Ryan Wilson is an adjunct professor of English at the Catholic University of America, editor of the journal Literary Matters, and a visiting professor of poetry in the MFA program at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. He is the author of three books: The Stranger World, a collection of original poems; How to Think Like a Poet; and Proteus Bound: Selected Translations, 2008-2020. Forthcoming are his anthology of contemporary Catholic poetry from Paraclete Press (spring 2023), and another book of original poems, The Ghostlight. Timestamps 0:00 - Proteus Bound 13:09 - Hospitality as fundamental principle of community, thought, and poetry 28:05 - The romantic turn and the classical turn 46:22 - Ryan Wilson, “Xenia” 53:39 - Proteus, Hermes, and Orpheus as figures of the poet 1:03:35 - Translation as training for the poet 1:17:47 - The Latin poetry of Horace 2:07:55 - Charles Baudelaire, “The Voice” 2:20:00 - How Ryan relates as a Catholic to classical literature 2:27:10 - Ryan Wilson, “Philoctetes” Links Proteus Bound: Selected Translations, 2008-2020 https://www.cuapress.org/9781736656129/proteus-bound/ How to Think Like a Poet https://www.wisebloodbooks.com/store/p97/How_to_Think_Like_a_Poet%2C_by_Ryan_Wilson.html The Stranger World http://www.measurepress.com/measure/index.php/catalog/books/stranger-world/ Literary Matters https://www.literarymatters.org/ This podcast is a production of CatholicCulture.org. If you like the show, please consider supporting us! http://catholicculture.org/donate/audio

Do you have a hard time sitting quietly in the presence of God?  Today Cynthia talks to Brian Russell about his new book and the life changing rewards of learning how to be still…and practice prayerful silence. Brian Russell (Ph.D.) is an award winning professor and a transformational coach for entrepreneurs, pastors and spiritually-minded professionals. His personal mission is to seek out, study, and live the deepest truths so that he can share them compellingly, lovingly, and transformationally with others. He is the author of four books including his latest– Centering Prayer: How Sitting Quietly in God's Presence Can Change Your life (Paraclete Press, Sept 2021). You can find out more about centering prayer, coaching, and Brian's other resources at www.brianrussellphd.com  Is it time to make some changes in your life? Do you want to stop the madness and get on track with your health? Maybe coaching is right for you. I've helped many people gain their health back over the years, and would love to talk with you. Just reach out with the link below to get on my schedule. From time to time I have openings for new clients and accept them on a first come first serve basis. Book a Discovery Call

This weeks Empowered Within Guest: Brian Russell (PHD) has a compelling story about how he used journaling and silent meditative prayer to rebound from a difficult and dark time in my life (betrayal and divorce) and how his daily rhythms continue to fuel him for growth and success. He detail his journey in his latest book "Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God's Presence Can Change Your Life" (Paraclete Press, 9/2021)"The promise of my book sitting quietly and God's presence will change your life is, it's the experience of being 100% loves and knowing it deep on the inside. And when you realize that God loves you, that opens you up because you're like, oh my gosh, God even loves these dark parts of myself.These shadow pieces that I have. And so then you can begin. See yourself as God sees you."  - Brian RussellThank you so much for sharing your LOVE for the Show by Sharing it with Friends, Subscribing, Rating & Leaving a Review. I am truly grateful for all of your love and support!With Gratitude  - JenniferEmpowered Within Host:Hi, I'm Jennifer! Empowering You to Be You! Welcome to my cozy world, our "ah-ha" place of growth, insights, healing, inspiration and empowering success!"Transforming Body, Mind & Spiritus Worldwide for 20+ Yrs" - Jennifer PilatesI'm a mutli-passionate entrepreneur, mind-body expert, celebrity trainer & advisor, top rated podcast host, coach & mentor, detail-loving stubborn-as-heck achiever, unshakeable optimistic, self-care activity, fur-baby momma and ocean loving empath!"My goal is to help you discover your own truths, gain self-empowerment and in turn transform Body, Mind and Spirit." - Jennifer Pilates XOWork with Jennifer Pilates:The Empowerment: Coach +MentorThe Celebrity Trainer: Pilates Health & Fitness ExpertThe Empowering Intuitive: Advisor ReadingsBecome an Empowered Insider:Sign-Up: Empowered Within NewsletterSubscribe: Empowered Within YouTube ChannelJoin: Empowered Within Membership CommunitySupport the show

Contracts are used to lay out expectations and responsibilities of the parties involved. We take them very seriously in business and law. Joel Fotinos says that we should take our own goals just as seriously and create personal contracts to hold ourselves accountable in our pursuit of excellence. He shares methods and ideas for committing to a Personal Life Contract. Joel Fotinos is a vice president at Penguin Random House Publishers and publisher of the Tarcher/Penguin imprint. He's also a licensed minister with the Centers for Spiritual Living. He is the author and coauthor of several books including The Prayer Chest (coauthor August Gold) (Doubleday Religion 2007), Multiply Your Blessings (coauthor August Gold) (Hampton Roads 2012), A Little Daily Wisdom (Paraclete Press 2009), Think and Grow Rich Starter Kit (coauthors Napoleon Hill, August Gold) (Tarcher 2014), The Think and Grow Rich Journey: Enhance and Enrich Your Path to Success (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform 2013 and My Life Contract: 90-Day Program for Prioritizing Goals, Staying on Track, Keeping Focused, and Getting Results (Weiser Books 2014)Interview Date: 5/28/2015  Tags: MP3, Joel Fotinos, Personal Life Contract, contract, Mastermind Partner, Mastermind Group, Prioritize, debt, 90 days, Am I happy, Am I free, life purpose, contract map, goals, consistent, persistent, energy follows action, excellence not perfection, accountability, responsibility, Personal Transformation, Self Help

In this week's episode I talk about how God uses centering prayer, i.e., silent meditative prayer, to transform us. I take you on a deep dive into how to respond to the thoughts you encounter when you sit in silence. In particular, I discuss the "evil" or "distracting" thoughts that will most trouble you if you practice consistently. I hope that it serves you powerfully. My latest book Centering Prayer: Sitting Quietly in God's Presence Can Change Your Life (Paraclete Press) is now available in paperback and ebook formats. Buy from Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AroGYf or directly from Paraclete Press: www.paracletepress.com Connect with Brian Russell: Sign up for Brian's email updates: www.centeringprayerbook.com Twitter: @briandrussell Instagram: @yourprofessorforlife Coaching for Pastors: www.deepdivespirituality.com Business and Life Coaching: www.drbrianrussellcoaching.com Brian Russell's Book on the Missional Interpretation of Scripture: (Re)Aligning with God: Reading Scripture for Church and World https://amzn.to/3qln258 Links to Amazon are affiliate links. Dr. Russell receives a small payment if you order resources through these links. There is no additional cost to you. Thank you for supporting the podcast through your purchases. Please tell your friends about the Deep Dive Spirituality Conversations podcast. It's also available on Spotify, Podbean, and iTunes as well as on YouTube as a videocast.

Cynthia is excited to present a new interview with Fr. John OIiver.  Father John is the host of the Hearts and Minds podcast on Ancient Faith.  He teaches us about loving and trusting God, and how this is similar to two oars on a boat. They cover many different topics that may just be a balm to your soul today! Fr. John Oliver is the priest of St Elizabeth Orthodox Christian Church, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He is the author of numerous articles and essays, and of Touching Heaven: Discovering Orthodox Christianity on the Island of Valaam, published by Ancient Faith, and of Giver of Life: the Holy Spirit in Orthodox Christian Tradition, published by Paraclete Press. A summa cum laude graduate of St Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary, he joined the faculty as instructor in Old and New Testament and American Religious History. He and his wife Lara have three daughters and two sons, and spend a lot of time exploring the wonders of creation.” Mental Health Task Force of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops Mental-health-task-force Is it time to make some changes in your life? Do you want to stop the madness and get on track with your health? Maybe coaching is right for you. I've helped many people gain their health back over the years, and would love to talk with you. Just reach out with the link below to get on my schedule. From time to time I have openings for new clients and accept them on a first come first serve basis. Book a Discovery Call

Today our guest is Phoebe Farag Mikhail, author of the book Putting Joy into Practice:  Seven Ways to Lift Your Spirit From the Early Church.  What is the difference between joy and happiness?  Do we really know what joy is, where it comes from, and what it feels like?  And then there are the things that steal our joy.  Today we find out what those are, and Tasony Phoebe gives us some wonderful tools to use going forward. Phoebe Farag Mikhail is a Coptic Orthodox Christian and the author of Putting Joy into Practice: Seven Ways to Lift Your Spirit from the Early Church (Paraclete Press). She was born in Egypt, grew up in the Northeast US, and now serves alongside her husband Fr. Bishoy Mikhail at St. Antonious & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church in East Rutherford, NJ with their three children. She is a writing instructor and freelance writer. Her work has appeared in Christianity Today, Faith & Leadership, Sojourners, Plough, and other magazines. She also blogs at Being in Community. Is it time to make some changes in your life? Do you want to stop the madness and get on track with your health? Maybe coaching is right for you. I've helped many people gain their health back over the years, and would love to talk with you. Just reach out with the link below to get on my schedule. From time to time I have openings for new clients and accept them on a first come first serve basis. Book a Discovery Call

Jon M. Sweeney is an author of popular history, spirituality, biography, poetry, fiction for young readers, and memoir. His most frequent subjects are Catholic, particularly St. Francis of Assisi, about whom Sweeney has written The St. Francis Prayer Book, Francis of Assisi in His Own Words, When Saint Francis Saved the Church, The Complete Francis of Assisi, and The Enthusiast, a biography that Richard Rohr calls "An immense and important contribution to our understanding of the great saint." HBO optioned the film rights to The Pope Who Quit, Sweeney's historical retelling of the 13th century Pope Celestine V, who was the first pope to ever willingly resign the position. More recently, a series of young reader fiction, The Pope's Cat, was begun, the first of which published on March 1, 2018, before the fifth anniversary of the papacy of Pope Francis. He has also written a biography of the popular and controversial Jesuit, James Martin. Sweeney has been interviewed on CBS News, WGN-TV, Fox News, and WTTW's Chicago Tonight. He appeared on CBS Sunday Morning to talk about Saint Patrick on March 17, 2013. He is an independent scholar who lectures frequently and leads retreats. Sweeney is also the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief at Paraclete Press of Brewster, Massachusetts.

This is an updated version of the file. CREDITS All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: Behold by Alana Levandoski Psalm Opening and Doxology by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Interpretation of Psalm 96 by Rev. Christine Robinson Reading of the Night from Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Women Who Run With the Wolves. New York: Ballantine Books (1996). Closing Poem by Christine Valters Paintner, The Wisdom of Wild Grace. Paraclete Press (2020). Closing Song: Beauty by Betsey Beckman Please note: All of the Opening and Closing Songs are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). The Psalm Opening and Doxology also have accompanying congregational gestures. The audio and video recordings of these are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

CREDITS All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: Now I am Revealing by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Psalm Opening and Doxology by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Interpretation of Psalm 90 by Rev. Christine Robinson Reading of the Night from Paul Wilkes, Beyond the Walls: Monastic Wisdom for Everyday Life. New York: Doubleday Religion (1999). Closing Poem by Christine Valters Paintner, The Wisdom of Wild Grace. Paraclete Press (2020). Closing Song: The World is My Monastery by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Please note: All of the Opening and Closing Songs are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). The Psalm Opening and Doxology also have accompanying congregational gestures. The audio and video recordings of these are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

Credits: All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: Surrender by Deirdre Ni Chinneide Psalm Opening and Doxology by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Interpretation of Psalm 81 by Rev. Christine Robinson Reading of the Night from Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander. New York: Doubleday Religion (2009). Closing Poem by Christine Valters Paintner, Dreaming of Stones. Paraclete Press (2019). Closing Song: Lullaby by Margaret McLarty Please note: All of the Opening and Closing Songs are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). The Psalm Opening and Doxology also have accompanying congregational gestures. The audio and video recordings of these are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

https://abbeyofthearts.com/about/prayer-cycle/day-4-monkintheworld/ CREDITS All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: Viriditas by Betsey Beckman Psalm Opening and Doxology by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Interpretation of Psalm 45 by Rev. Christine Robinson Reading of the Night from The Rule of St. Benedict. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press (1980). Closing Poem by Christine Valters Paintner, The Wisdom of Wild Grace. Paraclete Press (2020). Closing Song: May What I Do by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Please note: All of the Opening and Closing Songs are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). The Psalm Opening and Doxology also have accompanying congregational gestures. The audio and video recordings of these are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

https://abbeyofthearts.com/about/prayer-cycle/day-3-monkintheworld/ CREDITS All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: Canticle of Creation by Simon de Voil Psalm Opening and Doxology by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Interpretation of Psalm 113 by Rev. Christine Robinson Reading of the Night from Henri Nouwen, Out of Solitude: Three Meditations on the Christian Life. Notre Dame, IN: Ave Maria Press (2008). Closing Poem by Christine Valters Paintner, Dreaming of Stones. Paraclete Press (2019). Closing Song: Now I Walk in Beauty by Lorraine Bayes Please note: All of the Opening and Closing Songs are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). The Psalm Opening and Doxology also have accompanying congregational gestures. The audio and video recordings of these are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

https://abbeyofthearts.com/about/prayer-cycle/day-2-monkintheworld/ CREDITS All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: Listen to My Sighing by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Psalm Opening and Doxology by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Interpretation of Psalm 122 by Rev. Christine Robinson Reading of the Night from Nicholas Black Elk, Black Elk Speaks. Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press (2014). Closing Poem by Christine Valters Paintner, The Wisdom of Wild Grace. Paraclete Press (2020). Closing Song: Open Hand by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Please note: All of the Opening and Closing Songs are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). The Psalm Opening and Doxology also have accompanying congregational gestures. The audio and video recordings of these are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

https://abbeyofthearts.com/about/prayer-cycle/day-1-monkintheworld/ CREDITS All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: In the Silence by John Coleman Psalm Opening and Doxology by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Interpretation of Psalm 46 by Rev. Christine Robinson Reading of the Night Thomas Merton, A Year with Thomas Merton: Daily Meditations from His Journals. New York: HarperCollins (2004). Closing Poem by Christine Valters Paintner, Dreaming of Stones. Paraclete Press (2020). Closing Song: Be Still (Psalm 46) by Simon de Voil Please note: All of the Opening and Closing Songs are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). The Psalm Opening and Doxology also have accompanying congregational gestures. The audio and video recordings of these are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

https://abbeyofthearts.com/about/prayer-cycle/day-7/ Credits: All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: Canticle of Creation by Simon de Voil Psalm Opening and Doxology by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Interpretation of Psalm 98 by the Rev. Christine Robinson Reading of the Night from Saint Hildegard of Bingen. Quoted in Original Blessing: A Primer in Creation Spirituality by Matthew Fox, Jeremy Tarcher (2000) p. 69. Closing Poem by Christine Valters Paintner, The Wisdom of Wild Grace. Paraclete Press (2020). Closing Song: Be Still by Simon de Voil Please note: All of the Opening and Closing Songs are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). The Psalm Opening, Doxology, and the Response to the Prayers of Concern also have accompanying congregational gestures. The audio and video recordings of these are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

Book launch interview with Luci Shaw Luci's recently released book "The Generosity" is now available from Paraclete Press: https://paracletepress.com/products/the-generosity Learn more about Luci here: https://www.lucishaw.com/

Poet Sarah Law talks about her new book Therese: Poems, which is a wonderful way to meditate on the life of St. Therese of Lisieux. Sarah also reads several poems. The book can be purchased at: Paraclete Press: https://paracletepress.com/collections/vendors?q=Sarah%20Law&contributorID=100447 Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/Thérèse-Paraclete-Poetry-Sarah-Law/dp/1640603948  

https://abbeyofthearts.com/about/prayer-cycle/day-6/ Closing Song: Saint Gobnait Credits: All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: Illumine Me by Trish Bruxvoort Colligan Psalm Opening and Doxology by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Interpretation of Psalm 65 by the Rev. Christine Robinson Reading of the Night from John Klassen, OSB. Quoted in Nature as a Spiritual Practice by Steven Chase. WB Eerdmans (2011) p. 80. Closing Poem by Christine Valters Paintner, The Wisdom of Wild Grace. Paraclete Press (2020). Closing Song: Saint Gobnait by Simon de Voil Please note: All of the Opening and Closing Songs are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). The Psalm Opening, Doxology, and the Response to the Prayers of Concern also have accompanying congregational gestures. The audio and video recordings of these are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

In this episode get a behind the scenes look at the creation of a new book for children, A Saint in the Making, written by Lisa Hendey and illustrated by Katie Broussard. Both join me for a delightful conversation on this topic for families and caregivers for children. Also in this episode, enjoy a read-aloud segment with Pat sharing Charles Dickens' essay "What Christmas Is as We Grow Older." Plus a look ahead to the new year on Among Women.   Links for this episode: Charles Dickens, "What Christmas Is as We Grow Older" New Book: I'm A Saint in the Making  Learn more about Lisa Hendey Learn more about Katie Broussard Other shows of related interest: AW 250: My newest discussion about St. Joseph and praying the Litany of St. Joseph AW Espresso Shot #23: Devotion to St. Joseph AW 220: more on St. Joseph Reminders: Send your comments to Pat Gohn at amongwomenpodcast@me.com, or to the Among Women podcast facebook page. Or follow Pat on Twitter at @PatGohn or @among_women. If you like what we do here at Among Women, please promote this podcast in your social media circles, in your church bulletin, or leave a positive review and rating over on our iTunes page. Among Women is now on the iHeart Radio app. Image credits: Banner: Davidson Luna on Unsplash  Book cover: Courtesy of Paraclete Press

Nathan: Lacy. I've been noticing lately that a lot of folks are struggling and I had this sneaking suspicion that you might have something helpful to say to folks.Lacy: Hmm,Nathan: So do you.Lacy: do I have something helpful? Say folks who are struggling? Um, me too. Amy can say that you're not alone. there's a wonderful Quaker phrase called you know, this holding center. meaning that we're, you know, we're noticing that we are deepening in Christ and that we are, stable, but the storm is raging around us.Nathan: It's a unique storm and has been for you guys. Can, can you share a little about that with Doug and son?Lacy: Yeah. I'm, I'm married to an emergency room physician. he, serves our community and our local hospital. so that's meant that since March. We've had, a unique experience. Well, actually not unique, you know, worldwide, there's lots of healthcare workers. We've had this experience, of what it looks like to weather this storm.with this second, third, I don't know what they're calling this new, increase in COVID cases. we've had to really reconsider what our faithfulness looks like in this season.  So we, Doug and I were not sleeping in the same bed. We're all living in the same house.He has so far declined to sleep in the greenhouse. And I'm sleeping on a blow up mattress in the living room.Nathan: Yeah. Yeah.Lacy: yeah. And it's been, it's been hard for our kids. For our, our youngest daughter is still at home with us. It's been very difficult for her.Nathan: What's her struggle been?Lacy: You know, and I, I just want to say, I did ask her permission to make sure it was okay. That I, I talked a little bit about it, but, we're a bit of an anomaly in our community.We've been super careful. We live next door to my parents. And we just want to be super careful. So lots of the adults we've always had this belief, that it takes a whole lot of people to raise children. Don't have it all.Nathan: Wait a minute. You, you wrote a book about children. You're you're not the expert. You're not, you're not the mom of the year.Lacy: Good gracious. Absolutely not. Um, so yeah, we've sort of, had community around us and some of our community their faithfulness has looked like different, different levels of restrictions than ours. And so that's brought up big conversations in our house. In a really vulnerable act -- again I have asked her permission -- she said, you know, mom, all of these adults that have had spoken into my life all of these years, some of them, many of them, don't have the same level of  attention to this as you and dad do. She said, I'm wondering if, if you and dad are crazy. And I was  really grateful that she could give me her really true feelings, how she feels about this. And I felt really isolated and alone.Nathan: What'd you say?Lacy: I think one, lots of people are feeling this and lots of teenagers are feeling this. If we think of Dallas, Willard's different dimensions of the person and he talks about, and one is social context. Well, the main way that adolescents, one of the main dimensions of the self that they're engaging is their social context.And so they in this season have not had that, or they've had it in different ways and, and that's created a loss within them. And for sure they are feeling that. So I could hear that in her conversation with me.  And I needed to be able to, in that moment -- we were driving, which is a great place, can I say to talk, is to give them some space and, you know, as long as you can keep it on the road, it's a good place that they feel free to talk. And I was, I felt really grateful that she could talk to us about it. I felt like it was our faithfulness to continue in the path what looks like for us to love our neighbor well, which means that she, she couldn't do, she can't do all the social things that she's wanted to do and is so conditioned to doing. And I had to make space for her to be angry about it,that anger in this season lands with me.Nathan: yeah. Holding center. What does that mean?Lacy: well, practically for me, what does it look like right now? That's praying the Psalms. there's a little Salter that comes  from Paraclete Press, it's called, a book of daily prayer. The Paraclete Psalter. And, and thenNathan: Better than mine?Lacy: Well, it, what it does is it, has you read that throughout the different times of the day, so you have morning, afternoon, evening all of the daily office and you read through the whole Psalter in a month. Which, you know, we're at what, nine months in here. and what I really like about it is that it includes the lamenting Psalms. And so, part of the way that I've been able to hold center is by praying those lamenting Psalms. So that anger that gets pushed on me as a parent, which it happens. Is, I can funnel that into the lamenting Psalms and to God who can handle that. The weight of teenage, frustration and anger, honestly, I'm certainly no mother of the year, it's too much for me to bear. I can funnel it through these lamenting Psalms, and into God and God can handle it.Nathan: That's right. It's worth noting that God allowed certain Psalms in there.Lacy: Oh, yeah. And they're Oh, can I just tell you they're not pretty? One of the other pieces that, where we're having these conversations of consequence in our home too, is that, healthcare workers are exhausted. When their colleagues get sick, you know, they're taking on extra shifts, their shifts are longer in order to take care of patients.At our tiny hospital, the second COVID wing has opened up, the ICU is filling. So healthcare workers are dealing with their own anxiety. And their own faithfulness, you know, they came into this profession wanting to help people. And often our communities, different levels of people's discernment around this can really tick away at their sense of feeling United. So you know that they are all in this together. They can feel like that, that they're fractured from their community and  that can weigh heavy on them.Nathan: I remember sitting in a faculty meeting once and they were talking about bringing the faculty and staff together and kind of building, you know, some sort of community. And my friend was a history professor and his, his specialty was in world war II. He just kind of leans over and he says, well, we need an enemy.That's how you bring people together. There's a common enemy. You know, he was, he was big, somewhat, you know, serious. So what's confused me as I thought at the beginning of a pandemic. And some of these things that, that what we would see is a little of what it seemed like happened during world war II, we're in this together and buying bonds and let's, you know, save flour or whatever to kind of help the cause.And it's really confused me in a sense how that's not happened. And it does seem that some of the greatest divisions are among Christian folks. And, you know, what does church look like and how do we, and then the interactions with each other  have not been good and been really, really destructive.So I'm wondering if you had any, any thoughts about that or any potential ways to move forward or we can move forward.Lacy: I think that our experience as a family that has a healthcare worker as a main member of our family has implications for the division that maybe we feel as a nation. I wonder if Christians could see healthcare workers as fellow human beings. Who longed to have encounters with Christ, even if they can't really verbally articulate that. And the quote keeps coming to mind that we cannot proclaim the good news and be the bad news. So what would it look like, Church, to be the good news? To healthcare workers. And I think that's a, fateful question maybe that we could all live with. What would it look like? Because nurses and techs and doctors and all the folks who, are protecting us. Who are working long hours they're watching. And we can say lots of things. In fact, we write them on posters and we walk them in the streets, but who we are -- that speaks louder than anything else. And I think the next sort of group of people that I have the honor of listening to. And I mean, it, honor, incredible honor, our pastors and educators, and I, get to accompany them in spiritual direction and they're also experiencing incredible divisiveness. Depending on what, the decisions that are being made.  they're meeting resistance on all sides. What would it look like to be the good news to your child's teacher? To the pastor of your church.Nathan: What does it look like for you in this season to be the good news... to love well?Lacy: For us as a family, it means that I'm sleeping on a blowup mattress in the living room. Because my parents live next door. Because of, if Doug gets sick, I don't want to, you know, pass it off somewhere else. To be the good news looks like being vulnerable with people who  find theirselves in a different  place than I am, in terms of what their level of faithfulness is. And, having conversations over zoom, having masked conversations, it means to, for me to actually show up. I've noticed in myself what happens, when I sort of move into that judgmental space. And I mean, it's so easy right now to move there --  it's just so easy. In fact, I feel quite sure that I will, if I listened to this podcast, I'm going to be like, Oh, Lacy.So I almost want to beg forgiveness on the front end. But when I notice I'm moving into that judgmental space, I know that I have moved away from the person in front of me.  it's very difficult to judge up close. and it's easier to judge from a distance. So, you know, I'm, saying if we disagree, can we have a conversation? Can I hear what your point of view, which would you like to hear mine and my experience. I mean, in many ways, this is why I agreed to have the podcast to talk about this a little bit publicly. I want to move in, move closer. So that's vulnerability, moving closer, praying the Psalms. Oh, please definitely pray the Psalms. I thought about taking an Exacto knife and just cutting all the lamenting Psalms up like a little book, just read those, but cutting and pasting is really not my forte. but the other thing that has been a gift, and maybe I can , you know, turn it towards a gift.One of the gifts has been play. We have played more. I have personally played more in this season than I have played in my entire life. I think. Yeah. You know, I was born into a family who knows how to work.I mean, we are workers. I started waiting tables, I bet I was seven when I was, when I could hold plates, hot plates. I learned how to combine work in play, but just flat out play.  It is my youngest daughter who has taught me how to play. And it was out of necessity. It was, we were going to turn on each other and there, and then we were going to have like a homicide of some kind and we didn't do something if we didn't get out of our little house.And so it, it started in the spring and we were outside playing.  I have learned, right now we're out. So we've got a lot of snow this winter and we're out in the snow. We have a dog who had to have her front leg removed last Christmas. Her name is Maggie and she's a border Collie.So she, you know, she moves a lot. She runs the five acres all the time, and it was so difficult for her to learn to walk again without, I mean the back leg, they, they recover quite quickly, but that front leg is such a powerhouse. And she's done a great job moving without it, but I haven't seen her face light up until we got that first snow.And I mean, even as we're talking, I'm watching her outside, running through the snow with those three legs. And I mean, you know, she's hopping with that front leg and that there is just something about snow. That is inviting us to play. And something about Maggie only three legs.  She had cancer. We don't know how much longer we're going to have her with us, but just seeing that playfulness, she puts her nose underneath the snow and throws it up over her back.She kind of burrows down underneath it. She kicks it with her back legs. And it's just really inviting me to play.Nathan: Hmm, that's good.Lacy: And there's, there's something about those two P's right now -- praying the Psalms and Play. And it's again, it's I think it's that intersection of the deep, the deep sorrow of suffering. My grandparents,  got COVID and,  they got it at church.And my grandfather has a CT scan today. There is the very real named losses that are happening right now. And there is an invitation that seems to becoming from God through nature, inviting, inviting me to play.Nathan: Can I tell you about my cat?Lacy: I love cats.Nathan: So I needed a mouse cat. I have this, this barn that I'm working in and it had some mice, so I just need a mouse cat. So, so we, we got this cat that lived on the streets, you know, it was a stray and I didn't think I'd really see him around. You know, skiddish, whatnot. This cat. Oh my goodness. Well, first off it's like a dog.He follows me, like when I take walks, he walks with me and his little tail drags in the snow and he's just the most loving cat and. It has felt like play me and this cat, like we walk around together and I'm doing things around the yard and it, it just has felt like this little companion that God has given me the midst of this.So many adults struggle with play, self included. It's is there any word that you might give to people who hear you say play and they kind of, yes, but I don't know how to do that.Lacy: Yeah. First of all, think back to when you were a child, what did you do in your, in your, when you were very young? That you really enjoyed? Play can involve like a glorious loss of time. So when did you lose track of time and what did you do?Did it have something to do with being outside? Did it have something to do with creating something? Did you lose track of time as you were creating something? Did it have to do with telling jokes? You know, as my grandparents have suffered from COVID the last couple of weeks, this is  my grandparents that are the funniest. I learned to tell my first jokes from this grandmother and, in her deli on 42nd street in Odessa, Texas.  I learned to laugh with her she's hysterical. So we've been talking about all the different jokes that we used to tell and the funny things that happened as we worked in restaurants together over the years.So are there some things that you used to do with people that you love, that, you lost track of time that gave you that sense of being connected with someone bigger than yourself?Nathan: I love this phrase, glorious loss of time.Lacy: And it's not the kind of glorious loss of time that's happening right now in a pandemic. One more like we're on, you know, somebody says what's today's date and it's like, it's March three, four, or whatever.Nathan: That's where you forget, you forget that you're bound to a clock, right. And just, just, Oh my goodness. It's two in the morning. Wow.Lacy: Yeah, exactly. Exactly. So I am very uncoordinated. I have like low level coordination. But long ago, um, when I was at, I was a teacher at new covenant Christian school in Penfield, New York. And at this charismatic Christian school, in chapel, Wednesday chapels, the kids danced.And I come from a Baptist tradition and no adults don't even dance. Nobody danced. That's Southern Baptist. There are other Baptist traditions that are, are wonderful dancers. This was new to me and the children taught me to praise God and dance at the same time, but the kiddos taught me. So I would say to someone who's like, I'm not sure I know how to play.If there's a child around, ask them to teach you. So this is their mother tongue, and so they can teach you to speak it. So that would be the other. how about trying out dancing? There is a song that's come out of South Africa called the... I think it's called the Jerusalem dance and we found a couple of YouTube videos on it and we're practicing.This is kind of a lot throwback to 1980s line dancing and we're practicing it in our house. It's really kind of a lot of fun. I'm terrible...Nathan: Right. I believe you on both ends. How is play a spiritual act or can it be a spiritual act?Lacy: Oh, absolutely. Play as a spiritual act in many ways. One is that it helps us forget ourselves, but not in the sense of self rejection, but because there, there are, there's sort of two ways to go in forgetting ourself. Forgetting ourselves in freedom, means that we still have a sense of self forgetting ourselves in rejection is separation.So, so play invites us to, forget ourself through self acception. And that means that we're being accept. We receive ourselves as being accepted by God, and we show up with all, all of who we are. So play very much invites us into that. We can set ourself aside because we're fully there. play also helps us to experience unity.One of the ways that my youngest daughter explained unity to me once was, you know, mom, when I'm on the back of, Pepper, that's one of our horses and she's trotting, I know the difference between me and her, and when she moves into a gallop, I know the difference between me and her, but when she breaks into or run, I don't know the difference. And play helps us experience that unity with , often, with God.And with another, that, that we feel that deep sense of being connected. I mean, when we're dancing this Jerusalem dance and we actually nail off, well, we, when I actually nail all the moves Anwen nails and every time there's a sense of glorious unity between us and the Melody and beat of the music, it's it brings incredible amount of joy to us.Nathan: Sometimes when I'm looking at nature and I'll, I'll see a bug or a bird or something, and I'll, I'll just kind of go, you're just playing around. Aren't you like? Like there just feels to be this playfulness in the w there is no reason to make that flower so intricately beautiful. So I  think God plays.Lacy: One way, way that we have played is by watching movies together lately. That's, that is a way play. And we have watched a movie called my octopus friend.Nathan: Oh, I saw thatLacy: Oh, you know, he talks about octopus and how this particular octopus plays. So animals do play. And one of the things that I think play does for us as a spiritual practice as well is it opens us to be learners.I mean, when we have a sense of play, we are not trying to get things perfectly spot on. I mean, our inner compulsion for failure takes a break. And we can learn more. So if we have this sense of play in our lives, then our inner compulsion around getting things exactly right. And I mean, that's true right now in the pandemic.Right. For, for us as a family with a healthcare worker, we can have an inner compulsion, like, you know, where's our mask. you know how much hand sanitizer can one person schlep around town picking up groceries? I mean, we, when we, anyway, we got a bottle of some that smelled terrible. In fact, we all agreed that it smelled like horse manure or so we're walking around feeling like we smell so bad.With this hand sanitizer anyway. So what play can do is to help us lower that compulsion that we're all having right now, wherever your faithfulness lies.Nathan: Lacey, thank you for your vulnerability, sharing your story.Lacy: You asked me in the beginning, what did I want people to know? I think I want people to know the thing that I have wanted to know, which is that you're not alone. We're not alone.Nathan: I'll take it. Thank you friend.Lacy: Thanks.

https://abbeyofthearts.com/about/prayer-cycle/day-5/ Credits: All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: Now I Walk in Beauty by Lorraine Bayes Psalm Opening and Doxology by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Interpretation of Psalm 85 by the Rev. Christine Robinson Reading of the Night from Saint Ninian. Quoted in Robert Van de Weyer, ed. Celtic Fire: The Passionate Religious Vision of Ancient Britain and Ireland. New York: Doubleday (1990) p. 78. Closing Poem by Christine Valters Paintner, The Wisdom of Wild Grace. Paraclete Press (2020). Closing Song: Surrender by Deirdre Ni Chinneide Please note: All of the Opening and Closing Songs are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). The Psalm Opening, Doxology, and the Response to the Prayers of Concern also have accompanying congregational gestures. The audio and video recordings of these are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

William Willimon: The Gospel For The Person Who Has Everything - Episode 397 In his book, the Gospel for the Person who has everything, Bishop William Willimon brings the Gospel of Jesus Christ to life for the person who has everything – happy, fulfilled human beings, who don't feel the same level of need expressed by the downcast, the outcast, the brokenhearted, and the miserable. Willimon says that the church's message to the wretched and sad must not exclude the strong and the joyous. Paraclete Press has just released a brand new edition of the Gospel For The Person Who Has Everything, and Bishop Willimon stopped by for a visit so we can talk about it. Buy The Book: https://paracletepress.com/products/the-gospel-for-the-person-who-has-everything Bishop Willimon's Blog: https://willwillimon.com/blog/ ----more----Listen to Rick Lee James MusicOne of the best ways to support independent artists during Covid-19 is to stream our music on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and Pandora. Click below to find out all the ways you can listen.https://linktr.ee/rickleejames  Music From RICK LEE JAMESLOVE OUR ENEMIES (Official Music Video): https://youtu.be/xsSB5OLPELEStream Rick's Music on any music streaming service: https://rickleejames.hearnow.com/thunderAlso Find Rick Lee James Music on Bandcamp: www.RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.comor on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3abA3po  ----more----  Become A Patron of this Podcast at the Rick Lee James PATREONPAGE: https://www.patreon.com/RickLeeJames ----more----As Always...Thank You For Listening To Voices In My Head  About Your Host: Rick Lee JamesWeb Site www.rickleejames.com,Twitter Facebook.Voices In My Head Podcast www.voicesinmyheadpodcast.com,Mister Rogers Quotes on Twitter at @MisterRogersSay.“Welcome To The Neighborhood: A Mister Rogers Tribute Podcast”: HERE.Rick Lee James Radio Special: https://westarchristianmedia.com/rick-lee-james-30-minute-radio-special Get Rick Lee James Latest Album: https://fanlink.to/RLJThunderIn partnership with CRW Radio Promotions, singer, songwriter and worship leader Rick Lee James debuts a brand new radio special. The “Thunder Radio Special” can be heard exclusively on James' official YouTube channel or his website. It was also recently added to Spotify and Apple Music. Radio stations interested in airing the “Thunder Radio Special” can contact Kathryn Ambrose at CRW Radio Promotions at kathryn@westarmediagroup.com.----more----For Rick Lee James Booking Inquiries: By Email: Rick@RickLeeJames.com This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rickleejames.substack.com/subscribe

William Willimon: The Gospel For The Person Who Has Everything - Episode 397  In his book, the Gospel for the Person who has everything, Bishop William Willimon brings the Gospel of Jesus Christ to life for the person who has everything – happy, fulfilled human beings, who don’t feel the same level of need expressed by the downcast, the outcast, the brokenhearted, and the miserable. Willimon says that the church’s message to the wretched and sad must not exclude the strong and the joyous. Paraclete Press has just released a brand new edition of the Gospel For The Person Who Has Everything, and Bishop Willimon stopped by for a visit so we can talk about it.   Buy The Book: https://paracletepress.com/products/the-gospel-for-the-person-who-has-everything   Bishop Willimon's Blog: https://willwillimon.com/blog/   ----more---- Listen to Rick Lee James Music One of the best ways to support independent artists during Covid-19 is to stream our music on platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and Pandora. Click below to find out all the ways you can listen. https://linktr.ee/rickleejames     Music From RICK LEE JAMES LOVE OUR ENEMIES (Official Music Video): https://youtu.be/xsSB5OLPELE Stream Rick's Music on any music streaming service: https://rickleejames.hearnow.com/thunder Also Find Rick Lee James Music on Bandcamp: www.RickLeeJames.Bandcamp.com or on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3abA3po    ----more----   Become A Patron of this Podcast at the Rick Lee James PATREON PAGE: https://www.patreon.com/RickLeeJames   ----more---- As Always...Thank You For Listening To Voices In My Head    About Your Host: Rick Lee James Web Site www.rickleejames.com, Twitter  Facebook. Voices In My Head Podcast www.voicesinmyheadpodcast.com, Mister Rogers Quotes on Twitter at @MisterRogersSay. “Welcome To The Neighborhood: A Mister Rogers Tribute Podcast”: HERE. Rick Lee James Radio Special: https://westarchristianmedia.com/rick-lee-james-30-minute-radio-special  Get Rick Lee James Latest Album: https://fanlink.to/RLJThunder In partnership with CRW Radio Promotions, singer, songwriter and worship leader Rick Lee James debuts a brand new radio special.  The “Thunder Radio Special” can be heard exclusively on James’ official YouTube channel or his website. It was also recently added to Spotify and Apple Music. Radio stations interested in airing the “Thunder Radio Special” can contact Kathryn Ambrose at CRW Radio Promotions at kathryn@westarmediagroup.com. ----more---- For Rick Lee James Booking Inquiries:  By Email: Rick@RickLeeJames.com

Author Gayle Boss and Illustrator David G. Klein put something beautiful together for the season of Advent. Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, all readers will find these lessons powerful in a season of "wait". You can purchase "All Creation Waits" directly through Paraclete Press or AmazonAll Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New BeginningsText Copyright © 2016 by Gayle BossIllustrations Copyright © 2016 by David G. KleinJoy Sparks Designs NATIONAL SPONSOR: Let Joy create unique jewelry for you or a loved one - Over 1000 5 star reviews!Breton Gardens Family Dentistry LOCAL SPONSOR: Professional, Experienced, Bright, Friendly - Kentwood, MI

https://abbeyofthearts.com/about/prayer-cycle/day-5/ Credits: All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: Mother Earth by Betsey Beckman First Reading from Angela of Foligno. Quoted in Carmen Acevedo Butcher, A Little Daily Wisdom: Christian Women Mystics. Paraclete Press (2005) Kindle Edition. Sung Psalm Opening and Doxology by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Interpretation of Psalm 60 by Rev. Christine Robinson Second Reading from Saint Bonaventure. Quoted in Ewert Cousins (trans), The Soul’s Journey into God (Classics of Western Spirituality). New York: Paulist Press (1978) p. 26. Prayers of Concern written by Valerie Allen Sung Response by Betsey Beckman Closing Song: Viriditas by Betsey Beckman Closing Blessing: Earth as the Original Saints written by Christine Valters Paintner Please note: All of the Opening and Closing Songs are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). The Psalm Opening, Doxology, and the Response to the Prayers of Concern also have accompanying congregational gestures. The audio and video recordings of these are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

Episode 58: I Am a Saint in the Making Helping our children think of themselves as being called to sainthood is a big part of our mission, as Catholic homeschoolers. Today’s guests, author Lisa Hendey and illustrator Katie Broussard, are here to talk about their glorious new children’s book, “I Am a Saint in the Making.” Lisa Hendey: https://www.lisahendey.com Katie Broussard: https://katiebroussard.com/ The book can be found in the usual places, including: Paraclete Press: https://paracletepress.com/collections/childrens/products/im-a-saint-in-the-making Amazon: https://amzn.to/2Hs1qTa DVD - https://paracletepress.com/collections/dvds/products/kids-and-the-saints Today’s Short Feature: Chantal Howard, Idea to Real Topic: Entrepreneurship for the Kingdom Contact: https://www.chantal-howard.com/ Thank you to the following contributors who made this podcast possible: Our Sponsor HomeschoolConnections.com Homeschooling Saints Theme Music Composed by Taylor Kirkwood Intro voice Dave Palmer radio personality and author of St. Thomas Aquinas for Everyone Our host Lisa Mladinich

https://abbeyofthearts.com/about/prayer-cycle/day-4/ Credits: All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: Divine Fire by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Psalm Opening and Doxology by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Interpretation of Psalm 48 by the Rev. Christine Robinson Reading of the Night from Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude. New York: Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux (1999) p. 92. Closing Poem by Christine Valters Paintner, The Wisdom of Wild Grace. Paraclete Press (2020). Closing Song: Deep Peace by Sara Thomsen Please note: All of the Opening and Closing Songs are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). The Psalm Opening, Doxology, and the Response to the Prayers of Concern also have accompanying congregational gestures. The audio and video recordings of these are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

https://abbeyofthearts.com/about/prayer-cycle/ Credits: All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: Brigid's Birds by Margaret McLarty Psalm Opening and Doxology by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Interpretation of Psalm 24 by the Rev. Christine Robinson Reading of the Night from Saint Cuthbert. Quoted in Bede’s Sancti Cuthberti 20 (John Francis Webb,translator) Age of Bede, 69-70. Closing Poem by Christine Valters Paintner, The Wisdom of Wild Grace. Paraclete Press (2020). Closing Song: Follow the River Home by Lorraine Bayes Please note: All of the Opening and Closing Songs are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). The Psalm Opening, Doxology, and the Response to the Prayers of Concern also have accompanying congregational gestures. The audio and video recordings of these are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

Earth Monastery Prayer Cycle Home Page https://abbeyofthearts.com/about/prayer-cycle/ Credits: All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: Seed of Life by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Psalm Opening and Doxology by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Interpretation of Psalm 19 by the Rev. Christine Robinson Reading of the Night from Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov. Wordsworth Editions (2007) p. 352 and 356. Closing Poem by Christine Valters Paintner, The Wisdom of Wild Grace. Paraclete Press (2020). Closing Song: Oscaill Mo Chroi by Deirdre Ni Chinneide Please note: All of the Opening and Closing Songs are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). The Psalm Opening, Doxology, and the Response to the Prayers of Concern also have accompanying congregational gestures. The audio and video recordings of these are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

We don't have to be perfect or get it all right when God calls us good. And that is freeing.   *Note- this episode includes conversations around mental health and suicidal thoughts. Please listen with care for your own soul (and a mindfulness about those who might be listening with you).    Wendi Nunnery and Heather Lobe Johnson discuss the process of surrender as we begin to heal from our fires and painful places. Wendi is the author of Good Enough: Letting Go of Perfect for the Sake of Holy, which releases this week with Paraclete Press. In this episode, we discuss: Mental Health (OCD, post-partum depression, and suicidal ideation) Finding freedom from perfectionism Surrender as letting go   Learning to see God as tender and as El Roi, the God who sees Finding our iron sharpeners, or the safe people who can love us when we're at our lowest and will help point us back to Jesus Resources mentioned in this episode: Good Enough book on Amazon; on Barnes and Nobles  Wendi's Instagram: @wendinunnery Website: www.wendinunnery.com Wendi's Podcast: Sooo OCD Connect with Heather Lobe Johnson for prayer or more daily encouragement on Instagram (@heatherlobejohnson). 

Credits: All songs and texts used with permission Opening Prayer written by Christine Valters Paintner Opening Song: Open Hand by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Psalm Opening and Doxology by Richard Bruxvoort Colligan Interpretation of Psalm 8 by the Rev. Christine Robinson Reading of the Night from Colin Tudge, The Tree: A Natural History of What Trees Are, How They Live, and Why They Matter. Three Rivers Press (2005) p. xvii Closing Poem by Christine Valters Paintner, The Wisdom of Wild Grace. Paraclete Press (2020). Closing Song: Be Still by Simon de Voil Please note: All of the Opening and Closing Songs are published on CDs in the Abbey of the Arts collection. In addition, these songs have accompanying gesture prayers and/or dances created by Betsey Beckman that can be found on the corresponding DVD (each album has a DVD companion). The Psalm Opening, Doxology, and the Response to the Prayers of Concern also have accompanying congregational gestures. The audio and video recordings of these are available at AbbeyoftheArts.com.

On this week's show, we talk popes, cats, and storytelling with Jon M. Sweeney, creator of the wonderful series "The Pope's Cat" from Paraclete Press. We virtually travel to Italy as we chat about his latest book Margaret and the Pope Go to Assisi.About Jon M. SweeneyJon M. Sweeney is one of religion’s most respected and award-winning authors. He’s been interviewed in print by a wide range of publications from the Dallas Morning News to The Irish Catholic, and on television for CBS Saturday Morning and Fox News. His 2012 history, The Pope Who Quit, was optioned by HBO. He’s also the author of thirty-plus other books including a new biography, James Martin, SJ: In the Company of Jesus; The Pope’s Cat fiction series for children; St. Francis of Assisi: His Life, Teachings, and Practices, with a foreword by Richard Rohr, new from St. Martin’s Press; A Course in Christian Mysticism by Thomas Merton; and Meister Eckhart’s Book of the Heart, with Mark S. Burrows.Jon’s books on Franciscan spirituality have sold more than 200,000 copies. His Francis of Assisi in His Own Words has become a standard text on many university and seminary campuses. Jon speaks regularly at literary and religious conferences, retreat centers, and churches. He is Catholic, married to a rabbi; their interfaith marriage has been profiled in national media. He writes often for America: The Jesuit Review in the US, and The Tablet in the UK, and is active on social media (Twitter @jonmsweeney; Facebook jonmsweeney). He’s also the publisher at Paraclete Press in Massachusetts and lives in Milwaukee with his wife and daughters. He also has two grown children.About "Margaret and the Pope Go to Assisi"Margaret and the Pope Go to Assisi is the fourth book in a still-new fiction series for kids (mostly Catholic kids), about a stray cat that is brought inside the Vatican, and who then helps show kids what Popes do all day long!Learn more about The Pope's Cat at Paraclete PressCheck out books by Lisa Hendey at Amazon and find all of our book and movie suggestions at Lisa's Amazon Influencer list. For Lisa's speaking schedule visit www.LisaHendey.com. Send your feedback to lisahendey@gmail.com or connect with Lisa on social media @LisaHendey.

The risks and benefits of writing about religion in any genre, with author Phoebe Farag Mikhail.Phoebe's publisher: Paraclete Press (https://paracletepress.com)A few other notes from the episode: Phoebe's book: Putting Joy into Practice: Seven Ways to Lift Your Spirit from the Early Church https://paracletepress.com/collections/new-releases/products/putting-joy-into-practicePhoebe's blog: Being in Community (beingincommunity.com (http://beingincommunity.com/) )Instagram & Twitter: @pkfarag   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phoebefaragmikhailauthor/  andhttps://www.facebook.com/beingincommunity/Phoeble also mentioned her essay in Talking Writing Magazine about "bridge people":https://talkingwriting.com/agreeing-other-side-can-be-revolutionaryShe chronicled her path to writing after becoming a mom in this essay as well: http://redtri.com/having-children-was-the-best-thing-i-did-for-my-career/#AmReadingKJ: Scarcity: Why Having Too Little Means So Much (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780805092646) , Sendhil MullainathanPhoebe: The Enchanted Hour: The Miraculous Power of Reading Aloud in the Age of Distraction, (https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780062562814) Meghan Cox Gurdon#FaveIndieBookstoreThe Strand, New York, NY (https://www.strandbooks.com/)This episode was sponsored by Author Accelerator, the book coaching program that helps you get your work DONE. Visit https://www.authoraccelerator.com/amwriting for details, special offers and Jennie Nash’s 2-tier outline template.COME RETREAT WITH KJ AND SARINA! Details here (https://www.authoraccelerator.com/amwritingretreat?fbclid=IwAR28UHKs094kMRXcybsP6zLyqpuMyJURur5fnc52AVP9ek5EWUpy7ckFu8M)Find more about Jess here (http://www.jessicalahey.com/) , and about KJ here (https://kjdellantonia.com/) .If you enjoyed this episode, we suggest you check out Marginally, a podcast about writing, work and friendship (https://www.marginallypodcast.com/) . This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

Being joyful is a thoughtful practice, although it’s not something we’re typically focused on. However, my conversation with Phoebe Farag Mikhail left me thinking about joy, and I hope it will do the same for you. Phoebe and I talk about how joy differs from pleasure and happiness, why hospitality is important, and how her friendships have changed in the last few years. Phoebe is a wife and mother of three young children. She serves at St. Antonious & St. Mina Coptic Orthodox Church in East Rutherford, NJ with her husband Father Bishoy Lamie Mikhail. She is the author of “Putting Joy into Practice: Seven Ways to Lift Your Spirit from the Early Church,” published by Paraclete Press and released in April 2019. She edited the second revised edition of His Holiness Pope Shenouda's book, “The Life of Repentance and Purity.” She also blogs at “Being in Community,” while working as an independent consultant in international development and teaching. Phoebe has lived in New York City, Washington, DC, Cairo, and the UK.  You can find the show notes at www.fortiesstories.com. If you are enjoying the show, I would be grateful if you would rate or review on Apple Podcasts and share it with a friend.  

Christine Valters Paintner — an American expatriate living in the west of Ireland — joins us on Encoutering Silence to explore the intersections of silence, spirituality, contemplation, creativity, and living as a monk in the real world. Author, poet, spiritual director, and Benedictine Oblate Christine Valters Paintner serves as the online Abbess at www.AbbeyoftheArts.com, a virtual monastery without walls. She is the author of twelve books on spirituality, contemplative practice, and creative expression, including: The Artist’s Rule, The Eyes of the Heart, The Wisdom of the Body, and The Soul’s Slow Ripening. Next year Paraclete Press will publish her collection of poetry, Dreaming of Stones. I started to realize how photography has a lot of violence in its language — so there's capturing, shooting, taking... the way that we interact with photography is very much about seizing the movement in this kind of violent way. What if when we were with our camera, we looked at it as receiving a gift, rather than taking something? — Christine Valters Paintner Drawing connections between her life experience as an introvert and her early spiritual formation shaped by Jesuit education and the wisdom of St. Benedict and St. Hildegard of Bingen, Christine shares how a silent retreat inspired her to find the silent, contemplative dimension of artistry, poetry, movement — as well as winter time as a powerful season for contemplative rest and unknowing which is its own contribution to the creative process. I find that creative work is a lot about just giving ourselves permission to make mistakes, and to have fun, and to do things that we maybe haven't done since we were a child, and there is a lot of freedom that comes with that. — Christine Valters Paintner She reflects on how the experience of grieving, living with an autoimmune illness, and embracing our embodied selves, are some of the many portals through which the mystery of contemplative silence has invited her — and can invite all of us — into stillness and unknowing, and into finding ourselves in the present moment. Christine offers a special treat at the end of our conversation — she reads a never-before-published poem of hers, "Saint Francis and the Grasshopper." I believe in the revolutionary power of stillness and spaciousness, and of practicing presence to life's unfolding. I believe this commitment can change the world. — Christine Valters Paintner Some of the authors and resources mentioned in this episode: Christine Valters Paintner, The Artist’s Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom; Christine Valters Paintner, The Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice; Christine Valters Paintner, The Wisdom of the Body: A Contemplative Journey to Wholeness for Women; Christine Valters Paintner, The Soul’s Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic Practices for Seeking the Sacred. Christine Valters Paintner, Dreaming of Stones: Poems Christine Valters Paintner, Lectio Divina: The Sacred Art Saint Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Selected Writings Mary C. Earle, Beginning Again: Benedictine Wisdom for Living with Illness Mary C. Earle, Days of Grace: Meditations and Practices for Living with Illness Mary C. Earle, Broken Body, Healing Spirit: Lectio Divina and Living with Illness Reginald Ray, Touching Enlightenment: Finding Realization in the Body Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity The Desert Mothers and Fathers, Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Denise Levertov, The Collected Poems Mary Oliver, Devotions: The Selected Poems David Whyte, River Flow: New and Selected Poems Billy Collins,

Christine Valters Paintner — an American expatriate living in the west of Ireland — joins us on Encoutering Silence to explore the intersections of silence, spirituality, contemplation, creativity, and living as a monk in the real world. Author, poet, spiritual director, and Benedictine Oblate Christine Valters Paintner serves as the online Abbess at www.AbbeyoftheArts.com, a virtual monastery without walls. She is the author of twelve books on spirituality, contemplative practice, and creative expression, including: The Artist’s Rule, The Eyes of the Heart, The Wisdom of the Body, and The Soul’s Slow Ripening. Next year Paraclete Press will publish her collection of poetry, Dreaming of Stones. I started to realize how photography has a lot of violence in its language — so there's capturing, shooting, taking... the way that we interact with photography is very much about seizing the movement in this kind of violent way. What if when we were with our camera, we looked at it as receiving a gift, rather than taking something? — Christine Valters Paintner Drawing connections between her life experience as an introvert and her early spiritual formation shaped by Jesuit education and the wisdom of St. Benedict and St. Hildegard of Bingen, Christine shares how a silent retreat inspired her to find the silent, contemplative dimension of artistry, poetry, movement — as well as winter time as a powerful season for contemplative rest and unknowing which is its own contribution to the creative process. I find that creative work is a lot about just giving ourselves permission to make mistakes, and to have fun, and to do things that we maybe haven't done since we were a child, and there is a lot of freedom that comes with that. — Christine Valters Paintner She reflects on how the experience of grieving, living with an autoimmune illness, and embracing our embodied selves, are some of the many portals through which the mystery of contemplative silence has invited her — and can invite all of us — into stillness and unknowing, and into finding ourselves in the present moment. Christine offers a special treat at the end of our conversation — she reads a never-before-published poem of hers, "Saint Francis and the Grasshopper." I believe in the revolutionary power of stillness and spaciousness, and of practicing presence to life's unfolding. I believe this commitment can change the world. — Christine Valters Paintner Some of the authors and resources mentioned in this episode: Christine Valters Paintner, The Artist’s Rule: Nurturing Your Creative Soul with Monastic Wisdom; Christine Valters Paintner, The Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice; Christine Valters Paintner, The Wisdom of the Body: A Contemplative Journey to Wholeness for Women; Christine Valters Paintner, The Soul’s Slow Ripening: 12 Celtic Practices for Seeking the Sacred. Christine Valters Paintner, Dreaming of Stones: Poems Christine Valters Paintner, Lectio Divina: The Sacred Art Saint Benedict, The Rule of Saint Benedict Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Selected Writings Mary C. Earle, Beginning Again: Benedictine Wisdom for Living with Illness Mary C. Earle, Days of Grace: Meditations and Practices for Living with Illness Mary C. Earle, Broken Body, Healing Spirit: Lectio Divina and Living with Illness Reginald Ray, Touching Enlightenment: Finding Realization in the Body Julia Cameron, The Artist's Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity The Desert Mothers and Fathers, Early Christian Wisdom Sayings Denise Levertov, The Collected Poems Mary Oliver, Devotions: The Selected Poems David Whyte, River Flow: New and Selected Poems Billy Collins, Aimless Love: New and Selected Poems Thomas Merton, Collected Poems of Thomas Merton Saint Francis of Assisi, In His Own Words: The Essential Writings When I do spend that time in silence and solitude,

Sarah Arthur returns to the podcast as "A Light So Lovely: The Spiritual Legacy of Madeleine L'Engle, Author of A Wrinkle in Time" is arriving in stores. We laugh our way through episode #140 and back at episode #59. Sarah is the author of numerous books and resources on the intersection of faith and great stories. Her first book was the best-selling youth devotional, "Walking with Frodo: A Devotional Journey through The Lord of the Rings," followed by the award-winning "Walking with Bilbo: A Devotional Adventure through The Hobbit." She's also the editor of the literary guides to prayer series by Paraclete Press, including "Between Midnight and Dawn: A Literary Guide to Prayer for Lent, Holy Week, and Eastertide" (Jan. 2016). Sarah is a graduate of Wheaton Collegeand Duke University Divinity School, she speaks around the country on the role of stories and imagination in spiritual formation. She lives in Lansing, Michigan, with her young sons, Micah and Sam, and her husband, Tom, pastor of Sycamore Creek Church. A Light So Lovelyincludes interviews with people who knew Madeleine, including movie producer Catherine Hand and Madeleine's granddaughter, Charlotte Jones Voiklis, who wrote the book's foreword. Sarah also interviewed other writers/thought leaders including Phillip Yancey, Jana Riess, Sarah Bessey and Madeleine’s longtime housemate Barbara Braver. Be sure to look into Sarah's website for fall 2018 activities, including a podcast, in honor of Madeleine's would-be 100th birthday. Use the hashtag #mymadeleinemoment to share your favorite Madeleine moments on social media. Also keep Sarah in the loop with @holydreaming #alightsolovely! Lastly, Sarah has just finished her first novel which she has been working on for 15 years! She is currently shopping it to publishers, so look for that in the future. LINKS: Sponsor: United Faith Leaders alightsolovely.com #121 Coffee with Deanna Thompson #136 Coffee with Patrick Beaulier Madcap Coffee Michigan State University Books by Madeleine L'Engle: A Wrinkle In Time The Glorious Impossible The Crosswicks Journals: A Circle of Quiet, The Summer of the Great-Grandmother, The Irrational Season, and Two-Part Invention Books by Sarah Arthur: Coffee with God: 365 Devotions to Perk Up Your Day Walking with Frodo: A Devotional Journey through The Lord of the Rings Walking with Bilbo: A Devotional Adventure through The Hobbit Between Midnight and Dawn: A Literary Guide to Prayer for Lent, Holy Week, and Eastertide Light Upon Light: A Literary Guide to Prayer for Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany A Light So Lovely: The Spiritual Legacy of Madeleine L'Engle, Author of A Wrinkle in Time

Amos Smith holds a Doctor of Ministry from Chicago Theological Seminary. He teaches classes on contemporary Christian Mysticism at the Redemptorist Renewal Center and at various churches in Tucson and has been invited to participate in forums at the University of Arizona. His writing has been published in various newspapers and magazines including The Billings Gazette, The Spokesman Review, Friends Journal: Quaker Thought and Life Today, and Chicago Seminary Press. Amos published his first book, Healing The Divide: Recovering Christianity’s Mystic Roots with Wipf & Stock Publishers in 2013. The book has been well received and reviewed and is part of the curriculum for the Living School of The Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC | Richard Rohr). Amos’ latest book, Be Still and Listen: Experience the Presence of God in Your Life, was published by Paraclete Press on June 12th, 2018.

Dr. Amos Smith talks with Clint about his new book on Christian Mysticism, to be released in June through Paraclete Press. Amos addresses some concerns about the Christian mystical tradition and talks about the scriptural evidence for a Christian mystical tradition.Support the show (https://contemplativelight.org/)

Welcome to the show! If you are here I am so grateful for you and want to invite you to become a part of the beloved community being developed here. Consider becoming a Patreon supporter of the show. You'll have access to many perks as well as guaranteeing the future of these conversations; even $1/Month goes so far as this show is 100% listener supported.    http://www.patreon.com/canisaythisatchurch   Guest: Kaitlin Curtice   This week I talk to Kaitlin about what is it to be a Christian and at the same time embrace Native American Heritage at the same time. Our world is full of thin spaces where we can touch, see, and feel the divine; what will we do with that.    Kaitlin Curtice is a Native American Christian author, speaker and worship leader. As an enrolled member of the Potawatomi Citizen Band and someone who has grown up in the Christian faith, Kaitlin writes on the intersection of Native American spirituality, mystic faith in everyday life, and the church. She is an author with Paraclete Press and her recently released book is Glory Happening: Finding the Divine in Everyday Places. She is a contributor to Sojourners, and you can also find her work on Patheos Progressive Christian.     Glory Happening: Finding the Divine in Everyday Places:  Amazon   Connect with Kaitlin on Facebook, Twitter: @kaitlincurtice as well as https://kaitlincurtice.com/.   Special Music for this episode was provided by Hallie Darling.  Tracks include: Break My Heart, Brittle Bones, and Me the Monster from the album Brittle Bones.   Find her music on iTunes, YouTube as well as Spotify as well Instagram and Facebook   You can also find selections from all our episodes on our Spotify Playlist.   

Guest Bio: This week week we talk with Kaitlin Curtice! We chat with her about what it’s like to embrace your Native American heritage, Christianity in the modern era, and her brand new book. Kaitlin is a Native American Christian writer, speaker, and worship leader. She is an author with Paraclete Press and writes at www.kailincurtice.com, on the intersection of culture and spirituality. (Selected) Published Works: Glory Happening: Finding the Divine in Everyday Places Special guest music provided by: Eisley http://www.eisley.com/ Facebook: @eisley Twitter: @eisley Instagram: @eisley Enjoy the songs? Songs featured on this episode were: “Shelter” & “Currents” from the album, Currents; “Ambulance” from the Fire Kite EP; and “Louder Than a Lion” from the album, I’m Only Dreaming. Eisley’s music is available on iTunes, Apple Music, Spotify, and anywhere good music is sold! Get a copy of their latest release, I’m Only Dreaming - Available now! Donation: If you enjoy what we’re doing consider becoming part of our Patreon family. We have some really great ways for you to help be a part of what we’re doing and some really cool reward packages as well! Check us out at our website www.thedeconstructionists.com to join, listen to all of our episodes, subscribe to future shows, connect with us on social media, read our blog, or get your hands on one of our many cool t-shirts or pint glasses. Website design by @ryanbattles. The Deconstructionists Podcast is produced by Nicholas Rowe at National Audio Preservation Society: A full service recording studio and creative habitat, located in Heath, Ohio. Find them on Facebook and Twitter or visit their website for more information. www.nationalaudiopreservationsociety.weebly.com www.facebook.com/nationalaudiopreservationsociety Twitter: @napsrecording Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-deconstructionists/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Suitcase: A Story About Giving by Jane G. Meyer, illustrated by Chiara Pasqualotto (Paraclete Press, 2017) Available at Paraclete Press.

Bobby Maddex interviews Sr. Faith Riccio, the author of a new book from Paraclete Press titled Icons: The Essential Collection.

Bobby Maddex interviews Sr. Faith Riccio, the author of a new book from Paraclete Press titled Icons: The Essential Collection.

Sarah Arthur is a fun-loving speaker and the author of numerous books and resources on the intersection of faith and great stories. Her first book was the best-selling youth devotional, "Walking with Frodo: A Devotional Journey through The Lord of the Rings," followed by the award-winning "Walking with Bilbo: A Devotional Adventure through The Hobbit" (both with Tyndale). She's also the editor of the literary guides to prayer series by Paraclete Press, including "Between Midnight and Dawn: A Literary Guide to Prayer for Lent, Holy Week, and Eastertide" (Jan. 2016). A graduate of Wheaton College and Duke University Divinity School, she speaks around the country on the role of stories and imagination in spiritual formation. She lives in Lansing, Michigan, with her young sons and her husband, Tom, pastor of Sycamore Creek Church. 

Bobby Maddex interviews April French, the editor of a new book titled An Inner Step Toward God: Writing and Teachings on Prayer by Father Alexander Men, published by Paraclete Press.

Bobby Maddex interviews April French, the editor of a new book titled An Inner Step Toward God: Writing and Teachings on Prayer by Father Alexander Men, published by Paraclete Press.

Bobby Maddex interviews Scott Cairns, one of the contributors to the new Reader's Edition of the book God with Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas, published by Paraclete Press.

Bobby Maddex interviews Scott Cairns, one of the contributors to the new Reader's Edition of the book God with Us: Rediscovering the Meaning of Christmas, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica reads a passage on interpreting scripture from her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica explains what it means when we say that the Orthodox Church is changeless in a passage from her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica reads a passage on interpreting scripture from her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica explains what it means when we say that the Orthodox Church is changeless in a passage from her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica reads a passage on the role of beauty in the Church from her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica reads a passage on the role of beauty in the Church from her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica reads from chapter 20 of her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica reads another selection from her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica reads the introduction to her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica reads from chapter 20 of her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica reads another selection from her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica reads the introduction to her new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Bobby Maddex interviews Frederica Mathewes-Green, host of the AFR podcast "Frederica Here and Now" and the author of the new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Bobby Maddex interviews Frederica Mathewes-Green, host of the AFR podcast "Frederica Here and Now" and the author of the new book Welcome to the Orthodox Church: An Introduction to Eastern Christianity, published by Paraclete Press.

Bobby Maddex interviews Frederica Mathewes-Green, host of the AFR podcast "Frederica Here and Now," about her book Mary As the Early Christians Knew Her: The Mother of Jesus in Three Ancient Texts, which was just released in paperback by Paraclete Press.

Bobby Maddex interviews Dr. Andreas Andreopoulos, Reader in Christianity at the University of Winchester, about his new book This Is My Beloved Son: The Transfiguration of Christ, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica reads the introduction to her new book The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer That Tunes the Heart to God, published by Paraclete Press.

Bobby Maddex interviews Frederica Mathewes-Green, host of the AFR podcast "Frederica Here and Now," about her book Mary As the Early Christians Knew Her: The Mother of Jesus in Three Ancient Texts, which was just released in paperback by Paraclete Press.

Bobby Maddex interviews Dr. Andreas Andreopoulos, Reader in Christianity at the University of Winchester, about his new book This Is My Beloved Son: The Transfiguration of Christ, published by Paraclete Press.

Nicholas Chapman reviews Hidden and Triumphant by Irina Yazykova, published by Paraclete Press.

Jane G. Meyer reviews The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer That Tunes the Heart to God by Frederica Mathewes-Green, published by Paraclete Press.

Frederica reads the introduction to her new book The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer That Tunes the Heart to God, published by Paraclete Press.

Katherine Hyde reviews The End of Suffering: Finding Purpose in Pain by Scott Cairns, published by Paraclete Press.

Ginny Nieuwsma reviews Naming the Child: Hope-filled Reflections on Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Death by Jenny Schroedel, published by Paraclete Press.