An Episcopal faith community exploring together what a life of faith "outside of a church" may be |
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The Beloved Community at The Trees Newsletter |
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1701 Pleasant Green Road, Durham, NC 27705
Look for "The Trees" sign by the mailbox and follow the winding gravel driveway to the parking areas near the house. We will have signs along the way to direct you to our gatherings. |
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This Week at The Beloved Community Upcoming Dates Worshipping Together Healing Ministries Featured: Summer Focus on Women, Pride Month Offerings, New Blog: Letter from Benjamin, Meal Train, The Trees Open House, St. Matthew's Screening of "1946," The Trees Wonder in the Woods Formation Pastoral Care and Prayer Ways to Get Involved
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THIS WEEK AT THE BELOVED COMMUNITY |
Wednesday, May 6 – May Formation Book Study |
7:00–8:30 PM, Zoom (link provided below) |
Thursday, May 7 – Coffee with Community |
9:00–11:00 AM – Starbucks on Guess Road (3801 Guess Rd, Durham) |
Sunday, May 10 – Sixth Sunday of Easter at The Trees |
3:30–4:30 PM – Parents, Families, & Friends of Queer Youth Support Group: Protective Steps against Threats and Bullying
4:45 PM – Gathering and Prayer with the Anglican Rosary
5:00 PM – Worship with Eucharist
6:00 PM – Shared Meal of Soup and Bread |
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Thursday, May 14 – The Trees Open House |
Friday, May 22 – Documentary, Dinner, & Discussion: "Inside the Manosphere" |
Saturday, June 6 – Queer Spirituality Saturday |
9:30 AM – 12:30 PM, The Trees |
Friday, June 12 – Documentary, Dinner, & Discussion: "Pray Away" |
Keep up with all that's going on with The Beloved Community through our online calendar |
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1701 Pleasant Green Road, Durham, NC 27705
Look for "The Trees" sign by the mailbox and follow the winding gravel driveway to the parking areas near the house. We will have signs along the way to direct you to our gatherings. |
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Accessing Our Order of Worship |
We at The Beloved Community are committed to being as environmentally friendly as possible. We invite you to bring a device to access our Order of Worship online. We will have a sign at the entrance with a QR code that you can scan for a digital copy of the liturgy. You can also use this link: Order of Worship |
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Prayer with the Anglican Rosary |
Prior to our worship services on Sundays, we gather to pray together at 4:45 PM using Anglican prayer beads. You are invited to join us, and you are welcome to use one of the rosaries provided or bring your own. |
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Narrative Lectionary and Discussion |
We are using the Narrative Lectionary for our Sunday scripture readings, and we have a lectionary discussion in place of a sermon as part of our time together.
If you are interested in preparing ahead of time for our discussion, we have compiled a list of " Resources for Reflection" on our website that you may find helpful. |
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Religious Trauma Recovery Support Group
1st and 3rd Sundays, 3:00–4:30 PM at The Trees |
Religious trauma occurs when a person's religious experience is stressful, degrading, dangerous, abusive, or damaging. Traumatic religious experiences may harm or threaten to harm someone's physical, emotional, mental, sexual, or spiritual health and safety. You are invited to join us as we gather to discuss personal experiences of religious trauma and learn together about healing. |
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Parents, Families, & Friends of Queer Youth Support Group
2nd and 4th Sundays, 3:30–4:30 PM at The Trees Meets this week! |
This group is offered for anyone who considers themselves family or friends of a queer youth. The purpose of this group is to explore together what scripture actually says about being queer, how to be supportive family, and how to process your own experiences as someone who loves a queer youth. |
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Virtual Religious Trauma Support Group
Tuesdays, 7:00–8:30 PM, online |
This group, led by Sam Laurent, Ph.D., is for anyone who identifies as having experienced religious trauma. This is an open group—you may join at any time—though we encourage beginning early to support the full processing experience. You can register to attend at this link: Virtual Religious Trauma Support Group Registration Form
Please note that the support group is taking a break and will resume in June. More details to come. |
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Throughout the summer, we will be highlighting stories of women in scripture during our Sunday worship services. If there is a scripture passage you would like included, please let Phillip or Jodi know. |
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From May through August, we will be reading and discussing three different books that engage gender and sexuality in our formation gatherings online on Wednesdays. Our July study of one of Pauli Murray's books is also one of our Pride offerings this summer. |
Womanist Midrash by Wil Gafney May 6 – June 10, 2026 |
Song in a Weary Throat by Pauli Murray July 1 – 29, 2026 |
Shameless by Nadia Bolz-Weber August 5 – 26, 2026 |
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Documentary, Dinner, & Discussion: "Inside the Manosphere" |
Friday, May 22, 2026 6:00–9:00 PM, The Trees |
On Friday, May 22, we will gather at The Trees to watch and discuss the documentary " Louis Theroux: Inside the Manosphere." This film speaks to issues of constructions of masculinity and misogyny in our current social and political context.
Dinner will be provided. All who are 13 and older are invited to attend. (Please note that the documentary is rated TV-MA.) |
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Queer Spirituality Saturday |
Saturday, June 6, 2026 9:30 AM – 12:30 PM, The Trees |
All are invited to attend our Queer Spirituality Saturday. The gathering will include an opportunity to talk about "Marvelously Made," the queer scripture zine developed by the Swindell committee.
If you would like to assist with planning this event, please get in touch with Phillip. |
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Documentary, Dinner, & Discussion: "Pray Away" |
Friday, June 12, 2026 6:00–9:00 PM, The Trees |
We will gather for another documentary screening to watch "Pray Away" and talk about the harms of conversion therapy and programs.
Dinner will be provided. All are welcome to attend. (Please note that this film is rated PG-13.) |
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Sunday, June 28, 2026 5:00 PM, The Trees |
The last Sunday of June is our Pride Sunday. We will celebrate Pride together as part of our worship gathering. |
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New Blog: Letter from Benjamin |
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Benjamin, our church mouse who has found numerous spots to hide in our worship space, has written a letter for our blog. In the letter, he shares some info about the meaning of the Paschal candle in Episcopal tradition and worship.
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Kerry Holbrook had surgery last week and would appreciate meals during their recovery. A meal train has been set up online for volunteering to provide food.
If you would like to participate, you can find out more and sign up at this link: Meal Train for Kerry |
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The Trees "Beautiful Things" Open House |
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Thursday, May 14, 2026 12:00–6:00 PM, The Trees |
The Trees is hosting an open house to celebrate all the ministries and offerings that this place makes available to the wider community. All are invited to come and learn more about the groups and activities that gather at The Trees.
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Screening of "1946" by St. Matthew's LGBTQIA+ Ministry |
Sunday, May 17, 2026 2:00–4:00 PM, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Fellowship Hall |
In observance of the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia, the LGBTQIA+ Ministry at St. Matthew's is hosting a screening of the documentary "1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture." There will be refreshments and fellowship after the film. All are invited to attend.
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The Trees Wonder in the Woods Series |
Select Saturdays, May – October 2026 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM, The Trees |
The Trees is hosting a monthly series called "Wonder in the Woods." These half-day Saturday morning retreats offer opportunities for contemplation, wondering, creativity, and connecting with creation. They are open to the wider community. Saturday, May 16 – Reorienting to Wonder: A SoulCollage Day Apart Saturday, June 27 – Wonder with Words Saturday, July 25 – Approaching the Divine with Wonder Saturday, August 22 – Wonder with Our Wounds Saturday, September 26 – Wonder in Our Dreams Saturday, October 24 – Wonder with Nature
(Note: The cost to attend each event is $30–95, with a sliding scale for fees to make this series more financially accessible for more people.) |
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May Book Study: Womanist Midrash by Wil Gafney |
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Wednesdays, 7:00–8:30 PM, Zoom May 6 – June 10, 2026 Led by Carolyn Kreuger and Jodi Belcher
Join us as we examine the women of the Torah through the prism of Rev. Dr. Wil Gafney's Womanist Midrash, Volume 1: A Reintroduction to the Women of the Torah and the Throne. In this book, Gafney employs what she calls her "sanctified imagination" to give voice to marginalized and often unnamed biblical women. She centers the experiences of Black women and others on the margins to challenge traditional hetero-male-normative and patriarchal interpretations of sacred texts.
In addition to discussing selected portions of this book, we will be looking at biblical texts from the lectionary through Gafney's lens and engage our own sanctified imaginations in relation to that scripture and the women revealed or hidden there.
All are welcome! Books will be available in the Beloved Community lending library for anyone who needs a copy. If you have a Spotify subscription, you can also access an audiobook version there.
Reading and Discussion Schedule Week 1, May 6: Womanism, Midrash, God (She/They), & Eve Gafney: Introduction & Ch. 1, pp. 15–27 Scripture: Genesis 1:1–5, 2:18–23
Week 2, May 13: Sarai/Sarah, Hagar, & Other Women of Genesis Gafney: Ch. 1, pp. 27–85 Scripture: TBD
Week 3, May 20: Shiphrah, Puah, & Other Women of Exodus and Leviticus Week 4, May 27: Miryam & Women of Numbers and Deuteronomy Week 5, June 3: Queens & Women Overshadowed by Saul Week 6: Women Dominated by David, Wrap-Up Gafney: Ch. 8 Scripture: TBD
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July Book Study: Song in a Weary Throat by Pauli Murray |
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Wednesdays, 7:00–8:30 PM, Zoom July 1 – 29, 2026 Led by Deacon Dan Laird
Our focus this summer is on women in scripture and of the church, and our July Formation is on Pauli Murray’s book, “Song in a Weary Throat.”
This is an in-depth reflection of Pauli’s life and achievements. To cover it all would take months, so I’m recommending that participants in the book study read the first 19 chapters on their own. These early chapters focus on Pauli’s growing-up years as well as the challenges of education and employment as a woman of color in the mid-twentieth century.
The formation sessions will focus on chapters 20–35, which include the legal, religious, and activist work of Pauli Murray.
I look forward to delving into the work of this incredible woman and our patron saint! |
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To learn about our future book studies, you can check out the Formation page on our website. |
Phillip's availability is now online. You can request a meeting with Phillip by using his Google Calendar page, which you can also access on our website by clicking "Meet with Rev. Phillip" under the "About" menu.
If there is a pastoral care emergency, you are encouraged to reach out to Rev. Phillip or Deacon Dan directly. |
During our weekly worship, we set aside time to remember those who are in our prayers. It is our practice to name them individually and to remember them communally. We also add an ongoing prayer list to our order of worship for those who appreciate having the names recorded for their prayer practices between worship gatherings.
If you would like to add yourself or someone else to the prayer list, please contact us at welcome@belovedcommunitydurham.org. You are welcome to share as much or as little as you feel comfortable. Only the person's first name will be included in the order of worship.
This week we remember Alayna, Anthony, Billy, Chris, Gregory, Kerry, Marie, Maureen, and Nikki. |
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For a small community, we have a lot going on! Because our mission is to offer a safe and affirming place for those healing from religious trauma, we never want anyone to feel that they must give (financially or otherwise). However, we also recognize that volunteering to support our ministries can be a way for some to heal.
With that in mind, if you feel a desire or calling to help out, below are a few ways you can do so. To sign up, follow this link to our Volunteer page. |
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Each Sunday, we gather for a simple shared meal of soup and bread after worship. This time of gathering together around a table has been fundamental in our building The Beloved Community.
We welcome more folks to get involved in bringing a meal, purchasing food for a meal, or assisting in the kitchen with meal prep and cleanup.
If you would like to help, you can sign up on the Volunteer page. If the cost of the meal is prohibitive, you can receive reimbursement by speaking with a member of the finance team. |
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Each Sunday a member of the community picks up flowers from St. Philip's Episcopal Church in downtown Durham and brings them to The Trees for our worship service. We are in need of a few more people to transport flowers on a monthly rotation.
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To help all of us enter into the Narrative Lectionary readings and discussion, we have someone "set the scene" every Sunday with an introduction to the reading that offers us more context for understanding the scriptures. |
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We have requested use of The Trees on the first Fridays of each month in 2026 for social gatherings. In the past, we've enjoyed game nights, documentaries, craft nights, and more.
If you are interested in organizing a First Friday Social Gathering, let us know! |
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To make it easier for our community to share announcements, the communications team has set up a simple form to submit announcements or information for the newsletter and other communications. You can access it at this link: TBC Newsletter and Social Media Submission Form
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We rely on your gifts to offer the ministries of The Beloved Community. Although we strive to keep our overhead low, we do face financial responsibility. Your financial donations support our weekly meals, formation opportunities, supplies for healing ministries and worship, and other resources. If you would like to contribute funds to the ministries of The Beloved Community, you can do so with cash, check, PayPal, or ChurchTrac.
Mailing Address for Check Donations The Beloved Community at The Trees 1701 Pleasant Green Road Durham, NC 27705
ChurchTrac Donations You may make a donation directly into our account through the ChurchTrac link below. Donations can be done with credit/debit card or an ACH bank transfer. |
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We are grateful for our sending parish, The Church of the Nativity in Raleigh. Nativity supported The Beloved Community through prayer, shared ministries, and financial oversight for our first year.
We are grateful for the use of The Trees, graciously provided to us at no cost by St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Durham. We also give thanks to St. Philip’s for the gift of flowers. Each Sunday, St. Philip’s shares their flowers with The Beloved Community so that we too may enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.
We also acknowledge that we gather on the ancestral territory of the Eno, the Tuscarora, the Occaneechi, and other Indigenous peoples. |
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1701 Pleasant Green Road
Durham, NC 27705
USA
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