What: The Brothers of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist in Cambridge, Massachusetts are providing a series of recorded sermons for congregations this Lenten season. The free sermon resource can be used in a service where a preacher may not be available, or they can be used as an adult forum resource.

• Bonus: The resource is also available for individuals who want to use it as a Lenten devotion.

Why it matters: Of the almost 6,000 congregations of the Episcopal Church, some 1730 of them have 29 or fewer people on an average Sunday. Many of these do not have a clergy person present of many Sundays. This resource aims to provide them with monastic wisdom for the season that prepares us for the incarnation of Christ.

Go deeper: This resource, called Virtual Preaching Monks, is another experiment from TryTank Experimental Lab. TryTank offers inventive approaches to the challenges facing the Episcopal Church.

• Last Advent, the Brothers offered a similar resource and expected a few congregations to participate. In the end 484 signed up.
• This time around, the resource is available to congregations outside the Episcopal Church.

The details: Interested congregations can register for the resources at www.VirtualPreachingMonks.org. Once registered they will receive access to the resource page that hosts the sermons.

The sermons are based on the Sunday lectionary, are about 12 minutes in length, and cover:

• Ash Wednesday
• The Sundays in Lent
• Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday
• Good Friday
• The Great Vigil/Easter Day.

On the webpage users will also find access to a simple one-page curriculum if they opt to use the sermons as a seasonal adult forum. At the end of the season, TryTank hopes the participating congregations will fill out a survey about their experience.

About the SSJE: The brothers of SSJE are a community of men in the Anglican/ Episcopal tradition living in union with God – and that changes everything. Traditional vows in a non-traditional setting: Rooted in the ancient monastic traditions of prayer and community life, we are committed to standing in the full flow of the modern world, inviting all people to stop, to be still, to reflect, and to receive the love of God.

“My house shall be called a house of prayer for all people,” writes the prophet Isaiah. SSJE aims, at home and in their ministries, to share with others gifts from the Spirit: Worship, Silence & Sanctuary; Guidance in Prayer & Spirituality; and A Vision for Wholeness.

More information: For more information at www.VirtualPreachingMonks.org