Adult Forum Resources

Explore materials from recent Sunday adult forums.

Entering Bright Sadness: Preparing for Lent

March 2, 2025 – “Bright sadness” is a term used in Eastern Christianity to describe the paradoxical feeling of joy and grief during Lent. Lent is a time of remembering Jesus’ suffering and looking forward to resurrection. This forum explored how sadness and paring back for simplicity can amplify a simultaneous appreciation of joy and gratitude.

  • March 2 Adult Forum Zoom recording – presentation begins at 12:04 mark in recording

More Light! Let It Shine

In February’s adult forums, we focused on taking what we’ve learned about light in January (More Light! Bearings/Kindness/Sight) to shine on the times we’re living through.

  • February 9: Kindness: Immigration – Zoom recording
  • February 16: Bearings: Christian nationalism – Zoom recording
  • February 23: Sight: LGBTQ folks and religious trauma with the Rev. Philip Bass – Zoom recording

More Light! Unfolding a Symbol

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). What does it mean to be light in the world? Throughout January and February, we explored activities and experiences related to the collection of meanings that the symbol of light represents in our faith and our day-to-day lives. This series focused on practical experiences and activities to ground and expand our understanding.

  • January 12: More Light – Bearings (Locating Ourselves) – Zoom recording
  • January 19: More Light – Kindness – Zoom recording
  • January 26: More Light – Sight – Zoom recording | Slide deck
    On January 26, Liz Sappenfield shared how her practice of nature journaling with watercolors at The Trees has taught her to observe and engage deeply with what’s right in front of her. 

The Trees Discernment Proposal

January 5, 2025 – The Harris Property Committee presented their proposal for the future or The Trees and St. Philip’s. The committee presented their report to the vestry in November, and the vestry plans to vote on the recommendation in January. Listen to the recording below to learn more about what’s been happening at The Trees and hear about the committee’s recommendation about the future of The Trees.

  • January 5 Adult Forum Zoom recording – presentation begins at 11:28 mark in recording

Advent Book Study
Do Not Be Afraid: The Joy of Waiting in a Time of Fear

This Advent, Gabe led us in discussing Do Not Be Afraid: The Joy of Waiting in a Time of Fear by Rachel Mann. We also discussed the book at our Wednesday night Engage! sessions. From the Foreword by Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York: “In this luminous and insightful book, Rachel Mann… reminds us that, in a world where many use their financial and social capital to avoid – as much as possible! – the boredoms and frustrations generated by waiting, there is glory to be found in waiting for the Lord and seeking hope in the good news of Jesus Christ. And what better time to attend to this good news than during this great season of watching and waiting, Advent?”

Shaped But Not Bound by History:
A History of Institutional Racism in our Diocese

A three-part adult forum series hosted by the Racial Justice and Reconciliation Committee

November 3, 2024 – Part One: This Sunday, the Rev. Dr. Rhonda Mahwood Lee discussed the history of institutional racism in our diocese based on her research. We discussed the period from our diocese’s beginning through the end of slavery.

November 10, 2024 – Part Two: We continued the conversation with the Rev. Dr. Rhonda Mawhood Lee about the history of institutional racism in our diocese, focusing on the Jim Crow period.

November 17, 2024 – Part Three: The Rev. Dr. Brooks Graebner, historiographer emeritus of the Diocese of North Carolina and former rector of St. Matthew’s in Hillsborough, offered his reflections on where we find ourselves at this moment in history as a diocese grappling with our past and seeking to understand and act in our present.

Further resources:

For more information, please contact
Gabe Lamazares, Associate Rector
gabe@stphilipsdurham.org