Monday, February 15, 2021
Sacred Ground
The Sacred Ground program is built around a series of films – mostly documentaries and shorts – that explore the ways that race shapes life in America. The goal is never to inspire guilt or shame about our collective past, but through gaining a deeper understanding to imagine more just ways of moving forward. In his sermon yesterday, Rob talked about our eyes dilating to let more light in. I certainly felt each week of Sacred Ground that my understanding was dilating, and that I was able to see the world around me in new ways. I think that is a first step in the journey towards healing – in our communities, our nation and the world – to see the world beyond our own frame of reference.
– Nathan Bourne
My overwhelming sense is of gratitude for the Sacred Ground curriculum, for the education and new exploration and challenge. Being now a St. John's Sacred Ground Alumna I have a band of fellow travellers here in Portsmouth. We heard true stories of immigration and persecution from Anglicans in many parts of the world including South Africa, Ghana, Mexico, Canada, USA, and China. The Anglican Communion is a bond between us and a way that we can come together to tell our truth.
– Sooky Lassen
I’m not a “numbers” person, but I am amazed at how some numbers I witnessed in the last 5 months of 10 sessions of the Sacred Ground series on Race and Faith with 13 Zoom people, including 2 awesome leaders during 1 Pandemic could reach my heart and soul. On Zoom, I was also looking at 13 various backgrounds of bookcases, china cabinets, dining rooms, desks, lounge chairs and sofas that created such discovery for me. How could 13 tiny squares of 13 people on a computer screen emanate such love, compassion, anguish, excitement, and sorrow about the awe and surprises that discussions awaited us each week? However, as we read books, and articles, and watched films, …then always talking together; we were looking for at least one answer to our journey through Sacred Ground. How many times throughout 10 sessions, with 13 people of this Beloved Community was the one question always asked,
“What can I do?” I lost count. I don’t know the exact number.
To be continued by this enduring group…….and others.
– Elaine Wilson