Let's Create Space for Each Other
“If God’s people have been able to gather in caves and catacombs throughout history and still have the Spirit show up, I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that the Spirit shows up when we gather via Zoom. ”
When a global pandemic pushed all of us to change our routines in March, I was nervous about moving online. Would it be the same? How much would be lost?
The transition was hard. We had to find new ways to facilitate. We discovered Zoom fatigue. And it wasn’t the same as meeting in person. One of my favorite things about 40 Orchards has always been the fact that we meet in person.
In a digital, large, and fast-moving world, the slow, small, and embodied practice of physically being together in Scripture Circles has been grounding to me. I’ve been stretched by being in the room with stories and experiences different from my own. I love experiencing the “listening noises” when someone shares something that speaks to the soul of the group. I have often found the hugs, coffee pot chats, and long Minnesota goodbyes to be as impactful to me as the study itself.
Yet somewhere along the way in our Zoom meetings, things started to shift. Virtual circles moved from feeling awkward to feeling good. Sure, we didn’t have the physical presence of one another, but we still had a lot.
We were creating a safe space online where we could:
… see each other, instead of scrolling past each other.
… cultivate life, instead of feeding fear.
… root deeply in truth, instead of flailing in uncertainty.
… wrestle together, instead of judging each other (or ourselves).
… expect more from this world, instead of letting cynicism win.
In short, we discovered that even in virtual Scripture Circles, we could still be 40 Orchards.
“I’ve been in a circle with someone in Germany and another with someone in California. And in some ways it’s very much the same. We’re wrestling with Scripture and ourselves in the company of people on a similar journey. The Spirit is just as present.”
Our mission begins by saying we want “to create safe spaces for the curious, the doubters, and the hope seekers to wrestle through biblical texts.”
Creating safe spaces means we want every Scripture Circle to be a place where anyone who wants to participate feels like they can. Meeting in person requires a level of intimacy that brings us closer than 6 feet apart for an extended period of time—and that means those who are more vulnerable to Covid-19 (or who love or live with someone who is) would not be able to join us.
For us, that’s just too big of a loss.
And so, we look forward to the day when we can be together in person again but, in the meantime, we continue to be expectant about how God can work in and through our virtual gatherings.
Here’s what that means for the next season at 40 Orchards:
Roots
Our 10-session Roots programs let you dig into key scriptures with a consistent group of people. Passages are chosen based on the ways they can guide us in both good midrash study principles and bring questions and space to wrestle with our lives today. Roots includes a curriculum you can take home for further study and exploration.
We will launch three Roots programs this fall. All will begin virtually, through the zoom platform. Would you join us?
Torah Roots: This program covers key passages from Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. It will meet once per month, on the 1st Tuesday evening, from 6:30-8:30 pm beginning October 6. Register here.
Gospel Roots: This program covers key passages from Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Torah Roots and/or the Cohort program is a prerequisite. It will meet once per month, on the 1st Wednesday evening, from 6:30-8:30 pm beginning October 7. Register here.
Prophet Roots: This new program is open to any who have gone through Torah Roots and/or the Cohort program. We will listen for how the voices of the prophets are continuing to speak today. It will meet twice per month, on the 1st and 3rd Friday mornings, from 10am to 12pm beginning September 18. Register here.
The Cohort
We are moving the start of the cohort program from fall 2020 to January 22, 2021. We are excited about how our plans for the next stages of this program are unfolding. This is a great time to be thinking about whether this program could be a fit for you. Read more here. If you want to explore whether the cohort would be a fit for you, please email us. We’d love to chat more.
Open Studies
You can expect more open and partnership studies as well. Watch the register page of the website and our emails for up-to-date offerings. On August 25, we have our final virtual circle of our summer series on justice and kindness, this time on Galatians 6:2. Register here.
Coming soon… Perspectives
We are beyond excited to be launching a new program called Perspectives this fall. Watch for blogs and emails in the following weeks to learn more.
We feel hopeful about the path in front of us. Virtual or in person, Scripture Circles provide safe spaces in days where those are so needed, and also so difficult to come by. We hope you can join us.
With you,
Steph and Lisa