As a matter of fact, we do have nuns:
Religious Life Sunday

Among the resolutions passed at last summer’s General Convention of the Episcopal Church was to designate the 3^rd Sunday of Epiphany as Religious Life Sunday, a day to celebrate and learn about the many Episcopal monastic and dispersed Christian communities. Monastics live together under a rule of life and under vows such as poverty, chastity, and obedience, but “religious life” also encompasses those who make religious vows but live in their own homes, hold down jobs, and sometimes raise families.

These communities commit themselves to a life of prayers and service. Most of them also make themselves available to everyone for spiritual counsel and development. I have benefited enormously from the ministry of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist. In the silence and routine of daily prayer at their New Hampshire retreat house I was finally able to finish my dissertation. I continue to be encouraged by their daily mini-meditation emails called “Brother, Give us a Word.”

During the time I was caring for my brain injured father in Georgia, the sisters of the Order of Saint Helena, now in South Carolina, rescued me from spiritual despair on a four-day retreat of silence, prayer, laughter, and spiritual direction. There I was introduced to their magnificent breviary of daily prayer and their exquisite, intimate translation of the Psalms that we use for Sunday worship. If I didn’t love my wife so much, I’d probably consider joining those gals.

I don’t have much experience with dispersed communities, but they are mushrooming all over the Episcopal Church even as church attendance is dropping. Clearly, they are meeting the need for spiritual community in fresh ways. I encourage you to look around at all the different communities with their various gifts and missions.

In peace,