Grace upon Grace: 2024 Lenten Speaker Series

Join St. Michael’s as we take a deep dive into the transformative power of grace within the local church to foster forgiveness, healing, and spiritual growth. While each speaker will approach this topic from a different angle and through a particular lens, our end game each Sunday is always to know the truth of John 1:16 more deeply as a community: “From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

Our Speakers

Video and audio recordings of each talk will be available on the Monday following each speaker.

“Discovering Grace through Spiritual Companioning”

Dr. Angela Reed completed her Ph.D. in Practical Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary. She also has an M.Div. degree from the University of Winnipeg and B.A. and B.Th. degrees from Canadian Mennonite University in Manitoba, Canada. She teaches on various aspects of Christian spiritual formation, discipleship, and pastoral care. Dr. Reed’s first book, Quest for Spiritual Community: Reclaiming Spiritual Guidance for Contemporary Congregations, was published in 2011. Her second book, Spiritual Companioning: A Guide to Protestant Theology and Practice, was written together with her mentors, Dr. Richard Osmer and Dr. Marcus Smucker. Dr. Reed's passion for spiritual formation and church life extends beyond academics to the practical. In 2024, she received a major grant from the Lilly Endowment Thriving Congregations Initiative to support ministry focused on disability, mental health, and spiritual guidance among young people in congregations. Dr. Reed continues to be involved in various ministries, including retreat leadership, guest speaking, and spiritual direction with individuals and groups.

“Finding God in the Wilderness”

Jared E. Alcántara (Ph.D., Princeton Theological Seminary) is professor of preaching, occupies the Paul W. Powell Endowed Chair in Preaching, and is the Director of the Kyle Lake Center for Effective Preaching at Truett Theological Seminary, Baylor University, in Waco, Texas. His recent publications include How to Preach Proverbs (2022), Let the Legends Preach (2021), and The Practices of Christian Preaching (Spanish: 2020; English 2019). Dr. Alcántara is a member of the Academy of Homiletics, the Evangelical Homiletics Society, and the Hispanic Theological Initiative. An ordained Baptist minister, he has also served as a youth pastor, associate pastor, and teaching pastor in Illinois, Massachusetts, Oregon, and New Jersey.

“The Neuroscience of Trust, Forgiveness, and Spiritual Growth”

Dr. Gena St. David serves as the Director of the Center for Counseling at Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. She works as a licensed professional counselor and marriage and family therapist, with a specialization in systems, trauma, and brain science. In 2013, Gena co-founded The Human Empathy Project. She recently published a book on theology and neuroscience, The Brain & the Spirit (Wipf & Stock, 2021) , and is currently researching commonalities among nonviolent practitioners across global faith traditions.

“Lent as a Journey: Lessons from Ancient Pilgrimage”

David Wilhite is Professor of Historical Theology at Baylor University’s Truett Seminary, and he specializes in early Christianity.  He is also an ordained Baptist minister and has served several congregations on staff and as interim pastor. David is married to Amber, and they have two kids in college.

“This Far By Grace: Field Notes from the Journey”

Bishop J. Neil Alexander is Dean, Professor of Liturgy, and Quintard Professor of Theology, Emeritus, of the School of Theology at the University of the South at Sewanee. From 2001 to 2012 he was Bishop of the Diocese of Atlanta. Prior to serving as Bishop of Atlanta, he was the Norma and Olin Mills Professor of Divinity in the School of Theology of the University of the South, the Trinity Church Professor of Liturgics and Preaching at The General Theological Seminary in New York, and has taught at Wilfrid Laurier, Yale, Drew, and Emory Universities. He is the author of numerous publications in the fields of liturgy, sacramental theology, homiletics, and pastoral theology. The 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church appointed him to be the Custodian of the Book of Common Prayer.