The Context of Maundy Thursday
I love the liturgical seasons of the church. When I first came to the Episcopal Church I was captivated by the services of Holy Week – all of them except Maundy Thursday. I never attended a Maundy Thursday service that didn’t feel like a let down in some way, except for one. When I lived in Nigeria, I remember attending an Anglican church for a Maundy Thursday service. When the priest washed our feet, it meant something. Everyone wore sandals or flip flops over dusty roads. Our feet were actually dirty and exposed, and that foot washing took on a new meaning for me. However, in most of our churches, very few people like to get their feet washed. Foot washing on Maundy Thursday is often awkward and unsettling rather than a remembrance of Jesus on the last night with his disciples.
Many years ago, I was looking at the organist copy of the Hymnal 1982 and discovered a lot of extra music that doesn’t show up in the pew editions. I found a chant (S 344) that I immediately fell in love with and wondered how to bring into a Maundy Thursday service. And then I started rethinking the service itself. For the church I attended in Massachusetts, I set out to create a setting that would allow foot washing and Eucharist to be within the context of the upper room discourse from John 13-17. I wanted to create a formation piece that would help participants know the longer story of Thursday in Holy Week broken into parts for readers.
Originally, we set this in our parish hall. A table was set in the center with folks ask to read one of the disciples as they walked in. The narrator, Jesus, and Peter were chosen ahead of time. Other participants sat in a circle around the table with choir members interspersed. Altar guild set up what was needed for Eucharist and for foot washing on the side so that it could be used at the proper time. 12 assorted candles were lit on the table and when Judas leaves he blew out his candle. We would eventually move into a darkened sanctuary for the final scenes and the stripping of the altar while the choir chanted. The reserve sacrament would be taken to the back of the church where we had created a garden from house plants folks brought in (complete with the sound of water from a small fountain hidden under the pews). Everyone would sing “Were you There” and then depart in silence. It was simple and yet moving.
I am offering you this “script” with the story broken into parts. Many churches have used and adapted it over the years and you have my permission to do so. Please feel free to use any part of this as you wish. Adapt to fit your community. Just let me know if it you use it.
Blessings, Amy.
Lent 2024
For Parents and Families:
Liturgies for Parents by Kayla Craig.
A Book, a podcast, and a newsletter that contains excellent prayers, spiritual resources, and support for all of the things families are going through. Not specifically Lenten, but each newsletter is focused on the current season and events.
Ilustrated Ministry: This is My Body and God is Still With Us
Our Illustrated Lent for Families is an opportunity for families to take time each week during Lent to be intentional and focus on their faith. You'll receive seven weekly family devotions and coloring and activity pages.
From Kate Bowler:
Have a Beautiful, Terrible Lent
Lent is full of hard truths. And it is a perfect moment for spiritual honesty. We can look on this tragicomedy with love and bemusement as we wait for the someday that will be God’s promised future. There, God’s kingdom comes. God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. And in the meantime, there’s this . . . our beautiful, terrible days.
A Good Enough Lent
Together, we’re going to take ourselves off the hook for perfection. Perfect lives. Perfect bodies. Perfect relationships. And realize that this is the beautiful work of being human… again today. Thank God we get to do it together.
Bless the Lent We Already Have
Free downloadable guides for whatever this season is bringing you—
the lovely, the garbage, the difficult, the heartbreaking.
Let’s bless it all this Lent.
For Adult Reading Groups:
On Repentance and Repair: Making Amends in an Unapologetic World by Rabbi Danya Ruttenberg
Rooted in the work of Maimonadies and his five stages of Repentance. The discussion guide for Christians, written by Rev. Molly Baskette, covers each chapter and makes an excellent Lenten series.
Alternative ideas:
A Lent Lord of the Rings Read a few chapters each day, accompanied by blog reflections and associated podcast.
Epiphany 2024
Marking the Season of Epiphany
Churches often observe the season of Epiphany through liturgical changes. There might different liturgical prayers, service music, and liturgical hangings in the church but that may be all. However, there are many, many ways that churches can celebrate with some fun, seasonal formation. The season of Epiphany is very short this year, so make the most of it!
Celebrate all Twelve Days of Christmas!
Keep the church decorated through Epiphany! And then celebrate Twelfth Night! In 2024 January 5th falls on a Friday night. Watch a version of Shakespeare’s play “Twelfth Night” or have a reading at the church and invite the local theater company to bring their actors. Provide food, king’s cake of course, and enjoy the season. It is also a good night for a concert, circle dancing, or an intergenerational game night where folks bring their favorite board games to play with others. Create household sets of these Twelve Days of Christmas prayer cards and give out at the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services.
Since Epiphany Day, January 6, 2024, will be on a Saturday, why not have a King’s Cake competition at your church? Here is one example of a church that had their own Great Episcopal Baking Show.
And perhaps end with an intergenerational Epiphany Pageant.
Epiphany Resources:
Plan an Epiphany Party…With King Cake! For me, it isn’t Epiphany without the cake (and I prefer the French version). A quick search online will reveal all kinds of recipes for a King’s cake depending on the country of origin. But they are all delicious and central to a party.
Chalking the Door: An Epiphany Tradition. This is a great home activity that churches can help facilitate by creating take home baggies with chalk, an explanation of the practice, and prayers for the home. Or Intergenerational Epiphany With A “To Go” Bag offers even more resources and activities for the home.
Ideas for Epiphany Adult Formation will give churches different approaches and resources for deeper spiritual formation with adults.
Epiphany: Revelation and Coming Into One’s Own offers suggestions and resources for renaming liturgies during Epiphany as a season of revelation. While anyone can experience taking on a new name, this service is particularly meaningful for transgender and gender non-conforming (GNC) folks, and can be very powerful within the church community.
And just in case anyone is still reading, here is the bonus to use on January 7 to observe the Baptism of Jesus. This is the Lego video I made with the Sunday school at my church in Massachusetts. And if you are interested in using Legos in formation, please reach out at amyc@diocal.org.
Advent & Christmas 2023
Church programs
Customizable Advent video for your church for use on websites and social media in English, Spanish, and French.
Journeying the Way of Love: Four-session Advent Curriculum is available in English, Spanish, and French from the Episcopal Church. There is also a 2023 Journeying the Way of Love Advent Calendar in the three languages.
Gathering to Write is an intergenerational Advent practice found at Building Faith.
Advent Calendars
Building Faith put together a terrific gathering of some of the best Advent Calendar resources in the Episcopal Church.
Forward Movement hosts Advent Word – online reflections through photos on the daily theme pulled from the Sunday lectionary readings. Church Publicity resources for 2023 available.
Personal Meditations & Family Practices
Episcopal Relief & Development Advent Toolkit. Episcopal Relief & Development has a downloadable Advent Toolkit which includes DIY projects for families and communities that will take you from Advent to Christmas and through Epiphany.
Advent Resources from Loyola Press including activities for the home, for family, and for personal reflection.
Christmas:
Pageants and Programs
Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) offers Las Posadas, a churchwide Christmas pageant that invites us to experience the journey of the holy family. Las Posadas, which means “The Inns,” is a traditional Advent/Christmas celebration in Latin America, particularly Mexico, and among many Mexican Americans. In English and Spanish.
Forward Movement offers a free resource for celebrating Posadas. Available in Spanish, Lugar en el meson.
Christmas Pageant Ideas, Tips, and Scripts – a fantastic article with great links from Building Faith.
Prayers and Blessings for Christmas from Building Faith.
Christmas Trivia: A Back Pocket Game for Any Group, with downloadable resources for churches.
Families at Home
“Grow Christians” is a fantastic site with regular articles on Christian parenting and discipleship at home. Their seasonal resources can be very helpful for bridging the church/home gap.
What Does This Season Mean? Handout for Christmas at Home, from Building Faith.
Carrying Christmas With Us: Prayer Cards for All Twelve Days– a spiritual practice with downloadable prayer cards.
Thanksgiving
Over the last few years many have been doing the hard work of relearning the history of the first thanksgiving to better include and learn from the perspective of the indigenous nations of this land. At the same time we do not want to lose the opportunity to speak widely of gratitude and giving thanks.
We have a list of resources to help you do both:
First you can learn which Indigenous peoples lived in your area through Native Land Digital.
Read The Wampanoag Side of the First Thanksgiving Story from Indian Country Today.
Read Thanksgiving Day: An Alternative View by Bradley Hauff, the Indigenous Missioner for the Episcopal Church.
If you are Looking for that perfect prayer to say around the Thanksgiving table? Build Faith has assembled ten options, ranging from traditional to contemporary… simple to creative. HERE
If you’re looking for Thanksgiving activities for churches and families, Sharon Ely Pearson offers brilliant ideas for getting into the Thanksgiving spirit.
And finally, Brook Packard offers 11 brilliant ideas for year-round activities that teach and model gratitude for children.
Stewardship - archives
Stewardship
Stewardship is the expression of our gratitude for all that God has given us. It is how we care for the resources placed in our control, the buildings and communities we have inherited by faith, and the people entrusted to our care. The Diocese of California invests deeply in stewardship formation and resources, training for fundraising in churches, and provides consultations for planned giving and capital campaigns.
Stewardship Resources available from the Diocese of California
Annual Pledge Campaigns
Capital Campaigns
Year-Round Stewardship Formation
Planned Giving
Available Webinars
Upcoming
Join us for a Year of Living Generously
Stewardship Conversations in the Diocese of California
Every month in 2022 brings a new online workshop for stewardship.Click here to see the complete listing of upcoming programs as well as other stewardship resources. Or, click on the “Upcoming” button above to be taken to the Eventbrite Registration page for all workshops.
Recordings
Virtual Offering Plates and Online Stewardship 101
recorded July 30, 2020 https://youtu.be/2lRdkl2cxwU
Using the TENs 2020 Resources Virtually
recorded August 13, 2020 https://youtu.be/8JeyPi0Idsk
Raising Money for Mission - Virtual Auctions, Galas, and Events
recorded August 20, 2020 https://youtu.be/Jz30X4iECt8
Creating Virtual Community for Stewardship
recorded August 27, 2020 https://youtu.be/bkDoUk92rqQ
Tax Implications for 2020 - Your Planned Gift
recorded September 26, 2020 https://youtu.be/70CDxQISOgw
Contact us.
Episcopal Diocese of California
1055 Taylor St.
San Francisco, CA 94108
Cosmic Walk - Clergy Retreat 2022
Bishop
Let us pray for the revealing of the reign of God in the world, now and always:
In the beginning, God was.
Here and now, God is.
In the future, God will be.
Reader
We acknowledge that this land is the unceded, ancestral land of the Pomo peoples. Their presence is imbued in the land surrounding us. May we nurture our relationship with our Native neighbors, and the shared responsibilities to their homelands where we all reside today.
Enable us to be good caretakers and stewards. May we enrich the earth and be enriched by it.
Gong
Reader
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The Word was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through the Word, and without the Word not one thing came into being. What has come into being in the Word was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Gong
Reader (bowl with candles is uncovered)
Fourteen billion years ago, from that place that was no-place, from that time that was no-time, God calls forth the cosmos in a silent blaze of inconceivable brilliance. It contains all the light, energy, and potential for everything that will ever come to be.
Gong
Reader (walker begins first section)
Eight and a half billion years later, our Grandmother Star becomes a supernova. She gives up her life in an explosion that gives rise to our Star, what we call the Sun. The sun and a great disk of matter emerge—all the members of our solar system.
Gong
Reader
For the next three hundred million years, Earth sweeps up solar system debris, swelling in size. Some of the outer layers of the molten Earth splash out into orbit, creating the moon.
Gong
Reader
Over the next six hundred million years, as Earth's surface quiets and cools, an atmosphere begins to form. The first rains fall upon the Earth, and oceans emerge.
Gong
Reader
Four billion years ago, oceans bring forth the wonder of life – simple cells. Earth comes alive.
Gong
Reader
Five hundred million years ago, the first animals and plants move out of the waters onto the dry land, separating themselves from the creatures that remained in the waters of the oceans.
Gong
Reader
Three hundred million years ago, continents converge, and ancestral mountains are uplifted. All the land is locked within a single land mass.
Gong
Reader
Two hundred and ten million years ago, the continents shift, crack, and drift apart. Separate oceans are formed. Creation on earth expands and moves apart.
Gong
Reader
Six hundred and fifty thousand years ago, the plates that form the San Andreas fault began their dance. Shifting and sliding, squeezing and spreading, slipping and stretching they created the San Francisco Bay and the foothills that surround us.
Gong
Reader
One hundred and forty thousand years ago, modern Homo Sapiens emerge in the unfolding life process. Through the human, the universe realizes its capacity for conscious self-awareness.
Gong
Reader
Twenty-six hundred years ago, the stories that would later become the oldest part of the Bible are first written down by people seeking God.
Gong
Reader
Two thousand years ago, a woman named Mary gives birth to a child, Jesus, called Emmanuel, “God with us.” His struggle to embody, teach and share God's love inspires followers who later became known as Christians.
Gong
Reader
Four hundred and forty-three years ago, Sir Francis Drake and the crew of the Golden Hinde mark their arrival with the first Anglican worship service on this coast of the north American continent. Human greed, selfishness, and the desire for “progress” led us to displace and enslave the gentle native people to serve selfish interests strengthened by their desire to dominate the land and claim it for a foreign power.
Gong
Reader
Two hundred and fifty-three years ago, Missionaries from Spain, led by Junípero Serra, began to make their way up the coast of California planting outposts that would become some of our largest cities. These missions contribute to the devastation of the traditional way of life for the people who had been living on this land for thousands of years.
Gong
Reader
One hundred and seventy-three years ago, Gold is discovered in California. Human greed and selfishness begin to damage the creation we were given. The poisons from the mining process continue to pollute the San Francisco Bay.
Gong
Reader
One hundred and sixty-nine years ago, missionary William Kip became the first Bishop of the new Diocese of California, which included all of what is now the state of California. He rode across this state, preaching, teaching, baptizing and blessing.
Gong
Reader
Ninety-three years ago, Astronomers observe the expansion of the Universe. Humans learn we live on the outskirts of a continually developing Universe.
Gong
Reader
Seventy-five years ago, the land and first buildings of this Ranch was sold by Aileen & Osborne White, to the Diocese of California, fulfilling a dream of then Bishop Karl Morgan Block.
Gong
Reader
Thirty-two years ago, human beings looked from outer space and saw the entirety of Earth, a pale blue dot in the darkness of space. And on that pale blue dot every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician and public servant, every saint and sinner in the history of our species live there—on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
Gong
Reader
Today, the Story of the Universe is being told as our Sacred Story. The Flaring Forth continues at this moment. Today, all humans can know the story of our origin, Our shared story with all creation living in this sacred Universe.
Bishop
Holy God, you alone are unutterable,
from the time you created all things that can be spoken of.
You alone are unknowable,
from the time you created all things that can be known.
All things cry out about you: those that speak, and those that cannot speak.
All things honor you: those that think, and those that cannot think.
For there is one longing, one groaning, which all things have for you.
All things pray to you that comprehend your plan and offer you a silent hymn.
In you, the One, all things abide,
and all things endlessly run to you who are the end of all. Amen.
Lent Resources 2022
From the Presiding Bishop’s Office:
Life Transformed – The Way of Love in Lent - The journey through Lent into Easter is a journey with Jesus. We are baptized into his life, self-giving, and death; then, we rise in hope to life transformed. This Lent, communities are invited to walk with Jesus in his Way of Love and into the experience of transformed life. Together, we will reflect anew on the loving actions of God as recounted in the Easter Vigil readings. Together, we will walk through the depths of salvation history into the fullness of redemption.
From Building Faith
Seven Last Words: An Immersive and Interactive Experience for Children And Youth
A downloadable, and customizable Lenten devotional for church and home which is appropriate for families with young children or teens, but can be used just by adults as well.
Co-Creating a Prayer for Lent “Mad Lib” Style- with helps for creating online sacred spaces. Could work well with youth and young adults.
Lent & Easter at Home Kits – everything you need to know to create intergenerational home kits to help folks celebrate Lent and Easter and bring formation and practices into the home.
Lent in a Bag! How to create this great resource In English and Spanish
Children’s Illustrated Ministries offers great resources for Lent. Consider using the Stations of the Cross, Illustrated Lent for Families, the children’s bulletins, or the Illustrated Resurrection Set. Purchase the downloadable pictures alone or buy the curriculum as well. The flexibility of these materials can fit almost any program. Don’t forget that adults like to color as well.
Vibrant Church Communications offers a Lenten Micropractices package. A micropractice is a small spiritual practice. Instead of engaging the same spiritual practice throughout Lent, the micropractices are meant to give a sample across many different styles of practices. Some are active, some are reflective. They will make you think, take action, connect with God and others, and live into your Christian life. This downloadable resource can be used as a booklet or to create home kits.
The Salt Project
This interesting company does a lot more than church resources. SALT is an Emmy Award winning, not-for-profit production company dedicated to the craft of visual storytelling. But thankfully, they do make beautiful, thought provoking, and thoroughly modern resources for churches. Check out the wide range of Lenten materials, including the poetry of Mary Oliver for Lent.
Living Compass
Focusing on Christian wellness, Living Compass offers a daily devotional for Lent: Living Well Through Lent 2022: Letting Go with All Your Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind. The devotional is offered as a booklet for sale, a free download or daily email. A Leader’s guide is also available for download.
Lent Madness
Lent Madness is a fun, engaging way for people to learn about the men and women comprising the Church’s Calendar of Saints. Each day 2 saints and their stories are pitted against each other with an online vote determining the winner. The final winner is crowned with a “golden halo”. Though lots of fun, the stories and examples of the saints are serious and inspiring. Intergenerationally appropriate, and a large “scoreboard” can be mounted in the church.
Forward Movement
Join the Journey through Lent, 2022 – This large poster contains spiritual reflections for every day of Lent. Sold in packs to be given out in churches and faith communities. And consider the many other Lenten Resources offered by Forward Movement.
MORE RESOURCE PAGES
The Episcopal Diocese of Colorado has a very nice page of Lent and Easter Resources.
The Presbyterian Church (PCUSA) has an online Resource Center for churches. They have put together a wide selection of resources for Lent and Easter pulled from many different denominations and sources.
Black History Month: Books and Resources for All Ages
As we try and live out our baptismal promise to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being” we have another opportunity for faith formation and justice with Black History Month. Please check out these new book recommendations for Children and Youth as well as links to great resources for using local library books with Christian Formation. Also look at an older post on Talking about Race for more suggestions and resources, or this post for book suggestions for adults.
Book Recommendations for Children and Youth
For children – Martin’s Big Words, by Doreen Rappaport
“Weaving in Dr. King’s own “big words,” this inspiring picture book biography celebrates this great leader as preacher and politician. Rappaport’s sparse narrative captures the essentials of the man, the Civil Rights movement he led, and his policy of non-violence. This is a great book to read aloud many times.” Booklist
To make your hybrid Sunday School or Children’s Chapel a little easier, The Chicago Children’s Museum recorded a reading of it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2LYcwHF8gs
For older kids (12 and up) – Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
This remarkable reimagining of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi's National Book Award-winning Stamped from the Beginning reveals the history of racist ideas in America, and inspires hope for an antiracist future. It takes you on a race journey from then to now, shows you why we feel how we feel, and why the poison of racism lingers.
(If you’d like to get the whole family into the discussion, there is also a version of Stamped written for younger children, and the full, 500-page edition of Stamped From the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America.)
For help on using books in church formation programs, to promote faith formation in families, or perhaps to story reading books for a zoom bedtime stories, take a look at these resources:
Storypath is a resource for Union Presbyterian Seminary and connects children’s books with the revised common lectionary. Materials are searchable by the lectionary, by scripture links, and by topic. The site also contains lesson plans, blogs by educators (listed under “guest voices”), and lists on topics – such as the one on Challenging Conversations: a bibliography about Prejudice, Tolerance, and Diversity.
On Instagram: The Church Librarian. Kari Baumann (she/her) is a school librarian and a Wake Divinity School student who wants to help you use more children’s books at your church. Each short post highlights a book with suggestions of themes and teachable moments. As a book specialist, she also highlights the strengths of each book through text and illustrations and what to pay attention to when choosing children’s books. Family and life
Advent 2021 Resources (archive)
Advent 2021 resources to archive
Advent.
Busted Halo has an online Advent Calendar with a quote and a micro spiritual practice for each day. Other resources are available on their site as well.
The Episcopal Church offers an Advent Curriculum for Year C on Becoming Beloved Community. This is the perfect follow up to Sacred Ground, or perhaps as a lead in before starting Sacred Ground circles in 2022
Living Well through Advent 2021: Practicing Patience with all our Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind, a daily booklet from Living Compass
Candle Press is offering a free, downloadable resource for families for Advent through the Feast of the Epiphany. The suggestions help busy families create a space to bring the richness of the season into their homes. They pick what works for them amid the myriad demands on their time. Available through December 17, 2021.
Saint Nicholas Day on December 6. Find resources for celebrating the feast of St. Nicholas as well as many other resources for Advent and Christmas at the St. Nicholas Center.
Journeying the Way of Love in Advent contains a curriculum and an Advent Calendar in English, Spanish, and French
For the eighth year, #AdventWord will gather prayers via a global, online Advent calendar. Forward Movement, the new home of AdventWord, will offer 28 daily meditations and images during this holy season beginning Sunday, November 28. Here are bulletin inserts from the Episcopal Church Center to print or use digitally. A book of Advent Devotions is available for purchase from Forward Movement.
Celebrate Posadas - This short guide, available in English and in Spanish, provides practical suggestions for congregations that would like to hold an evening (or several evenings) of Posadas. The guide includes ideas for engaging neighbors and children, as well as suggestions for Latino-Anglo engagement. It features both English and Spanish versions of the Posadas song, on music sheets showing the melody and chords for guitar. An accompanying webpage, available at www.VenAdelante.org, provides multimedia resources: videos clips to learn how to play and sing the Posadas song, mp3 versions of the song in English and in Spanish, and links to a Facebook page where congregations are sharing videos and pictures of their own Posadas.
Holy Land Advent Calendar: This Advent learn about the lives of Holy Land Christians and the ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. with an online calendar from the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.
Thomas Mousin and Merry Watters create a lovely, downloadable Advent Calendar every year.
Praying in Color (a wonderfully accessible prayer practice) offers some downloadable templates for doodling your way through daily prayers.
Gretchen Pritchard is offering a four-session adult formation series of resources for meditation, conversation, and worship during Advent, with a theme for each session: (1) Desolation and longing; (2) Judgment (watchfulness, repentance, preparation); (3) Dawning and hope; (4) Annunciation, journey and birth. At the end of the document is an Order of Worship in the Evening, which can be used at the end of each session and incorporate one of the hymns from that session.