
Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes Receives $1.25 Million Grant to Launch ‘Holy Ground for Whole Communities’ Program
The Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes has been awarded a $1.25 million grant from Lilly Endowment to fund Holy Ground for Whole Communities, a first-of-its-kind program in Michigan that will equip and empower Episcopal churches across the state to engage in climate change mitigation on their church properties, connecting faith to environmental action. The […]
Bible Study: Epiphany 6 (C) – February 16, 2025
RCL: Jeremiah 17:5-10; Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 15:12-20; Luke 6:17-26 This Bible study is part of a series produced by the Office of Global Partnerships of The Episcopal Church. Jeremiah 17:5-10 “You lied to us. You gave us false hope. You told us that the future was something to look forward to. And the saddest […]
1789 Society
The mission of The Episcopal Church, as stated in the Book of Common Prayer’s catechism, is “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.” In step with that mission, we follow Jesus into loving, liberating, and life-giving relationships with God, with each other, and with the Earth. Your gift to […]
Bible Study: Advent 3 (C) – December 15, 2024
During Advent and Christmas, we will be using study prompts and other activities tied to the sermon for the week. Read the sermon aloud and follow-up with spoken responses to the two questions at the end. RCL: Zephaniah 3:14-20; Canticle 9; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18 God’s Joy is JusticeThe Rev. Cn. Whitney Rice Today is […]
God’s Joy Is Justice, Advent 3 (C) – December 15, 2024
[RCL] Zephaniah 3:14-20; Canticle 9; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:7-18 This sermon is also available as part of a compilation of all the sermons for Advent and Christmas this year. Within that document, which you can find at sermonsthatwork.org, you’ll find some study questions that you can use by yourself, with your small group, or with your […]
Finding Purpose and Resilience: My Year as a YASC Volunteer in Sri Lanka
My name is John Buterbaugh and I served as a YASC volunteer in Sri Lanka from 2022 to 2023. Having been a special education teacher at an inner-city middle school, I experienced many of the difficulties that many teachers around the country were feeling. I wanted to take on a new opportunity to explore my […]

Safeguarding Democracy: A Call to Avoid Election Interference and Violence
As we move through another election season, The Episcopal Church urges all citizens to uphold the fundamental principles of our democracy. A cornerstone of our democratic system is the peaceful and orderly transfer of power, which has been a hallmark of American governance for centuries. Election interference and disruption, whether through the spread of misinformation or […]

Planned Giving Is for You!

We make our plans, but God guides our paths
A YASC reflection by Henry M. Bibelheimer (Oklahoma) My name is Henry Bibelheimer and I served as a Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) volunteer in the Episcopal Church in the Philippines from 2018 to 2020. When each new YASC application season begins, I think about where I was in the fall of 2017. I had […]

Apple Picking and Gratitude for Traditions
By Heather Melton, UTO Staff Officer Since my kiddos were big enough, we’ve gone apple picking every September. Apple picking is one of my favorite reminders that fall has arrived here in the United States. I love the phenomenon that is apple picking: It’s clear everyone there has picked out a fall-themed outfit and/or coordinating […]

Summer Updates
By Heather Melton, UTO Staff Officer It is hard to believe it, but the summer is coming to a close for 2024, which means that it’s time for our special summer edition of the newsletter. The day this newsletter goes out is the first day of school in my community, so “fall,” in the ways […]

3rd Annual UTO Virtual Training Day Rescheduled: June 8, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Eastern
By UTO Executive Committee Due to our staff person needing to have surgery last month, we have moved the training day to June. The training will be recorded for those who cannot make the new date; and for those who can now make it, please register. Register hereRegister by Wednesday, May 30, at 9 a.m. […]


Gym Bros Teach Us About Sabbath, Pentecost 2 (B) – June 2, 2024
[RCL] Deuteronomy 5:12-15; Psalm 81:1-10; 2 Corinthians 4:5-12; Mark 2:23-3:6 Note: During the 2024 Season after Pentecost, Sermons That Work will use Track 2 readings for sermons and Bible studies. Please consult our archives for many additional Track 1 resources from prior years. In athletic circles, you will often hear of the concept of “recovery […]

Practice Gratitude – Change the World
By Heather Melton, UTO Staff Officer My kids participate in a program called KidStrong. For the past few months, one of the activities they’ve been learning about is how to order food. Now this might seem simple to those of us who have been ordering food for a long time, but most kids have their […]

To the End and Beyond, Monday in Holy Week – March 25, 2024
[RCL] Isaiah 42:1-9; Psalm 36:5-11; Hebrews 9:11-15; John 12:1-11 We return, as we always do on Monday of Holy Week, to the little house in Bethany. Ears still ringing from the raucous crowds thronging the streets of Jerusalem yesterday on Palm Sunday, perhaps our own voices are hoarse from shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of […]

Opinion: Episcopal Church Divestment from Fossil Fuels – Just Do It!
By Lella Lowe I am a member of Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Mobile, Alabama, in the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast. Deeply concerned about the climate crisis, I have been active with the environmental stewardship team at my church and the diocesan Commission on the Integrity of Creation, and I helped to […]
Office of Development Home
The Episcopal Church Office of Development works to support church ministries. BLESS Appeal Your gift to the BLESS Appeal supports Episcopal Church lay and clergy staff who are answering the call to restore all people to unity with God and one another and follow Jesus into loving, liberating, and life-giving relationships with God, each other, […]

Episcopal Church Executive Council: Opening remarks from the president of the House of Deputies
Opening remarks of President of the House of Deputies Julia Ayala Harris at the Executive Council of The Episcopal Church, meeting through Jan. 29 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Youth Leadership in Climate Negotiations: LCOY and COP 28
By Coco de Marneffe In October, I had the opportunity to go to Washington DC and attend the UN Climate Change Local Conference of Youth (LCOY), which is an annual event under the banner of YOUNGO, the official children and youth constituency. At this event, 150 delegates including myself collaborated to create the U.S. National […]