The Episcopal Networks Collaborative, a partnership between the Episcopal Network for Economic Justice, the Union of Black Episcopalians, and the Episcopal Ecological Network, has released the latest of its sets of reflections for use by preachers and teachers. These reflections are for use during the season of Advent.

The 2019 Edition includes new material by The Rev. Phina Borgeson and Dr. Delia Heck, both environmentalists, and by Steven Simkpins of Tiffin, Ohio. All of our writers are concerned about Economic, Racial and Ecological Justice. All are in the prophetic tradition.

From the introduction by the Rev. Richard Burnett, Trinity Episcopal Church, Columbus, Ohio

“Three years have passed since the Episcopal Networks Collaborative offered a set of reflections for preaching and teaching in the RCL Advent Year A Lectionary with a keener awareness and critical eye toward matters of economic, racial, and environmental justice. In those three years national and statewide elections have changed and in many ways challenged the shape of our democracy, deaths by gun violence have become predictable and too often nearly unremarkable, climate chaos and continued degradation of the planet has accelerated, and hate crimes against black and brown people and migrants seeking a new home and a greater hope in the U.S. are at an appallingly high level. Yet, our preaching, too often, neglects these things and our preachers wonder why the gospel, in the words of one favorite hymn of prophetic witness, “goes unheard.”

“The Networks Collaborative of The Episcopal Church seeks to reclaim the pulpit and the parish classroom with another set of reflections. now offered in a time of crisis in our nation, in our world, in our lives. We offer these things with humility and with confidence that God, who promises to be with the beloved communities of Sacred Creation, is forever true to the promise to make all things new. And in this sure hope we cry out – Come, Lord Jesus, come!”

The reflections can be accessed here.