An indispensable resource that supports vestry members and clergy in their ministry.

Trusted by tens of thousands of vestry members, wardens, and rectors, The Vestry Handbook is the indispensable guide to the day-to-day functions of an Episcopal parish. The handbook includes explanations of leadership roles and organizational structure, parish finances, building maintenance, tax considerations, elections, the spiritual lives of vestry members, and more.

This new fourth edition responds to the changing needs of Episcopal churches with additional coverage of diversity and inclusion, new guidance for parish finances, and advice tailored to small congregations. The volume has been updated throughout to reflect the current canons of the Episcopal Church.

Dr. James McCune Smith was more than just a pioneer.

Born in slavery in New York City when slavery was still legal there, James McCune Smith managed to get a good elementary education in a Quaker school but was turned down by colleges because he was Black. Seeing his ability, his pastor raised funds to send him to Scotland where in five years he earned a BA, MA, and MD with honors. He returned to New York

with better training than most American doctors and established a practice serving Black and white alike. Smith took a leading role in the abolition movement, working closely with Frederick Douglass and writing a regular column for Douglass's paper. James McCune Smith formed a rare Black-white friendship with Gerrit Smith, a wealthy white landowner in upstate

New York; when Gerrit Smith, Frederick Douglass, and others formed a Radical Abolition Party to work to abolish slavery, McCune Smith served as chair of the party's convention-the first time a Black American had chaired a national convention. One of the most important voices in the pre-Civil War abolition movement, this biography brings him to vibrant life as a key figure in American history.

This is his story.

A comprehensive, easy-to-understand primer to the Episcopal faith for new members, inquirers, and Church members who are unfamiliar with its history, beliefs, and practices.

Written in accessible language and in a conversational tone, this introduction to the Episcopal Church is the ideal resource for adult parish study, newcomers, and others interested individuals. From an Episcopal perspective, the author explores the Church's history, worship, beliefs, spiritual life, organization of the church, mission and outreach, and the way followers read and understand the Bible. Study questions accompany each chapter.

Welcome to the Episcopal Church makes clear that the worship of God is the most important thing that can be said about us, and that worship is the source for everything else in our life together--our commitment to justice for all people, our mission to those who do not yet know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and how we should live out our lives in this very complex world.-from the Foreword, The Most Rev. Frank T. Griswold III, Presiding Bishop and Primate

Dr. James McCune Smith was more than just a pioneer.

Born in slavery in New York City when slavery was still legal there, James McCune Smith managed to get a good elementary education in a Quaker school but was turned down by colleges because he was Black. Seeing his ability, his pastor raised funds to send him to Scotland where in five years he earned a BA, MA, and MD with honors. He returned to New York

with better training than most American doctors and established a practice serving Black and white alike. Smith took a leading role in the abolition movement, working closely with Frederick Douglass and writing a regular column for Douglass's paper. James McCune Smith formed a rare Black-white friendship with Gerrit Smith, a wealthy white landowner in upstate

New York; when Gerrit Smith, Frederick Douglass, and others formed a Radical Abolition Party to work to abolish slavery, McCune Smith served as chair of the party's convention-the first time a Black American had chaired a national convention. One of the most important voices in the pre-Civil War abolition movement, this biography brings him to vibrant life as a key figure in American history.

This is his story.

Love Came Down draws on the best sermons, books, poems, and hymns by classic Anglican writers, with a reading for every day in Advent and for each of the twelve days of Christmas.

A rigorous devotional for the 40 days of Lent.

For centuries Lent has been a time when Christians stop and take stock of their lives. It is a time for revisiting the story of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. It is a time of focusing on our sinfulness and the need to repent, as well as a season in which we focus on putting aside our luxuries and making sure that others have what they need. All of these themes, and more, are explored in this collection of Anglican readings that begin with Ash Wednesday and end on the Saturday of Easter Week.

These readings are arranged in a regular sequence through each week of Lent. Sunday readings focus on God's love, Mondays on the need for discipline, Tuesdays on fasting, Wednesdays on prayer, Thursdays on sin, Fridays on the cross, and Saturdays on baptism.

A Time to Turn draws on the best sermons, books, poems, and hymns of Anglican writers throughout the centuries, with a reading for each day, followed by the brief suggestion for focusing the reader's meditations. Writers include Christina Rossetti, John Donne, Philips Brooks, John Keble, Thomas Traherne, Harriet Beecher Stowe, and many others. Brief biographies are included, along with a bibliography for those who would like to read more from a given writer.

The only way you can really get to know God is through prayer, says author Christopher L. Webber, and the Prayer Book sets out a pattern that has been used by saints and sinners for centuries. This guide will help readers, newcomers, and longtime Episcopalians alike get started on the ancient way of praying found in the Daily Office of the Book of Common Prayer. A User's Guide illuminates the theology, history, and practical concerns of worshipping God in Morning and Evening Prayer. With the complete text of these prayer services, in both Rite I and Rite II, along with running commentary, this book takes Episcopalians by the hand as they explore and pray the Daily Office.

The incredible story of a forgotten hero of nineteenth century New York City-a former slave, Yale scholar, minister, and international leader of the Antebellum abolitionist movement.

At the age of 19, scared and illiterate, James Pennington escaped from slavery in 1827 and soon became one of the leading voices against slavery prior to the Civil War. Just ten years after his escape, Pennington was ordained as a priest after studying at Yale and was soon traveling all over the world as an anti-slavery advocate. He was so well respected by European audiences that the University of Heidelberg awarded him an honorary doctorate, making him the first person of African descent to receive such a degree. This treatment was far cry from his home across the Atlantic, where people like him, although no longer slaves, were still second-class citizens.

As he fought for equal rights in America, Pennington's voice was not limited to the preacher's pulpit. He wrote the first-ever History of the Colored People as well as a careful study of the moral basis for civil disobedience, which would be echoed decades later by Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. More than a century before Rosa Parks took her monumental bus ride, Pennington challenged segregated seating in New York City street cars. He was beaten and arrested, but eventually vindicated when the New York State Supreme Court ordered the cars to be integrated. Although the struggle for equality was far from over, Pennington retained a delightful sense of humor, intellectual vivacity, and inspiring faith through it all. American to the Backbone brings to life this fascinating, forgotten pioneer, who helped lay the foundation for the contemporary civil rights revolution and inspire generations of future leaders.

Baptism and Confirmation - the Christian rites of initiation - have to do with identity, community, and eternal life. They're not just ceremonies marking church membership - the meaning of these sacraments is far more radical than that. They're ways of saying that we know who we are: We're made in God's image and called to belong to God forever.

This guide will help readers - newcomers, seekers, parents preparing to present their children for Baptism, confirmands, and even long-time parishioners - to understand and appreciate the Baptism and Confirmation, and the central role they play in the lives of Christians. Provided here is an introduction to the Baptismal Covenant, as well as a step-by-step guide through the rites of both sacraments. Readers will find running commentary on the rite, with facing pages containing the text from the Book of Common Prayer. Other useful features are glossaries and lists of resources for further reading.

A foundational volume for seekers in formation programs and a refresher study volume for individuals and congregational study groups.

We live in a world increasingly separated from the Christian tradition and the basic understanding of the faith that previous ages might have taken for granted. The voices of faith seem increasingly strident and off-putting to many. There is a need for a calmer, basic introduction to faith that recognizes the value of doubt and the questions raised in a secular society.

A systematic introduction to Christianity for newcomers needs to begin with a discussion of faith itself and then move on to a discussion of such Christian basics as God, Trinity, Church, sin, atonement, prayer, and Christian living.

A marriage is a reflection about your love and your faith in God. This practical workbook helps couples to express their commitment while simplifying the many details of the wedding ceremony.

Planning Your Marriage Service is the ideal take-along resource for couples to reflect on the choices they need to make. Here are the guidelines concerning the service, music, the entrance and presentation, readings, prayers, communion, and dismissal. A wide selection of Old Testament, New Testament, Gospel readings are included, as well as supplemental readings by great Christian writers and literary figures, such as John Donne, Simone Weil, Julian of Norwich, Frederick Buechner, Martin Luther King Jr, Madeleine L'Engle, and Saint Augustine. A brief commentary follows each reading, discussing the text's meaning in the framework of a Christian marriage.

This valuable guide gives couples a better understanding of all the elements of their wedding ceremony so they can experience their special day in all the richness of its Christian significance.

Beyond the Scripture, this book delves into all other aspects of the Episcopalian service, from the vestments and gestures to the church calendar, that result in a deeper appreciation of the faith.

The perfect book for newcomers who are often confused by the worship service, Welcome to Sunday is also an excellent book for those who have been sitting in the pews without fully understanding what happens on Sunday morning.

Episcopal priest Christopher Webber takes the reader from the sidewalk outside the church, guides them through the service, and sends them out again when the service has ended. Webber explains the postures, the Christian year, the colors we use during various seasons, and all the elements in the Service of the Eucharist.

As in Webber's very popular Welcome to the Episcopal Church, the tone of the easy-to-read book is conversational, making it useful for parish study.

Become a full partner in the worship of God using this guide which illuminates the theology, history, and practical concerns of the Holy Eucharist.

This guide is designed to help newcomers, confirmation classes, and lay members understand and appreciate the Episcopal liturgy. They invite the person in the pew to participate in the service, not merely as a spectator, but as a full partner in the worship of God in community.

Developed specifically to address the needs of inquirers and others not familiar with the Book of Common Prayer, this volume provides an easily accessible introduction to the liturgy. This guide shows how the Holy Eucharist has its roots in two ancient Jewish patterns of worship: the synagogue service and the seder meal.

This useful book falls in the category of resources for structuring liturgies to fit local occasions. In addition to seven complete vigil services inspired by the ancient monastic discipline of nighttime prayer and meditation, there are new models such as A Vigil in the Presence of God or A Vigil for Peace and Justice.

Ample notes throughout explain the history of vigils and offer advice for planning small private and large public vigils.

A meditation on the meaning of Good Friday and the value of silence.

Good Friday is not like any other time of the year, and Christians everywhere wonder about the best way to mark the day. Again and again, sermons and meditations have centered our attention on the words Jesus spoke from the cross, but those few, brief words would have needed only a few minutes on the first Good Friday. Seven chapters in this unique book consider the event, and the meaning, of the Crucifixion to our lives today, including the various ways in which silence plays a role in our daily lives.

So many of us are overwhelmed with words coming at us from all our electronic devices that the thought of more language has less appeal than it once did. On one of the holiest days of the year, these brief meditations are designed to call us into the silence that still speaks more loudly than words.

Probably no subject generates more emotion today than the definition of marriage. We are even asked to vote on it and choose candidates by their position on it. But there are also few subjects which most people know so little.

This book provides the information people need to form their opinion. Drawing on a careful survey of the Biblical background and (primarily) Christian history, the book outlines some of the ways in which Christians might begin to reshape their way of doing marriage in a way that makes better sense for our future.

The familiar biblical psalms are a basic and irreplaceable part of Christian worship but they come from an age so distant from ours that a few are no longer usable and none reflect the experience of Christians over the centuries. Christians have, of course, written hymns, but most of the ones we use come from the last two hundred years and few have the meditative quality of the biblical psalms. In Christian Psalms, Christopher L. Webber has constructed psalms from the writings of the greatest teachers and witnesses in Christian history: Saint Augustine, Julian of Norwich, Dorothy Day, Oscar Romero, and many more. Recommended for private prayer and meditation as well as congregational use in worship.

Read an updated translation of the classic English epic poem, and discover what happens next in the two exciting sequels, all collected here in one edition.

About one and a half millennia ago, an anonymous author gave the world Beowulf, the first great epic written in what would become the English language. The poem follows the adventures of Beowulf, hero of the Geats, as he battles the monstrous Grendel, Grendel's fearsome mother, and a deadly dragon. After the hero meets his death, readers are left with the question: What will happen now? Without their champion, hero, and king, the Geats are defenseless against their enemies.

With The Beowulf Trilogy, author Christopher L. Webber shares his own translation of the original epic and also answers the question of what happens next with two epic poems of his own. In Beyond Beowulf, follow the Geats as they welcome a new leader, Wiglaf, the young warrior who aided Beowulf in his encounter with the dragon. He helps the tribe search or a new home while contending with threats from storms, trolls, and the Saxon army. Then, in Yrfa's Tale, Webber looks beyond the warrior's viewpoint to give a perspective from Wiglaf's wife and family, and the emotional toll of their struggle.

In The Beowulf Trilogy, Webber gives readers a complete picture of Beowulf's world, a somber and magical land full of adventure and turmoil.

Praise for The Beowulf Trilogy

[Webber's] translation's clean, musical lines are excellent for reading aloud. The two sequels also maintain the original's language and narrative style. . . . Succeeds in both respecting and enriching the venerable original. --Kirkus Reviews

For almost two thousand years, Christians have asked two essential questions: What would Jesus do? and What would Paul say? Paul wrote more of the New Testament than anyone else did, and he dealt with the basic problems of his day: What should Christians do about marriage? What should the relationship be between Jews and Christians? What is the Christian responsibility to the state? What about ethnic differences? What about male and female relationships? But Paul did not answer the specific questions many Americans are now asking about marriage, interfaith relationships, illegal immigrants, and the authority of government.Now, one respected Christian writer has put suggested answers in the form of new letters from Paul to Americans. Following the pattern of Paul's letters to Rome, Corinth, and Galatia, a priest of the Episcopal Church has written letters in Paul's name to Washington, California, Texas, and other American cities and states. Whether encouraging, insightful, useful, or controversial, these letters are a serious attempt to make Paul directly relevant to our time and issues. This book is a call for American Christians to think more carefully about the relationship between faith and society, and to seek purposeful, biblical living.

The familiar biblical psalms are a basic and irreplaceable part of Christian worship but they come from an age so distant from ours that a few are no longer usable and none reflect the experience of Christians over the centuries. Christians have, of course, written hymns, but most of the ones we use come from the last two hundred years and few have the meditative quality of the biblical psalms. In Christian Psalms, Christopher L. Webber has constructed psalms from the writings of the greatest teachers and witnesses in Christian history: Saint Augustine, Julian of Norwich, Dorothy Day, Oscar Romero, and many more. Recommended for private prayer and meditation as well as congregational use in worship.