Bible Studies

  • Evening Bible Study meets on Mondays at 5:30 p.m.
  • Spiritual Classics Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m.
  • Wednesday Bible Study at 3 p.m.
  • Whirlwind Bible tour on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m.
  • Women’s Bible Study on Thursdays at 10 a.m.

This Week and Next Week’s Classes

Evening Bible Study October 5: 1 Peter Ch 2.11
Evening Bible Study October 12: No Meeting

Spiritual Classics October 6: No Meeting
Spiritual Classics October 13: Death & Eternal Life

Wednesday Bible Study October 7: No Meeting
Wednesday Bible Study October 14: Mishkan

Whirlwind Bible Tour October 7: Courage Under Fire I
Whirlwind Bible Tour October 7: Courage Under Fire II (The Prophets)

Women’s Bible Study October 8: 1 Peter 3.7
Women’s Bible Study October 15: 1 Peter 5.1

All groups meet in the Large Conference Room – upstairs in Conkey House. No special materials are needed, but a bible, of course, is a must. The discussion is lively, and newcomers are always welcome.

Bible Study with Fr. Simon+
Wednesdays at 3 p.m. in Large Conference Room upstairs in Conkey House

On October 14th, we will start a new section on the Mishkan, i.e. the Old Testament Temple. We will finally get to look at the Book of Leviticus (as Fr. Simon+ has threatened for years!) and will see the connections between the Old Testament Temple and Liturgy and the beginning chapters of the Book of Revelation with reference to the Letter to the Hebrews as well. Come ready to learn about this fascinating topic, too often neglected to the peril of our Christian formation and understanding. The books recommended are ISBN: 978-1422614631 and ISBN: 978-0827608979.

Spiritual Classics with Fr. Simon+
A brand-new Spiritual Classics with Fr. Simon+ starts Tuesday October 13, at 10 a.m., and meets every Tuesday in the upstairs Large Conference Room of Conkey House! To coincide with the diocesan initiative “Life is Changed, Not Ended,” we will be reading and discussing one of the great Church Fathers, St. Gregory of Nyssa, reading a wonderful collection of his writings on Death and Eternal Life. Get the book if you can, ISBN: 978-0881417098. All are welcome to come, even if you don’t have the book or haven’t done the reading as we will be talking about this perennially important topic which today is probably one of the most taboo as well. Yet, as Seneca reminds us, “Male vivet quisquis nesciet bene mori,” “He lives badly who does not know how to die well.” It is very interesting that for many years the most popular course at Yale University was a class entitled “On Death.” Let’s explore this topic but under the direction of our beautiful Christian faith, with the guidance of St. Gregory of Nyssa.

Whirlwind Bible Tour
What is the main story of the Bible? What are the primary themes? Where did the Bible come from and how is it put together? What writing styles are in the Bible? What are the historic contexts?

If any of these questions interest you, please join us for a Whirlwind Bible Tour on Wednesday evenings (5:30 pm) starting August 26, 2026 and continuing until December 16, 2026. We’ll meet in Large Conference Room in Conkey House.

Please contact Whirlwind Bible Tour Guide Kat Bernhardt at (505) 819-9667 or katbernhardt@mac.com to sign up or to ask any questions.

Here’s the scope

 

Spiritual Classics Book Study

Every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. there is a study of a Christian classic chosen by the group. Since the study began in the fall of 2010, the group has read and discussed The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis, The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis, The Confession of St. Augustine and Julian of Norwich: Revelations of Divine Love. The conversation is freewheeling, and newcomers to the group feel welcome from the first day.

Spiritual Classics meets in Large Conference Room upstairs in Conkey House

From Fr. Simon+, we are doing a brand-new journey in Spiritual Classics. Goals: To grow in the love and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, in order to catch something of the Seraphic flame of love, as our souls journey deeper and deeper into God, looking together at the writings of St. Francis of Assisi. Ours is the oldest and largest Parish in the entire Anglican Communion dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, did you know that? Years ago, Dean Peggy Patterson led a pilgrimage to Assisi which continues to bear fruit to this day. Maybe it’s time to look at doing this again for a new generation of Holy Faith parishioners. Maybe it’s time to reestablish something of the Regula Sancti Patris Francisci and from here to let its peace, light, joy, and love radiate out to the whole world. Maybe it’s time to let the Spirit breathe new life into our own Fratres et Sorores de Poenitentia. Come along on this fun itinerarium! We will read the actual works of Francis and Clare, ISBN: 9780809124466.  Even if none of the above excites you, this is still great material regarding Spiritual Classics that has not been covered before. So come for the friendship and fellowship if nothing else!  Click Here for More Info

Sunday Forum

Sunday adult forums, held in person between services at 10:00 a.m. in Palen Hall focus on Christian formation presented in a way that both informs and entertains. Subjects include Bible study, Christian history and sound doctrine, with a little poetry mixed in.

Adult Forums in October

For the October Sunday Forums at 10:00 a.m. in Palen Hall, Fr. Robin will lead us through the diocesan initiative called “Life is Changed, Not Ended.” The title is taken from the proper preface for a Funeral Eucharist (“Through Jesus Christ our Lord; who rose victorious from the dead, and doth comfort us with the blessed hope of everlasting life; for to thy faithful people, O Lord, life is changed, not ended; and when our mortal body doth lie in death, there is prepared for us a dwelling place eternal in the heavens. BCP p.349) This phase is rooted in a simple conviction: God is present with us. Whether in joy or sorrow, strength or vulnerability, “Life is Changed, Not Ended” invites us to notice that presence, respond to it, and testify to it through our words and our choices.

“Life is Changed, Not Ended” is an invitation to engage in a series of spiritual exercises, prayerful practices undertaken intentionally so that we may be drawn closer to God. These exercises are about attentiveness, helping us notice God’s Generosity in the gift of our lives, God’s Forgiveness that releases our burdens, and God’s Healing that binds up our wounds and mends brokenness. We are invited to engage these spiritual exercises – not alone – but in our faith community, supported by our clergy, strengthened by one another, and held within the prayer of the Church. These spiritual exercises help us face death not alone, not in fear, but standing within the Body of Christ, confident in the promise of the Resurrection and the reality of the Communion of Saints.

October 11: Spiritual Exercise 1 – Preparing or Updating Your Last Will and Testament: Testifying to Gratitude and Generosity

October 18: Spiritual Exercise 2 – Preparing Your Advance Directives for Health Care: Testifying to Resurrection Hope

October 25: Spiritual Exercise 3 – Planning Your Funeral: Testifying to the Communion of Saints

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mother Lynn’s Triduum Presentation from March 10, 2024

Click here to Download and save a copy of this Presentation

Father Robin’s Benedictine Spirituality Sunday Forum presentation from October 16, 2022.

Education for Ministry (EfM) Program

EfM is a program of the University of the South, better known as Sewanee, and has a 50 year history of involving lay people in learning about their personal faith and understanding. This is not a program for people thinking they wish to become ordained, rather it is a program for the lay parishioners wanting to discover and learn about the development and evolvement of their faith. It is not Bible Study either, even though both the Old and New Testaments are used to explore a better understanding of faith and spirituality. While the program is a four-year program that results in a certificate from Sewanee, it is an annual commitment to continue. Steven Berkshire will be leading the group at Holy Faith. Steve has been involved in the EfM program since 2004 and is certified mentor for the program. He facilitates the group in its exploration and learning rather than teaches as one might expect in a classroom.  As a four-year program, each year explores a different aspect of our faith and spirituality. The first year explores the Old Testament using a textbook and discussion format. The second year explores the New Testament, also using a textbook. In the third year we explore the history of Christianity. And during the fourth year we explore our personal understanding of our faith. A major aspect of EfM is learning how to theologically reflect on issues facing us as Episcopalians and Christians. If there are participants from more than one year, we still meet together as one group. There are several opportunities for inter-year discussions. We meet weekly on Thursday evenings for about two-hours from September to the end of May at the Church.
If interested please  contact Steve Berkshire at daeberk@yahoo.com or by calling 505.557.6576.
EFM meets weekly on Thursdays 15 5:30 p.m. in the Campbell Room, with the exception of the fourth Thursday of the month, when the meeting begins at 6:00 p.m.

Women’s Spirituality Gatherings and Study

Holy Faith’s Women’s Spirituality Group meets for study and seasonal retreats and is open to all women of the parish and Santa Fe community. Recent study groups have included theological works of Hildegard of Bingen, Julian of Norwich, Teresa of Avila and Sister Joan Chittister.

The 10th Annual Women’s Quiet Day was held on Saturday, February 7, 2026, featuring Megan McKenna presenting “Women Rising: First Witnesses and Prechers of the Resurrection.” Megan McKenna has degrees in scripture, adult education and literacy, and systematic theology. She is known for her in-depth devotional writing and cross-cultural stories from all world religions.

For more information about the Women’s Spirituality Group contact Mtr. Madelynn at (505) 780-0801 or mkpriest@msn.com.

The Women’s Spirituality Group will offer a study and discussion of “The Story of Ruth” by Joan Chisitter, beginning Monday, August 17th, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and continuing for the following three weeks. The book is readily available from Amazon and also from ThriftBooks.  Contact Mtr Madelynn at mkpriest@msn.com or Eli, the church secretary at (505) 982-4447 if you are interested in attending.

Women’s Spirituality Group Retreat
The Women’s Spirituality Group will offer a one-day retreat Saturday, September 19th, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The retreat will focus on the nature and meaning of mercy through scripture, readings, prayer, and discussion. The day will include time for quiet individual contemplation.

Morning coffee or tea and also a light lunch will be provided. There is no cost to participants. If interested, please contact Mtr. Madelynn at mkpriest@msn.com at your earliest convenience, as space is limited. The retreat will gather at the home of Sally Ritch. Do RSVP as a count will be necessary to ensure we will have enough food on hand.