Seekin' Deacon

In this episode of Seekin' Deacon , Deacon Cuyler O'Connor welcomes Septina Florimonte for a heartfelt conversation about faith, prayer, and spiritual growth. Septina shares how practices such as meditation, journaling, chanting, gratitude, and intentional prayer have shaped her relationship with God and guided her life's journey. Together, they explore the power of silence, authentic reflection,...

In this inspiring episode of The Seekin' Deacon , Septina Florimonte shares her spiritual journey, reflecting on faith, service, and the transformative power of walking alongside others with compassion and dignity. Through stories from her ministry, nursing career, and leadership in the Daughters of the King, Septina offers a thoughtful perspective on how serving others can deepen our own relation...

In this episode of Seekin' Deacon , Cuyler O'Connor sits down with Septina Florimonte to discuss her journey of faith, service, and leadership. From her work as a nurse and community advocate to her experiences with the United Nations and the Episcopal Church, Septina shares how caring for others and navigating family challenges deepened her faith and shaped her calling to serve. A thoughtful conv...

In Season 3, Episode 6 of Seekin' Deacon , Cuyler O'Connor sits down with Bishop Michael Curry for a thoughtful conversation on love as a conscious and disciplined way of life. Together, they explore how intentional love shapes discipleship, the challenges of navigating moral responsibility within society, and the importance of justice, compassion, and humility in a complex world. Bishop Curry ref...

In this episode of Seekin' Deacon , Cuyler O'Connor sits down with Bishop Michael Curry to reflect on the experiences that shaped his calling and commitment to love and justice. From transformative college influences to discerning his vocation, Bishop Curry shares wisdom on living out faith in a way that helps move the world closer to God's dream. A thoughtful conversation about calling, courage,...

In this episode of Seekin' Deacon , Rev. Cuyler O'Connor sits down with Bishop Michael Curry for a reflective conversation on faith, vocation, and the spiritual journey. Bishop Curry shares stories from his upbringing in a deeply rooted yet open-minded Christian family, shaped by the Civil Rights Movement and a commitment to justice. He reflects on how those early experiences—alongside influential...

Bishop Dion Johnson discusses how churches must change to survive by focusing on hospitality, listening to their communities, and adapting worship and spaces to meet real needs—especially of younger generations and families. He shares practical examples of asking honest questions, welcoming feedback, and reimagining church life to be more accessible and relational. Johnson emphasizes empowering la...

In Season 3, Episode 2 of Seekin' Deacon , Rev. Cuyler O'Connor continues his conversation with Bishop Deon Johnson of the Diocese of Missouri. Bishop Johnson reflects on the power of mystery in faith, the formative influence of his grandmother, and the importance of embracing God's messiness rather than sanitizing it. Addressing today's social and spiritual challenges, he speaks about planting se...

In the season three premiere of Seekin' Deacon , vocational deacon Rev. Cuyler O'Connor is joined by Bishop Deon Johnson of the Diocese of Missouri for a wide-ranging conversation about faith, vocation, and spiritual depth in times of crisis. Bishop Johnson shares his journey from Barbados to New York, seminary formation during 9/11, parish ministry in Michigan, and his consecration as bishop on t...

We spend more time exploring the song sung by Tori Ellington and collaborated with Pastor Curtis Mulder at the Ekklesia Church at Raleigh.  Digging deeper into the song's lyrics, influences from both spiritual and human forces. The rough edges of taking a hard look at our world but knowing that the church is a family that can grow in many ways, not just by attendance. I want to thank Curtis and To...

I recently had the opportunity to listen to "Another Leaf" by Curtis Mulder and Tori Ellington, live at the "Loaves and Fishes" building at the New Hope Collaborative. The inspirations were drawn from the space we sat in and how it is shared with other non-profits—the idea of an expanding table and pulling out "another leaf" to make more room. Also, a piece of artwork that sits in the main campus...

Rev. Deacon Pam and I discuss different perspectives on respect and love, and how the traditions, virtues, and values hold true even when different generations question them. She shows that God and Jesus gave us the best, even when we wanted to resist and take negative steps towards it. Deacon Pam shares the realization that all need to face consequences and "own" those in order to grow spirituall...

What does Rev. Deacon Pam Haynes spiritual practices look like? It has evolved, and she has a rule of life. She started with the Daily Office from the Book of Common Prayer and now continues to have daily conversations with God. Her prayer life has expanded into a list around people as well as projects tied to the chuch. Her favorite time is late at night, looking at the moon. Walking in the door...

A gift to start this Deacon series with the Rev. Pam Haynes serving at St. Andrews in Greensboro, NC. Pam grew up in Washington, D.C., and had a community of family and friends who looked after one another. As an only child and quiet, her parents instilled in her the value of education, and she was not always the outspoken individual she is today, but a more introverted soul. She shares a rich sto...

Working with Bishop Shaw and Bishop Allen Gates, it showed him how to give them options and holy choices and invite them to decide navigating. Theological decisions that may not always come to light in the present but come to fruition, such as the Gospel stories from Easter. We don't always know the impact we are having until we are long gone. The story of one person who inspired Billy Graham's re...

Exploring the "self" and silence, going back to God's biblical stories, and the call of Samuel and how he learns to listen  He drives a lot around the diocese, and the time to turn off the radio and step away from phone calls to take in the scenery of North Carolina and the solitude of God. The impact of COVID was very disruptive. Amid this reality, God did provide some forms of redemptive energy...

I am honored and priveledged to have spent some time with North Carolina Diocese Bishop Sam Rodman. We discuss his memory of being baptized as a child at four years old with his two sisters, being the middle child. This serves not only as vivid memory of the church but the community that was present in Blanford. He shares a recent baptism story and how the child began to cry, but then grabbed the...

The Rev. Liam Barr shares his practices of trying to step away from tension and how it has taken over our world. He makes us ponder how we can step away and empty our mind and soul and center. This will result in a release. He asks: How do we limit our access to social media? We lose ourselves when we fall into a space of reaction—the art of slowing down and processing the evocative things that sh...

Growing up in a programmatic church, Rev. Liam Barr gained a different view of church in Costa Rica. The church has depth and meaning related to "who" as a human he is, and possibly trying to dissolve the limitations we have placed on God. The term Pura Vida was adopted by a famous Costa Rican character in a film, which ultimately means pure living/pure life, and was embraced by the culture. The d...

We join the Rev. Liam Barr, Curate serving at Holy Innocents in Henderson, North Carolina. Liam shares that the world is a disorienting place as he questions who he is and how he can do the work and serve. He is five months into being an ordained Priest and is loving the job he is doing in both the Latino community and the "Project Hope" initiative through the NC Episcopal Diocese, at the campus o...

Ekklesia Church in Raleigh holds a common ground and welcomes the LGBTQ community, and a love of teaching. A person who was LGBTQ shared with Curtis early on in a moment of humility that they did not want to be a burden to the church. At that moment, he decided the church was "all in" on whatever support they could and did give.  Curtis speaks to the rhythm and cadence of spiritual practices and h...

Curtis discusses how he and his co-pastor, CJ, approach scripture differently. Curtis looks at it from a more musical and artistic view, while CJ, who played quarterback at UNC, views it in a more didactic manner. He goes on to explain how no single person can give a single voice to the Gospel. The church features guest speakers who represent different viewpoints. This former St. Mark's campus is...

Please join Curtis Mulder, co-pastor at the Ekklesia Church of Raleigh. The church recently moved from a growing and beautiful community that used high school space to St. Mark's, a new community that shares space with non-profits and other ambassadors of love. Curtis shares his Canadian roots, his grounding in teaching, loving, and leading music programs and how they marry with scripture  He was...

Journey through this final episode with the Rev. Ginny Wilder as she returns home during Hurricane Hugo and spiritually plays Amazing Grace on the front porch of her home in South Carolina. This is a time of beauty with the community and neighbors coming together to sing and laugh. Meeting singer/songwriter Fran McKendree, provided inspiration and he took her under his wing. This revealed that som...

Friend, in this episode Rev. Ginny is open about soul searching and "soul caring". She shares her practices around keeping healthy boundaries in place and how to be authentic. She left the summer before her senior year of high school to go to boarding school, this allow her to be in full rythme of who she can be but did not realize it at the time. It was a gift from her parents. She shows the impo...