Grandma Keet, a Cheerful Giver

by the Rev. Tommy Dillon, Priest-in-Charge, St. Margaret’s, Baton Rouge Every year when the annual giving season comes around, I think about my grandmother Keet who was so influential in teaching me about being a cheerful giver. My grandfather Earl unexpectedly...

Living Generously

by Joey Clavijo, St Georges Episcopal Church, New Orleans Psalm 112 speaks eloquently about “living generously.” It defines generous living as being gracious, merciful and righteous. To live in such a way, we are to conduct our lives with justice. Generous...

Abundance

by Maria Elliott, Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly.  – John 10:10 This article is the first of what we- members of your Stewardship Congregational Consultants – hope will be many articles on the...

A Church that Fails (Reprise)

[Episcopal Church Foundation – Vital Posts] “When will we ever learn? When will we ever learn?” Peter, Paul, and Mary sang these words in protest against the war in Vietnam. Today, in the aftermath of the terrible hate crime in Orlando, leaving too many dead and...

A Place for Those who Came Before

[Episcopal Church Foundation – Vital Posts] Sometimes four generations of family sit together in my church. Even after nearly five years, I’m still learning who is related. New priests for this congregation should get a family-tree chart as part of their welcome...

You Are a Gift

[Episcopal Church Foundation – Vital Posts] So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built upuntil we all reach unity in the faith...

The Bread of Life

[Episcopal Church Foundation – Vital Posts] This Easter Day, once again, I explained the change to the congregation. “We’re using real bread today, and we’ll do so throughout this fifty-day-long season. For those of you more accustomed to wafers, you’ll see what...

The 400-lb Gorilla in the Room

[Episcopal Church Foundation – Vital Posts] We should talk about the 400-pound gorilla in the room. That and a four-year-old boy. In case you’ve been in silent retreat on a desert island without wifi, newspapers, or a message in a bottle, here’s the recap: Last...

June 2016 Editor’s Letter: Transitions and Change

[Episcopal Church Foundation – Vital Posts] Change can be difficult. For church leaders – and others in the congregation – change may be particularly difficult when we say goodbye to a beloved rector or parts of our church life we have grown accustomed to. What...

Changes to Safeguarding Policy

One of my responsibilities as Canon Missioner is to oversee our diocesan Safeguarding God’s Children program. This program is immensely important to the life of our diocese and I appreciate your participation over the years. After visiting with many clergy and...