By MC USA staff (Mennonite Church USA) — Mennonite Church USA (MC USA) is offering a series of webinars this month for pastors, leaders and other faith workers. Led by denominational ministers and chaplains, the webinars provide tools to address the difficult realities faced by ministry leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The webinar, Recognition of […]
Doreen Miller serves as congregational spiritual director of Gingrichs Mennonite Church in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. “I am a loved sinner,” she says. “What more could I want in this life?” Doreen is a member of the Mennonite Spiritual Directors Network. If you want to learn more about spiritual direction, prayer and other spiritual practices, see Doreen’s blog […]
Marlene Kropf is a retired professor and denominational minister who lives in Port Townsend, Washington, where she continues to offer spiritual direction and lead retreats and Celtic pilgrimages. She is a member of Portland (Oregon) Mennonite Church and serves on the steering committee of Mennonite Spiritual Directors Network. It’s not unusual for people to come […]
Sarah Hooley lives and works on her family’s century farm in Southern Idaho and attends Filer Mennonite Church. In addition to farming she manages her on-farm tiny guest house, Dot Cottage. Depending on the season she can be found in the garden, making cheese or by a sunny window with a pen in her hand. Sarah’s […]
Marlene Kropf lives in Port Townsend, Washington. She is a spiritual director, ordained minister and Professor Emerita of Spiritual Formation and Worship (Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary). She also served for more than 20 years as Mennonite Church Minister of Worship and Spirituality. With Daniel Schrock, she is co-editor of “An Open Place: The Ministry of Group […]
Todd Friesen is lead pastor of East Chestnut Street Mennonite Church in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He leads spiritual retreats, offers spiritual direction and teaches centering prayer. Todd is a member of the Mennonite Spiritual Directors Network. On my flight from Chicago to Denver, my talkative seatmates clearly thought I was out of my mind: “You’re not […]
Eric Massanari is chaplain at Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton, Kansas. Eric is a member of the Mennonite Spiritual Directors Network. Here is a story from the fourth century Desert Fathers and Mothers of Egypt and Palestine: Abba Amoun came to Abba Sisois saying: ‘When I read Scripture, I long to prepare elaborate comments, […]
Michelle Hofer is a commission artist who also enjoys writing and speaking about the intersection of art and faith. She lives in Freeman, South Dakota, with her husband Colin and children, Madeline and Claire, and serves as the artist-in-residence at Hutterthal Mennonite Church. I took part in a spiritual pilgrimage in June 2016 where participants […]
Charlene Epp lives in Lakewood, Colorado. She attends Glennon Heights Mennonite Church and serves as a chaplain, a spiritual director and a coach for families facing living transitions of disabled or elderly individuals. Charlene is a member of the Mennonite Spiritual Directors Network. Aging doesn’t ensure or guarantee becoming a sage. However, those who nurture […]
Vera Smucker Shenk of Goshen, Indiana is an on-call chaplain at Elkhart (Indiana) General Hospital. She has been a spiritual director since 2001. Her passion for holistic healing continues to call to her, seeking more ways to help others experience the joys and challenges of ongoing growth. Vera is a member of the Mennonite Spiritual […]
