Church Publishing – serie

An original take on the journey into and through healing. In the first section of this very personal book of illness, spirituality, and healing, the Rev. Cricket Cooper receives a diagnosis of non-Hodgkins lymphoma, for which she will need to undergo an eighteen-week/six-cycle chemo treatment plan. She decides to pair each of the chemo treatments, if possible, with a pilgrimage to some holy site or religious community. The journey’s sharp ups and downs lead her to the understanding that there is one path, and we travel it together—sometimes to unexpected places. After counting down the eighteen weeks of the chemo, much to her oncologist’s (and Cooper’s) chagrin, the cancer is not cured, and she must move on to radiation therapy. The next section follows her month of radiation. Cooper’s terror of this treatment is allayed when she is able to see the radiation as “Healing Light,” and realize that December—her radiation month—is also the month of the Jewish Festival of Lights, of the Solstice, of Christian Advent/Nativity/ Epiphany, and other faith-based celebrations of light. Taking as her meditation the Episcopal Collect for Advent 1: “Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness, and put upon us the armor of light,” she explores what this might mean beyond the context of Advent and in her own individual situation. The book’s final section covers waiting for the “all-clear” report from the doctors and Cooper’s residual issues of moving from the status of being a patient to the status of being “a Survivor.” It is a time of relief tinged with at least a bit of uncertainty, but buoyed by the knowledge that cancer is not just a diagnosis, and not just a journey; today, cancer is a community that welcomes you into its midst.

• Provocative readings of biblical stories, with thoughts on what they are saying to the church • Listens for critique rather than support, encouraging us to hear Jesus fresh Inside the Church, we are constantly and consistently reading the gospels through the lens of supporting our own institution and structure. This prevents us from hearing the critique Jesus offered in his own day and his emphatic and persistent call to be and do differently now (Matthew 23:1–12). Stories that will be covered include Widow’s Mite, Rich Young Ruler, Destruction of the Temple, Searching for the Lost Coin, Sower of the Seeds, Transfiguration, and the Great Commission. This book will flip the script of many Bible stories, allowing us to hear Jesus’ call to change as one that is directed at us rather than as one we should direct toward others.

Designed to help parishes of all sizes establish good financial management processes and policies.Experience shows that open and transparent churches engender a greater feeling of trust and willingness on the part of the donor. The policies and processes in Financial Management for Episcopal Parishes, which can be implemented by any size church, allow clergy, vestry, and parishioners to establish and document procedures that enable a financially transparent organization. The book defines the roles of the clergy, staff, vestry, and congregation and outlines what needs to be done by them to design and implement a system of checks and balances for financial oversight and stewardship, in order to protect donations and assets. Throughout the book, real-life examples of processes and procedures that did not work (and why) make for enjoyable reading of an otherwise business-like subject. Every reader will recognize some of them in their own church life.

• Updated version of spiritual autobiography from an important voice in the church • Insights on how parishes have confronted issues of change As a standard in the field of spiritual autobiography, Diana Butler Bass’ Strength for the Journey has been a guide for thousands of Christians who have also found themselves “journeying” along a path toward a faith different from that discovered in childhood. This new edition will retain all that drew readers to its pages alongside the voice of those next generation Christians now walking that path for themselves. In Strength for the Journey, Diana Butler Bass illustrates the dynamic strength and persistence of mainline Protestantism. While many baby boomers left the church, only to come back later in life, Bass was a “stayer” who witnessed the struggles and changes and found much there that was meaningful. Offering thought-provoking portraits of eight parishes she attended over two decades, she explores the major issues that have confronted mainline denominations, congregations, and parishioners during those years—from debates over women clergy to conflicts about diversity and community to scrimmages between tradition and innovation.

A beloved teacherhelps modern people live the Bible’s message more fully. Respected teacher and author Verna Dozier explores the ways thathumanity and the institutional church have strayed far from Jesus’s originalmessage. To help us get back on track, she examines the Bible: a theologicaland historical record of hundreds of years in which two communities of faith(Jewish and early Christian) explored their own life experiences. Our task nowis not to ask which interpretations are correct, but to ask “what did it meanto them” and “what does it mean for us?” Dozier encourages us to seeChristianity not as creed or institution, but as “the vision of a newpossibility for human life rooted in an ancient understanding of God and livedout by a Nazarene carpenter.”Through adept storytelling and study, Dozierreawakens our sense of calling and our desire for truth.

Esta serie nueva de cinco volúmenes invita a los niños desde preescolar hasta 6to. grado, a ingresar en nuestras historias sagradas. Basado en el método Montesori, Jugar Junto a Dios utiliza una cuidadosa forma de contar las historias de las escrituras, agradables figuras de las historias y una variedad de actividades creativas para animar a los niños a buscar y encontrar sus propias respuestas a sus dudas de fe.Esta aproximación única a la educación religiosa invita a los niños a preguntarse acerca de ellos mismos, Dios y el mundo en una manera que es juguetona y significativa para ellos. Jugar Junto a Dios respeta la innata espiritualidad de los niños y los anima a utilizar su curiosidad e imaginación para experimentar el misterio y la gracia de Dios.Las sesiones de Jugar Junto a Dios pueden ser adaptadas para ajustarse a reuniones de 45 minutos hasta de 2 horas. Cada plan de lección incluye la historia y una lista completa de materiales.Volumen 1: Como Dirigir las Lecciones de Jugar Junto a DiosVolumen 2: 14 Presentaciones para el otoñoVolumen 3: 20 Presentaciones para el InviernoVolumen 4: 20 Presentaciones para la Primavera

• Practical guide to church community life Taking the approach of Michael Pollan’s Food Rules, Community Rules seeks to distill the basics of “good church” into a set of memorable rules. Working with three sections, the authors draw on their years of combined experience in academic and church administration to identify the basic Christian principles that underpin Episcopal community and then apply them to actions and relationships. The book seeks to explicate the best personnel practices, as well as good governance and communal life together, alongside a framing within the Christian worldview. The goal is to provide a text that can serve as a guide for any and all members of a parish, most especially those who serve on vestries or as volunteers.

• All-in-one liturgical season planner for worship • Advent 1 2019 through Christ the King Sunday 2020 Planning for Rites and Rituals is the indispensable companion for worship planning for the Episcopal Church, following the three-year Revised Common Lectionary cycle and the church calendar. Presiders and preachers, worship team leaders, musicians, Christian educators, sacristans, and altar guilds will find this to be the perfect resource, putting all the elements for planning worship and seasonal observances in one handy volume. SEASONAL HELPS for each season of the Christian year: • Introductions and approaches to preparing liturgies for the season • Ideas for creating an environment appropriate to the season • Rites, blessings, prayers, and litanies for the season • Pageants and festivals for notable days • Seasonal checklist WEEKLY HELPS for every Sunday and feast day of the church year: • Introductions to the day: overview, color, preface, collect • Summary of the readings and psalm, including both lectionary tracks • Inclusive intercessions for the Prayers of the People • Ideas for the day for worship and formation • Hymn suggestions for the day from The Hymnal 1982; Wonder, Love, and Praise; and Lift Every Voice and Sing II

An urgent call for awareness of the dangers of Christian nationalism, including the origins and implications.In 2022, Bishop Curry charged the House of Bishops Theology Committee to study Christian nationalism, an issue that has increasingly come to the forefront of conversations surrounding Christianity, democracy and white supremacy. The committee’s methodology in an Anglican framework of scripture, tradition, reason, and liturgy sheds light on the foundation of the movement and a path forward. They argue that it is sinful and violates the first and second of the Ten Commandments. Through careful examination of Christian nationalism, the Theology Committee warns members of the church not to fall into its trap, but instead to be a light to the world.Spanish translation of the report, case study, and discussion guide included.Una llamada urgente sobre los peligros del nacionalismo cristiano, con una guía de discusión.En 2022, el obispo Curry encargó al Comité de Teología de la Cámara de Obispos de la iglesia Episcopal que estudiara el nacionalismo cristiano, una cuestión que está cada vez más presente en las conversaciones sobre cristianismo, democracia y supremacía blanca. La metodología del comité en un marco anglicano de Escritura, tradición, razón y liturgia arroja luz sobre los fundamentos del movimiento y marca un camino a seguir. Argumentan que es pecaminoso y viola el primero y el segundo de los Diez Mandamientos. Mediante un cuidadoso examen del nacionalismo cristiano, el Comité de Teología advierte a los miembros de la Iglesia de que no caigan en su trampa, sino que sean una luz para el mundo. En ingles y español con estudio de caso y guía.