January 2024 News

The Vestry Handbook, Fourth Edition by Christopher Webber. Church Pub. 2024 (shipping is delayed)

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. -pub.

Cathedral Cat by Ellen Clark-King 2024

A delightful tale of a curious cat who travels around the streets of San Francisco. She sees the cable cars, China Town, Ghirardelli Square and eventually ends at Grace Cathedral. She was given the name of Grace. All proceeds from the sale of this book go to Dinners with Grace, a project for feeding the unhoused humans of San Francisco, and other ministries of Grace Cathedral.

Will you? A Lenten Study on the Baptismal Promises by Amanda Perkins McGriff. Forward 2024

"When we are initiated into the church with the water of baptism, we (or our sponsors) answer a series of questions called the Baptismal Covenant. The first three questions echo the words of our creeds, our beliefs about God and the church. The last five questions focus on action. They each begin with the words: "Will You?" These "Will You" questions articulate how we are to animate our baptism, to follow Christ's example in our relationships with others, our communities, and the world. These questions move from a "gathering in" to a "sending out"-they are a call to embrace and practice evangelism by proclaiming the Good News of Christ in all we do and speak. This five-week Lenten study offers daily reflections, examples of evangelism in action, and an invitation to think in new ways about the promises we make to God, each other, and ourselves in baptism"—pub.

Calendar: Join the Journey Through Lent, invites spiritual reflection and is a wonderful companion for the Lenten season. Great for families. Sold in packs of 25 for $15.00.

Witness at the Cross, A Beginner's Guide to Holy Friday. (Leader Guide) by Amy-Jill Levine.

The six-session DVD features Dr. Amy-Jill Levine guiding participants through the study. The video sessions are approximately 10-12 minutes in length and, when combined with the six book chapters, make an ideal six-week group study. Note: DVD can be downloaded. It has worked for several parishes.

Entering the Passion of Jesus: a Beginner's Guide to Holy Week by Amy Jill-Levine

From Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem to his prayerful agony in Gethsemane, Levine brings forward aspects and details that open doors for beginners as well as seasoned readers of the Bible. She shows how the text raises ethical and spiritual questions for the reader, and how we all face risk in our Christian experience. A six-session DVD, each 10-12 minutes in length and the leader’s guide are included.