Missing, But Still in Action

Well, it’s been some time since I’ve posted a reflection, sermon, review, or commentary here. Let’s just say I’ve been working on many projects, enjoying life, and piling up a stack of books and slips of paper with notes on which I wish to write about.

So here’s the latest, of which I promise more details in the weeks to come – hopefully on a more regular basis:

Working with some great authors on upcoming books to come out from Church Publishing, including these that have already been published. My “Spring 2017” list is very eclectic: formation, liturgy, social justice. Many are perfect for formation settings (individually for your own enrichment, or for discussion in small groups):

The Ultimate Quest: A Geek’s Guide to (The Episcopal) Church by Jordan Haynie Ware is a romp through the Episcopal Church with parallels throughout from Game of Thrones, Star Trek, Star Wars, Dungeons & Dragons, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and so much more pop culture.
Harvesting Abundance: Local Initiatives of Food and Faith by Brian Sellers-Petersen takes us across the United States (and beyond) to learn about the many ways faith communities can make a difference by engaging in the food and faith movement.
All Our Children: The Church’s Call to Address Education Inequity edited by Lallie B. Lloyd answers the church’s call for conversation on children, poverty, and public education. A book we need to read and discuss in our congregations now more than ever.
Without Shame or Fear: From Adam to Christ by A. Robert Hirschfeld, bishop of New Hampshire. With questions after each chapter, you’ll gain new insights into a variety of biblical stories of shame that can connect to your own personal experiences.
The Light Shines Through: Our Stories Are God’s Stories by Carole A. Wakeman looks at a variety of “characters” in Scripture who encountered the mystery of God – not knowing what the outcome might be. Where is God at work in our own lives?
Preparing for a Wedding in The Episcopal Church by Tobias Stanislas Haller is the ultimate guide for planning a wedding in an Episcopal Church. Yes – couples still get married in churches – how can we help them in their understanding and planning of the liturgy?
Teaching Faith with Harry Potter: A Guidebook for Parents and Educators for Multigenerational Faith Formation by Patricia M. Lyons. If you haven’t heard Tricia speak about faith and Harry Potter, you are missing a great experience. After all, she’s known as the Hogwart’s Chaplain!
The Best VBS Workbook Ever! by Lisa Brown is just that – the best overall book for all your planning needs for planning and implementing a Vacation Bible School.
These Are Our Bodies: Talking Faith & Sexuality at Church & Home – High School Module by Samantha Haycock and Caren Miles. I’ll be sharing more of this program in another post, which continues to roll out additional age level modules (and has been a large part of my recent work). Here is my first post at this groundbreaking program.
The Complete Guide to Godly Play: Volume 2, revised and expanded by Jerome Berryman with Cheryl Minor and Rosemary Beales has been an honor to bring to the Godly Play community. Updated, a new story, new formatting and illustrations, and a comprehensive look at the most popular formation program for children in the Episcopal Church will be “rolling out” in the coming sixth months. New digital Parent Pages, too!

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In addition to all the editorial work, I continue to do some writing of my own:

Faithful Celebrations: Making Time for God from Mardi Gras through Pentecost will pub this fall
About the History of Confirmation (in Episcopal Teacher)
Nurturing Children to Live Generously (in Giving Magazine of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center)

Lastly, this past Lent I have collaborated with others in my home parish, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Wilton, CT on a reflection piece in which members of the parish wrote on a ‘word’ based on the themes in the readings for the Sundays and Holy Days in Lent. They were shared on social media and e-news to the parish; I practice I recommend other churches try in the future. You can read them here at #lentenreflections.