The Association of Parishes in East Texas offered a weekend program titled “Going Deeper with God” with Speaker Jane Jones, the national prayer coordinator for the Anglican Renewal Ministries of Canada. 
 
Jones' talks were as warm and comfortable as a spiritual direction session and a cup of tea. She offered the best ways to become close to God with much of it focusing on prayer and listening. She told the group of about 60 attendees who came from throughout East Texas and beyond that we must pray but also spend time in quiet so we can hear what God is saying to us. Jones encouraged us to take the time and spend with God every day and be wary of excuses of too busy, or rushing through a quick devotional instead. “There are no excuses for us,” she said. “It takes an effort to seek after God. God wants you to sit and talk with you. God knows everything but he still wants us to tell him.” 
 
The weekend event included worship music with Bishop Fraser Lawton on guitar and his wife, Veronica, singing and the attendees singing along. East Texas pulled out all the stops for hospitality, with members of our churches helping with dinner, monitoring the parking lot, handing out registration packets and more. This cheerful group of believers made sure everyone was comfortable and had what they needed. 
 
The program also offered a question and answer session with a panel that included Bishop Rob Price, Bishop Lawton, Mother Cynthia Moore and Jones.  Someone spoke about how difficult it is to raise children as Christian when there are other people who are good but lead them toward a path that is not Christian.   
 
Bishop Lawton said, “Make your homes a holy place. Read scripture with them, pray with them, have conservations with them about the topics that come up. When The Association of Parishes in East Texas offered a weekend program titled “Going Deeper with God” with Speaker Jane Jones, the national prayer coordinator for the Anglican Renewal Ministries of Canada. 
 
Bishop Price said to treat youth pushback like you would an icy day when the car starts to skid. “Turn into it and just glide. Don’t hard brake.” He said to tell them your truth and that they can judge that information with the record of that parent’s love for them. “My faithfulness speaks to the truth of my truth,” he said. “’Do you know these kids? No? Ok? Who loves you and is with you doing life’? As parents you have a lot more credibility than you think.” He said to let them see you being an adult for Jesus and other adults for Jesus. “This is why parish community is so important.”
 
The event also offered breakout sessions on lectio prayer and SHAPE, an assessment tool used to help folks identify their unique gifts and calling of service to the Church. 
 
Jones reminded everyone to spend time with God, read scripture, pray and listen in silence. “God has your best interest at heart. He wants the best for us. And he wants us to know He loves us.”