Large print BCP and Hymnal CDs help blind and visually impaired

The Large-Print Ministry offers three CDs that can help the blind and visually-impaired and others with special needs with their devotions and to be able to more fully participate in worship. The Large-Print Book of Common Prayer CD includes the entire Book of Common Prayer (1979) of The Episcopal Church USA. The Revised Common Lectionary is included. The CD material is formatted in Microsoft Word™ and is mainly in 18-point Times New Roman type. It is laid out for 8.5 x 11-inch pages and can be used to help prepare large-print worship materials.

"Sing Praise to Our God" is a CD that includes large-print lyrics to the 338 hymns from The Hymnal 1982 of the Episcopal Church, USA that are in the public domain. They are in Microsoft Word™ and 20-point Arial type. The hymns are laid out for use on 8.5 x  11-inch pages and can be printed out as part of large-print service materials.

"Prayers & Psalms for Today" can help those who are hurting in body, mind and/or spirit. It includes selections from Prayers and Thanksgivings, Prayers for the Sick, Prayers for Use by a Sick Person, Ministration at the Time of Death, and the Book of Psalms from The Book of Common Prayer (1979). The CD is in Microsoft Word™ and is mostly in 20-point Arial type.

It is laid out for use on 8.5 x 11-inch pages.

Blind individuals with electronic note takers and special software and visually-impaired people with access to computers can use the CDs. The material can be loaded into a note taker and re-edited into a form of Braille. The CDs should also be useable in optical-character readers that can read material formatted in Microsoft Word™.

To order, please send a self-addressed, stamped 6x9-inch envelope with four first-class stamps attached (five on a padded envelope) to Ann Dahlen, 1900 6th Ave., Apt. 513, Rock Island, IL 61201. Please add more postage when ordering more than one CD. Please indicate which CDs you want. There is no charge for the CDs, but a donation of any amount to help cover costs is appreciated. The Large-Print Ministry is not affiliated with any diocese, church or organization. For more information, contact Ann Dahlen at a.dahlen@att.net.

Blessed to Be A Blessing: Tools for stewardship campaigns

from Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs 

The Office of Stewardship is offering a program called Blessed to Be A Blessing, which offers tools to enhance stewardship campaigns and features prominent writers from throughout the Episcopal Church. Blessed to Be A Blessing is a six-week series inviting reflection and discussion on stewardship principles and practices based on the Gospel readings from Mark for each Sunday from October 7 through November 11.

According to the Rev. Laurel Johnston, Program Officer for Stewardship, "Blessed to Be A Blessing is designed to complement and support a congregation's annual giving campaign, each of the six contributing writers explores stewardship, giving, gratitude and generosity in connection with the Gospel lection for each Sunday during the month of October through November." She added, "The series is ideal for those leading stewardship formation, and each week participants can download Blessed to Be a Blessing bulletin inserts as well as a pledge card with a proportional giving chart."

Blessed to Be A Blessing materials are available free at www.episcopalchurch.org/page/blessed-be-blessing. For more information contact Johnston at ljohnston@episcopalchurch.org.