25 Night Prayer Ep 3: Night Prayer for Our Souls and Mental Health (w Fr Michael Sparough, SJ)

After a podcast hiatus, Aaron shares a life update and invites us into a collaboration with Pastors, Priests and Guides called "Practices to Prevent a Civil War". In this divided, tumultuous season--especially approaching the November election--we are learning practices to form us into people who are less likely to participate in Civil War, and more likely to join God's work of Shalom. All the show notes, future episodes, and next steps are at The Between Retreats Substack. Join us!

Can a melancholy Enneagram 4 practice Delight, or is it only for naturally happy people? Beginning with a Richard Rohr quote, Aaron reflects on the universal invitation of Delight for every one of us, and shares three ways he is learning to be present to The Presence in the present.

Rev Christine Lee on the relentless joy of karaoke, shining the light without ignoring the darkness, and the gift of practicing delight with others.

Shauna Niequist offers her definition of the Spiritual Practice of Delight, and then invites us to practice it in tangible and helpful ways. She embodies what she preaches, and offers a winsome road map to join the goodness.  

Author, host of the “Sinner Saint Sister” podcast, and yoga instructor Allison Sullivan joins Aaron to talk about ways we can all begin healing from the last couple years.  

Fr Michael Sparough, SJ, returns to share a lifetime of experience with Night Prayer, the science behind evening meditation, and what he does when prayer gets boring. Winsome and deeply wise. 

Rev Christine Lee, the priest in charge at St Peter’s Episcopal Church, joins Aaron to reflect on her experience with the prayer of Compline. From her earliest experiences as a new priest to the overwhelming days of Compline to a community practice of Compline last fall, Christine helps us get to the heart of it. She also answers the question “Why should we pray other people’s prayers, rather than just make up our own?” A wise and grace-filled guide.

Aaron invites us into the story of A New Liturgy No 10: Night Prayer -- a contemplative, music-carried Compline service. (Released 09.28.22) In this episode, Aaron tells the story of the project, shares his heart for Compline, and plays a few sections of the new recording. Learn how to create holy space at the end of each day to release it all back into God's hands.  

Shauna Niequist teaches us a form of prayer based on the words of Jesus and a master chef's approach to recipes. Fresh, insightful, and incredibly practical for anyone who desires to pray in a more whole-hearted way. Shauna also shares the heart behind her brand new book, I Guess I Haven’t Learned that Yet, which is available this week. 

Actor and Producer Mark Wahlberg joins Aaron to talk about his new film, Father Stu, and the tension between the way of Jesus and the messy brokenness of the church. Plus, they talk about golf. A lot.