A Journey of Faith and Service
“Just as a hand, held before the eye can hide the tallest mountain, so the routine of everyday life can keep us from seeing the vast radiance and the secret wonders that fill the world.”
(Chasidic saying, 18th century)
The Life of the Spirit within me, beside me, and beyond me has been a draw for me since my earliest memories.
Roots and Early Influences
I grew up with an older sister and younger brother in a family full of love and affection. My father was a minister, and my mother, an early childhood teacher and homemaker, was also a lover of music, ranging from classical to folk and gospel.
My father’s calling as a minister moved us from Connecticut to the Dominican Republic, Chicago, and Livingston, New Jersey. I experienced both wealth and poverty and learned the values of social justice, racial and gender equality, and peace.
Education and Early Career
I held part-time jobs throughout high school and worked in various roles—retail, landscaping, teaching, and nonprofits—during my college years in Washington, DC, in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
I worked as a Probation Officer for the Prince William County and Fairfax County Juvenile Courts. After earning my MSW (Master of Social Work), I spent nearly 30 years as a social worker for a county government agency, focusing on the elderly. I created and directed an in-home care program and collaborated with a local hospice program.
During this time, I was active in my church, raising a family, singing in the choir, and taking on leadership roles. In college, I was introduced to Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, further broadening my spiritual understanding.
Spiritual Growth and Ministry
In 2011, I earned my MDiv (Master of Divinity) from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC, which deepened my engagement with interfaith issues and serving others’ needs.
I’ve worked as a Spiritual Director in prisons, facilitating Contemplative Prayer groups with inmates. These experiences were profoundly meaningful, though interrupted by the COVID pandemic.
Personal Loss and Resilience
My first marriage ended in divorce. I married again a few years later. She became very ill with a rare form of breast cancer. I cared for her through her 15-month battle with a rare form of cancer. Her passing, followed by the death of my first wife years later, was devastating for me and my children. My three daughters lost their mothers.
These experiences led me to author From the Heart: A Wife’s Struggle with Cancer and a Husband’s Journey of Love (2007).
Read the Book
In 2006, I married again and gained a teenage son, bringing new joy to our family. Through these challenges and blessings, I’ve grown deeper in my faith and expanded my spiritual perspective.
Creative Pursuits
I’ve also explored theater, performing small roles in musicals such as 1776 and The Man of La Mancha and serving as the narrator in Our Town. My theater experiences were both delightful and demanding, and I cherished every moment. I also work in my garden, create pottery, and enjoy home baking.
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A Focus on Contemplative Living
Contemplative prayer, mindful living, and entering the mystical world are central to my life. Prayer, universal and boundless, is a guiding force in my journey.
As an ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church, I serve two small churches part-time in Loudoun County, Virginia, even in retirement.
Services and Offerings
Wedding Ceremonies
Want to get married? I can help you plan a wedding ceremony and work with you as you enter this new phase of life. I welcome all couples, regardless of sexual identity, race, religion, or non-religion.
Workshops
Would you like to gather with friends, colleagues, or a faith community for a workshop? Together, we can create a space for exploring your inner selves, relationships, and spiritual growth.
Spiritual Direction/Companionship
Are you interested in growing spiritually and deepening your relationship with the Divine? I offer spiritual direction to help you explore and experience the presence of God or a higher power in your life.
Interfaith Community
I’ve been active with a Jewish Renewal Group, Minyan Oneg Shabbat, for many years. Saturday Shabbat services are a sacred time for connection and reflection in community.
There are many names for the Holy One—God, YHWH, Allah, Merciful One, and more. The diversity of these names reflects the universal yearning for spiritual connection.
Bruce Lugn 