The spirituality of addiction will be topic June 4 in Lewes
The Rev. Ron Lockhart and his wife Sandra will present The Spirituality of Addiction at 7 p.m., Thursday, June 4, at the Summer Spirituality Series.The weekly presentations will be held in the Parish Hall of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 211 Mulberry St. in Lewes, from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Recent events surrounding the arrest of Bishop Heather Cook of Maryland for manslaughter in the hit-and-run death of a cyclist have focused attention on the church and the disease of addiction. What role, if any, should the church play in the lives of clergy and lay people who have a problem with substance abuse? This presentation will explore that subject, while talking about the disease itself and how it affects not only the addicted person, but family, friends and co-workers as well. Ample time will be allowed for discussion and questions.
The Lockharts' journey took an unexpected turn because of the addiction of a family member. They entered the addiction counseling program at Villanova University. Upon completion of that program, they went on to train as interventionists. Along the way, they became volunteer facilitators for The Pro-Act Family Program. This program is provided free of charge to the family and friends of addicted persons. Father Lockhart has served as chair of the Addiction Recovery Resource Committee of The Diocese of Pennsylvania. Sandra Lockhart served on that committee and has done presentations throughout the diocese.
Father Lockhart has been a priest in the Episcopal Church for 49 years. He and his wife have been married for 46 years and have one son and two grandchildren. They spend most of their time in Stone Harbor, N.J., where they attend St. Mary's Church. Ron Lockhart sings in the choir and Sandra Lockhart is a eucharistic minister and a member of the vestry. They oversee The Branches, which is an outreach of St. Mary's, serving the marginalized in the Rio Grande area.
Each Thursday night, through Sept. 3, expert presenters will engage participants in the parish hall of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. Fellowship and King's Ice Cream will follow each presentation. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend these free sessions, which are designed for reflection and dialogue. It is a chance to learn more about a fascinating topic and engage in subsequent discussion.
To learn more about St. Peter's Episcopal Church and find worship service times, workshops, concerts and other ministries, as well as a full list of guest speakers, go to www.stpeterslewes.org or call the church office at 302-645-8479.
