Tag Archives: inner darkness

A gentle giant.

Posted on August 12, 2022 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory, Dear One. This dear saint –The Rt. Rev. Charles Lovett Keyser — served as the fourth Bishop Suffragan for the Armed Forces and, upon retirement, served generously in the Episcopal Diocese of Florida. … Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Christianity, community, compassion, Diocese of Florida, Episcopal church, faith, Grace, holy, Interfaith, love, reconciliation | Tagged 12-step spirituality, community, healing, holy ground, hope, inner darkness, mercy | 1 Comment

Rough edges and grace.

Posted on October 23, 2016 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

Today was a glorious day at Church Without Walls. The sun shone brightly, warming us up just enough after a chilly night. We had blankets and other items to share thanks to the generosity of our national church. Dear friends … Continue reading →

Posted in 12-step spirituality, community, Diocese of Florida, Episcopal church, love, reconciliation, Recovery, Uncategorized, unity | Tagged church without walls, compassion, grace, grief, healing, homelessness, inner darkness, mercy, radical hospitality, street ministry, vulnerability | 2 Comments

Marked by love.

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

Today many of us will participate in Ash Wednesday services, offering ourselves – our brokenness and failure and our highest hopes — to the One who created us all. Today we enter the penitential and reflective season of Lent. Church … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Diocese of Florida, faith, Uncategorized | Tagged #ashestogo, 12-step spirituality, Ash Wednesday, church without walls, community, compassion, grace, holy ground, homelessness, hope, inner darkness, mercy, simple prayer, street ministry, unity, vulnerability | 2 Comments

From expectation to wonder.

Posted on December 19, 2015 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

This year I have approached the holidays by deciding to take pleasure in small things. By moving from a place of expectation to a place of wonder. We talk a lot at Church Without Walls about how, while there is … Continue reading →

Posted in 12-step spirituality, Christianity, faith, Grace, peace, Recovery | Tagged 12-step spirituality, Advent, church planting, church without walls, community, grace, gratitude, grief, healing, holy ground, homelessness, hope, inner darkness, street ministry, vulnerability | Leave a comment

“Who are we?”

Posted on November 22, 2015 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

This sermon was preached this morning at Church of Our Saviour, Jacksonville, FL Christ the King Sunday 2 Samuel 23:1-7; Psalm 93; Rev 1:4b-8; John 18:33-37 Today we are invited to be boisterous and jubilant as we celebrate Christ the … Continue reading →

Posted in 12-step spirituality, Baptism, Christianity, congregational development, Diocese of Florida, Episcopal church, faith, Grace | Tagged 12-step spirituality, baptism, Christ the King, church without walls, community, compassion, Ecclesia, grace, healing, holy ground, homelessness, hope, hospitality, inner darkness, spiritual growth, street ministry, vulnerability | Leave a comment

Made holy.

Posted on November 7, 2015 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

At Church Without Walls, we often end the service with a blessing attributed to St. Clare. It includes the words: “Your Creator loves you, made you holy…” What does it mean to be loved, to be made holy? And how … Continue reading →

Posted in 12-step spirituality, Diocese of Florida, Episcopal church, faith, Grace, holy | Tagged 12-step spirituality, Christianity, church planting, community, compassion, grace, holy ground, hope, hospitality, inner darkness, mercy, option for the poor, renewal, simple prayer, St. Clare of Assisi, St. Francis of Assisi, street ministry, vulnerability | 3 Comments

A Third Way.

Posted on October 20, 2015 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

My tendency is often to sort things out, deciding what fits where, as I attempt to order my own life and seek to make sense of the world around me. I know I am not alone in this endeavor. I … Continue reading →

Posted in 12-step spirituality, Christianity, Diocese of Florida, Episcopal church, faith, peace, Recovery, Uncategorized | Tagged Christianity, church without walls, community, compassion, grace, healing, holy ground, hope, hospitality, inner darkness, mercy, radical hospitality, recovery, unity, vulnerability | Leave a comment

Resting in grace.

Posted on September 10, 2015 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

I am blessed to be staying in Kula, a tiny town nestled 3500 feet up, on the island of Maui. For me, this time away represents a much-needed and long overdue respite — a time to reflect on what has … Continue reading →

Posted in Grace, Recovery | Tagged 12-step spirituality, compassion, grace, gratitude, healing, holy ground, hope, inner darkness, Maui, mercy, simple prayer | 2 Comments

Close moments.

Posted on August 2, 2015 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

It has become a spiritual practice for me to reflect upon my life experience and to identify “close moments with Christ” – those times when I sense the presence of the Holy Spirit in the midst of day-to-day living. Today … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Diocese of Florida, Episcopal church, faith, Grace, peace | Tagged church without walls, community, compassion, grace, gratitude, holy ground, homelessness, hope, inner darkness, mercy, option for the poor, street ministry, unity, vulnerability | 2 Comments

Open and undefended.

Posted on June 30, 2015 by Mother Beth Tjoflat

This is a personal reflection on my experience as a first-time deputy to the 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, which is presently convening in Salt Lake City. We cannot receive new life — we cannot experience transformation — … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Diocese of Florida, Episcopal church, faith, Grace, Recovery | Tagged #GC78, 12-step spirituality, 78th General Convention, community, compassion, grace, healing, holy ground, inner darkness, mercy, radical hospitality, reconciliation, recovery, renewal, The Episcopal Church | 2 Comments