The Prayer Porch

Author: The Prayer Porch

  • Cozy Pumpkin Roll Cake Recipe

    Cozy Pumpkin Roll Cake Recipe

    A soft, spiced pumpkin cake is rolled with creamy filling. It’s a cozy classic. It tastes like autumn in every slice.

    Ingredients

    • ¾ cup all-purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
    • 1 cup sugar
    • 3 large eggs
    • ⅔ cup canned pumpkin
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Filling

    • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
    • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 cup powdered sugar (plus extra for dusting)

    Instructions

    1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 10×15-inch jelly roll pan. Line with parchment paper, leaving extra on the sides to lift later. Lightly grease the paper.
    2. Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice.
    3. Mix the wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk the eggs, sugar, pumpkin, and vanilla until smooth.
    4. Combine the wet and dry ingredients and stir gently until just mixed. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.
    5. Bake for 12–15 minutes, or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.
    6. Roll the cake: While still warm, lift the cake (with parchment) from the pan. Starting at a short end, roll the cake and parchment together into a spiral. Let it cool completely on a wire rack.
    7. Make the filling: Beat together cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar until light and fluffy.
    8. Assemble: Gently unroll the cooled cake, spread the filling evenly, and re-roll without the parchment. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and chill for at least 1 hour.
    9. Serve: Dust with powdered sugar, slice, and enjoy!

    Tip: This dessert keeps beautifully in the refrigerator for 3–4 days. It is perfect for making ahead of a gathering. It also makes a cozy weekend treat.

  • 🌿 Sourdough Fougasse

    🌿 Sourdough Fougasse

    This fragrant, rustic bread is shaped like a golden leaf. It can also look like a spooky ghost if you are baking in October. The bread is soft inside and crisp on the edges. It’s the perfect way to use your sourdough starter. It fills your kitchen with the smell of fresh herbs and olive oil.

    Recipe adapted from Healing Slice with gratitude for her beautiful inspiration.

    Ingredients

    Dough

    • ½ cup active sourdough starter
    • 1 ¼ cups water
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 3 ¾ cups bread flour
    • 1 ½ teaspoons salt

    Topping

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1–2 tablespoons fresh or dried herbs
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt

    Instructions

    1. In a large bowl, whisk together the sourdough starter, water, and olive oil until the starter dissolves. Add the flour and salt, stirring until a shaggy dough forms. Cover and let rest for 30 minutes.
    2. Knead the dough for 3–5 minutes until it starts to come together. Place the dough into a lightly oiled bowl, cover, and rest 30 minutes.
      Do two stretch-and-folds about 30 minutes apart to build strength and structure.
    3. Let the dough rest in a warm spot. I have to put a few towels over the bowl because our home is chilly. Wait until it is doubled in size (6-8 hours).
    4. Once risen, cover and refrigerate overnight for easier shaping and deeper flavor.
    5. Turn the cold dough onto a floured surface. Divide into 4–6 pieces. Gently stretch each piece into a leaf or teardrop shape. You can also form a ghost by making 3 slits with a knife. Stretch the slits slightly bigger than you would like the holes to be. Transfer each piece to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
      Cover and let rest 30–45 minutes.
    6. Brush each piece with olive oil, sprinkle with herbs and salt.
      Bake at 375°F for 15–17 minutes, or until golden and crisp on the edges.
    7. Cool slightly before serving. This bread is a wonderful addition to an autumn soup or stew.

    Bread-making has always felt like prayer to me – slow, intentional, alive. Each fold and rise reminds us that rest brings growth, and warmth brings renewal. May your kitchen be filled with peace as you bake.🌾

  • Listening and Love: The Heart of Nursing Home Care

    Listening and Love: The Heart of Nursing Home Care

    This morning, I sit on the porch with a warm cup of coffee. There is a chill of autumn in the air. My heart turns to the place where I spend time each month -the nursing home. It’s a space filled with quiet holiness, where God’s presence is often felt in the smallest, simplest acts of care.

    Each morning begins with a “Good morning,” a greeting that can shape someone’s entire day. Waking residents, offering a smile, and speaking with gentleness – these are sacred moments. It’s humbling to realize that the tone of your voice will be the first kindness someone hears all day.

    Throughout the day, there are stories. Memories shared by those who drift in and out of the present moment. Sometimes, words come slowly or wander into another time entirely. Yet, listening – truly listening – becomes an act of love. In those conversations, I see glimpses of who they once were. They were children who ran and played. They were young adults with dreams. They became parents who built families and people who created and loved deeply.

    The nursing home is often their final home. Some have few visitors, and holidays can feel long and lonely. But the care team – nurses, CNAs, housekeepers, therapists – they become family. Nurses move quickly, hearts steady even when their feet are weary. CNAs respond to every light above a door, carrying both patience and compassion through every shift. Housekeepers often feel unnoticed yet they bring warmth through quiet service. One lady who comes to mind, fills the halls with hymns that soften the air and lift the spirit.

    In these moments, I am reminded: this is holy ground. Each task, no matter how small, is an act of love offered to the people of God.

    Today, on my day off, I pause to give thanks. I am grateful for the privilege of serving. I appreciate the beauty in aging. I honor the sacredness of care. I thank God for the sparkle in a resident’s eyes. I am thankful for the courage of my coworkers. I am also grateful for the still, small ways His presence moves through our hands and hearts.

    May we each remember that love doesn’t need to be loud to be life-changing. Sometimes it looks like listening, holding a hand, or simply saying, “Good morning, I’m glad you’re here.”

    Lord, thank You for the gift of serving others in Your name.
    Bless every caregiver, every nurse, every housekeeper, every soul who enters those halls.
    Let our words carry comfort, our hands bring peace, and our hearts reflect Your love.
    Remind us that each act of care is sacred in Your eyes.
    Amen. 🌿

  • The Power of Small Acts of Generosity

    The Power of Small Acts of Generosity

    Generosity doesn’t always come wrapped in a donation or a grand gesture. Often, it’s found in the smallest acts.It may be a kind word. It could be a moment of patience. It might be the willingness to truly listen when someone needs to be heard. It’s the gift of presence. It’s the offering of grace when others might offer judgment. It’s the courage to give even when life feels uncertain.

    Time and attention have become our most valuable currencies in today’s world. Generosity of spirit offers both a radical and healing approach. It’s choosing to respond gently when it would be easier to react sharply. It’s offering forgiveness, encouragement, or understanding especially when no one is watching.

    Generosity begins in the heart. It’s not about giving because we have enough, but because we are enough. When we give from a place of love and faith, something sacred happens: joy multiplies. It ripples outward, transforming not just the receiver but the giver too.

    As we move through our days, may we look for small ways to live generously. Let us be generous with our time. Use our words wisely. Be attentive in our listening. Share our love freely. The world grows kinder when we do.

    Lord, teach us to give not from abundance, but from love. Let our hearts be generous with our words, our patience, and our presence. May we remember that kindness multiplies when shared.

    What’s one small way you can practice generosity today – with your time, your words, or your heart?

  • Civil Disobedience and Conscience: A Modern Reflection

    Civil Disobedience and Conscience: A Modern Reflection

    I step out onto my little back porch – the dusk settling over the trees, the hush before voices rise. On this threshold between inside and out, I’m drawn to a stirring in my spirit. I remember a 19th-century man from Concord, MA who dared to question law and power. He did this by refusing to pay unjust taxes. His name was Henry David Thoreau. Henry was an American naturalist, essayist, poet, and philosopher. A leading transcendentalist, he is best known for his book Walden. It is a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings. He is also renowned for his essay “Civil Disobedience,” which argues in favor of citizen disobedience against an unjust state.

    Thoreau believed that “that government is best which governs least.” He also thought that “that government which governs not at all” would eventually be true. He argued for the primacy of conscience over blind obedience. He saw that participating in injustice even by compliance has the ability to corrupt the soul. Thus, he refused to pay a poll tax that funded a government complicit in slavery and aggressive war.

    Many will gather this year on October 18, 2025 for No Kings Day. This day is a modern echo of Thoreau’s conviction that true freedom requires accountability. The movement asserts that power does not belong to monarchs or unchecked rulers. Power belongs to the people who live by conscience and community.

    On my porch, I sense the same quiet courage Thoreau once wrote about. It is the kind that begins not in crowds or slogans. It begins in silence. Resistance often starts with stillness. It is a whispered prayer. It is a question that refuses to be silenced. It is a heart that chooses what is right even when it is not easy.

    ✦ Then and Now, Side by Side

    AspectThoreau’s TimeOur Time
    InjusticeSlavery, unjust warsCivil rights, truth, equality
    ConscienceOne man in jail for refusing injusticeMany voices rising for justice
    CourageMoral resistancePeaceful action
    Spiritual focusIntegrity and truth before GodFaith and justice intertwined
    • Sit quietly tonight. Let the air around you settle.
    • Ask yourself: What authority shapes my choices? Where must I resist?
    • Pray for courage — not anger, but steady conviction.
    • Listen for the voice that calls you to act with peace, not pride.
    • Choose one small act that reflects integrity: a letter, a donation, a conversation, a prayer.

    🕊️ A Prayer for Courage and Conscience

    O God of justice and mercy,
    Let our voices, our breath, our small steps be part of Your work.
    Grant us the courage to stand when power grows unjust. Help us to resist with love, not hatred. We will yield our conscience to You alone.
    May we walk in freedom, grounded in truth and guided by peace.
    Amen.

    As we stand for justice and conscience, may we also stand for safety and peace. Civil disobedience, in its truest form, is never about destruction – it’s about devotion to what is right and human. When we act, may we do so with wisdom, empathy, and restraint. We should remember that the little eyes watching us learn from how we respond to the world.

    Our children will one day inherit the society we shape today. Let them see that courage can be kind. Let them see that conviction can coexist with compassion.

    Porch Question:

    How can your quiet courage become the light your children see and remember?

  • Finding Stillness: Inner Peace on My Back Porch

    Finding Stillness: Inner Peace on My Back Porch

    On my little back porch – The quiet moments come before the world fully wakes. The sunlight spilling gently across the floorboards. The leaves rustling, whispering their morning prayer. This porch has become a sacred space – a threshold between the outer world and the inner one.

    As I settle into that quiet space, I find myself drawn to the life and wisdom of St. Teresa of Ávila, a 16th-century nun, mystic, and reformer whose words still stir hearts centuries later. Teresa’s writings invite us to explore prayer. They also encourage us to delve into the deep interior life. It is that tender meeting place where our soul communes with God.

    In her masterpiece, The Interior Castle, St. Teresa describes the soul as a grand castle made of crystal. It is full of rooms that lead ever inward toward the center. This is the place where God dwells.

    She wrote that many people live only in the outer courtyards, busy and distracted, unaware of the beauty within. The spiritual journey, she said, involves moving deeper into those inner rooms. This is achieved through prayer, humility, and love. These practices help us rest in God’s presence at the very heart of our being.

    That image feels so close to what I experience on the porch. When I quiet my mind and let the noise settle, I can feel myself moving inward. I transition from thought, to breath, to stillness. This brings me closer to the One who loves me completely.

    St. Teresa also compared prayer to watering a garden. At first, she said, it takes effort – drawing water by hand, tending each plant carefully. But over time, as we grow in trust, the garden begins to water itself through rain – grace freely given.

    In her words:

    “The soul is like a garden, and the Lord delights to walk among its flowers.”

    Maybe our porch time is like that early watering. These are quiet moments when we show up weary or hopeful. We trust that something beautiful is being tended in us, even when we can’t yet see it blooming.

    🪷 How to Pray Like Teresa

    Here are a few simple ways to bring her spirit to your own porch:

    1. Begin with Stillness
    Sit quietly. Notice your breath. Let the outer rooms of your mind settle. You don’t need to do anything – just be present.

    2. Offer Humble Prayer
    Teresa reminds us that humility is the doorway to God’s love. Speak simply, as if to a dear friend. Tell Him your joys, your weariness, your longing.

    3. Rest in Silence
    After speaking, stay a moment longer. Don’t rush away. This is the heart of prayer – the space where words end and presence begins.

    Perhaps the porch – that small, humble space between inside and out – is a reflection of Teresa’s inner castle. It’s where heaven meets earth, where our busyness softens into prayer.

    Today, you don’t have to find perfection in your spiritual life. Just step into the next “room.” Move a little deeper into your own heart. Trust that God is already waiting there.

    Lord,
    Teach me to enter the quiet places of my heart.
    Help me to water the garden of my soul with gentle trust.
    May I meet You there in stillness and simplicity. Let me learn to rest in Your love. Teresa did this, faithful and free.
    Amen.

    Which “room” of your inner life are you being invited into today — stillness, trust, surrender, or joy?

  • Privacy Policy

    Last updated: October 2025

    Welcome to The Prayer Porch (the “Site”). Your privacy matters deeply here. This page explains how information is collected, used, and protected when you visit or interact with this website.

    1. Who We Are

    The Prayer Porch is a personal website created and written by Laura Frechette, focused on faith, reflection, and simple living.
    Website: http://www.theprayerporch.com

    2. Information We Collect

    The Prayer Porch may collect information in the following ways:

    • Voluntarily provided information — includes details like your name and email address. You give this information when you subscribe to updates. It also happens when you comment on a post or contact us directly.
    • Automatically collected information — through cookies, analytics tools. This may include your browser type, IP address, and the pages you visit. These details help us understand how visitors engage with the site.

    This data helps improve the site’s content, design, and reader experience.

    3. How We Use Your Information

    Your information is used to:

    • Respond to comments, questions, or inquiries.
    • Send occasional newsletters or updates (only if you’ve opted in).
    • Analyze site performance and improve user experience.
    • Display relevant ads through Google AdSense or similar networks.

    We never sell or rent your personal information.

    4. Cookies and Advertising

    The Prayer Porch may use cookies (small files stored on your device) to enhance browsing and serve relevant ads.

    • Google AdSense uses cookies to show ads based on your visits to this and other websites.
    • You can learn more about how Google uses your information here.
    • You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Ads Settings.

    If you disable cookies in your browser, some features of the site may not function properly. You’ll still be able to read content.

    5. Third-Party Links

    The Prayer Porch may link to other websites or resources. Once you leave this site, please note that we cannot control how other websites collect or use your data.
    We encourage you to read their privacy policies as well.

    6. Data Security

    We use standard security measures to protect your information. However, please remember that no data transmission over the internet is completely secure.

    7. Your Rights

    If you have subscribed to updates or provided your email, you can request that we:

    • Send you a copy of your data.
    • Delete your information from our records.
    • Stop email communications at any time (simply click “unsubscribe” at the bottom of emails).

    You can contact peaceofmind81867@yahoo.com for any privacy-related requests.

    8. Updates to This Policy

    This Privacy Policy may be updated occasionally to reflect changes in site practices or legal requirements. Updates will always appear on this page with a revised date.

    9. Contact Us

    If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy, please reach out at:
    📧 peaceofmind81867@yahoo.com
    🌐 http://www.theprayerporch.com

    🌿 A note from the porch

    The heart of this space is peace and reflection. Your presence here is valued, and your privacy is respected as carefully as your prayers are heard.

  • 🦪 A Taste of Tradition: Our Annual Oyster Evening

    🦪 A Taste of Tradition: Our Annual Oyster Evening

    Each year, as summer fades and the air turns crisp, my husband and I set aside a night away. This time is reserved for a simple but sacred ritual — oysters. It’s become our quiet tradition to visit our favorite restaurant and share a platter of briny East Coast oysters. There’s something about that first taste. It brings a rush of ocean air. The salt and sweetness feel like a prayer of gratitude for another season together.

    This year, I wanted to bring that feeling home. If you love oysters too, here are three simple sauces that elevate them beautifully. Each sauce balances the sea’s natural flavor with a touch of brightness and spice.

    🥂 Classic Mignonette Sauce

    Ingredients:

    • ½ cup red wine vinegar
    • 2 tablespoons finely minced shallot
    • 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
    • A pinch of salt

    Directions:
    In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, shallot, pepper, and salt. Let it rest at least 30 minutes before serving – this allows the flavors to mingle and mellow. Spoon just a bit over each oyster before that first briny bite.

    🍅 Homemade Cocktail Sauce

    Ingredients:

    • ½ cup ketchup
    • 2 tablespoons prepared horseradish (or to taste)
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
    • Dash of Worcestershire sauce
    • Optional: a few drops of hot sauce for extra kick

    Directions:
    Stir all ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Chill before serving. Adjust the horseradish or hot sauce to your liking – some like it fiery!

    🌿 Fresh Horseradish Sauce

    Ingredients:

    • ¼ cup freshly grated horseradish root (or prepared horseradish)
    • ½ cup sour cream
    • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
    • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
    • Pinch of salt

    Directions:
    Whisk everything together and chill for at least an hour. It’s creamy, sharp, and perfect for anyone who loves a little zing with their oysters.

    Traditions don’t always have to be grand – sometimes, it’s the small, shared rituals that hold our hearts steady. A plate of oysters sits on the table. The flicker of candlelight dances across the room. Laughter spreads across the table, reminding us how precious the ordinary can be.

    What small tradition do you and someone you love hold sacred each year?

  • Opening Your Heart: Lessons from a Hen

    Opening Your Heart: Lessons from a Hen

    Sometimes, grace arrives in the most surprising forms – like a small hen showing up on your doorstep.

    That’s exactly what happened to my daughter this week. Out of nowhere, a sweet hen began appearing at her door every morning. No one nearby seemed to know where she came from. She simply arrived, as if she had decided, “This is my home now.”

    For several days, the hen returned faithfully. A sweet bird with nowhere to belong, looking for safety and care. My daughter and her husband watched her come and go. Finally, they decided to give her a proper coop. It was a new home. They gave her shelter, food, and a place to rest.

    And isn’t that just how love often begins?
    We notice something or someone in need.
    We think about it for a while, maybe hesitate.
    And then, when our hearts soften just enough – we make room.

    Sometimes God sends us reminders of His own tenderness in feathers and quiet persistence. This little hen came looking for a home. She brought a message. Love often finds us first. It asks gently if we have space to care, to trust, and to nurture again.


    Maybe something in your life has been quietly showing up.
    What would it look like to open the door, to make room, to offer a small space of belonging?


    Thank You Lord for the tender reminders You send in simple ways. You place a small creature at the door. You offer a moment of quiet invitation.
    Teach us to notice what seeks shelter near us,
    to open our hearts with kindness and care.
    May our homes – and our lives –
    be places where Your love finds welcome.
    Amen.



  • Autumn-Inspired Pumpkin Shaped Sourdough

    Autumn-Inspired Pumpkin Shaped Sourdough

    This is a softly spiced sourdough loaf. It bakes up golden and tender. The loaf is shaped like a pumpkin, making it perfect for autumn gatherings or a cozy weekend bake. You will want to start this recipe early in the morning to allow time to bulk ferment.
    Day 1: Follow these directions
    Day 2: Bake

    Ingredients:

    • 4 cups all-purpose flour (I always use King Arthur flour)
    • ½ cup active sourdough starter (bubbly and recently fed) *see note at the end of the recipe
    • 1 cup + 1 tablespoon water
    • ½ cup pumpkin purée
    • 1 ¾ teaspoons salt
    • 2 teaspoons sugar
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

    Directions:

    ➤ Combine the ingredients

    In a large bowl, mix together the flour, starter, water, and pumpkin purée. Add salt, sugar, and cinnamon until it forms a shaggy dough. No kneading needed – just mix until combined. Cover and let rest (autolyse) for about 30 minutes.

    ➤ Stretch and fold

    Over the next few hours, do 4–6 stretch and folds, about 20 minutes apart. Gently pull the dough upward from one side. Fold it over the center. Turn the bowl a quarter turn each time.

    ➤ Bulk ferment

    Cover the dough tightly with a lid or plastic wrap. Let it rise at room temperature for 8 hours or until doubled in size.

    ➤ Shape and chill
    Shape into a smooth ball and place in a floured round bread proofing basket. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

    🎃 The Pumpkin Shape

    Preheat your cast iron Dutch oven to 450°F. Cut four 18-inch pieces of food-grade cotton string (not twine) and arrange them in a crisscross pattern on parchment paper.

    Remove your dough from the refrigerator and place it top-side down on the strings. Tie the strings gently around the loaf to create eight even pumpkin-like sections.
    Reduce oven temperature to 425°F and bake. Bake for 20 minutes with the lid on. Then, bake for another 20 minutes with the lid off. Allow the loaf to cool completely before removing the strings. Slice the bread after cooling.

    Notes 🧡

    Use food-grade cotton string — not kitchen twine or synthetic thread (they can melt or burn).
    Make sure your starter is lively and bubbly before beginning; this recipe relies entirely on natural fermentation for rise.
    For a rustic finish, brush the cooled loaf with a little melted butter. Tuck a cinnamon stick in the top to complete the “pumpkin stem.”

    🌾 Making Your Own Sourdough Starter

    If you don’t yet have a starter, you can create one easily at home with just flour, water, and patience. Combine ½ cup of whole wheat or all-purpose flour with ¼ cup of water in a clean glass jar. Stir well, cover loosely, and let it rest at room temperature. Each day, discard half and feed with the same amounts of fresh flour and water. Within 5–7 days, it will become bubbly and fragrant. This is your living, breathing leaven. It’s ready to bring new life to every loaf.