Simply Christian LIFE with Bishop Michael Hunn

Michael Buerkel Hunn

The Simply Christian LIFE podcast is for the spiritually curious - everyone seeking God or a deeper relationship with God. It’s about living simply, loving God, and loving our neighbors. It’s about deepening the roots and broadening the reach of our faith. It’s about spiritual practices like parenting, prayer, nonviolent communication, embracing diversity and permaculture gardening. Simply Christian LIFE is hosted by Michael Buerkel Hunn, who is the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande, which includes New Mexico and the far west part of Texas.

  1. FEB 14

    A Holy Lent : A Season of Prayer, Repentance, and Renewal

    A Holy Lent: Discipleship, Confession, and Prayer Book Practices A message to the Diocese of the Rio Grande introducing Lent as a season of wilderness that prepares Christians for Holy Week and Easter by recalling Jesus’ temptation in the desert. Drawing from the Ash Wednesday liturgy in the Book of Common Prayer, it explains Lent’s purposes: training disciples (including preparing converts for baptism), and restoring those estranged by sin through penitence, forgiveness, and reconciliation. The speaker invites viewers to observe a holy Lent through self-examination and repentance, prayer, fasting and self-denial, and reading and meditating on Scripture. Practical suggestions include joining the diocesan discernment program run by the Commission on Ministry for vocational discernment (lay or ordained), and reading resources such as Living the Sabbath (Norman Wirzba), Reconciliation: Preparing for Confession in the Episcopal Church (Martin Smith) with guidance on both general and private confession, Mary Earle’s introduction to the desert mothers, The Calling of the Laity (an anthology compiled by Verna Dozier) on lay vocation, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s The Cost of Discipleship and Life Together. The script also discusses the 1904 fictional short story The Archbishop’s Test, which imagines the Church of England canceling programs to focus on fully living the prayer book through the Daily Office, weekly Eucharist, Evensong, and catechism teaching, arguing that deeper prayer renews the Holy Spirit’s energy for ministry. Viewers are encouraged to begin Morning and Evening Prayer (or Compline) using the Book of Common Prayer, online resources like Forward Movement, or an app, and to use Lent to deepen faith, confess sins, seek reconciliation, and cultivate silence and solitude. 00:00 Welcome + What Lent Is Really About (Wilderness & Preparation) 00:56 Ash Wednesday in the Book of Common Prayer: The Church’s Invitation to a Holy Lent 02:15 Why We Keep Lent: Discipleship Training, Penance, and Reconciliation 03:53 Practical Lenten Plan: Self-Examination, Prayer, Fasting & Scripture 04:23 Go Deeper in Vocation: Diocese of the Rio Grande Discernment Program 05:20 Lenten Reading Picks: Sabbath Rest, Confession, Desert Wisdom & Lay Ministry 09:33 Bonhoeffer for Lent: The Cost of Discipleship & Life Together 12:00 A Prayer Book Reset: ‘The Archbishop’s Test’ and Returning to the Daily Office 15:47 Final Invitation: Deepen Faith, Confess, Reconcile, and Enter the Wilderness

    16 min
  2. 10/03/2025

    Sacred Journeys: The Inspirational Story of The Rev’d Dr. Hilary Borbón Smith

    Diocese of the Rio Grande Weekly Update: Special Announcements & Rev. Dr. Hilary Smith's Inspiring Journey In this week's update for the last week of September 2025, the Bishop of the Diocese of the Rio Grande reminds clergy about the upcoming clergy conference and announces the ordination of Gary to the Sacred Order of Deacons. Preparations for the Diocesan Convention in November are also discussed, including a presentation by the Borderlands ministry team. The Bishop encourages laity to run for diocesan positions and emphasizes the collaborative leadership between clergy and laity. The video features an in-depth interview with Rev. Dr. Hilary Smith, the new vicar of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Gallup, New Mexico. Dr. Smith shares her spiritual journey, experiences as a parish priest, spiritual director, historian, and her initial reluctance towards Christianity. She discusses her epiphany in England, which led to her baptism and service in the Diocese of Virginia before joining the Diocese of the Rio Grande. 00:00 Weekly Update Introduction 00:17 Upcoming Clergy Conference 00:55 Diocesan Convention Preview 01:40 Call for Diocesan Office Candidates 02:29 Interview with Reverend Dr. Hilary Smith 03:19 Hilary's Journey to the Diocese 05:33 Spiritual Direction and Historical Background 07:57 A Mystical Experience in England 17:17 A Life-Changing Experience 17:43 The Journey of Faith Begins 18:29 Finding Community in Church 20:11 The Power of Religious Practices 25:18 The Importance of Church Attendance 28:32 Exploring Different Ways to Pray 29:41 A New Ministry Chapter

    30 min
4.9
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

The Simply Christian LIFE podcast is for the spiritually curious - everyone seeking God or a deeper relationship with God. It’s about living simply, loving God, and loving our neighbors. It’s about deepening the roots and broadening the reach of our faith. It’s about spiritual practices like parenting, prayer, nonviolent communication, embracing diversity and permaculture gardening. Simply Christian LIFE is hosted by Michael Buerkel Hunn, who is the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande, which includes New Mexico and the far west part of Texas.