Dear friends in Christ,
I’m on the other side of the world at the moment, in the midst of a vacation. When we travel for vacation, we tend to go far away. There are lots of reasons for this, but one of them is that I find the sheer difference from my usual routine to be invigorating and refreshing.
I love the stimulation of new tastes, new sites, new smells, and new sounds. Photography is a hobby of mine, and I love photographing the places and people of the world. (See my Flickr album here.)
Encountering cultures different from my own is always a blessing, though it can be challenging for me at times. I’ve loved worshiping with Anglicans around the world, seeing what bits of Anglican Christianity have been adapted to the local context. Churches around the world have without exception been welcoming, seeing me as an Anglican sibling.
Of course, one doesn’t need to go so far away to get the benefits of a journey. We can worship in a church that’s new to us. We can visit a nearby town or a part of our own city that we don’t know well. We can even invite strangers to dinner.
As I read the Gospels, it seems that Jesus and his followers were always on the move. They did not shrink back from encounters with strangers or even hostile people. Jesus’ ministry can be seen as a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Our own lives are meant to be pilgrimages too, as we grow into the full stature of Christ.
It’s lovely to be home. I certainly count on quiet time at home, as well as the company of long-time friends. I also find time away—whether it’s near or far—to be essential in my spiritual journey. Encountering what’s outside my immediate sphere is a gift in its own right, but it also helps me appreciate what is familiar.
What journeys are you taking?
Yours faithfully,
 |
Scott Gunn
Executive Director
Today’s Flash Sale: Inwardly Digest
Have you ever wondered if there was some kind of guide to living a deeper, richer spiritual life that seamlessly incorporated scripture alongside the wisdom of the Church? There is—and you can find it in a pew rack near you! The Book of Common Prayer is more than a service book; it is a map to a deeper relationship with God, a framework for developing a more intentional and rewarding life of faith.
Scholar Derek Olsen explores liturgical spirituality and how the prayer book serves as a repository of Christian wisdom and spiritual practice stretching back to the beginnings of the Christian movement. Focusing on three key elements—the Calendar, the Daily Office, and the Eucharist—he discusses the spiritual principles behind them and provides clear, practical, easy-to-follow explanations of the services. These patterns of life laid out in The Book of Common Prayer serve as a guide to the spiritual life, so that we might connect back to the God who calls each of us by name and that we might love as God loves us.
Regular: $22
Today: $16.50
*Discount is valid until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time