Bible Study

Contemplative Action Circles on Dismantling White Supremacy

Six Weeks, Thursdays October 5 through November 9 from 6:30-8:30pm

The OCBC Contemplative Action Circles offer small groups of participants an intimate setting to pray, reflect, and learn from each other about racism in our lives. They build on the racial justice and education work the congregation did last year, but participation in last year’s activities is not necessary. Because we hope these circles will allow each of us to deepen our understanding of racism and our ability to confront it, we encourage you to commit to attending all six sessions of their group, though it is not a requirement.

Each Circle will be structured as follows:

 

Shared Meal, 6:30-7:00

This is an important time for fellowship to be organized by each Circle.

 

Contemplative Time, 7:00-7:15

Each session will begin with a careful reading of a short passage from a variety of possible sources, such as the Bible, other faith traditions, and readings related to race. This will be followed by a few quiet moments of prayer and meditation.

 

Storytelling & Resonance, 7:15-7:30

Group members will take turns presenting something for the group to reflect on and discuss. This might be a discussion of the passage, a personal experience related to race and their feelings about it, a question they have for the group, or a challenge they have been grappling with. This is followed by a period of active listening. The first session will be a time of organizing the Circle, discussing how the group wants to use its time, signing up for times to bring the meal and/or lead the story.

 

Discussion, 8:00-8:25

Time for discussing the story told, role playing ways to handle the situation, or other related activities.

 

Closing prayer, 8:25-8:30

 

Please sign up to attend one of the three available Circles by e-mailing the facilitator:

Circle 1           Old Cambridge Baptist Church Chapel, Led by Cody Sanders and Naro Pongen

                        Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Circle 2           Leslie Hergert’s home, 9 Saint James Ave, Somerville, Led by Leslie Hergert

                        Between Harvard and Porter Squares, short walk from Porter or                                                                       Davis T stations. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Circle 3           Maureen Power & Doug Koch’s home, 11 Holmes St., Cambridge, Led by Maureen and Doug. Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Children’s Sunday School

Children are a very important part of the community at Old Cambridge Baptist Church, and our children’s ministry strives to treat children as equal participants in the worshipping and serving life of the congregation.

OCBC’s Sunday School embraces a child-centered and spirit-centered philosophy of Christian education and spiritual formation. Our one-room Sunday school program runs concurrently with the Sunday morning service, 10:30am until noon. Additional childcare is provided for parents wishing to attend Adult Forums after the worship service.

Ministering to children ages 1 to 12, our dedicated teachers work to identify and cultivate each child’s gifts and promote social justice through life lessons of sharing/conservation, kindness, fairness, hospitality, humility, grace and love. We incorporate prayer, music, Bible study, song, craft and play in the classroom, and regularly update parents about their children’s Sunday school experience, connections and insights. Our teachers are trained in and adhere to OCBC’s Safe Church Policies and feel blessed to serve the children and families of OCBC. New children and families are warmly welcome to attend us!

If you have questions about OCBC’s Sunday School please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Chair and Deacon of OCBC Christian Education Committee and Sunday School Co-Instructor.

communion with children

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