Kathy Culmer is an author, Christian educator, professional storyteller, speaker, teacher, and retreat leader. She is a graduate of Spelman College, the University of South Florida, and United Theological Seminary with a Doctor of Ministry in Biblical Storytelling. Kathy is a member of the Network of Biblical Storytellers, an international organization of people who teach, tell, listen to and promote the telling of the stories of scripture. She has been the featured storyteller for the Network of Biblical Storytellers’ International Festival Gathering as well as for the Canadian Biblical Storytelling Festival. Along with other members of the Network of Biblical Storytellers, International, Kathy travelled to The Gambia in West Africa as part of a biblical storytelling mission trip and participated in a storytelling pilgrimage to the Holy Land. 

Kathy, who currently serves as Director of Religious Education for St. James Episcopal Church in Houston, TX, has also been a workshop presenter at the National Storytelling Conference, the National Christian Education Conference for the Episcopal Church, National Conference for the Episcopal Church Women, and National Episcopal Youth Event. 

Kathy is the editor of a collection of personal narratives called Yes, Jesus Loves Me: 31 Love Stories and On the Wings of Prayer: daily prayers, thoughts and meditations to lift your spirits. She is also author of the 2020 story series for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas: “Moving Forward in Truth: The African American Experience of Episcopalians in the Diocese of Texas.”  

"Bach gave us God's word.  Mozart gave us God's laughter.  Beethoven gave us God's fire.  God gave us Music that we might pray without words."  This quote, attributed to an inscription found within an opera house in Germany, illustrates the role that music can have in our prayer lives.  Join the Rev. Teresa Cantrell, the Rev. Dr. Joanna Seibert, Ilyse Howard, and the Rev. Joyce Dalton for a day of music inspired soul searching, soul soothing, soul tending, and soul feeding.  Through experiences of both listening and active engagement, participants will be offered many opportunities to connect with scripture, pray, encounter God, and experience God's loving presence through the gift of music.  No musical experience or background is needed in order to take part. 

We are blessed to have Bishop Harmon joining us again on the mountain. He will host "Breakfast with the Bishop" on Saturday morning at 8:30am and then celebrate Eucharist with us at 10am. Depending on his schedule, you may also catch him for a chat or a game of ping pong (start practicing NOW Lol).