Groundings is a monthly lecture series offered September through May by Sacred Ground in collaboration with Loyola Spirituality Center and the Ignatian Spirituality Center at Saint Thomas More. Groundings is open to anyone interested in deepening their spirituality, their capacity for deep listening, and their contemplative engagement in our world.
Over the last three years, the Episcopal Church in Minnesota has focused on centering discipleship and teaching the people entrusted to its care how to discern the Holy Spirit’s leading. Through simple spiritual practices involving listening to God, other church members, and neighbors, Rev. Dr. Blair Pogue has tried to help churches foster a culture of curiosity about what the Holy Spirit might be up to in the lives of their neighbors.
In addition to spending time with Jesus each day and participating in God’s life by engaging in the following practices: prayer, silence, simplicity, stewardship, hospitality, generosity, forgiveness, reconciliation and service, one of the most important skills Christians can develop right now is the ability to listen deeply to God and the people around them. When used in outreach ministries like Laundry Love, A Place at the Table, and Project Home, the ability to listen deeply has been transformative. Deep listening has also been helpful and life-giving when used in homes, neighborhoods, workplaces, and in the places church members volunteer. Spiritual directors can play a critical role in helping faith communities learn to listen more deeply to God and their neighbors.
The Rev. Dr. Blair Pogue is the Canon for Vitality and Innovation for the Episcopal Church in Minnesota. In that capacity she helps congregations all over the state go deeper in their practice of the Christian faith, and learn how to join up with all the people Jesus loves who don’t go to church. Before joining Bishop Craig Loya’s staff she was the rector of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in St. Paul for 16 ½ years, and before that she served two churches in the Diocese of Virginia, with a special focus on Christian formation. She is married to Dwight Zscheile, the V.P. of Innovation at Luther Seminary and an Episcopal priest, and has a son who is a senior at Northwestern University in Evanston. In her spare time she tries to play as much tennis as possible.
Registration is helpful, but not required. A $20 suggested donation to help cover costs may be paid at the door or online.
We are happy to be able to offer a live Zoom link to those who are unable to attend this event in person. You will need to request the zoom link when you register.