Spiritual Life

Spiritual Life offers us a variety of ways to deepen our spiritual connection with God.

The Spiritual Life Ministry at ELPC focuses on helping us to become aware of God’s action and presence in our lives, and to assist in this transformation through the practice of spiritual disciplines that make us more open and responsive to the Spirit’s touch.

Spiritual Life Opportunities

Join us on Wednesdays, 7 pm, to experience our Taizé prayer service. The hour-long service includes sung prayers, beautiful music, a time of silence, spoken and silent prayers, and opportunities for individual prayer and anointing. Click here to learn more. Explore other offerings from our Spiritual Life Committee below.

ELPC Prayer Room | Available During Regular Hours

The Spiritual Life Committee invites you to visit the new Prayer Room, (Room 135), a special space just for you. Come to experience the quiet in the midst of the wonderful busy-ness that is ELPC. Come to sit and pray in silence. Come to listen for the still small voice of God. In the midst of all the good that we do here at ELPC, this quiet space comes alongside to bear witness to who we are as a people of prayer. Our spiritual life, the life of prayer, informs our call and response to mission and ministry and, in turn, our ministry and mission give life and depth to our prayer. Each is incomplete without the other. So, we encourage you to try something new as you go about your ministry and mission at the church, take a moment also to seek spiritual grounding in a space devoted to prayer—just for you. Prayer Boxes are available near the entrance to the Sanctuary, with cards for prayer requests.

Contemplative Prayer | Mondays, 7:30–8 am (September–May)
Contemplation has been described as a long-loving look at the real. Contemplation is about waking up, listening, noticing, and paying attention. In the words of Adele Calhoun, “A contemplative person recognizes that every experience offers more than meets the eye. They know that ‘bidden or unbidden’ God is present.”

This takes practice.

Join the Rev. BJ Woodworth for a time to practice a variety of contemplative prayer practices, utilizing fixed prayers, scripture, music, silence, art, and our bodies to help us start our day in communion with God and one another. See schedule

Online Prayer Service | Tuesdays, 8–8:20 am

ELPC offers an online prayer group each Tuesday morning, hosted by ELPC member Steve Evrard. These 20-minute sessions feature scripture readings, responsive prayer, and interactive dialogue. All are welcome at this opportunity for fellowship and prayer.

Join us by clicking the link below, or you may call in by dialing 929.205.6099. Enter meeting ID 896 9680 6662 and passcode 116 when prompted.

Join via Zoom

Meditation Hour | Tuesdays, 6–7 pm

Meditation is the practice of “looking deeply.” In silence and withdrawal from the world of everyday concerns, we turn our attention inward and calm our bodies and minds. In this emptiness, we may see the world as if for the first time. We may see others as they are and we may find that the Kingdom of Heaven is truly within us; that we are living in God and God in us.

The Spiritual Life Committee invites you to join John Benedict in the Chapel on Tuesdays, 6–7 pm, for an hour devoted to meditation. The session will include an opening reading, silent sitting, and walking. No experience necessary, all are welcome.

John Benedict is a retired psychologist and a longtime student and practitioner of Insight Meditation.

Cathedral Yoga | Wednesdays, 6–7 pm

Cathedral yoga

Yamuna Morgenstern offers Cathedral Yoga class on Wednesdays, 6–7 pm! Join her and others in the ELPC Sanctuary or your own home via Zoom (password: Yamuna) as she guides you through gentle poses. No yoga experience is necessary to enjoy the class, which Yamuna continues to offer with joy, light, and her uplifting playlists and spirit. Have a strap, scarf, or belt handy and experience time to heal your body, mind, and spirit. See schedule

Commune with the Divine through breath, gentle stretches, mindful music, and guided meditation. See you on the mat! Om shanti and Namaste.

A donation from the heart, to the church, is very much appreciated.

Monthly Taizé Social Gathering | First Wednesdays, 8 pm
On the first Wednesday of each month, we will create space for people to connect and join in fellowship after our Taizé prayer service with some light refreshments in the Narthex. Taizé is a unique spiritual community within ELPC, and we desire to have time for those who gather to get to know one another, converse, and move from solitude into community and expand the connection that exists amidst our prayerful songs and quiet meditation.

JourneyDance | Third Fridays, 7–8:30 pm

Join Yamuna Morgenstern in the Sanctuary for JourneyDance on the third Friday of every month from 6:30–7:45 pm. See schedule

Come experience one of ELPC’s unique spiritual practices and offerings. JourneyDance takes you on a journey within through playful dance in a non-judgmental environment. The playlists are designed to open up your chakras, move your Spirit, experience positive vibes, and have fun! JourneyDance is all about responding to music the way you want to respond—no rules, no groping, no ugly lyrics. Join us and dance in healthy community to release tension, feel good, relax, restore, and renew your body, mind, and spirit.

All ages and bodies are welcome. No dance experience necessary, just a joy of moving. Young children should be accompanied by their care givers. Wear comfortable clothing, and you may want to have a water bottle handy!

A donation from the heart, to the church, is very much appreciated.

Spiritual Direction

Spiritual Direction is the term used to describe a relationship in which one person walks along the spiritual path with another: helping to listen for the movement of God in the other person’s life, and offering suggestions of practices or reading that may enhance the journey. As a part of his calling here, Rev. BJ Woodworth is available to provide Spiritual Direction for individuals in the ELPC family. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact the Rev. Woodworth or call 412.441.3800 x241.

About the Rev. BJ Woodworth

BJ has served in the PC(USA) for the last 28 years as a teacher, pastor, spiritual guide, and companion to university students and young adults. He graduated from Westminster College and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS), and received a certificate in Spiritual Transformation from the Transforming Center in Wheaton, Illinois. He is currently completing his Spiritual Direction training at the Hesychia School of Spiritual Direction, which focuses on “the ancient art of Christian spiritual direction in a multi-faith context.” He also is a coach for the PC(USA)’s 1001 New Worshiping Communities initiative. BJ loves to create space for people to cultivate and nurture their inner wisdom for fruitful life and work in the world, as well as for people on retreat to withdraw for times of rest, renewal, and reflection. His own spiritual path has been influenced by the desert mothers and fathers, Richard Rohr, creation, Henri Nouwen, yoga, the Enneagram, Celtic spirituality, Thomas Keating, the Ignatian exercises, brewing beer, solitude, silence and stillness, centering prayer, and living in the city. He has lived in East Liberty since 1994 and is married to Katrina, who is a hatha yoga teacher and yoga therapist. They have four children: Kyra, Elena, Alex, and Zach. He is an avid homebrewer, enjoys playing soccer, and loves to read.

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