Spirituality Programs
- Best Selling Author and Ignatian Spiritual Director Kevin O'Brien is coming to Grace Episcopal, Yukon for a Workshop & Book Signing October 24-25, 2025. Registration goes live Friday, July 25! Get all the details HERE.
- The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius will be offered again at St. Paul’s. Group meetings will begin in October 2025 on Saturdays at 9:30 a.m. There will be other locations and times that may be found on the Diocese web site.
This 500-year-old prayer method has been known to change lives.
The genius and beauty of the exercises is that one learns to weave one’s own life narrative into the life of Jesus Christ in such a way that both become more vivid and interconnected. The Exercises do this by helping one become free of all the interior clutter that gets in the way of reaching a graced awareness.
“We are not the same as we were. Our eyes are different, and we see the world in the light of God’s love. Our hearts are different, too. They are aflame with generosity, freedom and passion” - A recent spiritual exercise participant. - What Is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual Direction, as defined by The Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma St. Brigid School of Spiritual Direction, is a way of listening and reflecting with a spiritual companion - one director and one directee, companion, or client.
These reflections will likely be encounters with God in everyday life, issues of spiritual development or frustrations with development, the companion's prayer life, their learning to be Christ's disciple, their desire for a closer relationship with the Divine, their experience of Retreat In Daily Life or other spiritual discipline.
Spiritual Directors International offers a quote from SDI member Marian Cowan, CSJ:
"Spiritual direction is a time-honored term for a conversation, ordinarily between two persons, in which one person consults another, more spiritually experienced person about the ways in which God may be touching her or his life, directly or indirectly.....Although spiritual direction has had a burst of new life, it is really quite ancient. Across both the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures, we find people seeking spiritual counsel."
Please consider joining this prayer adventure that will serve your relationship with God for a lifetime. The Ignatian Exercises is a ten-month long course. For more information about the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius please call Franci Hart 405-301-1014. - Lectio Divina - Dwelling in the Word (September-May) Mondays 12-1pm in the Reception Area of the Education Building at St. Paul's OR online. Contact Janie Kirt Morris Resumes September 8!
- Centering Prayer - Tuesdays at 11am & Saturdays at 9:30am. Contact Cynthia Jones.
- Ignatian Groups/Retreat in Daily Life - Groups begin in September and end in May. For details on taking a significant step in your spiritual journey, please visit the HERE.
In need of Spiritual Direction? Email Dean Katie Churchwell to get connected with a Spiritual Director or for more details.
Lectio Divina
Lectio Divina is an ancient way of praying the Scriptures, dating
back to Origen of Alexandria in the 3rd century, who introduced a way of
praying the Scriptures that would unlock the message of Scriptural
texts. The Desert Fathers and Mothers of 4th century Egypt developed the
process, bringing it into daily use.
Lectio Divina (Dwelling in the Word) resumes September 8, each
Monday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. online and in person in the Reception Area of the Education Building. This
session is facilitated by the Rev. Janie Kirt Morris and focuses on the
gospel passage for the upcoming Sunday. For questions or to join, email janiekirtmorris@gmail.com.
Centering Prayer
Centering Prayer is a popular method of meditation and places a strong emphasis on interior silence. The name was taken from Thomas Merton’s description of contemplative prayer as prayer that is centered entirely on the presence of God. Although the modern movement of Centering Prayer owes much to the Trappist monks of Spencer, Massachusetts in the 1970’s, including Father Thomas Keating. The genesis of this type of prayer of the hearts, as it is known, traces its roots back to the early Desert Fathers and Mothers and to works such as The Cloud of Unknowing and the writings of St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross.
Centering Prayer, is offered Tuesday mornings 11am - 12:45pm. Centering Prayer is a prayer of deep silence, and we also enjoy sharing thoughts on readings on spirituality. To join call facilitator Cynthia Jones at 405-314-9550 or email to chj3708@cox.net.
Ignatian Exercises - Retreat in Daily Life
The Ignatian Exercises are offered at St. Paul’s as a 32-week
program, beginning each September. The program is a comprehensive set of
spiritual exercises, designed to help bring a soul into closer and
direct relationship with God. The Exercises, which are Biblically and
Liturgically based, remain in their original form as they were written
down and codified by Ignatius of Loyola in the 1500’s. Maybe you sense that the world is speeding by at a dizzying pace. Do you hear a still small voice calling you to refuge? Perhaps an Ignatian Adventure is for you! A specific prayer method will be taught in August and September in preparation for the retreat. Groups begin in September and end in May. For details on taking a significant step in your spiritual journey, please visit the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma Site.
Prerequisites
for this intensive course of prayer are required, along with a personal
interview, which must be completed by August for enrollment in
September.
Labyrinth
The labyrinth is a spiritual tool that has many applications in various settings. It reduces stress, quiets the mind and opens the heart. It is a walking meditation, a path of prayer and a blueprint where psyche meets Self.
St. Paul’s currently owns 3 labyrinths: A four-circuit flagstone labyrinth located in the East Garden, the Frank Dennis Memorial 11-circuit Chartres style canvas labyrinth and a children’s labyrinth.
The East Garden labyrinth is available during open hours for use.
Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, and Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance of Oklahoma Support Groups
St. Paul’s provides space for meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous on Monday through Thursday at 12:00 noon and for Al-Anon on Tuesdays at 12:10 p.m. in the Education Building. Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) of Oklahoma new meeting time every Wed at 4pm in the Sun Dancer Library.
For more information, see their website at https://dbsaok.org. Visit Episcopalrecovery.org for more resources and information to support you or a loved one in this journey.