An Update from our Sacred Ground Team
From April to June 2021 a dozen St. Matthew’s parishioners gathered over Zoom to experience Sacred Ground, a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. We walked through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of our family stories, economic class, and political and regional identity. Built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings, in ten sessions we focused on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/ Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories. Sacred Ground is part of Becoming Beloved Community, The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. We peeled away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of the present day – all while grounded in our call to faith, hope, and love. Now that we have completed this program, we know that our work has just begun. We will be exploring other ways to share our learnings and invite others to join us as we continue the journey to become “beloved community” at St. Matthew’s, in Wilton, and beyond.
We began and concluded each session in prayer. In June we included the prayer written by ECCT’s Racial Healing, Justice, and Reconciliation (RHJR) network in our worship services. During July and August different prayers will be shared during our liturgy, helping us discern where God is calling us as we seek to live out our baptismal promises. Please contact any of us if you have any questions or would like to learn more.
Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? Our God, I don’t want my attitudes to be shaped by the injustices that mar society, by the discrimination, greed, and lust that spoil relationships. In Jesus, color does not count, wealth carries no weight, and gender is not important. Help me to live in Jesus, to see people through his eyes, and work for the harmony thar reflects your kingdom. Amen.
St. Matthew’s Sacred Ground Team
Susan Abrams, Eleanor Arnold, Brian Angerame, Pam Ely, Char Griffin, Becky Hudspeth, Kate Jarvis, Tim Jarvis, Joe Magnano, Sharon Pearson, Paul Reis, Marissa Rohrbach, Lindsay Wyman
Tags: Adult Formation / St. Matt's - Virtually / Calendar