The Rev. John P. Gorsuch (“Jack”) was a retired Episcopal priest who died in February. I didn’t know him. He was ordained to the priesthood before I was even born. I learned of his death from his nephew, and I “met” him through his obituary.  In that obituary mention was made of a book he wrote: “An Invitation to the Spiritual Journey.” Curious, I ordered the book. The book is out of print, but Amazon had a few copies floating around. I got to know Jack through the pages of his book, and I think the book is a treasure; Jack too, for that matter.

Jack wrote the book with great input from his wife Beverly, who he met at Yale Divinity School in the early 1950’s. While Jack pursued a Master’s of Divinity in preparation for ordination to the priesthood, it would be another 25 years before such a vocation was open to women. So at Yale Beverly worked instead on a Master’s in Religious Education, and later earned an MSW and went on to a long and fulfilling career as a psychotherapist. The combination of their insights—spiritual and psychological—yields a book on the spiritual life that is grounded. Jack’s words “are grounded in good theology, in solid psychology, and in a realistic appraisal of the graces and confusions of modern daily life.” “The insights [Jack] expresses have been tested and refined in the crucible of his own prayer and ministry. This is not a pop catalog of psycho-spiritual gimmicks, but a coherent, integrated offering that invites us to a deeper, richer life with God and with one another.” [1]

Jack is certainly well credentialed to write such a book. He served as a parish priest for nearly thirty years before leaving parish ministry to found the Center for Spiritual Development in Seattle. Along the way he trained as a spiritual director at the Shalem Institute in Washington, D.C., spent time learning meditation at the Ananda Community in California, and went on retreat at a Benedictine monastery in New Mexico. Jack’s motivation in starting the Center for Spiritual Development was to provide a place and classes to help people “explore, deepen and affirm the place of God in their lives without underestimating the challenges along the way.” [2]

Jack knew those challenges very well. As a busy rector, he found that he had gotten too busy for God. He knew that relationships only flourish when they are tended, but he didn’t make sufficient time to tend his relationship with God, and he felt guilty about it. He also knew of the hunger for God that is planted in all human beings, and how we dash about searching for something to sate us, when in truth nothing can sate us but God. As an intuitive person, Beverly moved easily between the worlds of psychoanalysis and spirituality. She helped Jack move beyond his sense that we are loved because of what we do in the world, and arrive at a place in life where he could attend instead to how he was showing up in the world.

A devotee of Merton, Keating, and St Theresa, among others, Jack was in the camp we call “Christian mystics.” It is a camp in which many of us at St John’s find spiritual satisfaction, and so I think Jack’s work and St John’s natural curiosity and inclination toward contemplative practice could be a beautiful fit. Jack wrote the book to bring about “inner renewal” in his readers, and to “coax us closer to the splendor and love of God which is our true homeland.” [3]

I’ve long wanted to focus our fall adult spiritual education program on the spiritual journey. We’ve spent a good deal of time learning about the living God in Christ. I’ve been wanting to find a resource that equips us to get to know and develop a relationship with that living Holy One. I believe Jack’s book is that resource and I am very excited to offer our 2017 fall program—called “Embarking on the Spiritual Journey”—based on it. There was one hiccup, which Jack’s family graciously helped overcome: the book is out of print, and there are not nearly enough copies for our parish. Jack’s daughter Meg kindly has given St John’s permission to use whatever portions we like, however we see fit. For that generosity I am exceedingly thankful.

So, beginning today, The Rector’s Pen for the next seven weeks (through September 19^th) will offer portions of Jack’s book. Each portion will be followed by questions for you to ponder. On Sunday September 17^th, in the first of seven discussion sessions, we’ll gather after church in small groups to share our thoughts in response to the questions.

If you want to participate in “Embarking on the Spiritual Journey”, here’s how you can:    Beginning today and continuing each week through the September 19^th edition, read and print The Rector’s Pen. Engage the questions and jot down your thoughts. Bring your copy with you to church for the small group discussion sessions, which begin September 17^th and conclude November 5^th. At any time, you can access the whole eight-week series (this introduction plus the seven sessions of readings and questions) on our website. It is important that you read and ponder the material in advance of the discussion session since we won’t spend time reading it when we gather.

Here’s a calendar:

The Rector’s Pen August 8th              Covers Session 1 Reading:     Searching for God

In preparation for the Session 1 Discussion on Sunday September 17th in the Parish Hall

The Rector’s Pen August 15th            Covers Session 2 Reading:     What draws us to God? What holds us back?

In preparation for the Session 2 Discussion on Sunday September 24^th in the Parish Hall

The Rector’s Pen August 22nd           Covers Session 3 Reading:     Authenticity with God

In preparation for the Session 3 Discussion on Sunday October 1^st in the Church

The Rector’s Pen August 29th            Covers Session 4 Reading:     Listening for God

In preparation for the Session 4 Discussion on Sunday October 15^th in the Parish Hall

The Rector’s Pen September 5^th          Covers Session 5 Reading:      What does spiritual growth look like?

In preparation for the Session 5 Discussion on Sunday October 22^nd in the Parish Hall

The Rector’s Pen September 12th      Covers Session 6 Reading:     Attuning to God

In preparation for the Session 6 Discussion on Sunday October 29^th in the Parish Hall

The Rector’s Pen September 19th      Covers Session 7 Reading:     Serving God from a place of deep prayer

In preparation for the Session 7 Discussion on Sunday November 5^th in the Church

Each week’s reading will be only a page or two. The questions which follow will merit some thoughtful reflection. Please plan to come to each of the seven sessions prepared to discuss the material just read and to respond to the questions. This series is less about clergy teaching you something, and more about all of us together teaching something to each other.

Each session will begin about 15 minutes after the 9:30am worship service has ended—enough time to grab some coffee. If you cannot make a particular session, don’t worry. Reflect on the material by yourself or in the company of those around you. Join us for as many sessions as you can make. Just know that each session will build on the ones previous to it, so it is important to read all the material.

What happens when we reach the end? That will be up to you. The best, most adventurous journeys are those in which what’s around the bend is hidden and only comes into view after some vigorous walking.

[1] From the preface, ix

[2] p.3

[3] pp. 4-7