A Wing and a Prayer: A Message of Faith and Hope

Jefferts Schori, the oceanographer-turned-priest who was elected in 2006 as the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the USAthe first woman in history to be so honored anywhere in the Anglican Communionoffers musings on faith, diversity, and the churchs fight for justice in the world. This is not an autobiography, though Jefferts Schori does reveal some tidbits about her life, including her aviation hobby and various world travels. It is instead a collection of micro-sermons grouped thematically around issues like social justice, the deep love of God, and the need for interfaith understanding, and the responsibility of all baptized persons to participate in lay ministry. Readers can take the sermons all in one sitting or digest them slowly as a daily devotional; since there are 40-odd homilies, the collection seems particularly tailor-made for Lenten practice. Jefferts Schori speaks from an Episcopalian perspective, but also draws on Orthodox, Catholic and other Protestant traditions, making this a thoughtful resource for many different Christian denominations. She expresses special concern for the Millennium Development Goals adopted by the Episcopal Church in 2000, and offers strong and specific suggestions about ways people can help eradicate poverty and work for peace.