Dwell intentionally with God each day to Grow in the Spirit.
Welcome to Christ Episcopal Church-Ironton’s page for spiritual transformation and growth in Christ. We encourage everyone to embrace a life-long commitment to Jesus Christ through the spiritual practices of prayer, worship, study, fellowship, and service to the community. We believe spiritual growth is not an option.
Like most other important things, spiritual growth takes time. It doesn’t happen while we sleep, nor does it occur while we’re engaged in other pursuits. To grow spiritually, there are some definite activities that require our time such as Bible study, prayer or meditation. If we don’t set aside the time that these things require, spiritual growth is not going to happen. Growth is essential.
Growth is intentional. Unlike physical growth, which occurs with little or no conscious thought on our part, spiritual growth is always the result of deliberate decision.
Growth is costly. We grow spiritually by sacrificing other time-consuming things.
We’ve provided some sources our parishioners use on a daily basis to connect more deeply with God, and to learn about the life, work and commission of the risen Christ. We invite you to sample some of these resources, and encourage you to seek out your own.
Prayer
Jesus teaches us to come before God with humble hearts, boldly offering our thanksgivings and concerns to God or simply listening for God’s voice in our lives and in the world. Whether in thought, word or deed, individually or corporately, when we pray we invite and dwell in God’s loving presence. The practice of making time and space to speak with God, to listen to God, or to simply be with God, clears a pathway for God to enter our lives.
Do you have a prayer request?
Submit a prayer to the Episcopal Church’s virtual prayer wall
Meditation
The practice, usually in silence, of fixing attention on a specific word, phrase, image, sound, or text. Some meditative practices produce an emptying of thoughts and emotions. Meditation may lead to an experience of union between the one who meditates and the object of meditation. Meditation practices are known in most of the major religious traditions of the world. Meditation is a mainstay in the prayer life of many Episcopalians. The BCP allows times for silent meditation on the scriptural readings of the eucharist and the Daily Offices, and during the prayers of the people. See Centering Prayer.
Daily Devotionals
These are just a few of many daily devotional sites. If you find a site you particularly like, you can sign up for daily emails.
Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditations
Forward Movement’s Day by Day Meditations
Frederick Buechner’s Quote of the Day
The Geranium Farm Meditations Archive
Heartland Spirituality’s Daily Seed
Henri Nouwen’s Daily Meditations
Other Sources
These sites will link you to the daily offices, the Sunday Eucharistic readings, lectionary-based sermons, reflections, music and information about the saints of the church. Phil Ressler’s site will help you read the Bible over the course of a year. The St. Mary’s and Transfiguration sites will help you find retreats, speakers and workshops both live and virtual.
The Daily Offices via Mission Saint Clare