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Forward Today: Stir up thy power

Dear friends in Christ,

I love the collect – or prayer of the day – for this coming Sunday. It’s an ancient prayer that still speaks to us today.

Illuminated manuscript in Latin, which translated reads "Stir up your power, O God, and with great might come among us."Stir up thy power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let thy bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honor and glory, world without end. Amen.

Several years ago, I wrote about this prayer for an Advent retreat I led. In that retreat meditation, I said:

I am captivated by the idea of God stirring us up, of being stirred up by God’s power. It really suggests we won’t be left the same, that things will get mixed up in us and in the world through God’s power. I think of the swirling nothingness at the beginning, out of which God brought all Creation into being, and how God’s creativity continues in the world. Stir up thy power!

My gosh, I am so ready for God to stir things up. It’s not that our chaotic, fallen world needs excitement. Rather, the patterns of power, might, greed, and violence need to be stirred. Complacency and fear need to be stirred away. Hope, grace, mercy, peace, and justice need to be stirred in. We need some stirring.

If you can, get to church this weekend or join a service online. Hear the warning of John the Baptist. Pray for a fresh stirring up of our world and our lives. Do the work of repentance to which Advent calls us.

We can’t do it on our own. Stir up your power, O God! Stir us up, we pray!

Yours faithfully,

Scott Gunn's signature

Scott Gunn
Executive Director


More from our ministry:

New ChurchNext course on interrupting cycles of violence: Each Other’s Keeper

Forward Today: The gift of daily devotions

Dear friends in Christ,

The cover of a Forward Day By Day pamphlet, November-December 2021, January 2022I recently had the opportunity to visit three different churches on three different Sundays. At each one, people told me how much they love Forward Day by Day. In case you’ve never run across it, each day Forward Day by Day offers a snippet of scripture, a brief reflection, a suggested action, and a place in the Anglican Communion for which you are encouraged to pray.

The stories I hear about Forward Day by Day amaze me. A man once told me how it helped him discover his vocation. A woman once told me it sustained her while her husband was fighting during a war. People tell me how it’s an essential part of their day. Lots of readers talk about how the practice of daily prayer and reflection keeps them anchored as followers of Jesus Christ.

That’s just it. Being a Christian isn’t a Sunday job. It’s all encompassing. The habit of daily prayer and reflection helps us remember God’s love for us and the call of Jesus Christ to follow him.

In every church I visit, there are always people – usually the majority – who don’t have a habit of daily prayer and reflection. There are lots of ways to pray daily, and you can certainly study the scriptures on your own. But Forward Day by Day offers an accessible entry to a life-changing practice of prayer and study.

If you haven’t tried Forward Day by Day, you can read it online or listen to our podcast or get the free app for your iPhone or Android smartphone. Of course, it’s also available in print. Thousands of people love our pocket-sized edition.

This is the time of year when many start to think about Christmas gifts. As we celebrate Christ’s birth, how about giving someone a gift that will help them follow Jesus day in and day out? Amid all the chaos of this world, Forward Day by Day makes an easy gift to give. It might just be life-changing for the recipient. You can order a gift print subscription online. If you want to give several, or if you have questions, feel free to call us.

I know it’s true in my own life: daily prayer is hugely important. It’s never too late to start, and it’s never too late to invite someone else to give daily prayer a try.

Yours faithfully,

Scott Gunn's signature

Scott Gunn
Executive Director


More from our ministry:

Pray with us any time of day: Daily Prayer Podcasts

Explore new forms of prayer: Seek and You Will Find

Get ready for daily prayer through Advent: Promise and Praise

Behind the Screen interview with Isabel Lynn-Ramos

Hugo Olaiz, Forward Movement Associate Editor for Latino and Hispanic Ministries, recently had a chance to interview Isabel Lynn Ramos, October 2021 author for Forward Day by Day.

Below is an excerpt from their conversation. Click here to listen to their entire conversation (in Spanish) on the Forward Day by Day podcast (episode released on September 30, 2021). 

Where are you from? What’s your profession?
I grew up in Toa Baja, a small town in the north of Puerto Rico. I have a degree in education with an emphasis on elementary school teaching. I later obtained a master’s degree in school administration. I have worked for eight years as a school principal and in the Early Head Start program.

How did you end up writing for Forward Day by Day?
I used to have a notebook where I would write down scriptural passages and my own spiritual meditations. That book ended up in my parents’ home, and in 2017, when Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, the house was flooded, and my notebook was lost. I was very saddened. Yet I believe that God intervened: when I learned about Forward Movement’s call for writers, I locked myself in my room and wrote the meditation samples. Only a few days later you called me, inviting me to write about my life experiences. The interactions and encouragement that I received from you and your colleagues have been a wonderful gift. I still can’t believe this is happening!

What would you like people to take away from your meditations?
I wrote about things that I have experienced in my time and place—the good, the bad, and the ugly. I hope and know many people will identify with my experiences.

Tell us briefly about the experiences you had in your neighborhood after Hurricane Maria.
Thousands in Puerto Rico were left homeless and ended up in shelters. People in our neighborhood lost everything. We had no electricity, water, or supplies. So we got organized to help each other. The neighbors set up teams to clean up the mud and debris. We also organized communal meals: on a specific date my mother would cook, then a next-door neighbor, and so forth. We had breakfast, lunch, and dinner together, as if we were a family. And the Episcopal Church did tremendous work all across Puerto Rico, bringing emergency supplies, food, and water; they also spent time encouraging and praying with people.  We grew up as a neighborhood and also as a church.

Is there anything you would like to add?
I’m so grateful to you and the Forward Movement staff! Thank you for trusting this Puerto Rican woman to write these meditations.

Q&A: Rhonda Mawhood Lee, author of Seek and You Will Find

Rhonda Mawhood Lee among the flowers in her back garden.How do we pray? Prayer is an essential part of the Christian life, but it often remains stubbornly mysterious. Rhonda Mawhood Lee, an Episcopal priest, writer, and spiritual director, walks us through the “how” of prayer and many diverse practices of prayer in her new book, Seek and You Will Find. Learn more about Lee and her book in this author Q&A.

How did the idea for this book develop?
A few years ago, I attended a meeting between members of the Society of Scholar Priests and Scott Gunn, executive director of Forward Movement. The facilitator asked Scott what kinds of books he’d like to see members of the SSP write, and one of Scott’s suggestions was a book about how to pray. That resonated with me, because so many Christians have told me they don’t know how to pray, and don’t have anyone to teach them. I love to teach, and I have devoted a lot of time to learning to pray, so I thought I might write such a book. And after a while, I did.

What is your hope for this book?
I hope, first, that it gives the people who read it a sense of God’s great love for them and desire to keep company with them. And then, second, I hope it helps readers see that there are many faithful ways to pray, and maybe feel inspired to try a few. Finally, I hope that by leading people to prayer, the book helps to spread God’s loving, resurrecting power further into the world.

Which of the prayer practices in this book was easiest or most familiar? What about a practice that was particularly difficult or new to you?
Well, I’ve just about given up on ever doing yoga. I mean, I might, one day, but I’m not counting on it. It just doesn’t draw me.

On the whole, though, I appreciate and use a variety of different practices. The Daily Office, contemplative prayer, Ignatian contemplation, the Jesus Prayer, the rosary (more recently), doodling, walking prayers, lectio divina…I do them all at different times, and I’m glad they’re all available to me.

What surprised you the most while writing this book?
The fact that I managed to write it at all, in the midst of the Covid pandemic. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to focus, given everything that was going on in the world, and the heightened level of anxiety that was present in just about every human interaction. But writing the book ended up being something of an oasis. Thanks be to God.

Cocoa Cinnamon CafeWhere do you typically write?
I often write at my favorite coffee shop, Cocoa Cinnamon in Durham, North Carolina. I’m lucky to have space at home to write, both inside and outside on our back porch (which makes a cameo in the book as a place I like to pray). But I can write just about anywhere, including airplanes, public transportation, and public libraries.

What is your favorite prayer?
The psalms. That may not be a fair answer, since there are 150 of them and you asked for a favorite, but the psalms are the prayers I have returned to over and over, in sorrow, in contrition, in joy, and in questioning and seeking. They are my true friends and teachers, and they connect me to spiritual ancestors and to Jewish and Christian siblings today. And to Jesus, who prayed them too.

Is there anything else you’d like readers to know?
I am praying for you. Truly. In intercession and with thanksgiving.


Seek and You Will Find is available on the Forward Movement website. Read a sample or order your copy today.

Q&A: Mark Bozzuti-Jones, author of Face to the Rising Sun

Spirituals, songs of abiding faith passed down by African Americans through the centuries, offer a remarkable view of resilience, courage, and love. Formed in the crucible of fire, these songs express the suffering and horror of slavery as well as the love of God and the promise of a better future.

Mark Bozzuti-Jones in a white alb and red stoleAuthor Mark Bozzuti-Jones explores the modern-day lessons of these Spirituals with scripture readings, daily devotions, and questions for reflection. The Rev. Dr. Mark Francisco Bozzuti-Jones is an Episcopal Jamaican priest at Trinity Church Wall Street in New York City. A former Jesuit priest, Mark has missionary experience in Belize, Brazil, and Guyana. He is an avid reader, award-winning author, and speaker, and has taught at elementary and university levels. Explore Fr. Mark’s book and writing process in this author Q&A.


How did the idea for this book develop?
The idea of this book emerged as I witnessed the protests for justice and peace organized by the Black Lives Matter Movement in 2020. I joined many of these protests and could not help but think that protesting for justice has always been part of the African American story and history. The more I observed the marches, the more I thought of the Spirituals as a legacy of protests. For me, the Spirituals entreat this generation to persevere in the struggle for justice. The Spirituals show that the celebration of the Black spirit and the fight for justice are not only spiritual, but psychological, political, and cultural, too.

What is your hope for this book?
I hope this book will inspire African Americans, and everyone who reads it, to keep the faith, to commit to justice and peace, and to support communities that seek justice. I pray that readers will deepen their commitment to their faith and let their voices ring out on behalf of justice. The Spirituals remind us that we are called to be true to who we are; they invite a commitment to justice, peace, liberation, and respect.

Cover of the book "Face to the Rising Sun: Reflections on Spirituals and Justice" by Mark Bozzuti-JonesIs there a spiritual that was particularly memorable or you during your childhood?
“Nobody knows the troubles, I’ve seen; nobody knows but Jesus.” Whenever a human being suffers, God suffers. What we do to the least of our brothers and sisters, we do to Jesus. Jesus knows our suffering, because Jesus also suffered. In his suffering, Jesus remained faithful to God, and that is what the Slaves did. The Spirituals show that the Slaves identified with Jesus and believed that Jesus identified with them. My great epiphany came in realizing that the Slaves saw themselves in “the Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him.”

What about a spiritual that is especially meaningful in your life today?
“We Shall Overcome” holds tremendous meaning in my life today and always will. This affirmation of strength and hope is the Apostles and Nicene Creeds for me. I believe in these words; they fully express my faith – and they make all the difference.

The book includes several original poems that discuss the experience of racism in America today. What was the experience of writing those poems like?
The poetry in this book is one of the ways I dialogue with the Spirituals. When we hear the Spirituals; we are called to “inwardly digest” and give new voices to them. These poems are my attempts to show that the Spirituals live forever, and the Black Lives Matter Movement is integrally connected to the Spirituals, a reflection of their deep longing.

Where do you typically write?
Typically, I write at a desk at home. This desk is close to a window, because I always believe that writing is about looking out into the world.

What was your favorite part of writing this book?
Recalling my experience of growing up in Jamaica was my favorite part of writing this book. Knowing that Jamaicans identify with the Spirituals gives me tremendous comfort and joy. In addition, I loved the way the Scripture selections complemented and deepened their messages.

Is there anything else you’d like readers to know?
I would love folks to know that the Slaves were not only objects or victims but deeply spiritual and faithful people. I would love people to know that the Slaves were well educated and sophisticated in their usage of poetic form to convey the complex realities of trust in the face of oppression, brutality, and all aspects of slavery. I would love people to know that many of the Slaves knew the power of remaining faithful and took their religious beliefs very seriously.


Face to the Rising Sun is available on the Forward Movement website. Read a sample or order your copy today.

Forward Today: Good News from our land?

Dear friends in Christ,

Last week, I wrote about using money for good. This week I want to say a few words about land.

In the last few days, I ran across an article from The New Yorker, “How a Young Activist Is Helping Pope Francis Battle Climate Change.” I was intrigued for a couple of reasons.

First, I was inspired to learn that one person could single-handedly get the bureaucratic and massive Roman Catholic to change. It’s a good reminder for anyone who ever wonders if one person can make a difference. If she could budge the Roman Catholic church, then it helps me believe one person could budge the Episcopal Church where we need a push to go in new directions.

Second, this article got me thinking about how the Episcopal Church understands and uses all the land and buildings we own. Think about all the churches, rectories, conference centers camps, diocesan offices, church-wide headquarters, seminaries, and more.

Do we understand that all “our” land is a gift from God? How often do we use our land for the good of the world and to the glory of God? Or do we fearfully see land merely as an asset to be protected only for the immediate use of our congregations, dioceses, and organizations?

What if we asked how our land could help combat climate change? Think of wind farms, solar panels, or ecologically informed landscaping. What if we asked how our land might help our communities? Think of community gardens, space for groups to meet, or opportunities to offer restful hospitality and refreshment.

Plainsong Farm vegetables

I’m late to the party. The Rev. Nurya Love Parish and Plainsong Farm have been raising these issues for some time now. If you don’t know about it, check out this innovative ministry that grows good for those in need, teaches about our stewardship of God’s creation, advocates for better land use, and offers young people a residency and transformational experience.

The Episcopal Church’s evangelism office promotes Good News Gardens as a way of growing food for the good of the world. There are other examples.

How is your church or diocese using land? Are there opportunities to share what you have with a world in need? Are there ways you could help combat climate change? Are there ways you could show forth the Good News of God in Jesus Christ by how you inhabit this beautiful world?

Yours faithfully,

 

 

 

Scott Gunn
Executive Director

 


More from our ministry:

From Grow Christians: Notes from an Altar Guild Intern

Spend the program year with Forward Movement: Learn more!

Order Advent devotionals early for group study: Promise & Praise: Advent Word Reflections

Forward Today: Investing our money for the good of the world

Dear friends in Christ,

I’ve long been intrigued by ethical ways to use money for the good of the world. Of course, one choice is to make donations to organizations who seek the improvement of the common good.

There are also ways to make money while also using our money for good. For example, ethical investing puts money in companies with ethically sound practices to support those who are doing good in the world. There are funds which make micro-loans to people in developing countries to help them start enterprises that can be sustainable and support their economic improvement; one can invest in these funds and sometimes get a modest return on the investment. We can buy bonds that underwrite green energy projects, and these bonds may generate income like any other bonds.

I’ve been thinking about churches and their wealth recently. Should our goal be to seek the highest possible return? Or should we temper financial gains with moral and ethical interests. Can we do both?

At Forward Movement, we reinvested our modest investment fund a couple of years ago. Before we had a typical balanced portfolio with policies that were primarily oriented around financial return. After considering several options, we put our entire fund in a balanced ESG (environmental, social and governance investing) portfolio of stocks, bonds, and other instruments. This means we hope to do good with our money. By the way, since we made the switch, our financial performance has exceeded our previous benchmarks. (So it doesn’t always have to cost something to do good, though it often will.)

I’m not here to give financial advice. Talk to someone who does finance for a living to get financial advice!

But I am here to raise questions. Can we, as a church, change the world with our wealth? Can we encourage our members to pool their money to change the world?

Imagine if the church offered alternatives to predatory payday lending programs. Imagine if the church created investment funds to support the launch of small businesses by racial minorities and other groups who may not find financial support in our current systems. Imagine if we bought bonds to support transformational infrastructure, sustainable resource development, and green energy. There are many ways we could use our money to change the world.

Any time we want to change the world, we can start in our own hearts. At our house, we began with our retirement investments. We’re nearly done switching all of our money to ethical or socially conscious investing. We give money to the church of course, but also to other organizations doing good.

Are you using your money to change the world for the better? How is your church doing?

Yours faithfully,

 

 

 

Scott Gunn
Executive Director


 

More from our ministry:

Online Course: What Every Vestry Member Needs to Know about Money with The Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania

Book ideas for churches and small groups: Learn more!

A book of pray and practice: Saint Augustine’s Prayer Book

Forward Today: A year with Forward Movement

Dear friends in Christ,

This time of year is about the season when congregations normally kick off their program year. New courses and ministries launch. Often, Sunday schools fill up. The pace of summer gives way to a busier time of the autumn.

Of course, this time is anything but normal. The pandemic has forced us all to look at all sorts of practices, and I suspect that in many congregations, everything is up for grabs.

Even though there may be no “normal” my sense is that many congregations are starting some kind of program year, even if it’s quite a bit different from usual. Maybe there are online book groups or Bible Studies. Christian formation for children might look different. The number of offerings might be smaller (or larger) than what is typical.

A collection of Forward Movement books

What is your church doing? There’s no right or wrong answer. Our task in the church is to make disciples, and there are as many ways to do that as there are Christians.

We at Forward Movement are working to support you and your church in this unusual time. We have books and courses suitable for in-person or online study. We offer resources for new members and long-time Episcopalians alike.

At a time when many leaders are struggling to figure out what to do this year, we wanted to make it just a bit easier. So we’ve put together some ideas for living through the whole program year. Please have a look at our website for resources for the fall, for Advent, for Christmas and Epiphany, for Lent, for Easter, and even for next summer.

As always, please contact the friendly folks here at Forward Movement if you have questions or you’re not sure what’s right for your church. We can respond to emails (orders@forwardmovement.org) or phone calls (800-543-1813).

We want to help you make disciples, whatever that looks like in your life and in your church.

Yours faithfully,

 

 

Scott Gunn
Executive Director


More from our ministry:

Online Course: Surviving Moral Injury with David Peters

Listen to our Morning Prayer podcast: A Morning at the Office

Reading suggestion: Walk in Love: Episcopal Beliefs & Practices

 

Book ideas for churches and small groups!

Whether you’re gathering online, in-person, or finding a combination that works for you, Forward Movement has inspiring books for small groups and full congregations to learn and grow together.

Some ideas:

The Path: A Journey Through the Bible

The Way of Love: A Practical Guide to Following Jesus

Gifts of God for the People of God: Exploring Worship in the Episcopal Church

The Way of Love Bible Challenge: A 50 Day Bible Challenge

Walk in Love: Episcopal Beliefs and Practices

Angels of the Bible: Finding Grace, Beauty, and Meaning

The Social Justice Bible Challenge: A 40 Day Bible Challenge

Acts to Action: The New Testament’s Guide to Evangelism and Mission

With Gladness: Answering God’s Call in Our Everyday Lives


Save with bulk pricing

We publish books that we believe the church needs, and we’re always glad when someone buys one and reads it. Many of our titles are available through major online retailers. However, when you purchase directly from Forward Movement, you support our ministry to provide free books and devotionals to inmates, nursing home and hospital patients, and active military personnel.

Plus, it can save you money! Our bulk rates are often the best pricing option for churches and groups.

Example:

The Way of Love: A Practical Guide to Following Jesus
By Scott Gunn

Buying 1-4 copies?
Our price: $15 each
Their price: $15 each

Buying 5+ copies?
Our price: $10 each
Their price: $15 each

 

 

You can always call us at 800-543-1813 or special discounts for very large orders!


Fall is a great time to start a book study. Order soon to ensure timely delivery!

Visit forwardmovement.org or call 800-543-1813 to order.

Forward Day by Day app and website receive major update

Complete overhaul improves user experience and functionality

Forward Movement announces a major update to its popular Forward Day by Day smartphone app, as well as a relaunch of its Daily Prayer website, prayer.forwardmovement.org. The complete overhaul includes a new clean design with simplified navigation, as well as podcast integration and expanded customization settings for users.

Visitors to the Daily Prayer website (prayer.forwardmovement.org) will see the new design immediately, while users of the Forward Day by Day app should automatically receive the update within a few days, depending on their device and settings. The app is available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the app has been free to download since early 2021.

The long-awaited upgrade was completed in partnership with the Rev. Greg Johnston of Cambridge, MA, the creator of the popular Venite app, which Forward Movement began sponsoring in 2020.

“We are committed to our mission to inspire disciples and empower evangelists, wherever they are,” said the Rev. Canon Scott Gunn, Forward Movement executive director. “This upgrade to our app and website will provide users with an improved user experience, including customizable features and settings, to strengthen a habit of daily prayer and scripture engagement, both known catalysts to a deepening life of faith.”

To assist visitors with bookmarked pages, the existing version of prayer.forwardmovement.org will remain intact for several weeks as users become accustomed to the new website. By late August, pages will redirect to the upgraded site.

The Forward Day by Day app and Daily Prayer website were initially launched in 2012.

Report bugs or problems to tech@forwardmovement.org. We appreciate your help refining this offering!


About Forward Movement

Inspiring disciples and empowering evangelists around the globe every day, Forward Movement has been producing innovative resources to encourage spiritual growth in individuals and congregations since 1935. Best known for the daily devotional Forward Day by Day, Forward Movement also produces books, smart phone apps, pamphlets, conferences, online courses, church leadership resources, and more, in English and Spanish. Visit www.forwardmovement.org or www.venadelante.org to learn more.