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This week our Lord teaches us to pray and reminds us that He does listen to our prayers. He said, “And I tell you, ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Similarly, our Lord is answering our prayers as we continue to see the fruits of the implementation of the Uniting in Heart Process.
As the staff liaison for the St. Tom’s Formation Leadership Team, I am happy to present some initiatives we will be promoting this coming Fall. These initiatives result from the feedback we received from the Parish and from the guidance of the Formation Leadership Team. The initiatives are the Sycamore program, more vibrant Bible study offerings, and a social justice presentation series.
Sycamore asks the fundamental question, “what do you believe?” It is an “informal course about the Christian faith and its relevance in life today.” During these sessions, which will begin in late September, you will have “space to meet other people, share ideas, explore beliefs, and think about questions that really matter.” Whether you’re a student-parishioner, resident-parishioner, someone who has been living in the area but has never come to St. Tom’s, or someone who has just walked through our doors, you are welcome to attend this program. As a matter of fact, we encourage you to come and to bring your friends to ask some of life’s biggest questions and to share in the community that makes St. Tom’s a unique place. You will start to see advertisements for this. I highly encourage you to take part in this program.
Offering more vibrant Bible studies is something that has been on my heart for some time. While we will still use the Bible study programs that we have used in the past, there will be an offering of an additional study that will go into real, in-depth Scripture study – something beyond what is currently being offered. These will start during the first part of the fall semester. Please be looking for those advertisements.
Starting soon, on the first week of each month, St. Tom’s will offer a presentation series on social justice issues. Topics will range from solidarity, race, and responsibilities to family as the foundation of society. There will be topics on the dignity of life, to poverty, the dignity of work, and care for God’s creation. Be on the lookout for these offerings, as they are just around the corner.
Looking to the spring semester, it is my hope that we will develop a program that will help us learn more about that Mass – one of my hopes with this is to have regularly scheduled Masses in slow motion. I also hope to continue with more vibrant Bible studies and to expand the Sycamore program…but one semester at a time. More details about all of these wonderful things will be coming shortly.
It is a blessing to be serving the Lord through service to this community. God bless you all!
John Strong
Director of Evangelization
