Meet Matt Carriker

Who is Matt Carriker?

Reverend Matt Carriker is an ordained United Church of Christ (UCC) pastor serving a new UCC church in Waltham called Agape Spiritual Community.  Matt finds joy in leading mindfulness, meditation, and contemplative practice opportunities in the Greater Boston community and in the church at large.  Through the Southern New England Conference UCC, Matt co-facilitates confirmation and youth retreats and adult spiritual formation retreats. Matt is passionate about altering Christianity today into a spiritual tradition that models the unconditional love of God and the life and teachings of Jesus. The title of his newly released book is “Giving Christianity back to Agape Love.”

Background

Rev. Matt Carriker received a Masters of Divinity degree from Andover Newton Theological School in 2009.  Matt is a graduate of the “Life Education Program” of the ReCreation Foundation (based on the teachings of the “Conversations with God books” by Neale Donald Walsch) and has been trained in the “Mindful Schools” curriculum for sharing mindfulness practices with kids and youth of all ages.  Matt is a Certified Meditation Teacher through the Ananda School of Yoga and Meditation.  Matt is also a trained spiritual counselor and life coach, in the process of getting accredited as an ICF (International Coaching Federation) coach.

Formative Influences

The writings and ministries of many mentors have shaped my Christian life and ministry. Thank you Henri Nouwen, Rev. Dr. Kirk Jones, Kerry Maloney, and Sister Leona Panton, and my parents, Eric and Lynn Carriker.

The spiritual teachers who have guided me in the path of unconditional love are too numerous to name.  As a starting point, I offer my deepest gratitude to Paramhansa Yogananda, Swami Kriyananda, Asha Nayaswami, Nayaswamis Jyotish and Devi Novak, Mirabai Devi, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Neale Donald Walsch.

And, of course, thank you to Jesus, the humble carpenter from Nazareth who catalyzed my spiritual journey, and who always takes me out of my comfort zone to grow more deeply into Infinite love, thank you.  You are still speaking today.  I pray that I continue to listen with open ears and an open heart.

Jesus Christ

Jesus, the humble carpenter from Nazareth who catalyzed my spiritual journey, and who always takes me out of my comfort zone to grow more deeply into Infinite love, thank you. You are still speaking today. I pray that I continue to listen with open ears and an open heart.

Mirabai Devi

Mirabai Devi is an international spiritual teacher, conduit for healing, author, and the founder of the Mirabai Devi Foundation. Mirabai Devi is a new paradigm spiritual teacher. Her teachings emphasize the importance of spiritual practice for self-realization, combined with a commitment to personal growth. Matt has been part of Mirabai Devi’s Lightworker program since 2010.

Swami Kriyananda

Swami Kriyananda (1926-2013) started Ananda in 1968. There are currently 8 Ananda communities in the U.S., Europe, and India. Yogananda taught the “Science of Religion” through meditation. I first read “Autobiography of a Yogi” in 2004 and began practicing kriya yoga in this tradition in 2006.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Thich Nhat Hanh- a Zen Buddhist monk who was nominated by Martin Luther King Jr. for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967 and who passed away in 2022. Matt was first on a five-day mindfulness retreat with Thich Nhat Hanh in 2003, and has been inspired by his life, teachings, and writings ever since.

Yogananda Paramhansa

Yogananda was the first Yogi from India to come and live in the West. Yogananda taught the principles of yoga and meditation from his arrival in Boston in 1920 until his passing in 1952.
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