I will be joining in this year as a participant in my first long term deep dive into our country’s (United States of America) history of race and faith with the 11-part series called Sacred Ground: A Film and Reading-based Dialogue on Race and Faith founded by the Episcopal Church in 2019. I will be joining in with a group whose organizer has been leading this online (via Zoom) for four years, Episcopal Priest M. T. When I met her online last year, we were both in attending the online Racial Reconciliation Monthly Gathering of Racial Justice Leaders group organized by the Episcopal Racial Justice & Reconciliation Ministries (which has sadly ended early 2025). And I saw that she mentioned that they offer the Sacred Ground curriculum online- which I thought was marvelous. I reached out to her to let me know when they started a group up again (as it’s only one group per year) and she contacted me! I’m excited to be journeying together with others to learn, think through, lament, and share reflections with one another during this time together. I’ve met with M.T. online one-on-one asking her a lot of questions about this experience because if I was going to share about it before I’ve gone through it myself, I wanted to have done my work in investigating things and hearing from leadership THEIR reasons why this matters to them.

Let me tell you, after meeting with M.T., I do believe this will be a highly transformative experience for myself (and whoever else joins in with hearts open to learn and possibly change). I talk to a lot of different people because of my work as a hospital chaplain and I do believe that M.T. has done her work. And she is one of several (I think 7 different) facilitators and dialogue circle partners for this year. You will be able to experience this (or judge) for yourself what you think about this opportunity by attending one of the 2 Sacred Ground

Preview sessions for this year on Monday, August 11th, 2025 at either: 12:30-1:30pmCDT or 6-7pmCDT on Zoom. The link is here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84548945026?pwd=ZO8aCD60tMSJb6uRLxuBN3fJADYfxu.1 (I plan to attend the afternoon session(s) I think, but not yet sure.) IF YOU MISSED THE PREVIEW SESSIONS– email Rev Maria at sacredground.beth@gmail.com to let her know your interest. Perhaps a conversation could be helpful before the registration deadline of 18 Aug or your contact information can be retained for next year’s course (prayerfully).

(Also, if you’re wondering why I’m sharing so much about this- I don’t get anything from sharing except for resourcing others like you about things that are important. This is what I do. I hope you will check out the preview and consider committing to this opportunity which closes for registration on 18 August 2025. After that, prayerfully, there will be another opportunity next year!)

The group that I will be going through the Sacred Ground material with, led by M.T. online, is called “Full Communion Sacred Ground.” They call themselves that because the core of this group (thoughtfully broken down into smaller dialogue circles) “are Episcopalians, Lutherans, and Moravians, but we have had people from other traditions (and no traditions) and have been enriched by them.” Here are excerpts of some of their introductory materials here and downloads I’m able to share with you below.

You are invited to Sacred Ground this fall, to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity.
The 11-part series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories.

Sacred Ground is part of Becoming Beloved Community, The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. This series is open to all, and is especially designed to help white people talk with other white people. Participants are invited to peel away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of the present day – all while grounded in our call to faith, hope and love.

Join a full communion Zoom group, with Episcopalians, Lutherans, Moravians, and others, every other Monday , beginning August 25, from 12:30-2pmCDT or 6-7:30pmCDT, with extended sessions the first session and last two sessions. (There is a break for Advent/Christmas and we end before Lent on 16 Feb 2026.) There are about 2 hours of film-watching and reading between each session. In addition to the larger group each person will be a part of a small dialogue circle. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend each session, to build trust and depth in the circles.

Sacred Ground is free but it requires an investment of your time and heart that will challenge and reward you, as we work toward becoming Beloved Community.

Please go to www.episcopalchurch.org/sacredground to learn more about Sacred Ground. Contact the Rev. Maria Tjeltveit at sacredground.beth@gmail.com if you have questions or would like to register for a preview session (Aug. 11) or the full course.

Details I’ve gathered

• open ecumenically
• don’t need to be Christian to participate but respectful that the content is Christian (based perspective)
• “Sacred Ground was created by the Episcopal Church in 2019. The films and readings were mostly set at that time. There was a revision in 2022,  with some updated materials. I think most of us can agree that a lot has changed in just 3 short years, and the political and racial landscape is very different now than it was in 2019. So, we have received permission to choose some newer films and readings. One of the great things about Sacred Ground is that they have paid for all the copyrights for the materials we read or watch. When we choose new films or readings on our own, we will not have those copyrights, so there may be some minor charges to watch a film or read an article.” (hence the additional cost of no more than $10-20 in total with support available to cover those costs if needed.)
• allow heart to be changed and ourselves to be transformed
• take some of what you learn to work to create a loving community
• this is not a ‘drop-in’ opportunity, after the PREVIEW, if you commit (deadline 18 Aug) we ask for consistent participation from Aug 25th – 16 Feb 2026 meeting every other week.
• Cost is to invest your time and heart by attending regularly, purchase a copy of 2 books (Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman and Waking Up White by Debby Irving), and paying for some of the documentary viewing license fees (no more than $10-20 total with support available to cover those costs if needed.)
• This includes focus on other people groups as well: “Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories.”

Details you can download

Details and dates for 2025-2026 Full Communion Sacred Ground group, flyer, and letter to those considering this group by Rev Maria shared with me to share with others below:

Hope to see you! Please share with any who might be interested. Thank you.