Formation

Embodied Liturgy (Young Adults, Adults)

Can the ‘reality’ of the Eucharist be maintained online?

Author C. Andrew Doyle, in a well-researched and thoughtful study of both virtual reality and liturgy, argues that the Eucharist is not a formulaic rehearsal of words and rituals but an embodied and lived experience. This requires a shared place and presence. While the church should not shy away from virtual ministry, we should be wary of using the technological realm for the celebration of the Eucharist, an act that is an outward and visible sign of our spiritual union with God and one another. It brings us closer to friend and stranger for the transformation of individuals into unity in Christ. The context of the ritual–with people, objects, words, and all sorts of nuance–creates intimacy with God and each other.

Who is My Neighbor? (Youth, Young Adults, Adults)

Part of the Little Books of Guidance Series designed for prayerful practices of following Jesus in daily life. We live amidst the largest mass migration in human history. God has chosen to use the Church, the Body of Christ, to be the instrument of Christ’s healing and restorative love in the world. The restorative and healing work of Christ can be accomplished when each Christian is moved by compassion to see and love the neighbor. Who is My Neighbor? puts a human face on a politically charged issue: refugees. It tells stories about refugees to challenge us all to reconsider our definition of “neighbor.” 

Let Us Pray (Ages 2-8)

Kid-friendly, illustrated primer on the sacrament of the Eucharist.

Jennie Turrell walked into All Saints’ Chapel on Good Friday, when her three-year-old son stopped her in the darkened doorway and quietly whispered, “Uh-oh.” At that moment, she realized that changes in the physical space of the liturgy mattered to him. She had been whispering in his ear during liturgies since he was a baby, but it wasn’t until that day that she knew he had been taking it all in—sights and sounds—all of it.

Common Prayer (Ages 3-12, Families, Multi-Generational)

Common Prayer for Children and Families is a collection of prayers and liturgies written for kids and the adults or communities who pray with them. Whimsically illustrated with pen and ink, this book contains prayers for morning, midday, and evening; prayers throughout the Church year; and prayers for all sorts of occasions.

At the heart of this book is the belief that prayer shapes our lives and should be accessible and meaningful for children. 

Oración Común

Oración Común para Niños y Familias es una colección de oraciones y liturgias escritas para niños y para los adultos o comunidades que oran con ellos. Imaginativamente ilustrado a plumilla, este libro contiene oraciones para la mañana, el mediodía y la noche; oraciones para usar a través del año en la Iglesia y oraciones para todo tipo de ocasiones. En el centro de este libro está la creencia de que la oración forma nuestras vidas, por lo que debe ser accesible y significativa para los niños y niñas.

Prayers for Every Season (Children, Youth, Families, Multi-Generational)

Rooted in Christian traditions of daily prayer, this volume is an accessible collection that children can use to pray on their own, with their family, or with their school or church community. Designed to help children enter into a life of faith, this volume includes meaningful prayers that shape belief and practice.

With patterns for morning and evening prayer for each season of the church year, supplemented with prayers for widely observed secular and sacred occasions, the book draws children into the liturgical cycle. 

The Gift of Baptism (Children)

A beautifully illustrated poetic rendering of the promise made at baptism, an ideal gift. 
 
Millions of people are baptized every year, most as babies, in an important and joyous family ritual. Once children reach reading age, an understanding of the meaning of their baptism is an essential part of their formation and opens up their lives to the power of Christian community.   With 22 colorful illustrations and a vibrant concise lyrical narrative, The Gift of Baptism is the perfect learning tool for children embarking on their journey of faith. Its poignant style teaches readers about the Baptismal Covenant and nurtures understanding of concepts like the Holy Trinity, Jesus’ teachings, and living with love at the forefront of your mind and in your actions. 

Today is Baptism Day (Children)

An ideal book to read with children to wonder and learn about baptism, with illustrations that reflect the diversity of God’s people.

Grounded in the Episcopal liturgical tradition, it is an accessible and inviting introduction to baptism for children and families of many Christian traditions. While learning what occurs during a baptism service, the reader (both child and parent) will be guided through the sacramental and communal aspects of the celebration. Beautifully illustrated in full color, a dedication page encourages personalization of the book, making it a perfect baptism gift. A family section offers questions and suggests ways to go deeper in conversation about baptism, making it a resource that families will use again and again with their children.

We Gather at This Table (Children)

Explore with children and for yourself why we celebrate the Eucharist

Breaking bread with others is central to our faith. This book is an invitation to learn and wonder about why we worship and celebrate the Holy Eucharist. Although grounded in the Episcopal liturgical tradition, it is an accessible and inviting introduction to worship for children and families of many Christian traditions. While learning what occurs during worship and the Holy Eucharist, readers of all ages will be guided through the sacramental and communal aspects of the celebration and how in the breaking of bread we are called into the world.

Call on Me (Youth, Emerging Adults)

First exclusively Episcopal prayer book for youth

This prayer book designed for teens draws from the Book of Common Prayer, relevant prayers written by well known Episcopalians, and ancient prayers rooted in the Bible. New and original prayers are also offered, written by contemporary church leaders in the Episcopal Church, as well as by teens themselves, young adults and youth leaders.

Book of Common Prayer (Youth, Emerging Adults)

A foundation of the Episcopal faith with detailed church calendar and explanatory essays.

This edition of the Book of Common Prayer includes 38 pages of additional material designed to help the reader understand more about the Episcopal Church, its worship, and its prayer book.

Prayers for an Inclusive Church (Inter-Generational)

This is a beautifully crafted collection of prayers for each Sunday and most major festivals in the church’s year, together with additional material for each season. The Sunday prayers – known as collects in the Anglican tradition – follow the three-year cycle of the Revised Common Lectionary. The author uses expansive and inclusive language and imagery to address and describe God, to describe God’s presence and action in the world, and to describe the people of God. Ideal for use at weekday celebrations, including the Book of Common Prayer Order for Eucharist.

Liturgy on the Edge (Inter-Generational)

Using the unique circumstances and opportunities available to historic St. Martin-in-the-Fields at Trafalgar Square in London, renowned vicar Sam Wells and members of the church staff offer insights about the intersections between liturgy and outreach. Exploring questions of both formal and informal engagement with liturgy, prayer book revision, and practical how-tos for acute congregational needs, urban parishes around the world will find inspiration and resources within these pages. Written by the staff and dedicated lay members of the St. Martin’s community, the book is an invitation to us all to be more inclusive and compassionate when planning worship and other services. 

Meditations for Vestry Members

Explores the joys and challenges of vestry service.

Created to meet the needs of pastors and church staff seeking gifts of appreciation for church members such as LEMs, lay members, choir and vestry members, and others. Each volume offers support, guidance, and education geared specifically to one particular group or ministry within the church. Individual meditations are based on quotations from the Bible, The Book of Common Prayer, or hymns from the 1982 Hymnal, and prayers specific to the needs of each audience. 

A Women’s Lectionary

What would it look like if women built a lectionary focusing on women’s stories?

What does it look like to tell the good news through the stories of women who are often on the margins of scripture and often set up to represent bad news? How would a lectionary centering women’s stories, chosen with womanist and feminist commitments in mind, frame the presentation of the scriptures for proclamation and teaching?