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Spiritual Direction

“On the days when I believe, a prayer feels as if it’s just another beautiful beat in a long-running conversation. Nothing is withheld ... I’m convinced it is all heard, because it’s a whisper into the ear of an attentive God who loves me and whom I love.” -Rachel Held Evans

Spiritual direction is a three-part relationship between you, the director and God. A spiritual director gets the privilege of accompanying you as you deepen your relationship to God. Listening to your story, it’s their role to pay special attention to the presence of God within it. From there, you’ll listen together for the invitation of the Holy Spirit at work in your world. Ultimately, a spiritual director is there to walk with you in the long, slow work of faith formation, as you grow in your relationship with God.

When you meet, you’ll spend time in silence and prayer, you’ll share your noticings and observations about God’s presence, together you’ll consider prayer practices and spiritual disciplines that may enhance your experience, and discern where the Holy Spirit is leading you in your relationship with the Divine.

In between sessions, a spiritual director holds you in prayer. They may provide other resources, books or suggestions for your continued growth.

St. Philip the Deacon is delighted to be able to offer spiritual direction as one of our spiritual growth options.

Spiritual Direction is always a good idea. Anyone looking to deepen their relationship with God is a great candidate for spiritual direction.  Seasons of transition or discernment can be rich times to benefit from spiritual direction. Job or life transitions, seasons of loss or grief, or discernment around vocation are just a few examples of times when spiritual direction can be especially helpful.

We have two spiritual directors on our staff! Amanda Berger, our Director of Spiritual Growth and Jen Galley, our Director of Adult Education. They both offer one on one spiritual direction at St. Philip the Deacon. Both completed their certification at Christos Center for Spiritual Growth in April 2024, and are currently accepting new directees. (Both can also recommend resources for other spiritual direction options throughout the metro area.)

The traditional pattern for spiritual direction is to meet once a month for an hour session. Usually, this relationship will last for several sessions (or even years!) but there is no commitment to a certain length of time. The Holy Spirit will guide you in that regard. Sessions are $60 for the one-hour session and payable by cash, check or credit card to St. Philip the Deacon.

Amanda and Jen both meet with directees  at St. Philip the Deacon in Plymouth, Minnesota or online via Zoom. Other accommodation may be possible, just ask.

To schedule a new directee consult, please contact:
Amanda at aberger@spdlc.org or 763-475-7139
Jen at jgalley@spdlc.org or 763-475-7167

Each directors starts with a free 30-minute introduction session. It’s a chance to get to know you and see if they are a good fit for you as a director (and, sometimes it’s not.) After our introduction and a few days of praying over the potential relationship, they’ll circle back and see if you want to move forward.

If yes, we’ll get our first direction session on the calendar. Schedules are very flexible, so these are scheduled on an individual basis.

If you feel like you are interested in spiritual direction, but one of us is not the best fit as a director that’s absolutely fine—we can help connect you with other directors who may be a better fit.

If after our introduction you decide that spiritual direction is not for you right now, we honor that sense of discernment, and are just grateful for the chance to connect with you.

To schedule a new directee consult, please contact:
Amanda at aberger@spdlc.org or 763-475-7139
Jen at jgalley@spdlc.org or 763-475-7167

As a spiritual director with 18 years of pastoral ministry experience, I’m dedicated to creating a welcoming, prayerful space for you to share your story and bring your whole self — questions, doubts, hopes, and all. My approach to spiritual direction is grounded in the belief that God meets us right where we are.

In addition to 1:1 spiritual direction, I offer workshops, retreats, and soul care experiences — designed to help you slow down, breathe deeply, and move toward love, peace, and authentic friendship with God. 

If you’re looking for a space to explore your life with God without pressure, I’m here to support you.

Education and Experiences:

  • BS Psychology (North Central University)
  • MA Leadership and Innovation for Ministry (Luther Seminary)
  • Certification in Spiritual Direction (Christos Center for Spiritual Formation)
  • Pastoral Ministry: Family Life Pastor (9 years), Discipleship/Spiritual Formation, Counseling, Local & Global Outreach (9 years)
  • North Central University Adjunct Faculty: College of Church Leadership (Pastoral Ministry & Spiritual Formation)

Areas of special interest and study:

  • Individuals questioning or experiencing a shift in beliefs about God, themselves, or others
  • Those who are looking for a fresh approach to prayer
  • Those in a season of discernment or change
  • Ministry leaders, with a special focus on women in ministry
  • College students/ seminarians preparing for ministry

My first experience of spiritual direction was about 20 years ago, as a compassionate and caring director sat with me in a season of deep grief and discernment. Little did I know then that God would eventually call me back to this same place of companionship to others in their spiritual journey.

I have worked in the church since 2004. First in youth ministry, then in communications and now primarily as a teacher of spiritual growth and faith formation. I have a passion for integrating the expressive arts and movement into spiritual practice, as well as teaching traditional practices of prayer. I am a writer and an artist, sharing my gifts at St. Philip the Deacon and The Yoga Abbey, an online Christian yoga community.

My formal training includes: Bachelors degree in English from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Master of Arts in Youth and Family Ministry from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. A 200-hour yoga teacher training through YogaFaith, as well as maintaining my Yoga Alliance 200-hour certification. I also have additional training in trauma sensitive, adaptive, and somatic yoga practices. In 2024, I completed my certification in spiritual direction from Christos Center for Spiritual Formation in Lino Lakes, Minnesota. I frequently pursue a variety of continuing education opportunities in order to grow in my own knowledge and deepen my relationship with God.

Areas of special interest & experience:

  • Accompanying those who work in ministry (pastors, youth workers, church leaders, etc.)
  • Working with teenagers and their parents
  • Christian prayer practices
  • Benedictine Spirituality​​
  • Yoga Philosophy & Practice and Ayurveda
— CHRISTIAN WISDOM —

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

Martin Luther King Jr.