Resources for Discipleship – St. James’ Church

Growing our faith requires that we find ways to keep ourselves oriented toward God’s presence and his call for us. Outside of Sunday worship, that growth may involve prayer, Scripture, and study. The following websites and apps are tools meant to equip us for that work.

Resources

Prayer Scripture Online Courses, Video, And More

Special Resources for Parents

A Guide for Families — Glossary Book Recommendations

Prayer

Prayer is speaking to God. We pray not on our own, but in the name of Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. We also pray alongside Christians throughout the ages and around the world. There is no secret to prayer. Anyone can pray at any time and in any place.

The Book of Common Prayer online

The Book of Common Prayer is a book of devotional and teaching resources for individuals and congregations that serves as a primary symbol of the Episcopal Church’s unity. It contains liturgies, prayers, theological documents, and more.

The Daily Office (Morning & Evening Prayer)

At the center of the Anglican spiritual tradition are the “offices,” which are the daily services of preparation for the day ahead and of reflection for the day past. These can be found starting on page 36 of the Book of Common Prayer, and the following websites and apps exist to make praying the office easier.

The Daily Office Online from Mission St. Clare – an introduction to the Daily Office
Daily Office for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch – the mobile version of Mission St. Clare
Choral Evensong from the BBC – weekly sung version of Evening Prayer from various cathedrals in England
St. Bede’s Breviary – generally for the more advanced user, but has “bare-bones” as an available option as well

Devotions & Meditations

Forward Day by Day – an Episcopal daily devotion available through subscription in print, email, or podcast
Brother, Give us a Word – a very brief meditation emailed every morning from the brothers at the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE), an Episcopal monastery in Cambridge, Mass.
Monday Matters – a weekly meditation by Rev. Jay Sidebotham, an Episcopal priest based in North Carolina who served as an associate rector at St. James’ and is now a non-stipendiary priest associate

Scripture

The Bible records how people throughout the centuries have experienced God in their lives. Paying attention to their stories is one way we start to notice God at work in our own stories. By prayerfully approaching the Scriptures, we may hear how God is speaking to us.

Online Bibles

Oremus Bible Browser – the simplest way to search or read within the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible, the translation St. James’ uses in Sunday services
Bible Gateway – a searchable version of the Bible that includes dozens of translations in English and other languages, which also includes a Verse of the Day email subscription service
OliveTree – Bible study apps for iPad, iPhone, Android, Kindle Fire, Mac, and Windows

Online Lectionaries

The Lectionary Page – assigned Bible readings for every Sunday and feast day of the year

Online Courses, Videos & More

ChurchNext – an Episcopal online learning community with classes you can take, including videos featuring theologians, interactive discussion with other students, and reading materials
LOGOS – a free video series presenting global faith leaders offering their expertise on theological, practical and spiritual subjects
Nooma – series of short films by Rob Bell that explore our world from a perspective of Jesus.
Faith & Leadership – online magazine for Christian lay and ordained leaders published by Duke Divinity School
Christian Century – progressive, ecumenical magazine and website committed to exploring what it means to believe and live out the Christian faith in our time