Event Calendar

Zoom Book Study

As Christians and Episcopalians, we are all called to work towards The Beloved Community, a community where all people of all colors are welcome, where there is justice for all people. Our bishop has asked all congregations to put some actions and steps in place in this regard. One thing we will do soon is offer a book study on Waking up White: and Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debby Irving. Several parishes in the diocese have used this book and found it very helpful to initiate conversations around race.
 
This will be a Zoom book discussion on Tuesday mornings from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. beginning July 28th. The book is available through Amazon and also through the public library. Rev. Susan will be facilitating our book study and she hopes that many of you will join her for this important work. Order your copy now!

Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m. beginning July 28
Click here to join the meeting
by phone: 669-900-6833 (San Jose, CA)
Meeting ID: 876 7317 4893
Password:Good (4663)

Waking Up White: and Finding Myself in the Story of Race
Debby Irving
Elephant Room Press, 291 pages
January 22, 2014
Kindle edition $8.69

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Pathways of Grace

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The Program: To make ourselves at home

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The idea: The idea for this program emerged after about a month into the nation’s (the world’s) efforts to cope with the pandemic. We noticed an increase in people talking about feelings of loneliness and hostility. For some who lived alone there was an increase of anxiety and depression; for others it expressed itself in excessive drinking or suicidal thoughts. For people who lived with others there was too much togetherness. Both conditions set loose feelings of anger and resentment.

And the impact of the pandemic came on top of an already existing decline of close friendships and a growing increase of political polarization. Then came an economic recession and protests over policing and race.

We begin with hostility because it may be the easiest force to see. We all experience hostility. Hostility within ourselves. Sometimes expressed toward others. Hostility directed at us. In these times it may seem that the hostility is on the increase.

The Focus: The relationship among loneliness, solitude and hostility in my spiritual life. How as Christians we can "make ourselves at home under all circumstances"--including in times of isolation and loneliness, division and polarization, illness and death.

Learning objectives:

1. To increase my understanding of the spiritual dynamics

2. To learn a few traditional methods of the spiritual life

3. To learn a broader spiritual map  

 
Venue: We will gather from parishes across the country on Zoom.  
Dates: September 10, 17, and 24, 2020, 10:00 a.m.
Duration: Will last between 50 and 75 minutes.
Participants: The invitation is being extended to all parishes in which a Professed Member, novice, or associate of the Order of the Ascension is involved. Rev. Susan is a member of Order of the Ascension
Register: No later than September 1, 2020. Send your name and email address to Rev. Susan: rector@goodshepherdhemet.org. 
Fee: There is no fee
Advance Work: You'll be asked to read two or three pages before each session and to consider the issues and questions offered in the reading. The readings will be made available six days before each session.
Sessions: Each session will include
Prayer

• An exercise in which you consider the theme in relation to your life

• Small group sharing (share only what you want to share)

• A presentation with conversation and Q&A

 
Logistics:

1. Participants need to access the session through a Zoom invitation that will be sent out at least one day prior to each session. You need to have both the video and sound active. We want to be able to see all the participants and have them see one another. 

2. The meeting site will be open about 5 minutes before we begin. Please be on time. We will close the meeting at 5 minutes after the hour. 

Program Leaders: Michelle Heyne, OA & Robert Gallagher, OA.

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