Dear friends in Christ,

Summer is getting closer, at least for most readers of this email. Lots of websites and organizations offer summer reading lists. This is often a time to relax a bit more, perhaps to dig into a good book.

We at Forward Movement have plenty of books you might like to read. We have a whole catalog of suggestions, but here are just a few ideas for summer reading.

The Way of Love: A Practical Guide to Following Jesus. You’re probably heard a lot about the Way of Love, our Presiding Bishop’s invitation to engage in the seven spiritual practices of turn, learn, pray, worship, bless, go, and rest. I wrote this little book with the assistance of seven lay people who share testimonies about how the practices of the Way of Love have shaped their lives. Bishop Curry was kind enough to write the foreword. It’s a practical guide aimed especially at people who might like to refresh their prayer lives or their efforts at evangelism or any part of our journey as followers of Jesus.

With Gladness: Answering God’s Call in Our Everyday Lives. Christopher Martin wrote this book we just published not long ago. It’s a fresh Benedictine-inspired way to answer the question, “What is God calling me to do today?” Martin believes that sometimes we get hung up on the big questions but miss opportunities to serve God in this moment. There’s also a video course based on the book. You’ll love Christopher, whether you read his book or enjoy his teaching on video.

Gifts of God for the People of God: Exploring Worship in the Episcopal Church by Furman Buchanan explores worship, especially the Eucharist. After a time when many of us were not able to share Holy Communion together, what better time to re-engage our experience of Eucharist. Moving from the first spoken word of the service—blessed—to the last phrase—Thanks be to God—Buchanan explains the theological and scriptural elements of the service, helping newcomers and longtime members alike gain a deeper understanding of this gift of God.

There are plenty of other books on our website. And of course, lots of other publishers have great books, too! Whatever you read, I hope you’ll make good use of a slower time of year to learn and to grow as a follower of Jesus.

Yours faithfully,

Scott Gunn
Executive Director

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Dear friends in Christ,

Regardless of official astronomical arrival, I always shift into summer mode once June arrives. The pace slows down a bit, and the office is quieter as most of our staff enjoys some vacation time here and there.

Long before I served in a ministry that publishes books, I became a fan of summer reading plans. Perhaps in some relaxing spot on vacation, it’s nice to curl up with a book and read for the pleasure of it.

Of course, we have lots of books—including a few new ones—at Forward Movement. But you can find books from other publishers, too. Or maybe you’ll choose a portion of scripture to read. Whatever you do, I encourage you to read something that might inspire you in this more relaxed time of year.

I’ve got a few books to read myself, including Gifts of God for the People of God, new from Forward Movement. And I’m hoping to read my way through the entire New Testament in a translation that’s fresh for me. What are you reading this summer?

Yours faithfully,

Scott Gunn
Executive Director