About Discover

Do you want to go deeper into your faith? To ask hard questions? To understand how God has worked, and is working, in your life? On the six-week journey of Discover, you will share your story and explore the spiritual truths that make us human and give our lives meaning. This is a time to ask questions that can lead to a deeper relationship with God, with creation, and with others. Study of scripture provides the foundation, helping you understand God’s activity in your life and how God might be inviting you to change.

Discover is the beginning of a process–Discover, Embrace, Become–that can lead to baptism or reaffirmation. It can also stand alone as a class for seekers, those coming to the faith anew, or people wanting to have a faith-deepening experience in community with others.

What does a Discover group look like?

There are two types of Discover groups:

• Groups that gather and interact online
• Groups that gather in person

Groups are made up of 6-8 individuals with two mentors, whose role it is to listen, guide, and encourage.

What does a typical Discover session look like?

Each session lasts 90 minutes and follows a predictable flow. The structure is simple and flexible, allowing groups to move at their own pace and explore areas they feel led to enter into more deeply.

Typical flow:

• Spiritual truths of the Christian faith (~10 minutes)
  Brief, provocative “sharings” from clergy and lay leaders around the state will help you cross the threshold into your time together as well as provide themes for reflection during the session and the week ahead.
• Sharing of stories (~30 minutes)
  Integral to Discover is a time for sharing each other’s stories. These are not biographies, but rather personal sketches that focus on the formative moments, events, and relationships in our lives. Each week one or two individuals will share their stories. Discover provides a safe, nurturing space, with each group committing to respect the confidentiality of fellow participants.
• Bible study (~40 minutes)
  During Bible study, you will come close to the story of God and the teachings of Jesus, and make connections for your daily life, your relationships, and your understanding of God’s love for all. We use the method of “aural Bible study,” which helps individuals learn to listen to scripture and to each other in new ways. You will begin to understand that scripture can help you articulate your own struggles and listen to how God might be inviting you to change.
• Prayer (~10 minutes)
  Each session closes in prayer. You will pray for each other, with each person praying for the person to the right or left and continuing to pray for that person until the next gathering.

Is there any “homework”?

You will be invited to continue interacting between gatherings via on-line discussions posted by the group’s mentors. You will also be able to use discussions to ask questions and share reflections and experiences.

Groups meeting in person may also choose to use on-line discussions to “continue the conversation” and go deeper. This is up to each individual group.

What are the expectations?

• Participation in gatherings and on-line discussions
• A willingness to go deeper
• Questions!
• Being open to transformation
• Honoring each member of your group

For more information, contact the Rev. Canon Greg Foraker or Tracy Methe.