Our Adult Faith Formation Curriculum
The Art of Engaging Holy Scripture (TAEHS)*
* (pronounced “tays”/rhymes with ‘days’)
What you can expect if you join a TAEHS group
- Bible study that leads to and prepares for prayer. Prior to coming to Saint Barnabas, Rev. Jim worked with members of his former parish and wrote a “Bible study curriculum for Episcopalians.” The curriculum has been used by TAEHS groups at Saint Barnabas for 19 years; it is also used in several other Episcopal churches.
- 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 reading, studying, and praying with the Bible.
- TAEHS groups meet weekly for one hour with the following format:
- Opening Prayer
- A Sharing Question – Questions are general in nature and help us to get to know each other. Some examples: “What is one thing about Saint Barnabas that you enjoy?” or “Our Bible stories this week included stories about wisdom. Is there a person in your life who has seemed wise to you? Is there a story you can share with us about him or her?”
- Individual Sharing of our engagements from our ‘Personal Studies’ (explained below) that week
- A Group Study – we engage a Bible passage and share reflections together
- Closing Prayer
- TAEHS groups have trained facilitators. Rev. Jim Clark is the author of our curriculum and the training program for facilitators. Facilitators do not teach; they guide the group to ensure everyone has a chance to share if they wish (or not if they are there to listen that week), that sharing stays on track, and that we start and end on time.
- Home Holy Work – There are three ‘Personal Studies’ each week. Participants are encouraged to do these studies (approximately 20 minutes each) across several days. This makes room in our days for the Scripture to do us. Doing one or more of the three studies is encouraged but not required.
- Friendships and community. As you meet with your group, you walk with others on their journeys. We listen to one another respond to the appointed readings or Rev. Jim’s commentary. We listen to one another, but we don’t respond to one another. We each respond to the readings. This listening creates a sacred space for our sharing. It bears the fruit of meaningful, often deeply meaningful, faith-based friendships.
- Awareness. More than a typical “Bible study,” TAEHS imparts a lively method of engaging in which study leads to prayer. As we engage, and as we listen to each other, we become aware of the Presence of the Spirit in the Scriptures, in our life, and the lives of others. One group member reported that saying “The Word of the Lord” after the readings in the church has taken on a deeper meaning to her. In TAEHS, engagement with Scripture becomes a spiritual formation practice.
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 all the members of my group as we share.”
