At Bethany House of Prayer you will find a deeply nurturing space for contemplation and renewal in a busy world. While our roots are with the Episcopal Church, we welcome all, from various faith traditions and none, who seek to deepen their spiritual life and engage in the world with integrity.

~ Bethany House is currently hiring for an Office and Hospitality Manager position ~

Join Our Team at Bethany House of Prayer!

We are seeking a part-time Office & Hospitality Manager to help maintain our welcoming and nurturing space. This role is essential in supporting our mission by managing office operations, coordinating communications, and ensuring our retreat spaces are ready for guests. If you have strong organizational skills, a spirit of hospitality, and a passion for community engagement, we’d love to hear from you!

For more details and to apply, please click HERE.

June at Bethany House

To walk into nature is to witness a thousand miracles ~ Mary Davis

What an exciting time of year this is where June is blooming! My (LaToya) brother was recently visiting, and we went for a walk in the woods. My brother had a lot going on at the time as a police officer and father of a graduating high schooler. As we were walking, he paused and just stood gazing deeply at the root of a tree. He then reminded me that when we were kids we would notice the tiniest of details about the trees and animals in the yard of our childhood home in Belize.

We used to spend hours examining the lime, soursop, and hibiscus trees. We could easily tell which leaf or twig belonged to which tree, which tiny creatures inhabited which tree- all the little unique details about them. My brother also mentioned that we seem to lose the intentional noticing of these small details as we get older. With so much on his plate with work and family, taking moments to stare at a tree was not something he did very often. But he missed doing that. He missed the feeling of being completely in awe of a leaf, a caterpillar, a rock. This talk lingered with me for a while, stirring up old memories and drawing me back to the attentive wonder we once knew so well.

Not too long after that conversation, I stumbled on this quote by Mary Davis: “To walk into nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” I believe as children, we were able to see these miracles so easily. The new growth on what appears to be a completely barren trunk; flowers emerging from rocks; an incredibly constructed bird’s nest. As kids we were able to practice presence just being in nature. It came effortlessly and yet was such a powerfully beautiful experience.

In the midst of the busyness of adulthood, the internal and external chaos, the heaviness of life at times, we sometimes forget to pay attention to the tiny miracles around us. I believe now more than ever, we need spaces for just being. Just noticing. Being in nature is just one easy pathway to begin noticing again.

Friends, I pray that you may witness these miracles at this beautiful time of year where the space is green, flowers are blooming, creatures are stirring. May these little miracles deepen your connection with yourself, God, and all that is holy within and around you.

This month as we celebrate Pride Day and Juneteenth, may we pause to see the small and large miracles of those two celebrations and the people who sacrificed so much to make those miracles possible for us today.

We have some exciting offerings this summer and early fall that will allow for the pause in nature. Here are some highlights:

• In-person Friday Morning Meditations starting in July

• Our first Wild Church service in August

• Shared Quiet Day in August

• Open House in September

• The “Practice of Spiritual Accompaniment” day retreat in September

• Three-day Silent Retreat in October 

With you in practicing presence,
LaToya Staine Carriker and Rev. Matt Carriker

SAVE THE DATE!

Bethany House of Prayer Open House -- Saturday, September 6th

This will be a great way to invite friends and family to see this beautiful space and learn about offerings for the program year.  More details to follow!

Bethany House of Prayer welcomes

the Rev. Matt Carriker and LaToya Staine Carriker as Co-Executive Directors

The Executive Board of Bethany House of Prayer enthusiastically welcomes Matt Carriker and LaToya Staine Carriker to lead Bethany House of Prayer into its next season of life and growth.

The Executive Board thanks the members of the Search Committee, the Sisters of St. Anne, the Bethany House Colleagues, Transition Director the Rev. Dr. Bill Rich, and all of you who have joined your prayers with ours as we have prepared the way for Matt and LaToya’s leadership. Stay tuned for opportunities to meet Matt and LaToya and hear from them directly. Their first day at Bethany House of Prayer will be January 28, 2025.