“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...

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 W...

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 ...

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....

A biography of the first credentialed African American physician in the United States, a vital nineteenth-century abolitionist and statesman.The heart of the whites must be changed, thoroughly, entirely, permanently changed . . . and men, colored men, must go to work to produce that conviction—of the eternal equality of the Human Race—which is the first principle of good government—of Bible politics. This must be done, but how?Dr. James McCune Smit...

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 C...

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 Anglica...

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 great...

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. Afte...

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 th...

A rich collection of readings, from classic to contemporary authors and thinkers, for devotionals for Advent and throughout the year.“Easter Day is the center and crown of the Christian year, but no season of that year provides us with richer material for meditation than Advent and the twelve days of Christmas.” So writes Christopher Webber in this thoughtful and inspiring collection of meditations from the most gifted Anglican writers of the past six hundred years...

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.