ALL ARE INVITED,
ALL ARE WELCOME
The Beloved Community at The Trees is a faith community, rooted in Episcopal liturgy and practices, but without being "in a church." Our mission is to create a community where those who seek healing, reconciliation, or simply a life of faith lived with intentionality among others can gather and worship together. We meet on Sunday evenings for worship, including the Eucharist (also known as Communion or the Lord's Supper). Immediately following the Eucharist, we transition into a simple shared community meal of soup and bread. This community is open to anyone, especially those who have been "othered" or harmed by the Church, including queer individuals and families, racial minorities, and others. Join us in rediscovering what a community of faith can be.
Services at The Beloved Community at the Trees are led by Rev. Phillip Bass and Rev. Deacon Dan Laird. Jeremy Clos, the Lay Associate for Christian formation at our sending parish, The Church of the Nativity assists with launching our formation opportunities. Phillip currently serves as the Associate Rector of The Church of the Nativity in Raleigh, NC. In addition to his pastoral role, he is also a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and has a private practice in Chapel Hill, NC. In his clinical work, Phillip often addresses religious trauma, deconstruction, and questions of faith, especially among the LGBTQIA+ community. He brings this experience to his work with The Beloved Community. Outside of this, Phillip enjoys spending time with his husband and son.
Dan is a married, semi-retired baby-boomer. Part of what gets Dan up in the morning is his passion for sharing the riches and diversity of the Episcopal Church with others. He graduated from Penn State University as an agronomist in plant genetics with another degree in computer science, with certification in cyber security. Dan also volunteers and assists individuals with developmental disabilities. When not involved in ministry, he may be found with my plants or in the garden tending to and propagating plants.
Jeremy enjoyed a successful career in theatre arts spanning over 25 years. He first worked as the director of a summer conservatory for young actors aged 8-14, followed by a long career in costume design, most recently at Raleigh Little Theatre. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jeremy sought a change of direction and returned to academia, graduating Summa Cum Laude from North Carolina State University with a degree in Religious Studies. Prior to this, he had completed Education for Ministry, the certificate program in theology from Sewanee. Jeremy enjoys traveling with his wife, Ashley, and spending time with his nieces, nephews, and god-children.
Worshipping Together
The Beloved Community at The Trees meets each Sunday. We gather for contemplative prayer between 4:45 PM - 5:00 PM. Worship, including The Eucharist, begins at 5:00 PM. A simple, shared meal of soup and bread follow at the conclusion of worship.
Coffee With Community
Drop by Starbucks (3801 Guess Rd.) on Thursday mornings between 9-11AM and join us for coffee. We’d love to meet you and share more about The Beloved Community, learn more about you, and just chat. We hope to see you there!
Contact Us
We would love to hear from you. Feel free to reach out with your thoughts or questions. We will respond as soon as possible.
The Beloved Community at The Trees meets at 1701 Pleasant Green Road, Durham, NC 27705.
Be sure to look for the red sign by the mailbox.