Kind of a desperate, last-ditch request here. Last year I was sent a PDF file of a book someone had copied. It was a pocket-sized mass-market paperback book from the 50s or 60s. It was written by a woman, and I remember googling her to find out she was a bit of a controversial figure. The book was wonderful. It was a short story about an Episcopal priest who slowly learns how to faith-heal, how to heal people, from a local townswoman who had been turned out by the church on suspicion of witchcraft. He and the supposed witch were political rivals in town and he felt she was a thorn in his side, she was an artist and some ladies in the church had commissioned her to make the props for an upcoming Christmas pageant. The priest said that under no uncertain terms was 'that woman' to darken the door of his church. And then they encounter a boy who is troubled and they pray and he cannot be healed, but the boy's mother takes him to this townswoman and she (by the Holy Spirit) heals him. The priest is dumbfounded and begins to visit her in secret. He learns of faith-healing. In the end, the rivals fall in love (which I found cheesy). I read this book in about an hour over a lunch break at work and, I didn't think much about it, until just this moment. There was a detail I'm looking for, and now for the life of me I cannot remember the woman who authored the book or its title.

A consistent ask in our tradition is, where are the kids?

So, what is your parish doing on this kids focused holiday that has ties to both Anglican and broader Christian tradition?

If we do not make our spaces kid friendly and approachable with use to the direct needs of the community why would we expect them to show up or stay?

Nothing but love!

For fun and procrastination, I'm gathering materials for scripture and prayer for All Saints' Day and surrounding observances to compile into a Google Doc and print out to keep in my briefcase, and I realize I have questions.

• The only special celebration of All Saints' Eve (Halloween, so to speak) is the Daily Office Lectionary reading on p. 1000 of BCP1979, right? (Psalm 34, Wisdom 3:1-9, and Revelation 19:1,4-10)
• Lesser Feasts and Fasts 2022 is the current TEC resource for dates and materials not in BCP1979, and it establishes that Nov. 2 is called Feast of All the Faithful Departed AND Feast of All Souls, and it contains all the official appointed readings and materials for Nov. 2, right?
• For Nov. 1, I've got the daily office lectionary readings, the old eucharistic lectionary and RCL readings, the collect, and the little spiel about All Saints on p. 488 of LFF 2022. Am I missing anything major?

I have intense anxiety and depression stemming from Borderline Personality Disorder. I’ve very recently come back to god (I used to be Assemblies of God) after 10 years of hating Christianity. But I don’t know what to do in these moments of panic. My heart is pounding in my chest, I’m crying, and I can’t shake this feeling of fear that I’m going to die or something. Is there a prayer or verse I can read that might help? I can’t even think of the words to pray to ask god for help

I have been having a interest in joining a Episcopal church and I have been wondering a few things since I don't know really anything about religion, one of my questions is how should I get started in learning about it?

My friend lives in Egypt. She is a believer in Jesus, loves our Lord, wants to do his will. She was raised Muslim. Muslims are not allowed into churches by law. So she cannot be baptized.

She has been told by multiple Christians that she may believe in Jesus but because she has not been baptized she is not really Christian and is therefore not actually saved. I was looking at our catechism and it seems to definitely imply the same theological reasoning.

If someone is a believer in Christ but is unable to be baptized, are they considered Christian?

Catechism reference:

What is Holy Baptism? A. Holy Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as his children and makes us members of Christ's Body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God.

I am new to the church and find this book like a crash course. So far, I like it because it has answered many of my questions. I am only on chapter 5, but so far, so good. I heard it is recommended to those who are new, like me. Have you read it? Are there more resources that are as easy to read as this book?

Hi, I am f Gen Z and I joined my church a month ago, and I love it. Something I noticed is that there aren’t many Gen Z and Millennial brothers and sisters to relate to. I would love to help my church to get more young followers but I do not know how to help them since I am new to the concept of church. I have talked on campus about my church but sadly there are wrong ideas about church and religion in general, how have you overcomed this? I would love to have more Episcopalian friends my age too.

I'm looking for books, or even blog posts, videos, or podcast episodes maybe, on spiritual gifts from the Holy Spirit and how one might use them. I am currently discerning my own spiritual gifts, and I talked to one of my priests today and she wasn't sure what books might already exist. This group is pretty good at recommendations so I thought I'd try!

I am not a cessationist. I understand some in the church are, and I think that's just fine and I don't want to kick you out of church or force you to speak in tongues, no worries. I wanted to be clear about that upfront because I know some people tend to think of spiritual gifts in a more... I don't know if this will make sense, but a more eneagram/personality trait way, and I think some gifts do work that way, but I am also talking about the gifts that make the more secular among us less comfortable like prophecy, healing, tongues, interpretation, etc. so feel free to recommend stuff that's a bit more "out there" than maybe the average Episcopalian is used to, lol.

Thank you!

From their online presences and from what I’ve heard, St. Elizabeth’s and Christ Church are both (seemingly) thriving and yet are within 2 miles of each other. Are they quite distinct from one another? How would you compare the two? Coming from NY it seems impossible that there could be two parishes in the same town doing well, unless they have completely different spiritual identities and attract wildly different people.

Hi all! I'm in my early 20s and am trying to help my parish priest plan some fun things to do for our 20s and 30s group. We did a survey and decided on meeting Sunday after church one Sunday a month, though we could go more frequent if it's popular.

My question for you all: what are some things you would like to do? I really want people to be as excited as I am, but I don't have a ton of creative ideas for how to do it. Financially our parish is pretty blessed, so we can spend some money for this stuff, I just want it to be something people like.

The group is not all that large, I'd estimate 10-15 people, with the bulk of them being seminarians, though I definitely am hoping to get some of the non-seminarian young people at our church more interested.

I'm happy to take any suggestions or answer any clarifying questions if they'll help. Thank you!

I’m an Episcopalian who prays the rosary regularly. I know I’m not alone, so wanted to share this resource. My hope is that it will assist individuals in their private devotions (it can easily be used for personal use), or help folks to start rosary circles with other Episcopalians/Anglicans.

All of the prayers and commentary (unless otherwise noted) are from “St. Augustine’s Prayer Book,” a devotional book published for members of the various Anglican churches by the Order of the Holy Cross, an Anglican monastic community.

There are two versions available, both formatted for printing:

Portrait: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10FTKZgRTuruUo0YMrDV8Y-900kXNfKZz8lXC4jUfIL4/edit

Landscape (formatted for printing into pamphlets): https://docs.google.com/document/d/1DsuODnaf4gBVFNiNsfoRrgvxMzGeGJYA1x92duu8jQQ/edit (print double sided and flipped on the short edge, fold, and staple)

Enjoy!

Edit: ALSO - if anyone has any ideas for how to better share this besides Google docs links, please let me know or feel free to do so yourself!

Hi!

I made a post earlier this year raving about how good Christmas Eve was from a pagan perspective and it was well received.

Recently, I had a fire lit under me to do something about the evil in my own community. My gothi has stewardship over something called Heathens Against Hate.

It’s my plan to try to convince him to give it to me. I want to push a simple three word agenda yall are familiar with.

“ALL ARE WELCOME”

When I realized what I had quoted when I started formulating a vision, I made a prayer of thanks.

It made me understand you all set the standard for me what inclusivity actively looks like. What it means to stand for inclusion on such a radical level. Maybe it’s hard to see from the inside but from my point of view, I see people examining themselves and trying to be the best version of themselves they can be.

I am inspired to do the same.

Thank you.

Broad church Episcopalian here. I'm down for low, mid, or high church. Whatever, so long as Christ is there. In a broad church parish and very happy.

I do want to see what Anglo-Catholics are all about, though. How do I go about finding one? I'm in a major metropolitan area, so there are lots to choose from. How would I know if one is Anglo-Catholic? What are like, the tell-tale signs?

Greetings! I’m a 41YO M. Married two young kids and raised catholic. My wife is Episcopalian. I’m not particularly religious for a variety of reasons it more of a traditional thing I suppose. I don’t really care for the church tbh however I indulge my wife by going to service with her. However if she insists on going to church I like the idea of us all being united under one faith.

The reality is I like the Episcopal church essentially being more liberal than what I’m accustomed to. While none of those advantages necessarily apply to me I like the inclusivity. I feel that if people want to purse a relationship with god that it should be available to all.

Moreover Catholicism is a far more rigid and guilt based religion that I particularly don’t care for my children partaking in. I’d rather worship a happy loving God than a smiteful Old Testament d*ck.

I inquired with the church about converting and they said they’d reach out with more information so I’m wondering what the process is usually like. Moreover does switching teams mean I’m both Catholic & Episcopal or just Episcopal going forward.

Like many of us here, I was raised Roman Catholic and departed from religion for quite a few years. We did a bit of church shopping in our community before settling on the Episcopal church earlier this spring. Husband, eight-year-old, and I have been super happy. But I have never in my life purchased a Bible. I feel like it’s something I ought to have, and maybe something that I can use for journaling / annotating? But there are so many choices, and I don’t really know where to start. Not a lot of great places close to me to buy one so I would love anyone’s opinions and thoughts before purchasing online. Thank you.

• Who should I reach out to first to maximize my chances of gaining traction? The priest, a vestry member?
• Should I start out being more sparse or detailed about my ideas?
• Are there are bureaucratic hoops to jump through? How do you suggest I manage them?

I know people can be opinionated on church structures and attitudes, however I'm only asking for tips not opinions. I'm just curious what you've found works best as a layperson wanting create a new group.

The World Needs This From Us.

I've fought writing this piece for months. Maybe years.

Even now I'm reluctant to publish it because it's so dear to my heart that seeing it fall flat will cause me no end of grief.

But as my wife Sara is fond of saying, "God is a nag." So here's my brief appeal to the church I've been a part of for nearly 70 years, to be intentional about including a group of Christians who desperately need us. They, the World, they need this from us.

(An excerpt from the beginning follows, the link to the whole paper is at the end of that.)

There are Christians out there who are aching for an experience of God that is different from what they get in (almost all) mainline churches. They have a hunger for something they’re not getting. They also want to be a part of a church or denomination that welcomes everyone, not just those who conform to someone’s definition of what a Christian should look like and do or who they should love. 

And they’re forced to choose.

I really dislike labels, but for the sake of brevity, I’m going to use “charismatic” to describe the experience that is so difficult to find in my own and I think, most mainline denominations. “Spirit-filled” might also work, but that tends to suggest that there’s no “Spirit” in mainline worship. There are down sides to either term, but I’m at a loss to find one that works and doesn’t have some possible negative connotations. So “charismatic” will have to do, and it’s easier to type than “Spirit-filled.” 

All that so that I can say this. It is possible to be charismatic and also inclusive. It is possible to be charismatic and respectful of church traditions and structures. It is possible to be charismatic and mature enough to recognize that not everyone “should be like you.” How do I know that? I’ve met people like that. I am people like that. Granted, we’re few, especially within the ranks of mainline churches, but we do exist....

To read the whole appeal, click below.
https://vicarskeep.com/the-world-needs-this-from-us/

I find it interesting people use this. I understand that Catholicism is a very impactful sect of Christianity. But as an ex Roman catholic, I find being Anglican freeing of a lot the restrictions of the RC. Is it because Anglicans and Catholics are similar. Why do people use this term ?

I've had an idea brewing for a couple of years, and I would love some general feedback to see what people (primarily fellow nerds) might think. I understand this may not go anywhere due to time, resources, copyrights, etc., so please don’t set high expectations for a published project. I'm just interested in gathering people's "wish lists."

If you could have a publication or resource that compared different versions or editions of the Book of Common Prayer (or other Anglican/Anglo-Catholic prayer books) side-by-side, similar to the format of a Parallel Study Bibles, which would you want to see? What services would you compare? Which traditions, lectionaries, or books would interest you?

The inspiration for this project began with my desire to compare the old Eucharistic and Daily Office lectionaries from the 1928 BCP with the 1979 Daily Office and Revised Common Lectionaries. As I continued, I expanded my research to include various prayer books and lectionaries, even typing out parallel services and liturgies. I’ve also been exploring daily readings from historical sources like the breviaries and the Liturgy of the Hours. It’s been a fascinating experience, but there’s much more to explore.

I know modern prayer books have been formatted quite differently from traditional ones since Vatican II through various liturgical revisions. Still, many shared traditions and services can be compared over time.

What would you like to see if this were to become a formal project (again, no expectations)? For example, if you were to have four prayer books or liturgies compared side-by-side, which ones would interest you?

One idea I’m considering is comparing the original 1662 BCP, the Episcopal 1928 prayer book, the 1979 Rite II, and Enriching Our Worship (EOW), utilizing "Rite III" and St. Helena's Breviary (with the Order of St. Helena's permission).

Alternatively, I might conduct several parallel projects focusing on the "official" published prayer books from various provinces or national churches: comparing American editions from 1879, 1928, 1979 Rite II, and EOW; England's 1549 or 1559 BCP, the official 1662, the Alternative Service Book, and Common Worship; and Canada's 1662, 1918, 1962, and the Book of Alternative Services.

Another approach (still a "thought-in-process) could be to compare official and "unofficial" prayer books (like the Anglican Office Book from Whithorn Press or the Anglican Service Book from the Church of the Good Shepherd) based on their publication pre- and post-Vatican II. For example, I could select strictly Office Books (no Eucharistic services) and compare two from pre-Vatican II and two from post-Vatican II (e.g., the Anglican Breviary and the Monastic Breviary, and compare them with The Prayer Book Office by Howard Galley, and the Monastic Breviary from Holy Cross Monastery/Order of St. Helena).

I could also compare traditional "Rite I" liturgies from modern publications (e.g., IVP's 1662, Lancelot Andrewes Press' version of the 1928 BCP, ACNA's Traditional BCP, 1979 Rite I, Divine Worship for Ordinariates) or Rite II resources (like Canada's and England's "Alternative Books," ACNA's 2019 BCP, the 1979 Rite II, etc.).

I’m curious to hear if others would be interested in this project and if they have other ideas or insights on what they would like to see compared. I look forward to hearing your feedback. Thank you in advance!

What is the most common view for Episcopalians on this? Are we eating the literal flesh and blood of Christ? Or are we eating bread and wine and receive the body and blood in a spiritual way? Finally, is it vegan friendly?

Slightly embarrassed to ask this but it's the only way you learn.

I love this talk, I’ve listened several times over the years and feel like I get something from it every time. Thought maybe some folks here would like it too.

https://youtu.be/XjUw-U7eaRc?si=Ga2nDVzgHvvvCSt6

Hi there! My S/O is discerning baptism, but she is running up against a big issue for her. She suffers from a disability called Ehlers-Danlos syndrome which causes her to be very physically uncomfortable in pews (and especially kneeling, which is impossible for her to do for very long). She also has significant issues with ADHD which distracts her significantly during the service itself.

She was not brought up religious at all, so the Eucharist service is extremely different for her. She understands the basics of what is happening, but she says that overall, it's a kind of drab experience for her. Her constant pain and distraction during the service has made it seem to her like God is drawing her away from the church, since being in church is an upsetting experience.

I could use some advice here. She's making an effort and brings hand warmers, notepads to write down thoughts that she would otherwise ruminate on, and even cushions to help her posture. But she can't shake this idea that going to church is just always going to be a pain (literally) for her. Understandably, this is a difficult sell for deciding to be Christian.

Has anyone else here dealt with some of these issues or experienced physical pain in church? How do you remain spiritually connected to it in the midst of your pain or distraction? What was your experience converting? Thank you!

My husband and I recently moved to a new area, and need to find a new church. I attended a reformed theology church in the SBC and was raised in it. I tend to mostly agree with the doctrine, but not certain ones like once saved, always saved, five-point Calvinism, and their refusal to let women participate in higher church positions (I am a woman). My church was always good about never singling out any one type of sin or sinner, and I loved that my old pastor preached straight from scripture and never shied from things that might be uncomfortable or hard. I would consider myself to lean a bit more conservative on my theological stances.

I’ve been looking into Episcopalian beliefs. The more high church/liturgical feel appeals to me - for example, I like parts of Catholic services, but cannot get behind transubstantiation or praying to/through saints and Mary. For those more well-versed on Episcopalian practices, do you think I would enjoy attending an Episcopal church?

Episcopal Church for Young Families.

Hi everyone, my wife daughter (less than 1 year old) and I are moving to Boston from the south. We are looking for a new and preferably kid friendly Episcopalian church in Boston. Our current church has a more relaxed separate service for parents with young kids and we are ideally looking for something similar.

Curious if anyone can recommend an episcopal church that fits the bill?

Thank you in advance!

Hi all! Still relatively new to TEC and not yet baptized but I attend weekly and I am building my relationship with God. During services for no clear reason I became incredibly emotional and it was so strange. Literally no real thoughts just sudden strong emotion/tears and then a feeling of sort of clarity when looking at the altar. Like I really believe now. Just sharing but Id also love some feedback about possible meaning.

This seminary is not at the top of my list anyways because of their treatment of lgbtq people. But I was told by a priest that they also don't allow women to celebrate the Eucharist? Is this true? I'm struggling to find info on the topic. I'm just preparing for a conversation about why I don't want to attend the list of approved seminaries and why I want to go elsewhere.

I live with often-times debilitating PTSD and episodic depression. This has made committing to classes very difficult.

My priest is allowing me to do private study to prep me for confirmation. I'm starting with Walk in Love: Episcopal Beliefs and Practices. We're going to get together and talk when I'm done.

This works better anyway. I'm an avid reader and learn more studying on my own.

Thoughts?

What is the purpose of Christ's death and what must one do to be saved?