Seekin' Deacon

The Rev. Liam Barr shares his practices of trying to step away from tension and how it has taken over our world. He makes us ponder how we can step away and empty our mind and soul and center. This will result in a release. He asks: How do we limit our access to social media? We lose ourselves when we fall into a space of reaction—the art of slowing down and processing the evocative things that show up through God.

We would like to extend our gratitude to the Rev. Liam Barr for this episode and wish him continued success at the New Hope Project, as well as in his service at Holy Innocents in Henderson, NC.

Growing up in a programmatic church, Rev. Liam Barr gained a different view of church in Costa Rica. The church has depth and meaning related to "who" as a human he is, and possibly trying to dissolve the limitations we have placed on God. The term Pura Vida was adopted by a famous Costa Rican character in a film, which ultimately means pure living/pure life, and was embraced by the culture. The deep relationships built in Costa Rica translate to the deep spirituality in how to live fully and "in the moment". We must ask ourselves: Are we happy and living a full life with God? How do we live in the fullness of life?

Rev. Liam also speaks to his rich service with the Latino community at Holy Innocents, a historically grounded Episcopal Church dating back to 1842, in Henderson, North Carolina.

We join the Rev. Liam Barr, Curate serving at Holy Innocents in Henderson, North Carolina. Liam shares that the world is a disorienting place as he questions who he is and how he can do the work and serve. He is five months into being an ordained Priest and is loving the job he is doing in both the Latino community and the "Project Hope" initiative through the NC Episcopal Diocese, at the campus of St. Mark's in Raleigh. He explained his journey has been one more of Peter than Paul, and not so direct in growing up in Greenville, South Carolina. He caught the church "bug" at Christ Church in Greenville from the youth group activities and the space that everyone belongs to. Christ church has always been a place that can hold him in whatever is placed before him in life.

His home church has held a strong relationship with Costa Rica. He has entrenched himself in this meaningful and fruitful work, and has a special love for the country.

Ekklesia Church in Raleigh holds a common ground and welcomes the LGBTQ community, and a love of teaching. A person who was LGBTQ shared with Curtis early on in a moment of humility that they did not want to be a burden to the church. At that moment, he decided the church was "all in" on whatever support they could and did give.

Curtis speaks to the rhythm and cadence of spiritual practices and how they change with the season. He points out to his parishioners not to feel obligated to practice them all because we are all wired different. He loves reading liturgies and fishing in nature as spiritual practices that add to his life. He points out we need to be mindful of the nuances of the Bible and be careful that "the Bible says this" so we are free of causing trauma. His Co-Pastor CJ and himself make sure to show that that text has multiple thoughts and we should not be addicted to certainty.

Curtis discusses how he and his co-pastor, CJ, approach scripture differently. Curtis looks at it from a more musical and artistic view, while CJ, who played quarterback at UNC, views it in a more didactic manner. He goes on to explain how no single person can give a single voice to the Gospel. The church features guest speakers who represent different viewpoints. This former St. Mark's campus is now part of a new initiative launched by the North Carolina Episcopal Diocese, called the New Hope Collaborative. It represents multiple non-profit organizations. Curtis points out that the history of the Ekklesia of Raleigh began in a high school and remained there for fourteen years. When the opportunity presented itself to worship at this new location, they continued to stay connected to the original community at large.

Please join Curtis Mulder, co-pastor at the Ekklesia Church of Raleigh. The church recently moved from a growing and beautiful community that used high school space to St. Mark's, a new community that shares space with non-profits and other ambassadors of love. Curtis shares his Canadian roots, his grounding in teaching, loving, and leading music programs and how they marry with scripture He was called to move to Raleigh 15 years ago to pursue his passion for ministry. Curtis brings his Canadian "flair" to preaching, which shows in this interview. He also speaks of reconciliation and being the best version of ourselves.

Journey through this final episode with the Rev. Ginny Wilder as she returns home during Hurricane Hugo and spiritually plays Amazing Grace on the front porch of her home in South Carolina. This is a time of beauty with the community and neighbors coming together to sing and laugh. Meeting singer/songwriter Fran McKendree, provided inspiration and he took her under his wing. This revealed that something was in fact "there" around music and sharing with others, even though she is naturally shy and introverted. Her voice was indeed in music and ministry. The final messages she leaves with us and the world, "no one is illegal, nobody is unloved and no one should ever feel unworthy." Thank you Ginny for making this series memorable. - Cuyler

Friend, in this episode Rev. Ginny is open about soul searching and "soul caring". She shares her practices around keeping healthy boundaries in place and how to be authentic. She left the summer before her senior year of high school to go to boarding school, this allow her to be in full rythme of who she can be but did not realize it at the time. It was a gift from her parents. She shows the importance of being in the right relationship with her beloveds and the position of the church. She has a very eloquent approach and states "God paints a with a brush of all colors" what it means to welcome all people and this being part of the DNA strands of the Episcopal Church. Away from church was a time for her in the wilderness. She found peace in the mountains and hiking: the taste and rich colors of playing the piano and the thin moments it has offered.

In this episode we spend time with the Rev. Ginny Wilder, she is the Priest serving at St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She shares her journey growing up in Summerville, South Carolina. She was raised in an Episcopal Church and a loving community. She journeys on and has a vulnerable conversation with her family that she is gay. She is confronted with this in college as well. She is an acclaimed musician and music gives a space that provides another spiritual outlet. Ginny has a gift for preaching and being present with all under an umbrella of love. The beautiful song at the end of this episode is used with Ginny's permission, titled "Slow Me Down Lord" off her album All Clear. Thank you Ginny for sharing your courageous story and we will have two more episodes with Ginny as part of this series.

We continue letting go with Fr. Mawethu. We dive deep into his spiritual practices and the anchor of the Episcopal Liturgy as part of his journey. Running is a way to feel euphoric and practice a discipline of self-care—the gift of sharing a Psalm each day with his family and reflecting on it together. St. John's has healed his wounds and offered a very creative space. It is a low church with a friendly and welcoming environment. The joy of the Lord is his strength and what we all share.