As Episcopal Journal and Cafe suspended publication on this site as of Aug. 15, 2023, fans of the podcasts TeaTime Theology and Faith to Go may access them on their websites: TeaTime Theology Faith to Go ..read more

By Episcopal Journal and Café Episcopal Journal & Café announced that it is suspending its online publication as of Aug. 15, 2023. “The EJC team is proud to have brought news, features, arts coverage and inspirational writing to Episcopalians for more than a decade, separately as Episcopal Journal and Episcopal Café, and as the merged publication for the past year,” said Solange De Santis, editor. “The economics of online publications, and a former print one, are challenging and the decision has been made to stop updating the site and ultimately archive it.” Farewell messages from Speakin ..read more

Photo: Rob Gieselmann By Rob Gieselmann “O God, our times are in your hands …” (BCP 830) These words from the Prayer for a Birthday in the Book of Common Prayer speak not only to the annual celebration of our beginning, but also to our terminus. They invite trust, the folding of our days front to back, in Providence. Tinged with grief, yet fully grateful for each breath, we live each day knowing not only that our time-space existence is book-ended, but also that each breath we take is a gift. Each breath, which turns me to this final page of Episcopal Journal and Episcopal Café, Speaking to th ..read more

Maria Evans and her heirloom tomatoes. By Maria Evans I often joke with parishioners at each of my interim assignments, “I was called to be an interim because I’ve never been very good at long-term relationships.” Yet, here we are, in what became a long term relationship, albeit a long-distance one. It’s hard to believe that we have been sharing the Daily Office together every other Friday (and sometimes, every Friday) since October 2011–and that relationship has come to an end after nearly 12 years. How do I even begin to express my gratitude for over a decade of the privilege of sharing the ..read more

By Laurie Gudim I want to express my deep thanks to all the folks who have followed the Speaking to the Soul column over the years. Speaking to the Soul has been an important avenue for me in my spiritual formation and in finding my voice as a writer. Writing short reflections every week has allowed me to dialogue with scripture and put words to my journey in relationship with God. You’ve been witnesses to my discoveries and to (hopefully) my growth. Your warm-hearted regard and your gentle comments have been an inspiration, balm to my soul, and deeply appreciated encouragement. I will miss y ..read more

by Emily Meeks “I believe that this life is an extraordinary gift, a blink of bright light between vast darknesses.”  – Bryan Doyle, from Leaping: Revelations and Epiphanies  The clouds rolled in and braided in colors of sunset as the day’s final moments gave way to night. We stood on rocks and dust, our bodies refueled from the day’s hike-in with tortillas, beans and guacamole smashed in camp bowls. It was day one of our young adult backpacking trip to the Goat Rocks Wilderness and all had gone as planned except two of our friends were still not to camp, having taken a later st ..read more

A view of damage cause by wildfires in Lahaina, Maui. Photo/Office of Gov. Josh Green By Shireen Korkzan Episcopal News Service Episcopal leaders in Hawaiʻi are assessing the immediate needs of people who have been impacted by this week’s wildfires on the island of Maui, which have killed at least 93 people and destroyed at least a thousand buildings, including a historic Episcopal church. The wildfires, which are mostly contained now, prompted the evacuation of more than 11,000 people, including tourists. The worst of the damage was experienced by Maui’s western community of Lahaina, populati ..read more

Photo/St. Mark’s via Facebook page | Inset/The Rev. Charlie Holt By Kirk Petersen The Living Church The Rev. Charlie Holt, who learned July 21 that his election as the next Bishop of Florida had been nullified, announced August 11 that he has been named rector of St. Mark’s in Jacksonville, one of the largest churches in the Diocese of Florida. “It’s a tremendous blessing for me and my family,” Holt told TLC. “I grew up in Jacksonville, I haven’t lived here for 30 years, but my parents are here and my I have a sister that lives in Jacksonville. And also a lot ..read more

In Barbara Brown Taylor’s classic book, An Altar in the World, (Harper-Collins, 2009), the author describes several spiritual practices that arise from the everyday activities and encounters of our lives.  One she entitles “The Practice of Getting Lost” fits with our story from Genesis this week.  Taylor talks about how the intentional practice of getting lost – going somewhere you have never been before, taking a different route home, opening up your schedule to the unplanned and unexpected, and so on – can open you to new experiences and connect you more deeply to God. Then she tal ..read more

As Episcopal Journal and Cafe suspended publication on this site as of Aug. 15, 2023, fans of the podcasts TeaTime Theology and Faith to Go may access them on their websites: TeaTime Theology Faith to Go ..read more