In News, we follow celebrations of the Philadelphia 11, who defied the church to claim the priestly ministry for women 50 years ago. Kirk Petersen profiles a small-town Upstate New York parish that raised over $2 million to renovate a ministry center, rejecting a massive grant from the state that would have forced it to separate its feeding ministry and spiritual life.

Jeffrey MacDonald tracks a massive shift in clergy deployment — 64 percent of Episcopal congregations don’t have a full-time priest — and explores how churches are changing in response. As football season starts, Weston Curnow profiles a college kicker who aims to glorify God on the gridiron.

Editor Mark Michael takes us back to 1919 in his column, looking at how the Episcopal Church’s current financial and administrative structure emerged from a practical crisis and a spiritual renewal.

TLC could not exist without the parishes, dioceses, and organizations that support us financially. Every year, we invite our Partners to share a few words with other readers about their adventures in sharing the gospel and building up the faithful. Their stories inspire and encourage all of us.

All this plus more news, features, commentary, book reviews, People & Places, and Sunday’s Readings, from an independent voice serving the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion since 1878. Consider subscribing today.

NEWS

• Church Honors Philadelphia 11
  By Kirk Petersen and Mark Michael
• New York Church Resists ‘Church-Food Separation’
  By Kirk Petersen

PARTNER SPOTLIGHTS 2024

• The Living Church’s annual spotlight of partner organizations

FEATURES

• Navigating a Massive Shift to Part-Time Clergy
  By G. Jeffrey MacDonald
• Episcopalian Duggar Sets Up Game-Winning Kicks
  By Weston Curnow

DE TERRA VERITAS

• Learning from Our 1919 Pentecostal Moment, Part One
  By Mark Michael

BOOKS

• Transforming Friendship
  Review by Russell J. Levenson Jr.

OTHER DEPARTMENTS

• Sunday’s Readings
• People & Places

In the cover story of our annual Liturgical Arts issue, Simon Cotton profiles St. Laurence’s, Ludlow, a mostly 15th-century Shropshire church with an amazing collection of late medieval stained glass and a commanding Gothic tower.

In the news section, Mark Michael surveys responses from across the Episcopal Church to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump, and outlines plans for standalone services of same-sex blessings approved by the Church of England’s General Synod. Kirk Petersen profiles the Rev. Dr. Calvin Lane, the new editor of Covenant.

Architect Duo Dickinson reflects on the challenges and delights of capturing humanity’s longing for God in buildings, and Elizabeth Orens invites us to stand in awe of the beauty of God’s creation as we take up the challenges of climate change. Dennis Raverty reviews a Boston exhibition of Salvador Dalí’s occasionally confusing religious art.

All this plus more news, features, book reviews, People & Places, and Sunday’s Readings, from an independent voice serving the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion since 1878. Consider subscribing today.

NEWS

• Bishops Decry Attempted Assassination of Donald Trump | By Mark Michael

FEATURES

• God, Beauty, and Architecture | By Duo Dickinson
• Into the Light of Things: Caring for God’s Creation | By Elizabeth Orens
• Saint Mark’s Celebrates 175 Years on Locust Street | By Richard Mammana

CORNERSTONES

• ‘While Ludlow Tower Shall Stand’ | By Simon Cotton

CULTURES

• Dali: Disruption and Devotion | Review by Dennis Raverty

VERBUM CRUCIS VIRTUS DEI

• The Prayer Book’s Two Teachings | By Matthew Olver

BOOKS

• Late Georgian Churches | Review by Ben Lima
• Autism and Worship | Review by Jonathan Mitchican
• How to Use the Book of Common Prayer | Review by Derek Olsen
• Passions of the Soul | Review by Julia Gatta

OTHER DEPARTMENTS

• Sunday’s Readings
• People & Places

In our cover story, Kirk Petersen interviews Presiding Bishop-Elect Sean Rowe about his vision for the Episcopal Church in the coming years: a leaner structure, strategic choices about mission, a common-sense approach to a divided Anglican Communion — all in service of the gospel.

We review all the highlights of General Convention 81 in our news section, with stories written by TLC’s deep team about the big elections, decisions on Communion across Difference and the Book of Common Prayer, new programs, and the voices of youth participants. Our editors summarize the convention’s high points and look ahead with hope to Bishop Rowe’s leadership, and lots of photos by Asher Imtiaz make the big and small events of Convention come alive.

Mark Michael reports from the Global South Fellowship of Anglican’ First Assembly in Egypt, while Jeff Walton profiles the Anglican Church in North America’s new archbishop, Steve Wood. Sue Careless has the story on a fire that destroyed a beloved Toronto Church and its striking murals. Neva Rae Fox tracks new growth at a historic church in the Bronx.

All this plus more news, features, book reviews, People & Places, and Sunday’s Readings, from an independent voice serving the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion since 1878. Consider subscribing today.

NEWS

• Sean W. Rowe Elected as 28th Presiding Bishop| By Neva Rae Fox
• Deputies’ President Triumphs | By Kirk Petersen
• Clock Forces Compromises | By Kirk Petersen and Mark Michael
• Bishops Approve $200k for Deacons | By Lauren Cripps-Anderson
• GSFA, ACNA, and Conservative Anglicanism’s Future | By Mark Michael
• Fire Guts Art-Rich Church in Toronto | By Sue Careless

FEATURES

• In Search of Growth: Christ Church, Riverdale, Bronx | By Neva Rae Fox
• Sean Rowe: ‘I See Significant Changes’ | By Kirk Petersen
• ‘Youth are the Church Now’ | By Weston Curnow
• GC 81 in Photos | Photos by Asher Imtiaz

EDITORIAL

• Only One Future

CULTURES

• Masterpieces of Renaissance Judaica | Review by Pamela Lewis

BOOKS

• A History of Contemporary Praise and Worship | Review by Charlie Clauss
• Holiness Here | Review by Marcia Hotchkiss
• The English Soul | Review by Stephen Platten

OTHER DEPARTMENTS

• Sunday’s Readings
• People & Places

Any Anglican or Episcopal student enrolled in a bachelor’s or master’s degree program (BA, MDiv, MA, or equivalent diploma; not ThM or other secondary degrees) in a seminary or theological college of the Anglican Communion or accredited ecumenical equivalent may submit an essay of 1,500 to 2,000 words.

Essays may address any topic within the classic disciplines of theology (Bible, history, systematics,moral theology, liturgy). We also welcome essays written to fulfill course requirements. We will give special consideration to essays that demonstrate a mastery of one or more of the registers of Christian wisdom and radiate a love of the communion of the Church in Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God.

Deadline: July 1, 2023

Prizes:

1st Place: $500
2nd Place: $250
3rd Place: $175

Students may send essays (in Word file format) to ambernoel@livingchurch.org no later than July 1, 2023.

Entries should include the student’s full name, postal and email address, and the name and address of the student’s school.

Six stone purification jars, filled with cold water —one can hardly imagine something more dull and dead. But Jesus makes them flow with rich wine, regaling the guests at a marriage feast.

St. John is right to call this the first of Jesus’ “signs.” As with all the miracles in his gospel, this tale from Cana is replete with deep symbolism, and reveals something crucial about Jesus ‘ mission, the unfolding process that results in his “glorification” as Savior of the world.

The stone jars were designed for the complicated ritual washings required by the Law of Moses. Their number is one short of seven, the biblical number of perfection. They symbolize the old covenant, good and pure, but incomplete, destined to give way in the face of God’s new purpose taking shape in Jesus.

The wedding assembly, too, is an old symbol. God’s relationship with Israel is often described as a marriage. Our Old Testament lesson describes the renewal and vindication of the land as a royal wedding. Jerusalem, the blessed bride, is given a new name, “my delight is in her.” When God truly made himself known to his people, when grace and peace reigned on earth, it would be like a wedding.

Wine is the natural emblem of the joys of married life. It gladdens the heart and makes company more convivial. Pressed from the grape, it points back to the fruitful vine so often praised as the perfect symbol of a life blessed by God.

There had been wine at the beginning of the feast, but it was hardly worthy of the celebration. It was pale and watery beside the new vintage uncorked by Christ’s miracle. And there simply hadn’t been enough. Now Christ brings gallons upon gallons, an overflowing, superabundant blessing.

Episcopalian poet Richard Wilbur captured the point quite well:

It made no earthly sense, unless to show

How whatsoever love elects to bless

Brings to a sweet excess

That can without depletion overflow.

Jesus tells his mother, “my hour has not yet come,” but every detail in the story points forward to the purpose for which he has come. Christ will renew the covenant between God and his people, and seal it with blood as red as wine. He will supply superabundant grace, which makes us fruitful and fills us with joy.

Look It Up

Psalm 128 is sometimes used at weddings. In the light of this gospel passage, try reading it as a prophecy addressed to Christ.

Think About It

What do these texts suggest about the sacramentality of marriage?