Spirituality Resources
Spirituality
Spirituality can be defined as a human capacity to move toward love, meaning, peace, hope, transcendence, connectedness, compassion, wellness, and wholeness. Christian spirituality acknowledges that this movement happens through the Holy Spirit, drawing people deeper into the life of Jesus Christ. The Episcopal Diocese of California encourages everyone to deepen their spirituality through prayer, retreats, spiritual direction, and sharing faith in congregations and small groups.
Daily Prayer Resources
Mission St. Clare offers the Daily Office online with music. This link also connects you to many other prayer resources including online services, prayer apps, and liturgy resources.
Daily Devotions: This lovely site offers a short, multi-media presentation with the invitation to Pause, Listen, Think, Pray, and Go.
Daily Prayer App – The Order of Saint Helena, a monastic community for women in the Episcopal Church, has developed a wonderful Daily Office mobile app. This app reflects inclusive and expansive language the sisters have developed for their daily prayers. This is a helpful prayer app allowing prayer on the go.
Daily Prayer, Readings, and Devotions from Forward Movement. Check this site for lots of daily prayer resources including the popular “Forward Day by Day”
Second Breath - this spiritual formation app brings you practices, workshops, and Christian wisdom texts. If a mobile app with loads of resources and classes appeals to you, this may be worth the purchase price.
Resources for Spiritual Growth
Resources for Deepening the Spiritual Life
The Society of St. John the Evangelist – an Episcopal community of men rooted in the ancient monastic traditions of prayer and community life. Critically engaged with contemporary culture, they seek to know and share an authentic experience of God’s love and mercy. They live a common life shaped by worship, prayer, and their Rule of Life. Several great spiritual resources can be found at their website in addition to retreats and programs they lead. Here are a couple of available resources.
The Art of Discernment in Prayer – This five-part video series explores the role of prayer in making any life choices. How do we discern which of the options before us represents “the will of God?”
Embodied Prayer – an online, self-directed course with videos and materials to help participants get out of our often too-serious and word-filled heads to move, create and see, imagine, and linger with God.
Center for Action and Contemplation – Richard Rohr founded the Center for Action and Contemplation because he saw a deep need for the integration of both action and contemplation. This site has information on spiritual practices, access to programs and newsletters. Check out their excellent podcasts, including “Turning to the Mystics, with James Finley” which instructs and guides the listener through ancient spiritual practices.