As summer winds down and our program year begins, I want to highlight several opportunities coming up over the next few weeks.

This fall, we are planning a number of parish forums. These gatherings are opportunities for teaching, conversation, and sharing information, usually held in Roetter Hall following the 10:00 a.m. worship service. They help us learn together, explore our faith, and discover new ways to participate in the life of our parish.

We also plan to record as many of these sessions as possible. If you’re unable to attend in person, keep an eye on our YouTube channel and social media for recordings and other resources.

Here’s what’s coming up:

Sunday, August 30 — Episcopal Belief

• This forum will offer an overview of the Episcopal Church and create time and space for questions. Whether you are new to the Episcopal Church or have been part of it for many years, I hope you’ll join us as we explore what we believe and what makes our tradition distinctive. Most importantly, this will be an opportunity to deepen our understanding of our faith together.

Sunday, September 6 — The Spiritual Practice of Pilgrimage

• I’ll share some of my own experiences of pilgrimage, including journeys to the Holy Land, the Camino de Santiago in Spain, and Greece. We are also in the early stages of planning a parish pilgrimage, and I’ll share more about those possibilities during the forum. Additional opportunities to learn more and help shape our plans will be offered in the weeks ahead.

Sunday, September 13 — JustAction

• JustAction, our parish effort to put faith into action, will lead this forum. We will learn about the purpose and current activities of this ministry, hear stories from members about their experiences in the field and how they have grown in their faith, and ways you might want to participate.

As we incorporate more forums into our Sunday rhythm, there will still be Sundays set aside simply for fellowship and conversation. When we do have a forum, the clergy may not be able to spend as much time greeting everyone as they leave the Worship Center. I hope that will encourage all of us to make our way to Roetter Hall a little earlier and continue the conversation there.

You can also help by welcoming guests and inviting them to join you for the forum. A simple, “We’re heading to Roetter Hall for a forum—would you like to come with us?” can make someone feel especially welcome.

I look forward to learning, growing, and spending time together as we begin another year of life and ministry at Good Samaritan.

Blessings,

Father Paul