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Helpful Information

Becoming the disciple of Jesus that God wants each of us to be takes more than one hour a week on Sunday, or even the time we give to Bible study at church, committee work, and serving the poor. Growth in faith requires that we find ways to keep ourselves oriented toward God – God’s presence in our lives and God’s call on our lives – throughout the week.

Staying oriented toward God requires prayer, engagement with Scripture, and study. The following websites and apps are offered as tools to equip you for that work throughout the week.

Prayer

Prayer is just speaking to God. And yet there is no ‘just’ about it: 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 ‘hidden secret’ when it comes to prayer. Anyone can pray, at any time and in any place. Why not begin now? You could use the words of the Lord’s Prayer as a starting point, from which you can launch into telling God your own hopes, anxieties, doubts and faith. God promises to listen.

Daily Devotions

At the center of the Anglican spiritual tradition are the ‘offices’ – the daily services of preparation for the day ahead and reflection for the day past. These can be found near the front of the Book of Common Prayer, but several websites and apps exist to make praying the office easier.

The Daily Office (Morning & Evening Prayer)

  • 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.

  • Richard Rohr – a daily meditation emailed every morning from Fr. Richard Rohr, a Catholic Franciscan priest, prolific author, and sought after speaker based in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

  • Monday Matters – a wonderful weekly meditation by Jay Sidebotham, an Episcopal priest based in North Carolina who formerly served at St. James’ as a seminarian.
Scripture

Christians believe that one of the primary ways they may know God is through the Bible. The Bible records how countless 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. It is by prayerfully approaching the Scriptures for ourselves that God still speaks 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 we use in church on Sundays.
  • Bible Gateway – a searchable version of the Bible that includes dozens of translations in English and other languages. Also includes a Verse of the Day email subscription service.
  • OliveTree – Bible study apps for iPad, iPhone, Android, Kindle Fire, Mac, Windows.

Online Lectionaries

  • The Lectionary Page – calendar view to find assigned Bible readings for every Sunday and feast day of the year.
  • Preparing for Sunday
Online Courses, Video, and More
  • ChurchNext – an Episcopal online learning community with classes you can take, including videos by gifted theologians, interactive discussion with other students, and reading materials to download.
  • 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.
  • Worship Bulletins – St. James’ worship bulletins are available online every Sunday on the Next Sunday page. You can find bulletins for some special services for download on the Worship Bulletins link.
  • Seasonal Publications – St. James’ offers a number of publications that help our parishioners in their spiritual development. You can download them from the Seasonal Publications link.