Purpose:  The  purpose of this Lenten journey is to challenge ourselves to respond more deeply to our Christian call to care for others.

How:  We will do this through the reading of the book, The Hole in Our Gospel, by Richard Stearns joining others in small groups, sermons on Sunday morning, and prayer.

When:  This will all be done during the season of Lent, which begins February 17, 2010.  The sermons and the small groups will take place over five weeks, ending the week of March 21.

Who:  We are expect everyone who is able, who is a part of this community of faith, to partake as fully as possible.

What we expect:    We hope that everyone will read the book, The Hole in Our Gospel;  attend a small group, and attend church every Sunday during Lent, culminating in a glorious Holy Week and Easter.

Comments by the Rector

Faith Episcopal Church has been in existence now for almost 18 years. We have been able to put down some strong roots. I feel that the Spirit of God is challenging us, at this point in our history, to establish some deeper roots in how we fulfill our Christian life in reaching out to others.  There have been radical changes in the world just in the last few years and it seems to me that we are being called to listen and to see with new eyes.

I also need to say that this Lenten journey will be very challenging to every person who takes it seriously. We might feel angry, threatened, guilty, hopeless, and judgmental, as well as excited and ready to go deeper in our faith. We will approach this journey with our lives established on the foundation of God’s grace and love. As in every area of our Christian lives, we strive to respond to God, not out of guilt,  but out of thankfulness and love.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I pay for the book? No,  we are giving it to you.. We will take up an offering at the end of the program to help with the costs.

Why are we doing this? We have wanted to do another parish-wide study for some time. These studies bring us together around a common theme; and through the small groups we are able to grow in our faith while deepening our relationships with others. We also feel that the subject of this study, caring for others, is a timely one for us at this point in our history.

What do we hope will happen during this study? We hope that every person will grow in their desire to give and to serve others. We hope that the social conscience of our church will be deepened - that as a community we will grow in our desire to help others and that this will be followed by deeds in the coming years. 

And afterwards? During the Easter season we will share opportunities for hands-on involvement locally and abroad. 

Are you going to ask for money? For our Easter offering, we are going to build upon our Christmas offering, and split what we receive between the village of Frontera Suyapa in Honduras and United Outreach, serving the homeless in El Dorado County. We hope that this Lenten study will excite many to give generously to these programs, or to others that you care about.

How do I get in a small group? Group leaders have established the place and time for the group they will lead. Sign up for the group that fits your location and schedule.

How long is the book? It will require some time to read the book. It is 279 pages, but it is not a difficult book to read. It will take some discipline to finish, yet the rewards will be tremendous!  We will begin distributing books in early February, so you can get a jump on the first assignment.

Is this some liberal, do-gooders attack on America and our way of life? It depends on how you define your terms. No, there is no political agenda. This time will simply be an attempt to hear the teachings of Jesus and the Bible and see how we are doing. In one way, it will challenge many of our life style choices, but the Christian faith has always done this!  The strength of the book is that it realizes that there are no easy answers.  Our call is simply to be in the game, one way or another.