As a child growing up in suburban Ohio, there was nothing more magical than the start of a Summer Reading Challenge at the local library. The best summer afternoons were spent on the screened-in porch devouring a Nancy Drew or a Magic Treehouse or a Harry Potter. We’d pick up a bookmark or paper tracker at the start of the summer, popping into the library to report our progress and collect prizes of plastic trinkets or stickers. Do libraries still do this?? I hope so.
Now that I am (allegedly) a grown-up, I still love reading, and I still gravitate towards fiction. I have historically struggled to make time for more serious reads, including books about faith and religion. But in the past few years, my Benedictine study group has challenged me to read religious works more frequently, and I’m grateful for it.
We got a request on our Instagram recently for an Episcopalian reading list, so this is my attempt at trying to replicate that Summer Reading List feeling— Episcopalian style! These books are not strictly by Episcopalian authors or about Episcopalian topics; they are simply books that have enriched my faith in one way or another.
Whether you are exploring the Episcopal church, you’re a lifelong member, or you’re somewhere in between, I hope there’s something for you on this list.
Episcopalian Basics to Reread Repeatedly:
To prep for almost every podcast episode, I’m either referencing the Catechism on page 845 of the BCP— or I’m opening one of these books. These are great basics for new Episcopalians, but also I learn something new every time I revisit them.
“Those Episkopols” by Dennis Maynard. Kate and I are Dennis Maynard’s biggest fans!! It may be less than 100 pages, but it’s packed with accessible anecdotes and earnest reflections on the Episcopal Church and its gifts.
“Your Faith, Your Life” by Bill Lewellis & Jenifer Gamber. This was our confirmation book, and it covers all of the basics. I constantly reference it. If you’re new to Episcopalianism, I highly recommend it!
“Glorious Companions: Five Centuries of Anglican Spirituality” by Richard H. Schmidt. If you’re a history buff and you want to learn more about historical figures in the broader Anglican church, this is a great collection.
Commentary on Liturgy & Seasonal Living:
“Liturgy of the Ordinary” by Tish Harrison Warren. No one makes liturgy more accessible than Tish.
“Receiving the Day” by Dorothy C. Bass. If you’re curious about the liturgical seasons or how Christians should view “time management”, this is a great book all about how time plays a role in our faith.
“Prayer in the Night” by Tish Harrison Warren. Calling all Compline-lovers! This book is for you— a heartfelt reflection on faith in the midst of suffering.
Benedictine Teachings for the Non-Monk:
The texts we read in our Benedictine group at church have been super life-giving. These are the reads I’d start with if you’re curious about Benedictine living!
“The Rule of Benedict” with commentary by Joan Chittister. Begin here. This book splits up Benedict’s famous rule of life into daily passages with commentary that enhances each entry.
“St. Benedict’s Toolbox” by Jane Tomaine. I think I’ll revisit this book forever. It’s the most approachable and tactical book on Benedictine living that I’ve ever read, with tons of tangible ideas on how to apply the Rule to your ordinary life.
“The Path of Life” by Cyprian Smith. This one’s a bit more philisophical, but I have annotations and dog-ears all through it. It has chapters on each of Benedict’s core tenants— prayer, work, humility, Lectio Divina, etc.
Devotionals & Bite-Sized Chapters:
If you’re looking for a daily devotional book, here are a few that I’ve loved.
“Emotionally Healthy Spirituality Day By Day” by Peter Scazzero. This is a 40-day devotional that is inspired by the Daily Office, and I’ve done it a few times. It’s a great entry point if you feel like the Daily Office is intimidating.
“Jesus, CEO” by Laurie Beth Jones. Don’t laugh at the title! My parents gifted me this book as I entered my first corporate job and I read a chapter a day as I started my career. I still think about it.
“Hour By Hour” as sold by Forward Movement. I love this little book. It has daily offices for each day of the week, with passages and prayers written by day. Each office takes 3 minutes or less. I keep it on my desk. It’s my no-excuses prayer book!
Books to Build Empathy:
In my experience, my faith has been enriched by reading books that aren’t explicitly “religious texts”. These books helped strengthen my empathy muscle.
“Dinner for Vampires” by Bethany Joy Lenz. I listened to this memoir on audiobook last year. It was fascinating and heartbreaking to hear about a version of Christianity that was and is used to manipulate and control.
“White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity” by Robert P. Jones. We read this in a book group at church, and I’m grateful we did. It’s painful, eye-opening, and crucial.
“The Beekepper of Aleppo” by Christy Lefteri. Few things have made me more compassionate for refugees and immigrants than the vivid stories in this novel. And this matters, because Jesus certainly commands us to welcome the stranger.
When do you carve out time for religious reads, and what are your favorites? Let’s build a giant Average Episcopalian TBR in the comments!
On our podcast, we ask guests if they are a “Beer Episcopalian” or a “Coffee Episcopalian”. Most guests come up with some other beverage of choice that wasn’t listed (tea, bourbon, etc.), and I’m in that camp myself. I am a “Martini Episcopalian” through and through. For this month’s Earthly Delights, I present to you: Annie’s Favorite Martini Varieties.
Classic Martini: I had my first dirty martini in a cocktail class we took a few years ago, and my life was forever changed. My personal preferences for a classic martini include vodka (sorry gin-lovers), extra olive brine, and plain pimiento-stuffed olives (no blue cheese for me).
Espresso Martini: What a dangerous beverage this is. Caffeine and alcohol is a wild combination, but you can’t deny its deliciousness. For the best espresso martini in Dallas, I recommend Leela’s Wine Bar.
Lemon Drop: This was my first-ever martini, shaken up by my dad over the holidays once I was old enough to participate in family cocktail hour. Drinks with citrus are so dependably tasty.
Cosmopolitan: Carrie Bradshaw knew what was up. (But why were her cosmos always such a dark pink??) Provided the lime juice is fresh and the glass ice cold, a well-proportioned pale pink cosmo is simply delightful.
Pear Martini: Kate and I discovered this recipe for a pear martini that changed our lives one Christmas. Now this spiced and not-too-sweet cocktail is an essential tradition in the holiday season. Pairs well with Settlers of Catan (as pictured).
“But here’s the thing: true piercing kindness will ruin your life. It will wreck your schedule. It will screw with your politics. It will force you to unlearn your cleverness and confront your cowardice and care about people who do not care about you. And it will hurt. And it will be the holiest thing you've ever done…”
- David Gate, as quoted in this Substack post by Emily Dunevant
I have not stopped thinking about this quote since I read it here on Substack a few months ago.
Thanks for subscribing to our monthly Substack. We’d love to hear from you!
Here’s the latest from our podcast. You can listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Join our Episcopalian Instagram community for memes and musings.
You can also send us an email at average.episcopalian@gmail.com.
If you enjoyed this post, please click the “like” button at the bottom. It helps others discover our content!
Thank you from another average Episicopalian who wanders and wonders. Thank you for the book list! If you aren’t familiar with Fr. Kenneth Tanner, look him up on Substack. You’ll thank yourself. I’m a coffee Episcopalian with a splash of bourbon every now and again. Be well!
Yes, libraries STILL have summer reading programs, even for adults! Thank you for a great TBR list.