Sycamore: An Informal Course on the Christian Faith

Sycamore is an informal course about the Christian faith and its relevance for life today. It gives you space to meet other people, share ideas, explore your beliefs, and think about questions that really matter.

How can we find happiness? What’s the meaning of life? Is there a God? Does prayer make a difference?

Sycamore is a place to explore these questions in a friendly, low-pressure setting.

Sycamore groups meet in person or online. Each session involves a short film and time for discussion. There’s no pressure. You can be yourself without any fear of being judged.

There’s a real sense of community, a spirit of friendship, great conversation—and often some delicious food. Everyone is welcome.

Session Details

Spring 2026 Sycamore Series

When: Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30pm
Where: St. Joan of Arc Parish Center

• March 11 – Who Is Jesus, Really? (Seeing Christ More Clearly)
• March 18 – The Holy Spirit: God at Work in the Church
• March 25 – The Sacraments: Signs That Change Us
• April 1 – The Eucharist: The Heart of Our Faith
• April 8 – The Church as Community: Why We Belong
• April 15 – Forgiven. Healed. Sent.
• April 22 – Christian Vocations: Discovering Your Call
• April 29 – Mary & the Hope of Heaven

What to Expect

What happens each week?

Each session has a simple rhythm:

• Arrive & connect (and yes—snacks happen)
• Watch a short film
• Small-group discussion (no pressure, no judgment)
• Closing thought and next steps

You can come for every session—or start with one and see what you think.

Why "Sycamore"?

In the Bible, Jesus comes to the town of Jericho. A man called Zacchaeus is so curious about Jesus that he climbs a sycamore tree to get a better view. When he finally meets Jesus, they begin a conversation—and his life is changed forever.

The sycamore tree is a perfect image of what this course offers: a wider perspective on life and faith, and a chance to begin (or restart) a real conversation with Christ.

What People Are Saying

• "Sycamore made me feel at home. It was the highlight of my week!"
• "I like the sharing, how everyone is really open – there is no judging happening here"
• "I enjoyed hearing what other people had to say – it gave me new perspectives on questions I had always wondered about"
• "It’s a great program!"
• "I love the videos. I have learnt so much!"
• "It made me think about things I hadn’t thought of before"
• "People can be as authentic as they want to be"
• "A wonderful opportunity to have an open and honest discussion about things we wouldn’t usually talk about in everyday life"
• "It’s nice to hear other people’s stories and also reflect on our own"
• "…I always felt welcome. All I was asked was to come with an open mind. I was never cajoled into attending, yet I always looked forward to coming back to learn more from the discussions we have"
• "I like the food! I also like being able to talk about different issues that you don’t get to talk about in regular life"
• "I love Sycamore!"