It's time to breathe.

Hi Readers,

I first started I’m Listening in September 2022. When August 2023 rolled around, I realized that an important part of this work would be taking a regular time away from it - a time of renewal, creativity, and space for new ideas. Since then, I’ve regularly taken a break for the month of August - though - to be honest, the past two years weren’t really breaks at all, due to my previous work as a columnist at the Minnesota Star Tribune as well as preparations for the launch of Disciples of White Jesus.

This year, with a full slate of speaking travel and events planned for the fall, I know it’s going to be vital to take some real time away in August. I’ll still be recording a few videos for The Daily Brief with Brad Onishi, and there might be other breaking news that requires a response.

But other than that - I’m hoping for some real time to create space for more creativity, and (to follow the advice of this Substack) - for my own listening. I’m looking forward to reading, listening, praying, meditating, and drinking in lots of nature and culture. I’ll also be, of course, continuing my pastoral work at Lake Nokomis Lutheran Church.

During this time, I’ll also be praying prayers of gratitude and solidarity with each and every one of you. Thank you for all the immense gifts and presence and joy and hope you bring to my life. I pray you too have some opportunity for space, quiet, listening, and renewal this month. Feel free to hit reply anytime and let me know how specifically I can be praying for you.

Love,

Angela

If you’re curious, here’s that original post from August 2023 explaining my reasoning behind “An August Abstention”

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P.S. …

A Few Notes:

First, a huge THANK YOU to all subscribers. I get a little email notification every time someone signs up, and every time I get one, I feel joyful and honored that you want to spend part of your day with this community. I mean it when I say: “I’m listening,” to you as well, and please don’t hesitate to share with me your thoughts + ideas for what you’d like to read in this space.

To PAID SUBSCRIBERS: I am humbled and honored that you’ve chosen to spend part of your limited budget on this newsletter. To borrow words from another newsletter I love, you are directly funding freelance journalism with your subscription, and I have to thank you more than ever for your continued support. Our world’s media and journalism is in a state of crisis, with fewer and fewer billionaires in control of global news outlets, and journalists being either laid off or threatened with violence for their work every single day; with fewer and fewer newsroom positions paying a living wage. I pledge to you to steward your paid subscription faithfully + use it to support honest, hard-working, and LOCAL journalism. One of my goals in this first year is to open this newsletter to other journalists, and pay them a fair wage for their work.

THANK YOU for your support. If you’re not a paid subscriber, please consider becoming one.

On free vs. paid-subscriber posts only: My plan right now is that the Friday + Sunday posts, focusing on news + spirituality, in that order, are available for subscribers only (I am going to continue sharing a sample, with a line where the paywall cuts off for our paid subscriber community). My plan is that the Tuesday blog-style posts will always be free, to enable as much access as possible, while creating a smaller and more intimate experience for paid subscribers, who are also able to comment and share in community in fuller ways.

Free Trial: Substack always offers a free week-long trial subscription to this newsletter, so you can get a taste of the Friday + Sunday posts and see if you’d like to subscribe!

If a paid subscription is a hardship for you, but you’d like access to the Friday + Sunday posts: PLEASE do not hesitate to reach out. I will be happy to provide a complimentary subscription for you.

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