Whoever you are and wherever you find yourself on your journey of faith, you are welcome here.

This program year (2022-23) we will continue diving deeper into the lectionary readings. Each week a new speaker will pick a reading from the lectionary and talk about the various aspects surrounding the reading. We could explore languages, cultures, context, short films, etc. Join us as we explore how Scripture relates to our everyday life and find God in all things. Open mind and open ideas are always welcome as we learn together as a community of believers.

Day and Time: Every Sunday (except 2nd Sunday) from 9:45-10:30 a.m.

Location: Guild Hall

Leader(s): Various

A New Sacred Ground Dialogue Circle begins Tuesday, March 21, 2023 at 6:00pm. This is an excellent and emotional education about race in America.

To find out more about Sacred Ground, talk to Deb Bagby or John Robison who will facilitate or visit www.episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground/about/ The dialogue circle will meet in person on the the third Tuesday evening each month.

Day & Time: Third Tuesday of each month at 6:00 pm. First session is on March 21, 2023

Location: St. James Episcopal Church, in the Lounge

Leader(s): Deb Bagby & John Robison

Basic A (A stands for Anglican) is a course open to anyone who would like to learn more about the Episcopal Church. It is especially good for people who are new to St. James and would like to know more about what we believe and what our history is. This course should make you able to discern if this is the church you should join and in which you should become an active part.

Please RSVP to let us know you would like to join the 2023 Basic A class. You can reserve a spot by clicking here, or contact the church office if you need assistance. Click here to view the 2023 class schedule.

Anyone who completes this course becomes eligible to be confirmed (or received)* in the Episcopal Church at St. James. *(If you are already confirmed in a church in the apostolic succession, you will be received instead of confirmed.)

Time and Day: Every Tuesday from 6:00-7:30 pm, from August 22-September 26

Location: Chapel

Leaders: Mother Dawn Frankfurt

“And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.” The Book of Common Prayer

St. James is fortunate to offer the seminar Education for Ministry which offers laypersons the opportunity to learn the Bible, the history of Christianity and the Church. Through a program developed by the University of the South, we follow a curriculum, developed over many years, which is rich in readings, thought and reflection.

We meet once a week during the academic year. Until further notice, we meet virtually, through Zoom. If you are interested or have questions about joining us for the 2022-2023 program year, please contact Paul Rillema – paul.rillema@gmail.com – by email or phone 316-634-6945, or Deb Bagby – debagby@gmail.com by email or 316-612-0628.

The program helps to develop an informed and knowledgeable laity. We, as baptized Christians, are called to be participants in the church’s total ministry: worship, service to others and the proclamation of God’s Word to all people. In coming to terms with the notion that everything we do has potential for manifesting the love of Christ, we discover that our ministry is at hand wherever we turn.

EfM covers Old and New Testaments, 2,000 years of church history, and the thoughts of religious scholars. We meet as a “one-room schoolhouse” with Year 1 focusing on OT readings, Year 2 on NT readings, Year 3 on Church history readings and Year 4 on theology understandings of our interactions in the world. This program is administered by the University of the South, and you receive a certificate upon completion of the program. The cost is $350 per year, which includes books of study for each year enrolled in the program. Scholarships and other financial support are available.

Time and Day: 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 15, 2022 -May 31, 2023

Location: Zoom

Leaders: Dr. Paul Rillema and Deb Bagby

We are a group of fellow seekers listening and learning from each other. We spend about the first half of our meeting discussing a member-suggested reading and then go into our contemplative prayer portion. All are welcome and no experience is needed. We will happily point out good sources to read for those interested in learning about this form of prayer. For Zoom log-in contact Dave McDonald, dmcdonald6@cox.net

Time and Day: Mondays, from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Leader: Dave McDonald

If you have finished the standard EfM course and want to continue in study and fellowship, please consider Graduate EfM. Each year we pick a course of study, usually using a series of taped lectures from The Teaching Company. We augment this with reading, discussion, guest speakers and field trips. The EfM pattern of learning, praying, and sharing treats and the joys and cares of our lives is continued in our group.

Time and Day: 7 p.m. Mondays, starting Sept. 12

Location: Lounge or Zoom

Leaders: Deacon Jeff Roper and Richard Bowman

This group is currently on hiatus for Fall 2022. We hope to offer a bible study soon in 2023! All are welcome. If you want to participate contact Phil Speary, pspeary@butlerrcc.edu.

Time and Day: Wednesdays at 6 p.m.

Location: Zoom

Leader: Dr. Phil Speary

Agapē Feasts are inspired by the ancient Christian tradition of the love feast, a communal meal that was distinct from the Eucharist and sought to ‘strengthen the bonds and the spirit of harmony, goodwill, and congeniality, as well as to forgive past disputes and instead love one another.’ As at these ancient feasts, on Agapē Fridays we seek to break bread together and, in coming together, show Christ’s unconditional love to one another. We seek to remember that in Christ we are all distinct and one at the same time. In a real way, our stories are our own and they belong to the great story of redeemed humanity in which we are all bound up. These Fridays are a chance to come together, to explore Christian tradition together, and to share your story with your fellow St. James siblings in Christ and to hear their stories, your stories, shared back to you!

Day and Time: This group is currently on hiatus. Please check back.

Location: Outside or Guild Hall

Leader(s): Racine Zackula and Dakota Bennett

The Restoration Project is a national movement within the Episcopal Church calling our people back to the basic practices of the church by following the 12 steps of humility of St. Benedict within the framework of the small group. The members of each small group within TRP commit to seven vows to work toward lives with regular prayer, worship, service to the poor, generosity, learning, discerning of call and commitment to the discipleship group’s members.

* This group is on hiatus. Please email formation@stjameswichita.org if you are interested in learning more.

Young Family Fellowship (YFF)has been on hiatus since the 2020-2021 program year. We hope to be back together soon.

What is Young Family Fellowship? Young Family Fellowship is for parents, parents-to-be and parents-in-waiting of young children and youth. We gather together every Sunday that Sunday school is in session from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. for refreshments and fellowship time. There is no agenda — just a time for us to gather together, tell funny stories, support each other, and generally have fun.

We’d love for you to join us and help our group grow! We are currently looking for a leader for this group. Please contact Chelsea Whipple if you are interested.

Bible Study Topics Continued…

• Spiritual Companions Group
• Introduction to Christian Meditation
• Heart of Christianity, by Marcus Borg.
• Accidental Saints, by Lutheran pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber.
• Wednesday Evening Bible Study: Forgiveness in the Gospels, Examples of faith from Hebrews 11, The Miracles of Jesus, Palestine during the time of Jesus.
• Thursday Morning Bible Study: God’s Spirit-ed People: Prophecy, Dreams and Visions in the Hebrew Bible; Saving Salvation; Traveling the Birth Narrative from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
• Adult Forum: The Way of Love, Nicene Creed, Beatitudes

If you’d like more information about our adult ministries, please contact Chelsea Whipple, Director of Programs at formation@stjameswichita.org.