Join Us for a Circle
See details of our current offerings below. Circles are limited to 8-16 people, and are offered both virtually and in person.
Gather with others in Ancestors Roots. We will ask what people from Genesis, Exodus, or the Prophets knew that we've forgotten, and what courage they carried that we still need. Begins Fall 2026.
Go all in with the Justice & faith Cohort. Rooted in faith. Grounded in justice. Built for this moment. Begins October 2026.
Put together your own Community Circle, to bring together the people and conversation you need most.
Opportunities come and go. Continue to check back as we update our offerings. Even better, stay in touch by subscribing to our newsletter. Have questions about registration? Email Lisa at lisa@40orchards.org.
Ancestors Roots
A ten-session small group beginning this fall. In person or virtual.
The people of Scripture were not illustrations. They were people, frightened, faithful, complicated, and alive, just like us. They survived empire, exile, and erasure. They argued with God and kept going. They knew things about this moment that we have not yet remembered.
Ancestors Roots is a monthly gathering for people who want to sit with the biblical tradition not as a text to be explained, but as a community to be joined. We'll move through narrative stories in Genesis, Exodus, or the Prophets, asking what people carried, what they knew, and what they might say to us now. With curriculum to help the rooting continue outside of our gatherings.
Begins Fall 2026. Tell us you're interested below
Justice & faith Cohort
Some of us have been doing the work for years. Others are just finding our footing. All of us are asking the same question: how do we sustain this, together?
The Justice & faith Cohort is a seven-month learning community rooted in Scripture, the long tradition of justice movements, and the particular witness of what has been lived and fought for here in the Twin Cities. In a time of rising authoritarianism and oppression, we believe the work of repair, resistance, and communal liberation is not optional, and it cannot be done alone.
Beginning in early fall and running through spring, this cohort will gather online and in person for deep study, honest conversation, and the kind of community that makes the long work possible. We'll move through units that hold faith and justice together, not as parallel tracks, but as a single, ancient, urgent calling.
This cohort is open nationally. We are building something with roots here and reach beyond.
Who this is for People who want to go deeper: theologically, practically, and in community. Leaders, learners, and everyone who suspects that faith has more to say about this moment than what they’ve been exposed to.
What to expect
A seven-month arc with retreats at the beginning and end
Biweekly gatherings with structured conversation and reading in between
A curriculum that aligns us with justice and keeps moving that out into action.
Dates, pricing, and logistics are coming soon. In the meantime, tell us you're interested. Questions? Email lisa@40orchards.org.
Community Circles: Gather. Speak. Trust again.
Gather your friends or community, choose a time that works for you, and we’ll coordinate a facilitator to guide you.
Invite a small group from your community — individuals or a church — to meet 1-4 times a year, supported by the participants’ donations. These facilitated gatherings offer a safe space to have the hard conversations we often don’t know how to begin: rebuilding trust, wrestling with disappointment, walking through what faith means after hurt. Together you’ll explore issues in the circle of people who already know you, in a context of community and care.
Time and location:
2-6 hours at the date, time, and location coordinated between the host and facilitator.
Pricing:
We aim for $250 for a 2-3 hour commitment. This can be donated by the host or gathered from participants contributions. Like all other 40 Orchards offerings, we don’t want cost to hinder people from attending. Please contact us to see what we can make work.
How:
Email us using the form to this form and we will be in touch about next steps.