Take On Lent 2026

This “inquirer’s class” is designed for the curious: people who are new to The Episcopal Church, new to the Cathedral, interested in baptism, confirmation, reception from a different faith tradition, or simply eager to study with a new community. Newcomers and regulars alike will explore this essential question: what might it mean to join this Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement?

The five sessions will cover our Anglican roots and theology, surveys of the Old and New Testaments, the Book of Common Prayer and our sacramental life together, and finally an instructional Eucharist that will explain how and why we worship the way we do.

details

• Participants must commit to all sessions. This class a limited capacity, and is not available to join after February 24.
• Location: Cathedral Library Boardroom
• Facilitators: Cathedral clergy

At some point in our lives, most of us ask hard questions: Why do bad things happen to good people? Where is God when we are hurting? Why does suffering seem so unfair—and sometimes so overwhelming? Phrases we hear in the church, like “love the sinner, hate the sin,” can feel confusing or even painful when we are facing real loss, grief, or injustice. This class invites us to explore theodicy—the theological wrestling with evil, suffering, and God’s presence in a hurting and broken world.

This study is an invitation to gather in a safe and compassionate space to reflect on suffering, evil, and God’s presence in our lives. Rather than offering quick answers, we will listen to Scripture, hear from scholars and theologians, and explore how faith speaks in moments of pain, doubt, and uncertainty. Together, we will consider how God meets us in suffering—not with judgment or distance, but with love, mercy, and deep solidarity.

Whether you come with long-held faith, deep questions, or lived experiences of suffering, this series offers a place to reflect, listen, and seek God together.

details

Location: Bethlehem Chapel
Facilitators: Vicar Dana Corsello and Fr. Spencer Brown
Weekly Topics and Guests: See below registration button for names and information. Participants may register for the weeks they wish to attend.

Topics & Guests:

feb 24: An Evening with Eboo Patel on Faith & Democracy

Note: this week’s session joins the above program in the Cathedral nave.

march 3: good and evil

Why do bad things happen to good people?
Presenter: Dr. Barbara Fears
Rev. Barbara Annette Fears, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Religious Education at Howard University School of Divinity in Washington, DC, where she teaches courses in the history, philosophy, and practice of ministry and directs the Clinical Pastoral Education program. As a womanist practical theologian and critical pedagogue, she explores power, privilege, and accountability in faith formation. Her 2025 publications appear in Judson Press and Teaching Theology and Religion. As an ordained UCC minister, CPE-trained chaplain, and Rooks Fellow, she collaborates on research and curriculum development. She’s pursuing Spiritual Direction certification and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

march 10: pain & suffering

“God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.”
Presenter: Dr. Sondra Wheeler
Sondra Wheeler completed her graduate education at Yale University in 1992. She served as the Martha Ashby Carr professor of Christian Ethics at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington DC for 28 years, where she taught biblical ethics, virtue theory and the history of the tradition as well as the ethics of medicine and ministry. She is now retired and lives in Maryland, where she divides her time between visiting grandkids and hands-on service ministry.

march 17: the bible and the problem with certainty

“The Bible says it, I believe it, that settles it.”
Presenter: the Rev. Canon Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr.
The Rev. Canon Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr. was appointed the Canon Missioner of the Washington National Cathedral in March 2018 and serves as the Minister of Equity and Inclusion after serving the Macedonia Baptist Church as Pastor for 22 years. Dr. Hamlin is an ordained Baptist minister and oversees the Washington National Cathedral’s outreach, social justice, racial justice and reconciliation initiatives, interfaith relationships. He aids in equipping the Cathedral community and the congregation in addressing local, regional, and national issues for the building of the Beloved Community. Dr. Hamlin received his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree, Master of Divinity Degree, and Doctor of Ministry Degree from Howard University. Dr. Hamlin has served and been appointed to numerous faith-based and governmental boards, commissions, and agencies.

march 24: spiritual trauma & moral injury

“Love the sinner, hate the sin.”
Presenter: the Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Hopson
The Rev. Dr. Ronald E. Hopson is a Professor of Psychology and Professor of Pastoral Care at Howard University. He holds a joint appointment in the Department of Psychology and the School of Divinity. He is a licensed Clinical Psychologist in Washington, D.C. He teaches courses on Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy, the Psychology of Religion, Pastoral Care, and Sexuality and Race. He is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ and has served in pastoral positions in churches in the Washington, D.C. area.

In her third revelation Julian writes, “I marveled in that sight with a soft dread, and thought: ‘What is sinne?’” But Jesus, who in this vision informed me of all that I needed, answered by this word and said: “Sinne is behovely, but alle shalle be wele, and alle shalle be wele, and alle manner of thing shalle be wele.” (Revelations of Divine Love: 11:4.163 and 27:8—11.209 respectively)

Join us via Zoom for this Lenten study of Julian of Norwich.

Details

• Participants must commit to all sessions. Capacity is limited.
• Location: Online via Zoom; those who attend Tuesday dinners should email a request to join a space on-site to participate
• Facilitator: Vicar Dana Corsello
• Weekly Topics: see below registration

weekly topics

• Feb. 24: An Evening with Eboo Patel on Faith & Democracy
• March 3: Introducing Dame Julian of Norwich
• March 10: Christ’s Passion and Death—Contemplating the Cross
• March 17: “Alle shalle be wele”
• March 24: Revelations of Devine Love–Life, love and light

NOTE: This class continues beyond the 5 weeks of Take on Lent

Sacred Ground: An Episcopal Church Dialogue Series on Race, Grounded in Faith, uses films and readings to focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories. It also explores America’s history of race and racism, weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity, which seems particularly relevant during this current political climate.

Details

• Participants are expected to commit to attending all 12 sessions of the program.
• Each version of the class has a capacity of 9 participants and is not available to join after February 24
• Location: Cathedral Library – Sitgreaves (in-person) OR fully online via Zoom
• Facilitators: Paula Mays (in-person), Kathy Deal and the Rev. Sally Slater (online)