Seventh-, eighth-, and ninth-graders are invited to participate in Confirmation, a deepening of their commitment to God through the Holy Spirit. We understand that this time in a teenager’s life is one of growth and upheaval, so we seek to help them strengthen and sustain their life-giving relationships with Christ. Confirmation classes and activities provide opportunities for prayer, community, worship, and service that go beyond our regular adult-centered Sunday morning worship to connect youth with each other and with Christ in a way that is most meaningful to them.
Saint Barnabas has the only two-year Episcopal Confirmation program in the state of Arizona.
Confirmation groups meet Wednesday nights from 6:45- 8:00 in the Other Cup. Youth are confirmed sometime after their two-year completion, depending on when the Bishop visits our parish.
We invite anyone interested in learning more about confirmation, or about volunteering as an adult leader, to contact the Director of Youth Ministries, Kate Fimbres.
In this three-part series, Rev. Jim will introduce us to the early roots of Episcopal spirituality. He will lead us from the example and teaching of Jesus to the sixth century Rule of Saint Benedict, which has influenced virtually all of western Christian spirituality; from the Rule of Saint Benedict to the first Book of Common Prayer in 1549; and from the first Book of Common Prayer to contemporary Episcopal spirituality and practice. Along the way, we will focus on praxis (combining theory and practice) and how taehs offers a unique Episcopal curriculum for modern Episcopalians.
Following these forums, we will start new taehs small groups the week of February 11. (You do not need to attend the forums to sign up for a group). Groups will meet on zoom and in person with weekday morning and evening groups planned. We’re taking signups now. See below for how to sign up for a group.
What you can expect if you join a taehs small group – Part 1 of 3
Bible study that leads to and prepares for prayer. Prior to coming to Saint Barnabas, Rev. Jim worked with members of his former parish for ten years to write a “Bible study curriculum for Episcopalians,” with the goals of putting the Bible into the hands of the people, and letting the Bible be the starting place for conversations with God. This conversational approach makes all the difference.
The curriculum consists of a method for reading, studying, and praying with the Bible, and a process for small groups (7 to 12 people). Each study includes commentary by Rev. Jim that makes the Bible passages more accessible and assists in the taehs method.
Taehs has been used at Saint Barnabas for 19 years; it is also used in several other Episcopal churches.
From a participant:“I see the Bible in a different way than I had before. I love how my group shows me different ways of experiencing Jesus’ words along with my own. I sit with the words now where I just read them before, and often discover the possibility of totally new meanings. Often it is exciting, sometimes overwhelmingly moving, sometimes educational, and always a humbling gift. TAEHS makes me feel closer to God as well as closer to the members of my group as we share.”
Episcopal Spirituality Week 1 of 3 | January 21 2023 | The Rev Jim Clark
To sign up or if you have questions, contact Ann Hott, our TAEHS coordinator by clicking HERE
