November 5, 2026

Spiritual Practices

Christianity is not a set of doctrines. It is a way of life that emerges out of faith in basic beliefs. Christianity is not only what we believe but what we do because of our beliefs. We will know ourselves as Christians by our fruit.

Doing things well takes learning and practice. This is as true for following the Way as it is for wood carving, gardening, or writing poetry. Learning and practice are gifts we get from our church tradition and community. In our community we are shaped by our liturgy, we learn from bible study and discussion, we are taught by God in prayer. As Anglicans, the Daily Office gives us an ongoing way to learn from liturgy, prayer, and scripture. Other forms of prayer like centering prayer, Ignatian meditation, walking the labyrinth, praying with icons, or using a rosary all help us to learn and grow. But while God teaches us with these traditions, they are not a substitute for actual practice. Regardless of the degrees on the wall, I would think long and hard about trusting a surgeon who had never held a scalpel.

Happily, the church gives us two basic ways to practice our faith so that we can go into the world to live it fully. The first of these is life in community. In the church we get to practice being with people from different backgrounds, people with different opinions, and people with different attitudes and preferences. Granted, most churches form because like calls to like, and so most churches have limited diversity, but it is supposed to be practice, a place where we can ease into the difficult work of loving our neighbors. Having practiced with someone who is a little different, we have greater confidence to go out and love someone who is very different.

The second basic spiritual practice is giving. The faith we hold calls us to offer our whole selves, our souls and bodies, to God. That is hard; it takes practice. We get this practice with every gift we put into the offering plate. Every dollar we earn and give is a small piece of our skill, our strength, our knowledge, and our time. Every dollar of our inherited wealth is a memory of those who made us who we are, a precious memory offered in thanksgiving or a painful memory given to God to set us free. Every dollar of our investment income is a small piece of our society, offered in either thanksgiving for the progress it built or in repentance from the evil it wrought. Every dollar is a small piece of ourselves, and every time we offer a dollar to God, whether through the church or the poor, it is practice. And as we practice giving all that we are gets easier and easier until we are ready to truly offer God our selves, our souls and bodies. 

Never stop learning from liturgy, study, and prayer, they are valuable and even critical. But learning won’t give us growth until we put it into practice, offering ourselves for God and our neighbor.

Discernment is for Everyone!

Are you feeling restless or at loose ends? What’s next in your life? Do you wonder if God might be calling you to something new? How will your move, or retirement, or job change, or childbirth change your spiritual life or your entire life’s direction? 

Our Diocesan Commission on Ministry will be hosting a Discernment Is for Everyone! retreat on Saturday, November 14, at St. Matthews, Eugene. This event is a good fit for folks at any point in their journey and is focused on discernment as a whole-church practice. Folks who are curious about discernment for ordained ministry will also find the day helpful, but the main thread of the day is about discernment as a regular practice of listening to God’s call in our collective life, and about ‘everyday’ discernment.

Coffee, beverages, and lunch are provided. Sign up here.