Austin Area Spiritual Directors Community
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United Methodist/Interfaith
Contact:
lizstewart3@me.com
https://www.instagram.com/lizstewart3
Liz Mann Stewart (on Faceboo
Photo attached? (yes/no): Yes
Name: Martha Schreffler
Heading: Spiritual Director
Contact information:
schref@swbell.net
Text:
We are each on a spiritual journey that is uniquely our own. In our secular world,
talking about spiritual things and the movement of the Spirit in our lives may not
be well received or understood. Having a spiritual companion to walk that path
with us can be a wonderful blessing. I consider it a great privilege to be available
to listen and support you in this sacred work.
My spiritual direction training was with Formation in Direction (FiND), a program
developed by the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, which commissioned me as a
Spiritual Director in 2018. I am drawn to contemplative Christianity and find God
through art, music and nature. I welcome both spiritual seekers within
established church communities and the “spiritual but not religious”. Members of
the LGBTQ+ community will find a welcome with me.
Completed Shalem Institute’s Spiritual Guidance Program in 2013. Served as board chair for Interfaith Action of Central Texas (iACT) and board of Seton Cove. Currently serving on Staff-Parish Relations Committee at Saint John’s UMC. Attended Walk to Emmaus in 1997 and participated in six teams following. MBA and BA in Government from University of Texas/Austin. Co-founder of SUSTO MEZCAL.
Spiritual direction is soul-centered and encourages freely surrendering our whole being to God. It relies on God and opens us to mystery and new ways of being. In spiritual direction we reflect on why we exist and how to best spend our lives. We focus on intimacy with God, our prayer life, and our life experiences. Spiritual direction assumes God creates us whole and graced attention to Spirit will bring healing, reconciliation, awareness, and fullness. In spiritual direction we look for invitations; and consider sufferings “graced potentials.”
Spiritual direction teaches us to trust alternative ways of knowing self, others and our world. With spiritual direction we hope to attend to and receive Spirit and truth; and thus become of greater service to the world. We grow to be more present, willing, free, purpose-filled, peaceful, compassionate, humble, vulnerable, and loving.
With guidance, we are not striving for “normal”; rather, we seek transformation. We hope to connect with Spirit and the universal, eternal One. Spiritual companions are called to care for souls by listening, trusting, receiving, and discerning.