Hi! 😄
I'm Michael Vollbrecht, an ordained minister, curious soul, and lifelong explorer of the weird & sacred business of being human.
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Me? Well, thanks for asking!
I've always been fascinated by the strange and wonderful business of being human. The stories we tell, the things we believe, the communities we build, and the peculiar ways we stumble into moments of grace. I suspect there's something sacred woven through all of it, often hiding in places where we wouldn't think to look.I grew up outside Seattle, Washington, and have called Lawrence, Kansas, home since 2013. It's a wonderfully quirky place with a rich history, a rebellious spirit, and literary connections to people like Langston Hughes and William S. Burroughs. It's also where my family and I have put down roots, alongside our beloved Siberian Husky mix, Karma, who has her own ideas about what constitutes a meaningful life.
I'm an ordained minister and serve as the Senior Minister of The United Church of Christ in Prairie Village, Kansas. My work is grounded in the belief that everyone deserves spaces where they can be curious, ask difficult questions, find belonging, and explore the mysteries of life without having to pretend they've figured everything out. I am a spiritual coach, sometimes called a spiritual director, and I also have the privilege of officiating weddings, memorials, and other ceremonies, accompanying people through those remarkable moments when ordinary life suddenly feels extraordinarily sacred.
Along the way, I've earned a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, a Master of Divinity in Theology and Community Advocacy, and certifications in Social Justice Education, Nonprofit Fundraising, and Spiritual Direction. I'm also studying toward professional certification as a teacher in The Narrative Enneagram. My interests tend to wander across theology, psychology, contemplation, generosity, and the endlessly fascinating question of why human beings are the way we are.
My life has always been fueled by curiosity: about what makes us human, how we make meaning, and how we can learn to live with greater empathy, intention, and love.Outside of ministry, I'm a lover of good stories, strange worlds, poetry, games, and the occasional rabbit hole of obscure knowledge. I'm drawn to the intersection of ancient wisdom and contemporary life, to the beautiful absurdity of being alive, and to the possibility that even our most ordinary experiences have something to teach us.That's really what this little corner of the internet is about: finding the weirdly sacred in everyday life. The unexpected moments of wonder, the mysteries that refuse easy answers, the humor that keeps us humble, and the love that somehow manages to hold it all together.
Weddings, Memorials, and More. Sacred moments for you or a loved one.
Every life is made of turning points: some joyful, some tender, some full of mystery. Whatever you’re celebrating: a wedding, honoring a life well-lived, welcoming a child, or simply pausing to mark a meaningful transition, I’m here to walk with you.I offer personalized ceremonies for all of life’s sacred moments crafted with compassion, collaboration, and deep respect for your story.
Whether you're planning a large celebration or an intimate elopement, I work with couples to create ceremonies that reflect your unique love story and values. LGBTQIA+ affirming, joy-centered, and fully customizable.
Funerals, celebrations of life, and moments of remembrance, crafted with deep listening, storytelling, and love. I offer grief-informed support to families as they honor those who have passed.
Rituals to welcome new life, affirm identity, or mark a moment of spiritual commitment. Inclusive, gentle, and designed to meet you wherever you are on your journey.
Moving, retiring, coming out, recovering, letting go, starting again...life offers so many moments that deserve to be marked. If you’re looking for a sacred pause, we can create something meaningful together.
I joyfully work with people of all genders, orientations, backgrounds, and beliefs. My approach is grounded in progressive Christian spirituality, but always open, affirming, and attuned to the uniqueness of you.
If you’re planning a ceremony or simply wondering if a ritual might help you mark a moment in your life, I’d love to hear your story. Contact me and I'll get in touch with you soon.
Your spiritual life is allowed to be wonderfully weird.
Faith rarely travels in a straight line. We question. We change. We lose things we once believed and discover things we never expected.Spiritual direction is a place to get curious about all of it.
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What is Spiritual Direction?
A space for the big questions. And the little ones, too.Spiritual direction is a regular conversation about your inner life: what you’re noticing, what you’re questioning, where you’re growing, and where you might feel stuck.You don’t need the right beliefs, the right words, or even certainty about what you believe. Bring your questions, doubts, hopes, curiosity, and whatever else is stirring.We’ll pay attention together.
Who Is This For?
You might feel at home here if…You’re questioning beliefs you once took for granted.You’re spiritually curious but institutionally suspicious.You love Christianity but have a complicated relationship with church.You’re exploring meditation, contemplation, tarot, nature, poetry, or other ways of encountering the sacred.You’re navigating a transition and wondering what comes next.Or you simply have the feeling that something deeper is asking for your attention.You don’t have to know what you’re looking for before we begin.
My Approach
No fixing. No preaching. No spiritual homework assignment.My approach to spiritual direction is curious, contemplative, open-minded, and occasionally playful.I’m an ordained Christian minister, but I don’t believe Christianity has a monopoly on wisdom. Our conversations might wander through scripture and theology, meditation and mindfulness, poetry and nature, or whatever practices and traditions are meaningful to you.My job isn’t to give you answers.It’s to help you listen more closely to your own life.
Wonderfully Weird Spirituality
About the wonderfully weird part…I think our spiritual lives are often more interesting than the tidy categories we put them in.We can be faithful and doubtful. Christian and curious. Grounded in tradition and still willing to wander. We can encounter the sacred in a sanctuary, on a meditation cushion, in a poem, beneath a tree, or somewhere we never thought to look.Spiritual direction gives us room for all of that.There’s no spiritual version of you that you need to become before you’re welcome here.
Curious?You don’t have to decide whether spiritual direction is right for you yet. Let’s have a conversation, see what you’re looking for, and find out whether we might be a good fit.