Who is this group for?
The Spring Journey Group is designed for newcomers to St. James’ and those who might have been worshipping with us for a while but want to explore more deeply the Episcopal and Anglican tradition that we live out in our own particular way at St. James’. It is an opportunity to get to know others who have been drawn to this community more deeply. We ask that you commit to all of the gatherings, barring emergencies, because it’s important that you have the time to get to know each other. This semester’s group will meet online, and we may have some opportunity for an outdoors, masked, and distanced meet-and-greet for those who feel up to it. Optional pre-work will be offered between meetings for those who want to dig deeper and learn more. This group can serve as preparation for Confirmation, Reception, or Baptism.
Sign up for this session by Friday, February 12, by emailing rector@stjamesaustin.org.
February 14 – Setting out on the Journey Together
2:00-3:30 pm
Optional pre-work: The River of Life exercise
Introductions – How have we come to this place? Discussion about the shape of our journey & your questions
February 28 – Baptism, Eucharist, and Prayer Book Treasures
2:00-3:30 pm
Optional pre-work: 1) Do you have a Book of Common Prayer? You can find it online: https://www.bcponline.org/; and the New Zealand Prayer Book used by our 5:30 here: https://anglicanprayerbook.nz/ and the office is happy to lend you a Book of Common Prayer during this pandemic time (email office@stjamesaustin.org to make arrangements). 2) Take a look at the Digging into the Prayer Book handout from Feb 14.
In this gathering, a couple guests from our Liturgy Committee and Rev. Eileen will lead a discussion about what we think we are up to and what we think God is up to when we baptize and celebrate the eucharist. This conversation will be informed by some of the particularities of our practices at St. James’.
March 14 – The Church Year, St. James’ Style
2:00-3:00 pm; Lenten Tea: 3-4 pm
Optional pre-work: 1) Take a look at the St. James’ Liturgical Year Map; 2) Pick up your Lenten Tea Party bag between 11 am and 1 pm on March 13; 3) Dress for the Tea.
Get to know St. James’ through the way we feast and fast, and then join us following our gathering for the St. James’ Lenten Tea at 3 pm.
March 28 – Holy Week, Holy Living, Holy Dying
2:00-3:30 pm
Optional pre-work: Take a look at your Holy Week Primer, distributed on March 14.
We won’t answer all your questions about life, death, and resurrection, but we will discuss how the journey of Holy Week shapes all of our Christian living and Christian dying. Liturgy, life, and ethics converge here.
April 11 – St. James’: Our History, Our Future
2:00-3:30 pm
Optional pre-work: Read the short history of St. James’.
Long-time St. Jamesians will join us and talk about the history of St. James’, how we have come to understand the practice of radical hospitality, and how we are formed by a commitment to inclusion and resisting systemic racism.
April 25 – That they all may be one: Unity in Diversity
2:00-3:30 pm
Optional pre-work: Read the chapter on Episcopal polity (i.e. how we make decisions about our life together).
We will discuss how our Church makes decisions together, and how we discern where certain types of decisions get made. We will also discuss practices for unity and the honoring of diversity in our own congregational context.
Time and Date TBD: But maybe some sort of outdoor in-person gathering to see each other?