Book Study
Book Study: Simplicity: The Art of Letting Go
Thursdays, September 10 - October 18 | 1:00pm to 2:00pm
Reception Room in Parish House
​
"One of the hardest things to do in letting go is giving up the need to be something. The more positive our self-image, the more dangerous it is. The more pious it is, the more dangerous it is. And the most dangerous thing of all is to be a professional Christian."
​
"Letting go of the present means giving up our self-image, our titles, our public image. What's at stake here are not just false images of God (which mostly serve our purposes), but also comfortable images of ourselves. That's probably what the saints meant when they said: We have to move to the place of faith, to the place of self-forgetfulness, of nothingness.
​
"We all have to start from the assumption that our path too leads into the wilderness and that we have to look exactly the same three demons in the eye: the need to be successful, the need to be righteous or religious, and the need to have power and get everything under control. Until we have stared down these three demons within us, there is no possibility of getting out of the wilderness and proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Otherwise we'll always be proclaiming our own kingdom. We use the Gospel to enthrone ourselves, and then the inner and outer ways split apart. God calls all of you to take the path of the inner truth — and that means taking responsibility for everything that's in you: for what pleases you and for what you're ashamed of, for the rich person inside you and for the poor one. Francis of Assisi called this, 'loving the leper within us.' If you love the poor one within you, you'll discover that you have compassion 'outside' too, that there's room in you for others, for those who are different from you, for the least among your brothers and sisters.
Previous Studies:
Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer: An Approach to Life in Fullness by David Steindl-Rast; The Difficult Words of Jesus—A Beginner's Guide to His Preplexing Teaching by Amy-Jill Levine; Being Human: Bodies, Minds, Persons by Rowan Williams; The Spiritual Life by Evelyn Underhill; Forgiveness and Reparation, the Healing Journey by Mpho Tutu van Furth, Being Christian by Rowan Williams, and Following Jesus: Finding our Way Home in an Age of Anxiety by Henri Nouwen
Bible Study
Adult Bible Study: The Psalms: Prayers for Every Season
Sundays, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
September 20, 2026 – Spring 2027
Reception Room in Parish House
​
For some 3,000 years, the Psalms have been the prayer book of Jews and Christians, part of the liturgies of Temple and Church, the backbone of the Divine Office recited by monks and nuns for 1,500 years, and a lynchpin of the monthly cycle in our own Book of Common Prayer, from 1549 onward. Most of us can recite at least a verse or two of them, but how well do we really know these ancient poems? How many of us study and, more importantly, pray them in a serious way? Calvary's Sunday Bible Study will tackle these incomparable Hebrew hymns and related wisdom literature this year. We will begin with a deep dive into the Book of Psalms, discussing the structure, history, scholarship, types of Psalms, how they've been prayed and used in liturgies across different traditions and millennia. And at the end of this exercise, we as a group will understand the different types of Psalms and how to approach and pray them. Join the dialogue. You might be surprised at what happens...
To learn more, contact Warren Loy.
Retreats
Adult retreats are a dedicated period of time where individuals can step away from their daily lives to engage in deep reflection, prayer, and fellowship, often focusing on specific themes related to the Christian faith, allowing them to deepen their connection with God and community in a quiet and supportive environment. They typically include elements of silence, meditation, group discussions, and worship services. Retreats can also provide an opportunity to connect with other church members and build deeper relationships.
Men's Group
Men's Group at Calvary Church provides a space for men to grow in their relationship with Christ and each other, and to serve their community. The Men's Group meets monthly to promote fellowship, collaboration, and service, through dinners, retreats and other activities.
Women of Calvary
Gather with a community of women of all ages and stages to grow spiritually, encourage each other and share opportunities to serve others.​
Handcrafts
​
Women's Book Club
​
Dinner with Friends
​
CPR Program
​
Intergenerational Cookie Decorating
Pilgrimage
Come on a curated pilgrimage to explore Anglican spirituality through visits to historic, often secluded, English sites, including gardens, churches, and cathedrals. This journey, featuring guided tours and worship, explores the intersection of history, nature and faith, and will feature sites like St. John's College in Durham City, Lambeth Palace gardens, Little Gidding, and Canterbury Cathedral.
​
For information, please contact Fr. Chris Cole.