Episode 6 -
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Jane Hale grew up in the northeast corner of Connecticut - aka the “Quiet Corner.” It’s still her home base, where she lives and works.
And where she’s learned about the power of stories. Jane attended Christ Episcopal Church in Pomfret, which sponsored her for ordination to the priesthood and supported her during that long process. She was ordained in 2016. Then Jane, who has a bright smile, easy laugh, lots of energy, and a willingness to think creatively, took on not one but two jobs; one of those a brand-new, yet-to-be-fully-defined, somewhat create-as-you-go deal. The job she started first is part-time missional priest in charge for the historic Trinity Episcopal Church in Brooklyn, which dates to the late 1700s. She’s there on most Sundays to preach and preside at the Eucharist, and during the week, to offer ordained leadership as possible within the agreed-upon hours. |
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Her other job is a “tri-town missional curate.” (“Curate” is a churchy word for a person invested in the “cure of souls.”) The job title is often given to the newly ordained, whose first job had traditionally been to assist more settled priests. This is a new use for the term.
Once a month Jane leads the Sunday worship at nearby St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Danielson, and once a month she leads Sunday worship at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, also nearby, in Putnam. She also spends time walking the neighborhoods of all three towns (that’s the “tri-town” part) to listen to people and listen for God speaking through them. More recently, she’s been working with a small team from people from each of the three parishes. They’re walking around the three towns, together. *
The team spends time together in prayer and in a type of Bible study called “Dwelling in the Word,” which requires no seminary training, only openness to hearing God while reading through and considering the scripture. (Listening with your heart instead of your head, Jane explains.) When they go out, the team stops at diners and other places in the towns, engaging in conversation - primarily listening - trusting that they will hear what God wants them to hear. They pray when people ask them to. Then they come back together and talk over what they heard and saw.
It’s a stretch for people who are used to a traditional model of church to see this as a valid way of “being the church,” Jane explained. Slowly, she said, the group is being transformed by their experience.
Of her own walks through the towns, Jane said, “I’ve met so many amazing people, heard all kinds of stories, what lights people up, and gets their heart going, what brings people joy, where people are struggling, where whole communities are wrestling with certain issues. I never know who I’m going to encounter and what story I”m going to get. The beautiful thing is, the Holy Spirit always shows up and I always learn something,” she said.
Whether it’s Jane, solo, or the team, there’s no agenda; no handing out tracts asking if you’re saved, no plan to convert people to Christianity or even to come to church. No monologue. No talking points. No end result in mind. No goal. No trying to outdo someone else’s story, or to convince them about something.
Holding someone else’s sacred story is much harder than you’d think - it takes practice, Jane says.
Listen to her explain this new way of being the church, and of this sacred practice of listening, and how it’s changing people. And listen to some of the stories she shares.
Our culture is hungry to be heard, she says. Go out. Listen.
Once a month Jane leads the Sunday worship at nearby St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Danielson, and once a month she leads Sunday worship at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, also nearby, in Putnam. She also spends time walking the neighborhoods of all three towns (that’s the “tri-town” part) to listen to people and listen for God speaking through them. More recently, she’s been working with a small team from people from each of the three parishes. They’re walking around the three towns, together. *
The team spends time together in prayer and in a type of Bible study called “Dwelling in the Word,” which requires no seminary training, only openness to hearing God while reading through and considering the scripture. (Listening with your heart instead of your head, Jane explains.) When they go out, the team stops at diners and other places in the towns, engaging in conversation - primarily listening - trusting that they will hear what God wants them to hear. They pray when people ask them to. Then they come back together and talk over what they heard and saw.
It’s a stretch for people who are used to a traditional model of church to see this as a valid way of “being the church,” Jane explained. Slowly, she said, the group is being transformed by their experience.
Of her own walks through the towns, Jane said, “I’ve met so many amazing people, heard all kinds of stories, what lights people up, and gets their heart going, what brings people joy, where people are struggling, where whole communities are wrestling with certain issues. I never know who I’m going to encounter and what story I”m going to get. The beautiful thing is, the Holy Spirit always shows up and I always learn something,” she said.
Whether it’s Jane, solo, or the team, there’s no agenda; no handing out tracts asking if you’re saved, no plan to convert people to Christianity or even to come to church. No monologue. No talking points. No end result in mind. No goal. No trying to outdo someone else’s story, or to convince them about something.
Holding someone else’s sacred story is much harder than you’d think - it takes practice, Jane says.
Listen to her explain this new way of being the church, and of this sacred practice of listening, and how it’s changing people. And listen to some of the stories she shares.
Our culture is hungry to be heard, she says. Go out. Listen.
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In Christ and Coffee,
Karin & Alli
In Christ and Coffee,
Karin & Alli