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. Prior to coming to Saint Barnabas, Rev. Jim worked with members of his former parish and wrote a ‘Bible study curriculum for Episcopalians.’ The studies created include the Gospels, select readings from the Old Testament, and three Epistles written by Paul. Each study includes a paced review of each reading and commentary by Rev. Jim.
- 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. “What brought you to Saint Barnabas?” or “Our stories this week included stories about wisdom. Is there a person in your life who has seemed wise to you? Can share with us about him or her?”
- Individual Sharing of reflections from our Personal Studies that week
- A Group Study – we read the next passage and share reflections together
- Closing Prayer
- TAEHS groups have trained facilitators. Rev. Jim has trained Saint Barnabas facilitators and designed the curriculum to ensure a dynamic group process. Facilitators do not teach; they guide the group so that everyone has a chance to share if they wish (or not if they are there to listen that week), and that the group begins and ends 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 pondering and reflection, for the Scripture to do us. Group members report that when the group takes a break in the summer, they miss their home study most of all!
- Friendships and community. As you meet with your group, you walk with others in their journeys. During the sharing portion of each week, we share our reflections from reading the passages and Rev. Jim’s commentary. We listen to the experience of fellow group members in their reading. We discover depth together. TAEHS groups afford the opportunity for meaningful and faith-based friendships.
- Awareness. More than a typical “Bible study,” TAEHS teaches a lively method of engaging the Scriptures. As we study, as we listen to each other, we notice the work of the Spirit in our lives and the lives of others. One group member reported that saying: “The Word of the Lord” after the readings in church has taken on deeper meaning because of her TAEHS involvement. In TAEHS, engagement with Scripture becomes a spiritual formation practice.
From a participant: “I see the Bible in a totally 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.”
