Waiting for Words: An Advent Writing Workshop with Lauren Winner

Waiting and generating; patience and urgency—these are all ingredients to the writing life, and, indeed, to the spiritual life.

In this workshop, we will enter the season of Advent with prayerful attention and focus, and we will both wait patiently for our words and undertake reading and writing exercises that summon our words. Some of our time will be devoted to being creatively nourished through short readings, and through engagement with visual art, music, and other artistic media; some of our time will be devoted to generative writing exercises. Some of our time, we’ll be together in a group; some time, in solitude.

Arrive looking for inspiration and nourishment, ready to write and to listen to the Spirit. Writers of all levels welcome.

Some advance reading and/or writing may be required in preparation for the workshop.

The program is limited to 9 participants and will be held at the St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in Stoneville, NC. This workshop is fully funded for accepted applicants, but transportation to and from St. Francis Springs Prayer Center is the responsibility of participants. However, participants may be eligible to receive financial assistance to offset those travel expenses by completing a Financial Need Statement on the application form.

The Rev. Dr. Lauren Winner is the Associate Professor of Christian Spirituality at Duke Divinity School and Vicar of St. Joseph’s Episcopal Church in Durham, N.C. Her books include Girl Meets God, Mudhouse Sabbath, A Cheerful and Comfortable Faith, Still: Notes on a Mid-Faith Crisis, and Wearing God.

Application Process

Applications are due Sunday, July 19, 2026. Apply here.