Greetings from Louisville, Kentucky, the site of The Episcopal Church’s 81st General Convention, which officially began today and runs through June 28 at the Kentucky International Convention Center. These daily updates from the Office of Public Affairs include news, events, and resources related to GC81.

Seeking to grow and strengthen The Episcopal Church’s ministries that support members of Generation Z, the Department of Faith Formation is launching a churchwide survey geared toward young people and those who serve them.

The Episcopal Church Executive Council approved the awarding of 10 Constable Fund grants and 11 Roanridge Trust grants—together totaling $490,500—at its April meeting. The Joint Standing Committee on Mission Within The Episcopal Church and two grant review committees made the recommendations.

[RCL] Isaiah 40:21-31; Psalm 147:1-12, 21c; 1 Corinthians 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39 Servant ministry is presented in our Gospel reading for today in a way that first sounds like something much less than Good News as we meet Simon Peter’s mother-in-law. Three verses of scripture contain everything we know about this healing encounter. Listen as I…

“We offer our prayers and support during this time of violence in Israel and Palestine. In Luke 19:41, we are reminded, ‘That when Jesus drew near and saw the city, he wept over it.’ Many still weep. We pray for those who have been killed, injured, are searching for loved ones, and are struggling with grief and fear….

RCL: Exodus 32:1-14; Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23; Philippians 4:1-9; Matthew 22:1-14 Exodus 32:1-14 The Golden Calf account is one of those stories that anyone familiar with the Bible knows – or at least, claims to know! This near-ubiquitous familiarity may be due in part to the many pop culture references made to this story – or…

By Barbara Van Cleve By most people’s standards I had a very good education, but it took only one session of Sacred Ground for me to recognize that my excellent high school and college teachers had misrepresented American racial history. Over the following nine weeks, through our readings and videos, I registered growing annoyance—even anger—at…

By Noelle Ptomey and Lesley Dean Known by some as a flyover state, Nebraska is worth a look to see how to imbed Sacred Ground in a conservative-leaning culture.  Located in the middle of the country, we are a small, predominantly rural diocese made up of 51 congregations spread out over 77,000 square miles, with…

[RCL] Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a; Luke 4:14-21 Today’s gospel presents us with Jesus’ first act of public ministry, described for us in Luke’s gospel. Following his river baptism and his long wilderness fast and temptation, Jesus returns to his home country, Galilee. Reports about him have been spreading through the…

RCL: Isaiah 43:1-7; Psalm 29; Acts 8:14-17; Luke 3:15-17, 21-22 Isaiah 43:1-7 As we remember Jesus’ baptism in the River Jordan, the prophet Isaiah’s words speak to us about the profound faithfulness of God. In this passage, God promises his chosen people that he will be with them no matter what. During my undergraduate days…