Learning and Growing in Christ TogetherSee the "Sacred Ground" Course HERE |
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Advent Series Explores Birthing Christ Through Our Vocations
Curate Christina Miller will teach a two-part Advent series entitled "Advent Exploration: What is My Vocation?" for Adult Forums, Sundays, December 11 and 18, 9:00 am in Parish Hall and on Zoom HERE. The series will explore the concept of vocation and how each of us are uniquely bringing Christ into the world through our lives today.
Christina writes, "During Advent, we are also given time to ponder in our hearts the life that is continuously forming in us, and the unique ways we are called to birth Christ into the world. Over the course of four weeks, Advent can provide a womb-like space to nurture our own vocations."
Join this Forum series to contemplate the presence of the Christ in and through us today.
Christina writes, "During Advent, we are also given time to ponder in our hearts the life that is continuously forming in us, and the unique ways we are called to birth Christ into the world. Over the course of four weeks, Advent can provide a womb-like space to nurture our own vocations."
Join this Forum series to contemplate the presence of the Christ in and through us today.
Advent Series Joins Around Dessert and Angels
“Meditating on Angels” will be the theme for the Advent evening series three Wednesday nights starting November 30. The evenings will take place 6:30 to 7:45 pm in Parish Hall and on Zoom.
What are angels? How does our understanding of science and quantum physics inform our concept of angels and the supernatural? What role do angels play in Jesus’ birth and life as well as in our lives? What does the Bible teach us about good and bad (fallen) angels? How can we meditate with and learn from the angels?
Join us on three evenings in Advent for some dessert, study, and discussion about the fascinating topic of angels. We will have presentations and discussion with the St. James clergy and view brief video clips from “Meditating with Angels” by the Rev. Kate Moorehead (Dean of St. John’s Cathedral) as we delve into this wonderful, mysterious, and interesting topic for Advent! Childcare available by request to Mo. Rebecca, rebecca@sjbts.org. For more information contact Mo. Rebecca.
What are angels? How does our understanding of science and quantum physics inform our concept of angels and the supernatural? What role do angels play in Jesus’ birth and life as well as in our lives? What does the Bible teach us about good and bad (fallen) angels? How can we meditate with and learn from the angels?
Join us on three evenings in Advent for some dessert, study, and discussion about the fascinating topic of angels. We will have presentations and discussion with the St. James clergy and view brief video clips from “Meditating with Angels” by the Rev. Kate Moorehead (Dean of St. John’s Cathedral) as we delve into this wonderful, mysterious, and interesting topic for Advent! Childcare available by request to Mo. Rebecca, rebecca@sjbts.org. For more information contact Mo. Rebecca.
Daily Reading Companions
In addition to our summer books here are several recommended daily devotionals you may want to add to your daily reading and prayer with short meditations for each day:
-Meditations on the Psalms for Every Day of the Year
by Barbara Crawthorne Crafton (Available from Church Publishing)
-The Radical Christian Life: A Year with Saint Benedict
by Joan Chittister (Available from Amazon)
-Bits of Heaven: A Summer Companion
by Russell J. Levenson Jr (Available from Church Publishing)
-Speaking to the Soul: Daily Readings for the Christian Year
by Vicki Black (Available from Church Publishing)
If you need assistance finding a copy of any of these books, please email rebecca@sjbts.org for information.
In addition to our summer books here are several recommended daily devotionals you may want to add to your daily reading and prayer with short meditations for each day:
-Meditations on the Psalms for Every Day of the Year
by Barbara Crawthorne Crafton (Available from Church Publishing)
-The Radical Christian Life: A Year with Saint Benedict
by Joan Chittister (Available from Amazon)
-Bits of Heaven: A Summer Companion
by Russell J. Levenson Jr (Available from Church Publishing)
-Speaking to the Soul: Daily Readings for the Christian Year
by Vicki Black (Available from Church Publishing)
If you need assistance finding a copy of any of these books, please email rebecca@sjbts.org for information.
Responding to the call to Racial Justice: Recommended Reading List
As we continue to grapple with issues of racial inequality in our nation, we are called to listen and explore the origins and systemic nature of racism in order to respond in an informed and compassionate way. We were asked to put together a list of recommended reading to assist us in that endeavor. The following reading list comes from recommendations from the clergy and from members of the St. James community. Please consider choosing a book to add to your summer reading.
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Christian/Theological, Non-Fiction
Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman The Third Option: Hope for a Racially Divided Nation (2018) by Miles McPherson (Local pastor) Seeing My Skin: A Story of Wrestling with Whiteness (2019) by Peter Jarrett-Schell (Episcopal priest) Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion (2010) by Gregory Boyle (Jesuit Priest) Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship (2017) by Gregory Boyle (Jesuit Priest) Beyond Colorblind (2017) by Sarah Shinn (Protestant Minister) America’s Original Sin (2016) by Jim Wallis (Preacher and Speaker) Dear White Christians (2014) By Jennifer Harvey (Religion Professor) For Children
Separate is Never Equal by Duncan Tonatiuh All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold Chasing Freedom by Nikki Grimes |
Other Non-Fiction
Me and White Supremacy: Combat Racism, Change the World, and Become a Good Ancestor (2020) by Layla Saad (NY Times bestseller) How to be an Anti-Racist (2019) by Ibram X. Kindi (NY Times bestseller) So You Want to Talk about Race (2019) by Ijeoma Oluo (NY Times bestseller) I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness (2018) by Austin Channing Brown Waking Up White (2014) by Debby Irving Fiction
To Kill a Mockingbird (1960) by Harper Lee The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead I know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison The Color Purple by Alice Walkier A Raisin in the Sun (1959) by Lorraine Hansberry Once Were Warriors (1990) by Alan Duff (New Zealand novel) Cry, the Beloved Country (1948) by Alan Paton (South African novel) |
Past Forums and Formation Events
2022
"Engaging the Psalms: Prayers, Poetry and Practice" , Sundays November 6, 13 and 20. This Pre-Advent study will be co-taught by Teresa Hixson and Mother Rebecca. The Psalms have been called a book of hymns, Jewish poetry, and a “little Bible,” and they compose one of the most beautiful portions of the Jewish and Christian Scriptures. Most of us are familiar with the Psalms in the context of worship, but do you know the story behind the Psalms and how they came to be?
Renowned Activist and Priest Fr. Michael Lapsley spoke at the Forum and in the service October 30. World Renowned Speaker, author, Apartheid activist and Niwano Peace Prize Winner, Fr. Michael Lapsley, an Anglican priest who founded and serves as the Executive Director of the Institute for the Healing of Memories based in Cape Town, South Africa. The Institute seeks to contribute to the healing journeys of individuals, communities and nations.
Another author series with Richard Ackerman reading from his two poetry books, October 16 and 23. Retired orthodontist and St. James parishioner, Richard read and discussed poems which deal with his life experiences and developing views of the world. His two volumes of poetry, A Hundred-Year Wind and Tomorrow is Not Just Another Day , are available on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.
The Experience of God in Poetry, October 2 and 9. Author Dan Clendenin along with Christina Miller and Mo. Rebecca led a two-part series and exploration of the ways in which we connect and experience God in poetry. We utilized Dan’s book, Reading Poetry, Practicing Resurrection: forty poems. The book is available in the resources section of his website JourneyWithJesus.net. Dan has authored several books and founded the weekly webzine, “Journey with Jesus” in 2004. He earned his PhD from Drew University and then taught at William Tyndale College in Michigan, Moscow State University, and joined InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Stanford University in the summer of 1995.
Book Discussions of Summer Reading Selections, September 11 and 18. Mother Rebecca led us in discussing The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom and Wholehearted Faith by Rachel Held Evans.
Author The Rev. Dr. Ralph McMichael led a two-part series "From the Empty Tomb into the Eucharist", May 1 and 8. Joining us via Zoom from St. Louis, Fr. McMichael explored how the resurrection is the passage from death to life. He says, “We are baptized into the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This means we have the vocation to die to what he died to, and to live what he lives into. We are called to leave the tomb of this world empty and to enter into the Eucharist where we are alive as members of the Body of Christ.”
Mo. Rebecca asks What Gospel will You Write? April 3 Mo. Rebecca concluded the New Testament author series by inviting us to look at ourselves as “authors,” authors of our own lives who have our own gospels (good news) to write and share with the world. From living out our faith to telling our stories to writing our memoirs…all of us can be gospel-writers!
Mo. Rebecca leads through The Gospel Writers as Authors March 27. Mo. Rebecca led in discovering more about the authors of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) both as people and as authors and delved more deeply into what influenced them and their writings.
Fr. Mark examines St. Paul’s writings March 20. St Paul is perhaps the most significant Christian author of all, having written a large percentage of the New Testament. We examined the main themes of his writings. Participants were requested to bring a Bible to class and read the short book of Philippians beforehand.
Stephen Cox, Distinguished Professor of Literature, Emeritus, University of California, San Diego, taught Sundays, March 6 and 13, Getting the Most out of Reading the Bible and Expect the Unexpected showing some of the things that make the Bible impressive as a work of literature. Like any other great work of literature, the Bible is full of surprises. It’s easy to see them--once we look.
Fr. Greg Boyle, internationally renowned speaker and bestselling author, was our guest Saturday and Sunday, February 26-27.
He spoke on "Kinship as a Model for These Polarized Times" and on Sunday was both the guest homilist for the the services and, with 2 young men from Homeboy Industries addressed the Adult Forum. His recent book is The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness. The young men shared stories of kinship, trust in God and one another, and the power of God's transforming love and presence in their lives. Besides The Whole Language Fr. Boyle is the author of Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, and Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship. A Jesuit priest, he is the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang rehabilitation re-entry program in the world.
He spoke on "Kinship as a Model for These Polarized Times" and on Sunday was both the guest homilist for the the services and, with 2 young men from Homeboy Industries addressed the Adult Forum. His recent book is The Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant Tenderness. The young men shared stories of kinship, trust in God and one another, and the power of God's transforming love and presence in their lives. Besides The Whole Language Fr. Boyle is the author of Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion, and Barking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship. A Jesuit priest, he is the founder of Homeboy Industries, the largest gang rehabilitation re-entry program in the world.
2021
Popular novelist Gail Z. Schmidt spoke at two Adult Forums, Sundays, December 12 and 19. Gail is a children's author who writes magical, whimsical stories. Her first novel, No Ordinary Thing, is a time-travel story that explores friendship and loss. Her second novel, The Dreamweavers, is a Chinese mythology-inspired fantasy in which two twins with opposite personalities must work together to lift the curse that befell their village. Gail attends St. James with her husband Hayden Schmidt and is delighted to share her work with us. For more information about her books see: www.gzwrites.com
Astronaut's Son Speaks on Bestselling Biography of Father, Dec. 8, 2021 - Bruce McCandless III, author of bestselling Wonders All Around: The Incredible True story of Astronaut Bruce McCandless II and the First Untethered Flight in Space, spoke on Wednesday, December 8 followed by a reception. He offered a slide show and discussion of his newly published biography of his famous astronaut father, Bruce McCandless II. He was joined by noted San Diego space historian Francis French to discuss the ways space travel has affected the spirituality of both astronauts and earth-bound star gazers.
Author Ptolemy Tompkins is talked about proof of heaven as written in his books, November 14 and 21. Tompkins is the author of ten books, including Paradise Fever (1997), a memoir of growing up with his father, Secret life of Plants author Peter Tompkins, The Divine Life of Animals (2010), The Modern Book of the Dead (2012), and Proof of Angels (2014). In 2012, neurosurgeon Eben Alexander approached Ptolemy to help him write the story of Eben’s seven-day near-death experience, Proof of Heaven.
Rabbi Richard Agler, author of The Tragedy Test, spoke three Sundays in October on the subject of loss, bereavement, and changing the world. The topics were "Making Sense of Life-Changing Loss", "Comforting the Bereaved: Text Study of the Torah/Leviticus 2", and "How One Perso Can Change the World".
Miigwan the Wolf Visit, October 3 - In celebration of St. Francis Day, a handler and speaker from the Wolf Education Project (wolfeducationproject.org) brought Miigwan the wolf from the center. A large group came to the courtyard for the lecture and then Miigwan was brought down the aisle during the 10:00 am service.