Being a Community That Learns Together

Nov 1

THE NEWSLETTER

Dig Into Big Ideas at Commons

Being a Community That Learns Together

Scott Wall

“There are many who seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge: that is curiosity. There are others who desire to know in order that they may be known: that is vanity… But there are some who seek knowledge in order to edify others: that is love.”

— St. Bernard of Clairvaux (12th century mystic and reformer)

Where Did Courses Come From?

Commons has always aspired to be a community that learns together. Shortly after arriving in Calgary several years ago, I was grateful to participate in a workshop on mental health that Commons hosted on a Saturday afternoon. At the time, I remember wondering how many people were so fortunate as I was: to be part of a community committed to raising awareness in such a critical area.

I’ve seen us grow in our approach to learning, with one example being our experimentation during pandemic restrictions with what we now call Courses. Those first Courses were aimed at getting community members around tables with the same people during a time when it was hard to connect. They represented a more focused opportunity for people to converse than Sundays often do and gave us a chance to explore big ideas that we sometimes have to gloss over in our sermons.

And they were a hit! We’ve run Courses on relationships and hermeneutics, on prayer practices and having a more expanded theological imagination – and the format is straightforward in each of them. We work through some content, and then turn toward each other in conversation.

What Makes Courses Special?

And that “turn” is what I want to highlight in this brief snapshot of what Courses are. See, time and time again, I’ve seen Course discussions become a poignant example of what we might call collaborative wisdom. Where one person shares a story or a reflection or an insight, and the person across the table is deeply impacted and affirmed. I’ve seen it happen numerous times, where the wisdom someone needs doesn’t appear in what I or any other facilitator says but in the humble exchange between two people who may have just met for the first time.

This is such a poignant picture of what Clairvaux imagined as the reason we should seek knowledge. At Commons, we want to keep exploring the scriptures and defining our spiritual practices with an ethic of curiosity. But, we want to remember that our commitment to learning together can and should be rooted in our love for the world, in our care for others, and in our attempt to be more self-aware.

With this in mind, let me tell you what Courses are coming up!

New and Upcoming Courses

First, this newsletter arrives hot off the press on the day (November 7th) that our Great Tradition Course begins – and it’s not too late to register. This conversation will take a wide, expansive view of Christian thought and practice because sometimes it can feel like the Christianity we’ve known is so narrow and inflexible. Behind it all is something bigger, we think – something worth holding onto.

Second, during Lent of 2024, we will host our Prayer Apprentice Course. This year, Yelena is going to lead participants in an exploration of the deep and varied prayer practices of our tradition. So, if you’ve struggled with your relationship to prayer, or you want to try something new as part of your Lenten rhythms, consider this great opportunity to learn with others.

Finally, next June, we will host a Course called Parenting IRL. We know that shaping young minds and hearts is a daunting challenge, so we’re bringing in some outside voices to help parents, guardians, and supporters navigate it all. We hope that these conversations offer some helpful perspective while also reminding us that we aren’t alone in this important work.

To learn more and register for upcoming Courses, visit and keep an eye on our Upcoming Events page.