Click here for a list of Upcoming Retreats
The Rev. Lisa Senuta is the Canon for Spiritual Life and Clergy Care overseeing offerings at the diocese and forming Spiritual Community.
What is the Spiritual Life?
In the broadest sense to be spiritual is to choose to use the energy and gifts you have been given to nurture values, virtues, and intentions. Therefore, to be spiritual is to understand you need to grow. Spirituality can be any number of practices that foster growth into wholeness inside and out.
As Episcopalians we are spiritual and religious. Our Spiritual practices are grounded in the deep love of God in fellowship with Christ, and sustained in the Spirit.
As the deer panteth for the watercourse, so my soul longeth for thee.
Psalm 42
The inner life and the outer life are both spiritual. I love how my teacher said it, “Lean back into God’s loving and life-giving heart, so you can lean forward in compassion and courage.”
Some proven spiritual practices that assist the faithful are: prayer, retreats, meditative practices, discernment groups, quiet days, spiritual directors, Bible study, liturgy for the purpose of God’s love to shine through us.
Canon Lisa will assist Minsters, Convocations, Parishes and Clergy to develop trainings, retreats, or quiet days to join you in the work of spiritual formation.
Spiritual and Religious blog
This blog is all about living in our current context as Spiritual and Religious people living the way of love that Jesus exemplified. This periodic blog, authored by a variety of leaders within the diocese, will explore the journey of being spiritual and religious.
What is Spiritual Direction / Spiritual Guidance?
One-on-one prayerful conversation in which the guide/director actively listens to your life. This ancient practice of prayerful companionship helps to find the way through moments of impasse and learn from moments of ease. Everything is discernment, so the point of Spiritual Direction is searching prayerfully together for the next good thing God is inviting and giving to you. This companionship helps us toward surrendering to God’s gift of wholeness for your life.
If you are interested in finding a Director/Guide, reach out to the Canon for Spiritual Life and Clergy Care for a list of trained men and women in your area.
A list of spiritual directors is available here. Need help picking the right one for you? Contact Canon Lisa, lsenuta@episcopal-ks.org.
Canon Lisa, what kinds of things might you offer?
I am happy to work with Vestries, Young Adults, Parish Leaders, Women, Youth, Staff, Care Givers etc. Together we can choose a theme and practices you might want to explore in community. Here is list of ideas and themes to assist your discernment.
Christian Spiritual Practices and teachings:
- Contemplative Prayer theory and practices
- Examen
- Labyrinth
- Walking Meditation
- Viseo Divina
- Lectio Divina
- Prayer with Icons
- Discernment Methods
- Spiritual Autobiography
- Group Spiritual Direction
- Themes for Quiet Days and Retreats
- Acceptance
- Spiritual Friendship
- Patience
- Grief
- Building Spiritual Community
- Spiritual Gifts
- Discernment
- Using Brene Brown’s work on vulnerability and transformation
- Saints Lives
- Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent etc.
Upcoming Retreats
Zoom Guided Retreat with Brother Lawrence
January 28-29, 2024
Online
This is a way to have a retreat in the warmth of your own home and with community from around the diocese. The retreat begins Sunday evening and continues through Monday at 2pm. Supporting sacred time at home, Canon Lisa Senuta will guide you through times of spiritual learning, personal reflection, and listening groups. Using the teachings of Brother Lawrence, we will gather at specified times throughout the day. Plan a quiet day at home opening your spiritual heart. Register Online
Lent Quiet Day: The Courage to Forgive
March 2, 2024
St. Paul’s, Manhattan
Monastery Day
March 6, 2024
St. Scholastica Benedictine Monastery, Atchison
An opportunity to learn about monastery life, Sophia Center’s ministries, and prayer as a grounding center of life.
Discernment Day: Exploring a Call
May 4, 2024
St. Andrew’s, Emporia
Discernment is the church word for decision making with God. It is the art of integration of knowledge of self, prayer, community, scripture, and faith to listen for God’s voice guiding your journey. If you sense a nudge within you toward a life that wants to live more fully, this day will assist you. Whether you are considering intentional lay ministry in your parish or ordained ministry a retreat can be an informative step and can assist the next good step in your journey with God.
Living God’s Future Now with the Rev. Sam Wells, a Tocher Formation Event
May 15-16, 2024
St. Michael and All Angels, Mission
Expanding on the themes of A Future That’s Bigger Than The Past: Towards the Renewal of the Church (2019) and Humbler Faith, Bigger God: Finding a Story to Live By (2022), The Rev. Dr. Sam Wells, Vicar, and Dr. Andrew Eanis, Director of Music, with the “St Martin’s Voices” choir of St Martin-in-the-Fields, Trafalgar Square, London will guide us through a shared formational experience including intentional breakouts for peer groups of clergy, lay leaders and music directors. The two day event begins with Great Sacred Music, replicating St Martin’s weekly, lunch-time evangelistic “sequence of words and music.” Afterward, participants will gather for parallel sessions of presentation and discussion: Sam with clergy and lay leaders; Andrew with music directors. Wednesday night will be a formal concert. Thursday starts with a plenary lecture from Sam, followed by a Eucharist. We’ll end our time with small group reflection sessions after lunch.
Vocation Discernment Weekend
August 24-26, 2024
Upton Hall, Topeka
The Vocationers’ Retreat welcomes all seekers in the Diocese of Kansas to support their response to God with their lives. Hosted by the Commission on Ministry and led by the Canon for Spiritual Life and Clergy Care, the Vocationers’ Retreat is strongly recommended for those exploring ordained ministry. Others who are interested in exploring lay ministry in a more formal way are also welcome.
The retreat will use techniques in the Christian art of discernment so that each participant is personally invited to reflect with God in community. There will be time for large group learning, small group sharing and personal time of guided reflection. Content will include exploration of various expressions of professional vocations, and choose optional learning about Bishop Kemper School for Ministry, the official ordination process in the Diocese of Kansas, and other workshops on ministry.
Silent Retreat
September 20-22, 2024
Marillac Center, Leavenworth
Trusting that “Silence is God’s preferred language,” you are invited into an elongated time of presence with God. This sacred time will provide a spacious opportunity for God to speak to you. With guidance from the Rev. Canon Lisa Senuta you will feel confident to enter a silent retreat with lots of orientation and supports to assist you along the way. The retreat is geared toward the first-time retreatant as well as those who make annual silent retreats.
Labyrinth, reading materials, icons, and journaling will all be provided to aid your silent time with God alone. Spiritual Directors will also be available.
The Marillac Center is a wonderful place to stay with extensive property for walking, spacious private rooms, and meals provided.
For the latest information, subscribe to the DioLog, the diocese’s bi-weekly e-mail newsletter.
Previous Retreats
If you or your congregation are interested in scheduling a retreat along these lines, contact Canon Lisa Senuta directly.
Spirituality for Resilience in Parish Leadership
For the long haulers, the consistent volunteers, and those who wear many hats for the care and keeping of the church. This two-part evening zoom is designed to support a sense of prayerful reflection on your faithful efforts and learn some spiritual practices to nourish your active heart in God’s abiding presence.
Rest and Return, Sabbath for Clergy
Remembering God can do a lot with a little, these zoom mini respites will facilitate space for reflection on your rhythms, and host creative recommitment to a sabbath that brings true rest for return to the full and varied life of clergy leadership.
Introduction to Centering Prayer
Have you wondered how you could grow in having a closer relationship with God? Have you wondered if there was something more that could help you grow in this way of prayer? Centering Prayer is of the early Christian way of prayer that was lost, but is slowly and gently returning as a way for those seeking God to find their way home. This prayer helps discover the action of God in one’s life.
Grace Cathedral parishioner and trained facilitator, Sharon Highberger will guide you through the basic theory and practice of Centering Prayer. The day will include time to practice silent prayer, discussion, teaching, mid day snack and handouts to assist your practice at home. There is no cost, but a free will donation is encouraged.
The Art of Pastoral Care for Parish Staff
Parish administrators, music directors, and other parish staff are often at the crossroads of pastoral issues. This gathering will offer techniques for pastoral care and nourish your heart with spiritual resilience for what can be challenging moments in ministry. Notice the content of the gathering is on a Monday and there is the option of arriving Sunday night with accommodations and catered meal at Upton Hall. The evening will include opportunity to walk the new garden, prayer at the Cathedral, and space to find rest in God.
835 SW Polk St.