Dear People of God,

This brings you joyous Easter greetings .

In Christ all things are made new and I pray that you who are on the journey towards the heart of God are finding yourselves renewed in this season of Resurrection. This renewing characteristic of the life of faith is not a one-time event. 

As the seasons of the year roll around and bring change so do the events of our lives. There is an ebb and flow in our own energies and focus in the course of our lives. We are sometimes full of excitement over an aspect of our journey, a particular relationship, a book that is inspiring us, a meditation practice that is feeding us; at other times we feel like we are in an empty place and we wonder why the things that used to energize us no longer have the same effect. It is then that we are encouraged to take comfort that is strength, in the community of faith. It is at those times when we are offered the truth that we are not alone on our journey, we are supported by a fellowship of love and prayer. 

Now all that can sound like so much babble if we are not willing to avail ourselves of the fellowship. To feel and know the support one must be present to the community, to Rest in the community’s presence. Far from being another demand on our time and energy this is the offering and sacrifice the community makes on our behalf, to carry us by prayer and compassion during our dark or dry time. The community offers itself and invites to simply Be, to come and listen to the prayers, to be fed by the conversation about God and with God. 

So again I pray you Easter Blessings, of renewed life in the spirit, and if you are in a dry time, simply come to be surrounded by a fellowship of love and prayer, freely given with no strings attached.

God’s Peace Battle+

from The Subject Tonight is Love: 60 Wild and Sweet Poems of Hafiz, versions by Daniel Ladinsky, Penguin USA, copyright 1996.

By Lynn Kauppi

Richard Schmidt is a retired Episcopal priest who has assembled a marvelous anthology of twenty-nine Anglican spiritual writers from Thomas Cranmer, martyred for the Anglican faith in 1556, to Desmond Tutu and his recent struggles against apartheid and for national reconciliation in the post-apartheid South Africa. Schmidt’s contention is that “Getting to know people is the best way to learn theology” (xi). By becoming familiar with influential Anglican spiritual writers, Schmidt hopes to introduce the reader to nature of Anglican spirituality: the reliance upon Scripture, tradition, and reason, the significance of Anglican worship and prayer, especially the Book of Common Prayer, the importance of the Incarnation to Anglican theology and life, the practical bent of Anglican spirituality, and the high degree of intellectual freedom and tolerance found in the church.

Schmidt succeeds admirably in fulfilling his assigned task. In his introduction, he describes Anglicanism as a “family of churches.” His selection of writers brings this element to the forefront. Not only does Schmidt include the “usual suspects,” all the “dead white males” of Anglican church history (Cranmer, Hooker, C.S. Lewis) but also poets, five women, a novelist, two Africans, at least one evangelical, a mystic, and a large number of laity. He introduces each chapter by setting a particular writer in their historical, cultural, and theological context, providing a few biographical details, and summarizing their key theological and spiritual insights. After several pages of short snippets from a particular author’s writings, Schmidt concludes each chapter with a few thought provoking questions suitable for personal or group study.

Schmidt’s own writing is clear and graceful throughout. He has self consciously avoided academic jargon and communicates successfully with his intended lay audience. His study questions are germane and thought provoking.

I have two relatively minor quibbles with the book. In his introduction, Schmidt briefly mentions Lutheranism and compares it to Anglicanism and errs on a couple of points. Secondly, I wished Schmidt had added a chapter “For Further Reading.” I would like to know the writings of these Anglican authors and books that provide basic introductions to these authors.

As a Lutheran who is now a member of and faithfully worships at an Episcopal Church I often say to myself, “A liturgical church, doctrinal statements, a high view of the clergy, centuries of tradition, and a respect for theological and biblical scholarship. I feel at home here.” But then I sometimes wonder, “Who are these crazy Anglicans? What makes them tick? I just don’t get their culture!” Having not grown up Episcopalian, I will never completely “get” Anglican culture. But reading Schmidt has been an excellent start. Episcopalians will find Schmidt a useful means of learning and reclaiming their spiritual heritage.

- Anglican Bishops in New South Wales support stem cell research - but not at the cost of human life

The Episcopal Church and Visual Arts encourages visual arts in the life of the Episcopal Church, stimulates conversation around the connection between visual arts and spiritual traditions, and promotes inquiry into visual aesthetics, creativity, and Anglican theology. The ECVA website includes an online exhibition.

www.ecva.org