Advent Devotions offered by heads of Episcopal Church, Anglican Church of Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry joined the leaders of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America in preparing Advent Devotions for the upcoming liturgical season. (In photo, left to right: Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church Michael Curry; the Rev. Susan C. Johnson, National Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada; the Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Primate, Anglican Church of Canada. Photo from The Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs.)
Titled “Liberated by God’s Grace” and available here. The weekly devotions were prepared by
• The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry. Presiding Bishop and Primate, the Episcopal Church
• The Rev. Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• The Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Primate, Anglican Church of Canada
• The Rev. Susan C. Johnson, National Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.
“As churches shaped by the 16th century reformations—the Anglican Church of Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Episcopal Church, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America—we also participate in this ministry of reconciliation,” they noted in a joint letter. “Over fifteen years ago, our churches’ respective full communion agreements inaugurated new relationships in which we fully recognized each other “as churches in which the gospel is truly preached and the holy sacraments duly administered” (Called to Common Mission), an achievement that “marks but one step toward the eventual visible unity of the whole Church catholic” (Waterloo Declaration). We are committed to working together toward reconciliation—of the church, and of the deepest social ills that plague our world. It is our hope, together with you, to be signs of anticipation—of the “already, but not yet” of God’s realm of reconciliation, justice, and peace.”
The Advent Devotions can be downloaded for websites, bulletin inserts, church programs, and used as discussion points.
Presiding Bishop Curry’s contribution is Advent 3, Matthew 11:2-11: Salvation – Not for Sale.