Hi, I’m back…
I know that we’re in the midst of the Great 50 Days of Easter right now but I’ve been reflecting on my observance of this last Lent. While I did do some serious reading from various devotionals, I also enjoyed following along with Lent Madness. Oh, yes, I’m well aware of some of the criticisms of this light-hearted “competition” – that it’s not in keeping with a holy Lent, that it’s a bit too frivolous, but what I enjoyed was the opportunity to learn more about the lives of some of that “great cloud of witnesses” about which we read in Hebrews 12. The good news is that we don’t have to stop learning about them! We have a great resource available to us – and even a resolution from General Convention that encourages us to continue!! Holy Women, Holy Men is the revision of Lesser Feasts and Fasts that is still in trial use. Resolution A051 says:
Resolved, That the 77th General Convention commend the continued trial use of Holy Women, Holy Men until the next General Convention; and be it further
Resolved, that the 77th General Convention direct the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to continue the process of revising Holy Women, Holy Men, with particular attention to the Guidelines and Procedures for Continuing Alteration of the Calendar in The Episcopal Church, adopted by the 2006 General Convention; and with renewed attention to the form, the poetry, and seasons of liturgical life inherent in the Book of Common Prayer; and be it further
Resolved, that the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music continue to seek responses from the wider Church during the coming triennium.
So, friends, continue the fun of Lent Madness by getting your own copy of Holy Women, Holy Men and reading about these amazing church mothers and fathers. We have some wonderful role models and exemplars of servanthood! I’ve included two links where you can purchase a copy for yourself or you can find a pdf file of the book at the last link. Also, be sure to share your comments with our convention deputies so they can get back to the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music.
https://www.churchpublishing.org/products/index.cfm?fuseaction=product&productID=7399
Until next week!
– Judith Schellhammer, Chair of the Resolution Review Committee, Diocesan Council
EDOMIresolutions 
I love this book! It is filled with the stories of so many interesting men and women. Canterbury House uses it as a resource for their Jazz Masses — lots of “fodder” for understanding how live our daily lives closer to God.
Thanks for posting about Holy Women, Holy Men, Judith! I like to use this along with the Forward Day by Day booklet as part of my daily devotions. The inclusion of some of the modern-era saints helps to remind me that God continues to use us to carry out his purpose.