Spiritual Practices

Nov 1, 2025

Spiritual Practices

How do we hear the voice of God?
How do we grow spiritually?
How do we increase our intimacy with God?
What does true Worship look like?

Topics

1) Introduction to Christian Spiritual Practices

2) The Act of the Presence of God: Looking at God Looking at Me

7) Prayer as a Conversation between God and Others

8) Service

9) Physical Fitness

10) Spiritual Direction

11) Paying Attention

More Spiritual Practices

1) Introduction to Christian Spiritual Practices

Dr. “Joey” Alan Le presents an overview of Christian Spiritual Practices to help ground and orient the seminar. What is spirituality? What is the difference between generic spirituality and Christian spirituality? And why is spirituality a "practice"?

Joey served as a Small Groups Pastor and Executive Pastor at Livingwater Church in Berkeley and Alameda (2006-2012). He was the Associate Academic Dean at the School of Urban Missions Bible College and Theological Seminary. He earned a Master of Divinity at Fuller Theological Seminary (2006-2011) and a PhD in Theological Studies at Regent University (2014-2021). He has been integrating his passion for Christian theology at First Covenant Church of Oakland since 2021.

2) The Act of the Presence of God: Looking at God Looking at Me

Rachele Latham conducts a spiritual exercise called "Looking at God Looking at Me." It is a simple, yet powerful, practice that activates the imagination.

Rachele has been attending FCC since she was a child and became a member as a college student. She has co-led the Women's Ministry team, helped start the Moms' group, and served on various boards. She is currently on the prayer team and discerning where God is calling her next.

3) Art Journaling

Amy Bositis guides us through art journaling, a spiritual practice that touches the heart through art. Switching from your dominant to your non-dominant hand is, in itself, a challenge that fosters trust and acceptance. Trust that the Spirit is working through your inadequacy and weakness. The first exercise is to draw an image of you and God together. The second exercise is to draw images of things you feel invited to hold onto in gratitude, and then draw images of things you feel invited to let go of.

Amy was first introduced to spiritual direction at her church in Boston where, in order to become a member, she was asked to meet with two trained guides to reflect on God's presence in her life. This experience was life transforming and began a new stage of spiritual practices, including becoming a spiritual guide. Since moving to the Bay Area, Amy is pursuing a certificate in spiritual direction from the Institute of Catholic Spirituality and Spiritual Direction.

4) Solitude

Maisha Tate highlights the importance of solitude as a spiritual practice, offering us the opportunity to be fully ourselves in the presence of our Creator.

Slide Deck: Solitude

Maisha has been a member of FCC for about thirteen years. Currently serves on the Board of Christian Education, and Hospitality. I believe my Spiritual Gift is "Helping". I enjoy singing, reading, visiting with loved ones, and connecting in small groups and one-on-one. Also, I served on the Leadership Team for the Third Service and served on the Nominating and Staff Search committees.

5) Lectio Vitae

Gary Cheng walks us through a holistic "Reading of Life" (Lectio Vitae), examining our mind, heart, body, and soul.

Self-Guided Document: Lectio Vitae

Leader's Guide Document: Lectio Vitae

My wife Monica and I have been coming to FCC since 2022 along with Nathan (High School) and Gabriel (Middle School). Currently serving in kids, prayer, and marriage ministries as well as co-leading a connection group in Berkeley. I’ve served in other roles prior to FCC including missions, prison ministry, and prayer training as a pastor with the Vineyard association of churches.

6) Visio Divina

Pastor Nancy Lewis guides us through the spiritual practice called Visio Divina ("Divine Seeing") using Rembrandt's Return of the Prodigal Son painting. Small groups of 4-5 individuals gather to assume the postures of the different characters in the painting. As the sacred Scripture text, of The Parable of the Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32) is read aloud, this particular exercise allows practitioners to experience Jesus' parable in a different embodiment.

Nancy came to FCC in 1997 to serve as the Pastor to Children and Families. She also served as Pastor of Congregational Care and Transitional Lead. She received my training in Spiritual Direction at North Park Theological Seminary and has served as a Spiritual Director for 15 years. Pastor Nancy currently has the privilege of seeing people for Spiritual Direction and mentoring pastors in the ECC.

7) Prayer as a Conversation between God and Others

Pastor David Bergesen encourages us that prayer does not have to be long and formal. It can be conversational. Conversing with God is about attunement, connection, and transformation.

Born in Oakland, CA, I was very premature, barely 5 lbs. I did not thrive; my parents were told I might not survive. During a Wednesday night FCC prayer meeting, the congregation prayed for me. I believe God works through congregational prayer. In 1974, I wisely married Nancy Olsen.After attending CSUH and a charismatic start-up seminary in Anaheim, I studied at North Seminary and served at Orange Covenant Church in Southern California and Countryside Covenant Church in Clearwater (humidity), Florida. I was ordained in 1983. In 1986, we moved back to sunny California. I earned an MS in Family Counseling from Cal State East Bay. I worked for Contra Costa County in child welfare, as well as at the Hope Center in counseling, and later for Contra Costa County's Children’s Mental Health. After 20 years, in 2007, I joined Community Options for Families & Youth Payroll, working with Susan Waters. I retired from there in 2020.

8) Service

Chris Loorz shares the incredible way the act of service can be a spiritual practice. She created and shared Bible crossword puzzles with female inmates at a Federal Correctional Institution. That act of service opened not only Chris' heart, but also the ladies she served, enabling them to serve others, in turn. Serving others can truly transform us.

Teaching Director for CBS Oakland – (2001-2010) 09 yearsCBS In Prison ministry -14 years (2007-2020), first 5 as a sub – 2010 -2020 shared seat (prison ministry is 52 weeks a year), so alternatedChildren and youth (pre-school - high school) core leader CBS Concord since 2010 -2024FCC a few Bereans Sunday teach offerings / One Saturday Women’s seminar

9) Physical Fitness

Ayumi Hardy reminds us that physical fitness is also a spiritual practice. When we move well, we may live well; when we live well, we can love well; and when we love well, we can worship well. Taking care of our bodies enables us to serve God and others better.

Slide Deck: Move Well to Worship Well

Ayumi’s been at FCC since 2019, is in her 6th year serving as a deacon, particularly with the benevolent fund and holiday gifts, has been a nurse for 10 years, currently at an urgent care clinic in San Francisco, and genuinely likes all kinds of people. She loves learning new things, especially new cultures and biological sciences. She really enjoys the enneagram (Social 4w5!), hiking, everyone’s pets (but especially her 3 cats), watching her son Ezra play basketball, and her son Asher be a real rockstar, and laughing till she cries with her sexy-nerd husband of 22 years, Charles.

10) Spiritual Direction

Charmaine Shen offers a richly descriptive introduction to "spiritual direction." It is a spiritual practice in which a spiritual director 'directs' one's attention to the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit in one's life.

Slide Deck: Spiritual Direction

Charmaine has been part of Oakland FCC, along with husband David and daughter Isabel, since 2013. She is an internal medicine physician and serves in Stephen Ministry, which offers 1:1 confidential emotional and spiritual care. She has also served as a Stephen Leader providing training, oversight and coordination of care referrals. She is currently in year 2 of 3 of a spiritual direction training program.

11) Paying Attention

Kim Foster wraps up our seminar with the spiritual practice of "Paying Attention." Debriefing and reexamining our minds and hearts after a significant event is key to solidifying what the Spirit of God has stirred in us.

Kim, Jason, Stephanie (High School), and Patrick (Middle School) have been attending FCC since January 2021. Kim has been serving on the Prayer Ministry and Boards of FCC. She is a licensed minister with the Evangelical Covenant Church.

More Spiritual Practices

More spiritual practices could include, but is not limited to, the following, which were not covered in today's seminar:

Scripture reading
Sabbath
Silence
Prayer
Confession
Fasting
Meditation
Communion
Baptism
Gifts of the Spirit
Fruits of the Spirit
Lectio Divina
Fellowship
Evangelism
Work
Hospitality
Therapy

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