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Sacred Ground/Sacred Journey at St. Stephen's, Lubbock
Diocesan News
Engaging the World in Love: St. Stephen’s in Lubbock is excited to begin its first Sacred Ground Dialogue Circle on January 16, 2024.
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9
What is Sacred Ground?
Sacred Ground was launched in 2018. Since the first dialogue circle, over 2,100 circles registered between 2019-2021. Within the dialogue circles, we weave together a tapestry of family history, economic class, along with political and regional identity. Sacred Ground is part of Becoming a Beloved Community and the Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries and society. At its core, it is a film-based dialogue series on race and faith. Small groups of 10-12 participants, including two facilitators are invited to journey through America’s history of race and racism.
What will the sessions cover?
The group will meet bi-monthly for 11 sessions. The powerful curriculum consists of documentary films and readings. Over the 11 sessions these films and readings will focus on Indigenous peoples, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories, and discussions of other marginalized populations. Dialogue circles encourage open, honest, and vulnerable conversations.
What is hoped to be gained from participating in Sacred Ground?
As we journey together, it is hoped that revelation and transformation occurs as participants are invited to peel away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of our present day. Hopefully as we delve more into living into our baptismal covenant, we will become more grounded in our call to faith, hope, and love. For those who want to dive deeper, there are supplementary materials available. At the end of our time together, we take he time to process the impact and look for ways to further engage in ways to continue the racial healing process and discuss possible action steps to take, individually or collectively. We hope that by having Sacred Ground Dialogue Circles, other churches in our diocese will want to have them at their own parishes or combine parish groups for community building.
