2019 has been the Year of Very Few Blog Posts. I didn’t see that coming, but here we are.
With so few blog posts it would be easy to assume that not much has been happening. In fact, it’s been just the opposite. There has been so much going on. A lot of it has been on the surface level, but much more of it has been quiet, hidden, deep below the surface, deep enough that I didn’t always pick up on it or know what to do with it. Turns out, 2019 has also been the Year of Major Soul Work.
It appears this soul work was brought on by two things: first, I now have an actual physical location for my studio. For most of you, this is not new information. Last year my husband – a United Methodist pastor – was appointed to a new church here in Atlanta. The church came with a housing allowance instead of a parsonage, and since we had always dreamed of downsizing, we took the opportunity to move from a 3,000 sq ft house to a 1,200 sq ft apartment. We absolutely love it. But of course, there was no room for me to continue to have office space in our house. And so, for the first time ever, I began renting studio space in a local church.
Second, on July 23, 2019, Prayerworks Studio turned ten. Milestones generally beget reflection, and so it was for me. Specifically, I’ve been sitting with questions about my calling. My word for this year is mantle, so I’ve been reflecting on the original mantle God offered me in 2009, how it’s changed over the years, and what it is becoming now.
All of this had led me to a sense that my calling has changed. Is changing. Evolving. I think that’s one reason why I haven’t shared much here in the last nine months: I wasn’t really sure what to say. I wasn’t really sure where I was, or what I was being asked to do.
But now I have more clarity. And while I still don’t know exactly where things will land, I’m at least ready to start sharing publicly and inviting you into this somewhat messy, albeit gloriously creative, heart work. So here’s where I am right in this moment:
I want people to be deeply loved by God.
That’s my calling. In the words of Oprah, this is what I know for sure. The prayer beads, the books, the retreats, my healing journey: everything has led me to this truth. My job – right here, right now – is to help people recognize, revel in, and share God’s deep love for them.
If you’ve been following me for any length of time, this may not comes as a shock, or even seem like news. Indeed, I’ve been talking about God’s deep love for several years now. It’s just that I sense a need to claim that as my calling, and readjust everything around me to reflect that.
I’m relaunching my company as Kristen E. Vincent.
It’s my name, so you’d think this was an obvious decision, but it wasn’t. As a creative type (Enneagram 4) I invested a LOT of time (read: too much) trying to come up with lovely, clever, new brand names. Just using my name seemed really boring. But in the end, I realized I want people to know me, know my journey, and know that I can help them be deeply loved through my books, retreats, spiritual direction, and prayer beads.
Prayerworks Studio will continue to exist.
I still love the prayer beads and am not giving them up. As y’all know, prayer beads are a wonderful tool to help people be still with God and experience God’s deep love for them. I will continue to make and sell, teach, and write about prayer beads.
So where does this leave us?
You’re going to begin seeing some changes. I’m getting ready to launch my new website. I’m in the process of writing some new online courses, and am planning to relaunch my podcast. I’m also going to be making a few tweaks to my Etsy shop, which I’ll share later. These changes are all just ways to align the work I do around my calling.
My work will be centered around:
- Writing: I will continue to write books and blog posts.
- Teaching: I will be offering more online courses, as well as leading workshops and launching a new podcast.
- Leading retreats: this is still one of my VERY favorite ways to be with people, teach, and help people to experience God’s deep love, so I’m going to increase my retreat offerings.
- Offering spiritual Direction: I love the idea of holding space for people in a way that encourages their souls to show up, and will be adding more slots for folks to join me.
- Making prayer Beads: I’ll still be in the studio making prayer beads, focusing primarily on custom designs.
I’ll be sending out more updates as they come. For now, join me on Instagram: @kristenevincent.
And let me know your thoughts. I’m deeply grateful for your willingness to share in this messy work of the soul.
Now go, and be deeply loved by God.
Love everything you do and how you say it. Best wishes for your new plan. I am so hoping to take a course or even some spiritual direction. And as always, let’s keep making prayer beads!!
Praying for you in your new endeavors. You are always a blessing to others.
Thank you for sharing this post. My husband is a retired Methodist minister and I miss the closeness with the people as a pastor’s wife. I do feel deeply loved by God. I enjoy my prayer beads and the joy I feel with them and my special time of reflection. God bless you in your new journey. Jean S.
Brava, dear friend! Thank you for sharing so honestly how you are growing, evolving, cherishing and ever deepening in your relationship with God. Your last 9 months have not been silent – they have been a period of gestation as you prepare to give birth to this new chapter on your journey. 💛
“helping people BE loved by God” is not a power givenn us. We ARE loved by God. Our charge is to help people recognize, experience and LIVE into that reality.