Tag Archives: 12-step spirituality

Fields of wheat.

Posted on July 18, 2014 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

This Sunday we will hear again the parable of the wheat and weeds (Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43). It is one of the gospel messages that can be disconcerting, even disturbing. At the end of the age, none of us wants to … Continue reading →

Posted in 12-step spirituality, Christianity, faith, Grace, peace, Recovery | Tagged 12 Steps, 12-step spirituality, 7th Step, Christianity, compassion, grace, hope, inner darkness, parable of wheat and weeds, recovery, vulnerability | Leave a comment

The garden of my heart.

Posted on July 12, 2014 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

In tomorrow’s Gospel lesson, Jesus tells the parable of the sower. Hearing this parable used to make me uncomfortable. I worried that my soil was too rocky or shallow, that the good news would die or be snatched away. Looking … Continue reading →

Posted in 12-step spirituality, Christianity, faith, peace, Recovery, Uncategorized | Tagged 12 Steps, 12-step spirituality, Christianity, grace, healing, holy ground, hope, inner darkness, Matthew 13, recovery, resentment, vulnerability | 4 Comments

Sabbath time.

Posted on June 28, 2014 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

This weekend I carved out time I didn’t think I had. To spend time with dear friends, time breathing in salt air, eating fresh food and feeling the sand beneath my feet. It is an odd quirk of mine – … Continue reading →

Posted in 12-step spirituality, Christianity, faith, Grace, peace, Recovery | Tagged 12-step spirituality, Christianity, grace, healing, holy ground, hope, mercy, sabbath, simple prayer, vulnerability | Leave a comment

The gift of the shadow of death.

Posted on April 2, 2014 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

This morning I saw my friend Abe for the first time in weeks. He looked bright-eyed and well-tended. As we spoke, I noticed a body brace peeking out from his windbreaker and asked him what had happened. “I got beaten … Continue reading →

Posted in 12-step spirituality, Baptism, Christianity, Diocese of Florida, faith, Uncategorized | Tagged 12-step spirituality, Christianity, church without walls, compassion, healing, homelessness, hope, inner darkness, mercy, recovery, street ministry, vulnerability | 1 Comment

Fully alive.

Posted on February 16, 2014 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

This sermon was offered this morning at San Jose Episcopal Church where I was blessed to preach and celebrate. (Deuteronomy 30:15-20, Psalm 119:1-8; 1 Cor 3:1-9; Matt 5:21-37) “Fully alive.” A few weeks ago I had an opportunity to meet … Continue reading →

Posted in 12-step spirituality, Christianity, congregational development, Diocese of Florida, Grace, Recovery, Uncategorized, unity | Tagged 12 Steps, 12-step spirituality, Christianity, church without walls, community, compassion, grace, holy ground, homelessness, hope, inner darkness, radical hospitality, street ministry, vulnerability | Leave a comment

Public trust.

Posted on November 3, 2013 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

This morning I woke up just after 4 a.m., with the words “public trust” clearly in mind. I asked God what this was about and immediately my cousin Fred came to mind. Fred has a deep and abiding love for … Continue reading →

Posted in 12-step spirituality, Baptism, Christianity, Diocese of Florida, Episcopal church, faith, Grace, Ministry | Tagged 12-step spirituality, All Saints Day, church planting, church without walls, healing, holy ground, hope, mercy, option for the poor, street ministry, unity, vulnerability | 2 Comments

Love and company.

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

“Love and company,” said Bear, “are the adornments that change everything.” These are the words from a beloved dog, as imagined or otherwise interpreted by poet Mary Oliver (Dog Songs, p 13). A simple statement — endearing and enduring — … Continue reading →

Posted in 12-step spirituality, Christianity, congregational development, faith, Grace, peace, Recovery, unity | Tagged 12-step spirituality, Christianity, church without walls, grace, healing, holy ground, homelessness, hope, inner darkness, radical hospitality, street ministry, welcome | Leave a comment

“Be still.”

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

This is what my new friend told me this morning, as we were wrapping things up at our Morning Prayer & Coffee Fellowship. Several weeks ago, I met this humble man by chance, in a Winn Dixie. Noticing his gentle … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, faith, Grace | Tagged 12-step spirituality, church planting, community, contemplative prayer, grace, healing, holy ground, hope, silence, simple prayer, vulnerability | 6 Comments

Better late than never.

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

For a moment today, I was upset with myself for overlooking the Feast Day of St. Clare of Assisi (yesterday, August 11). For Pete’s sake, this blog is named for Clare, about whom I became curious and to whom I found … Continue reading →

Posted in 12-step spirituality, Christianity, faith, Grace, peace, Recovery, St. Clare of Assisi | Tagged 12-step spirituality, Christianity, church without walls, community, grace, healing, holy ground, hope, radical hospitality, St. Clare of Assisi, St. Francis of Assisi, street ministry, vulnerability | 2 Comments

Camp “do-over.”

Posted on July 29, 2013 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

This past week I was blessed with a doozy of a “do-over.” I spent a week at camp, serving as chaplain for a group of 97 beautiful kids, ranging in age from middle-school through high-school. It wasn’t until the last … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Diocese of Florida, faith, Grace, Ministry, peace, Uncategorized, unity | Tagged 12-step spirituality, Christianity, community, grace, healing, holy ground, mercy, mission, vulnerability, youth ministry | 4 Comments