The Episcopal Handbook: Revised Edition

So I'm fairly new to the Episcopal Church and Anglicanism and I needed some reading material to get me acquainted with it. I heard that this book was both informative and humorous so I decided to pick it up. I'm very glad I did! It is highly entertaining and easy to read. The author keeps each section as brief as possible and uses very casual language, so it is easy to read and doesn't get dry like a lot of other religious books can.If you are coming from another Christian tradition, a lot of this book may seem obvious to you. But this book is meant to be accessible to everyone, and I think it is still useful even if you are familiar with some of the beliefs and practices already. I think it is also useful even for people who aren't set on becoming Anglican/Episcopalian but just want to learn about the Church, as it is presented in more of an informative way and less of an indoctrinating way.It should also be noted that this a great introduction, but this book is not an end-all-be-all for the Episcopal Church. The material only skims the surface and covers the very basics. If you are serious about getting deeper into learning about the Church, I highly recommend picking up some other materials and getting in touch with a priest. But, nonetheless, this is a fantastic introductory book written for the modern world.

Fun, witty, yet full of facts this "survival guide" to the Episcopal Church (kneel, stand, sit, repeat) answers all the questions from coffee hour, Henry VIII, Robin Williams, Baptism & Eucharist, and what we believe (and how we should be living that out) in a handy little book. Great gift to confirmands, newcomers, or Episcopalians that stopped their "education" at the age of 12.

Good little book for everyone interested in joining the church.

This is an excellent handbook--regardless of whether you are an inquirer into the Episcopal Church, are a new Episcopalian, or even are an Episcopalian of many years. It is written in a very easy-to-read style, with many entries written on the lighter side. A lady at our church had this book, which was used in some training she previously attended, so after thumbing through her copy, I bought one and am very pleased with it. Oftentimes, we forget some of the aspects of our heritage or forget why we do certain things. This book addresses many things Episcopalian, and most of the entries are brief enough that one or two can be read in only a few minutes--until the next opportunity to read more arises. I highly recommend it.

New and life-long Episcopalians will learn something from this book. I understand this version is toned down from the first, and that was likely a good call. The "How to Survive a..." reference from Y2K is now dated, and I can see where heavy use of it in the original version may have gotten tedious and on the edge of offensive. Besides, this book has enough built-in humor that the "survive" angle isn't needed. It covers a lot of ground, and I found myself reading it cover to cover, in the order presented. A terrific reference book for any Episcopalian's bookcase, and a good introduction to those who are curious about what the Episcopal church could offer them.

The book gives a lot of solid information on the Episcopal way of following Christ, often with some welcome humor. It is an easy read, yet very worth reading. The book gives you a chance to experience first hand the mixture of relaxed humor and awed seriousness that often characterizes Episcopal worship. I think this is essential reading for someone thinking of becoming part of an Episcopal congregation, and it will be a good refresher of the essentials for long time members.

I am new to the Episcopal religion. This book was ordered for our "newbie" class, and has been great to learn the basics from!I would highly recommend this to anyone wanting to learn the basics, as well as those who just want to brush up on the concepts.

Just a fantastic handbook of all facets of the Episcopal Church. Easy to read and look things up, seems to answer every question I had. Covers customs & courtesies, norms, and the rules as well. All the "how to" stuff is covered. Great history of how the Church got from its beginnings to where it is now.