Sacred Ground
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Now is the Time for Sacred Ground:
Interfaith Conversations About Race
In times like these, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed, angry, helpless, or unsure of what to do. With so many urgent and painful challenges unfolding, it can seem like nothing we do makes a difference. Sacred Ground offers space to learn, reflect, and better understand how we got here — and how we can move forward together. This 11-session, film- and readings-based dialogue program helps participants connect the dots between our country’s history and today’s realities, offering the tools needed to engage effectively in the work of racial healing. This program offers not only knowledge and skills, but community — a shared sense of purpose and a reminder that you are not alone in hoping for a more just future.
We have four interfaith groups starting this fall at Curtis Library and hope you will join one. As you look at the dates below, don’t worry if there are one or two meetings of your chosen group that you can’t attend – life happens! We just want you with us.
GROUP A: Thursdays 1:30 – 3:00pm (9/25, 10/9, 10/30, 11/20, 12/11, WINTER RECESS, 3/19, 4/9, 4/30, 5/21, 6/11, 7/2)
GROUP B: Thursdays from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. (9/25, 10/23, 11/20, 12/18, 1/22, 2/26, 3/26, 4/23, 5/21, 6/25, 7/23 OR 8/27)
GROUP C: Wednesdays from 1-2:30 PM (10/1,10/22, 11/12, 12/3, 1/7, 2/4, 3/4, 3/25, 4/15, 5/20, 6/10)
GROUP D: Wednesdays from 10-11:30 AM (10/9, 10/29, 11/19, 12/10, 1/7, 1/28, 2/25, 3/18, 4/8, 4/29, 5/20)
Learn more and register at https://stpaulsmaine.org/learning-sacred-ground-new/
Please note: While this program began in The Episcopal Church, these groups are specifically designed to be interfaith and are NOT religious in nature. A partnership circle with Good Shepherd Lutheran Church will also convene this fall, and will use the original, Christian-formation version of the curriculum. More details to come soon.
.
Now is the Time for Sacred Ground: Interfaith Conversations About Race
In times like these, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed — angry, helpless, and unsure of what to do. With so many urgent and painful challenges unfolding, it can seem like nothing we do makes a difference. But doing nothing isn’t an option when the lives and livelihoods of our fellow human beings are at stake. We must begin to repair what has been broken.
Sacred Ground offers space to slow down, reflect, and better understand how we got here — and how we can move forward together. This 11-session, film- and readings-based dialogue program helps participants connect the dots between our country’s history and today’s realities, offering the tools needed to engage effectively in the work of racial justice.
The issues explored in Sacred Ground are more relevant than ever. The expressions of racial injustice may change, but the roots remain. This program offers not only understanding, but community — a shared sense of purpose and a reminder that you are not alone in hoping for a more just future.
Please note: While this program began in The Episcopal Church, these groups are specifically designed to be interfaith and are NOT religious in nature. Since its adaptation, more than 250 people from across the community have participated in the interfaith groups and we hope you will too.
This program was launched in 2019 by The Episcopal Church and was so well-received that it was adapted by St. Paul’s in 2021 to be suitable for folks of all faiths (or no particular faith). Since then, more than 250 members of the community have joined the conversation, and we hope you will too.
Why should I join a Sacred Ground group?
Participants join the Sacred Ground program for many different reasons:
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- A desire to understand the roots of the racial disparities that exist in American society
- A hunger for meaningful dialogue with other members of the community.
- A feeling of powerlessness when faced with the enormity of racism
- An aspiration to raise children who can be capable citizens of a multiracial society.
- A wish to understand how and why the conversation around race has changed during one’s lifetime
Whatever your reasons for joining may be, know that you are welcome in this program.
FAQ’s
- How many people are in a group?
- Groups consist of 6-9 participants and two trained facilitators.
- How often do the groups meet?
- Groups meet roughly every three weeks over the course of eleven sessions.
- Is there homework?
- In preparation for each session, participants are asked to engage with materials related to the theme of that session.
- Is this a religious program?
- No. St. Paul’s has adapted the curriculum to be universally applicable to people of all faiths or no faith at all.
THE PRESS
Education Series on Race to Expand – Times Record reporter addresses the growth of St. Paul’s Sacred Ground outreach to multiple other Brunswick-area churches (July 2024).
Antonio Rocha’s Favorite Maine Place – In this feature in Down East Magazine, Antonio discusses his partnership with St. Paul’s and the congregation’s response to learning of its deep connection to the slave trade (September 2023)
Faith in Maine Podcast – In this episode of the Diocese of Maine’s podcast, The Rev. Katie Holicky, and Sacred Ground Program Coordinator Andrea Lauerman talk about the evolution, current programming, and possible future directions of Sacred Ground at St. Paul’s (August 2023)
On Sacred Ground: Personal Transformation Leads to Sacred Ground Program Expansion – St. Paul’s parishioner Caroline Russell is featured in the national Becoming Beloved Community newsletter from The Episcopal Church. (March 2022).
Exploring Sacred Ground – Columnist David Treadwell discusses the program and its significance in The Times Record. (November 2021).
Brunswick-Based Program on Race is Extending Membership – Times Record reporter Renae Morgan explores the evolution of the Sacred Ground program and the expansion of the program to the whole community (May 2022)
