Hi friends, Well, it turns out there is an old familiar accusation on the prowl.1 And so I have dug out my trusty old soapbox, wiped off the dust, and crawled on up because uggghhhhhh. “Jezebel spirit.” Your mileage may vary but for me, growing up in third-wave charismatic churches, this was the silver bullet of patriarchy, the guaranteed way to silence or sideline or shame women: just accuse her of having a Jezebel Spirit. Lord knows I’ve had that label thrown my way more than a few times.2 And here we are again. Seriously, guys? Still? After all these years? We’re still here? I’d laugh if ..read more

Before we jump into this week’s newsletter, I wanted to share a couple of things: The second instalment of my conversation with Aaron Niequist for Pastors, Priests, & Guides’ has been posted here. We explore two of the practices from my new book, Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for An Evolving Faith and there is even some bonus content on their podcast version, too. If you’re in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area, I’ll be with the good folks at Sanctuary Church on Sunday, April 21 at 10:30. All are welcome to join us, in person or online. Now let’s get to this week’s Field Notes essa ..read more

Hi friends, It has been a while since we had an AMA around here (which stands for “Ask Me Anything” in Internet-speak), so yesterday I opened one up on my Instagram Stories and my Facebook Stories for your questions to help build this week’s Field Notes. A lot of questions rolled in - more than I can answer in this newsletter, I’m afraid - but I tried to choose a good cross-section that represents a lot of questions for us today as well as a wide spectrum so buckle up.1 In the spirit of AMAs, I am making my best *attempt* at keeping each answer short and to the point, which isn’t my ..read more

Hi friends, I grew up and came of age in the western Canadian neo-charismatic movements of the 1980s and ’90s. Small happy-clappy churches of misfits who gathered in the community leisure centre for Friday night services, followed by floor hockey tournaments (families were organized into 12 teams named for the 12 tribes of Israel — it was a whole thing). We clapped and fasted; we prayed, sang and danced, and were so overwhelmed by the Spirit that we fell to the ground. We read the Bible quite literally and simply. And we expected a big “move of God” in our lives and within our communities. We ..read more

Hi friends, Greetings from Pennsylvania! I am tucked away in my hotel room for a brief respite between events with the Campolo Center for Ministry at Eastern University. This is my first time here and it’s spring already. As someone who hails from a climate where it is still staunchly winter, I’m a bit dazzled by the flowering trees and ditches stuffed with daffodils and forsythia. And it’s my birthday this very day! Forty-five to be exact. When I turned forty, my friend Jen joked that I was finally the age I’d always been - which feels both aggressive and very accurate. I guess I’ve just alwa ..read more

Hi friends, This is the occasionally regular edition of Field Notes when we share the small - and sometimes not-so-small - things that have brought us a measure of goodness lately.1 Winter walking is one of my perennial good things: sunshine, crunch of snow, quiet, movement, and that bright crisp air that’s cold but not FREEZING COLD. Perfect. Today, I’m sharing that movie I can’t shut up about, a quote that’s helping me right now, a rather bougie candle, fantastic recipes to make, a toilet paper commercial (stay with me…), a few family pictures/updates, a great pattern for a knitted toque ..read more

Hi friends, As I write to you from a home surrounded by snow and a temperature of minus-25C, it makes sense to turn towards books this week. We’re in primary “snuggle-up-and-turn-pages-and-drink-tea” season for my fellow Canadians/northern hemisphere dwellers. (I don’t know what the rest of you are doing for reading, I guess on patios? outside? in shorts? who can know? it’s a mystery I am unable to fathom from my cozy bunny hug and wind chill factors.1) Before we jump into this week’s bookish Field Notes, I wanted to share a couple of things with you. First up, some good news: Field Notes for ..read more

Hi friends, Before I jump into this week’s rather vulnerable Field Notes, I wanted to offer a very sincere thank you. Last Tuesday, we launched my new book Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith out into the world and you met her with such open arms, I’m overwhelmed. Sure did go sign a few copies at the actual factual bookstore. It won’t surprise you all to know that I’m quite glad to be on this side of ‘launch’ and, as I said in this thank-you video I posted on the evening of that day, I’m also so very glad to expunge the word ‘preorder’ from my vocabulary for a whi ..read more

Hi friends, Today is officially the big day! Field Notes for the Wilderness: Practices for an Evolving Faith - and her gorgeous little sister, The Guided Journal - is available pretty much everywhere books are sold (or borrowed). “If you forced me to pick one book in the whole world to walk someone gently through their faith evolution—one writer, one thinker, one human being out of all the marvelous leaders who’ve done this hard and holy work—it would be Sarah Bessey’s Field Notes for the Wilderness. A gorgeous, expansive offering from beginning to end; a love song to God and every searchi ..read more

Hi friends, Allow me to join the parade of folks reminding you that Lent begins on Wednesday…which is also Valentine’s Day. Go ahead and text your special someone now: “Fancy a date to the church for an imposition of ashes and the poignant reminder of our mortality?” Who could turn down such an invitation, eh? Sounds like a romance to me! *swoon* If you’re looking for a lower-key invitation for this season, a few years ago I created 40 Simple Practices for Lent. There’s even a printable there, too. I didn’t create anything new this year as most of my attention is at the book launch but this is ..read more