Dear friends and stewards of the Heritage Program, Welcome to our new monthly e-newsletter, Sharing the Word! We’re excited to bring you this compilation of the ways The Saint John’s Bible continues to ignite the spiritual imagination of people around the world. Here’s what you can expect to find… Read More

England, United Kingdom – In honor of the 25th anniversary of the commissioning of The Saint John’s Bible, the Heritage Program is announcing a pilgrimage through some of the most renowned Anglican institutions across England. It is only appropriate that the tour takes… Read More

Collegeville, Minnesota – Since it was commissioned 25 years ago, The Saint John’s Bible has touched millions of people around the world. Completed in 2011, it inspires. It heals. And, to its original intent, it brings people together. It’s this spirit – the spirit of bringing people together – that… Read More

Malibu, California – Quietly walking into Stauffer Chapel with the gentle morning sun to their backs, Good Friday worshipers at Pepperdine University held an array of feelings in their hearts. Good Friday is a day of tension for modern worshippers, balancing the deep feelings of grief that come… Read More

Trinity Episcopal Church in Galveston, Texas, is home to many artistic treasures. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, its Tiffany stained-glass windows are a testament to its renown. Among the treasures are the seven volumes of the Heritage Edition of  The Saint John’s Bible, which the congregation received… Read More

Jonathan Homrighausen with The Saint John’s Bible. Jonathan Homrighausen, a doctoral candidate in Hebrew Bible at Duke University, has recently released his second book, Planting Letters and Weaving Lines. The book illuminates how the beauty and artistry of the calligraphy in The Saint John’s Bible’s handwritten Scripture elevates the rich… Read More

The Right Reverend John Klassen, OSB, PhD, has many roles as abbot of Saint John’s Abbey. One such role, aided by the help of The Saint John’s Bible illuminations: inspiring epiphanies. Leading retreats on the Saint John’s campus for any interested parties has allowed him to watch participants suddenly view… Read More

I never met Pope Benedict, but it was just as well. I would not have known what to say, and so I was more than content to know him as most people did — from afar. However, I did participate in one conversation with the scholar-pope, though it came indirectly… Read More

Dear Friends, On behalf of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program, we wish you and yours a blessed Christmas and a healthy new year. We offer this brief video reflection as a reminder that we are all part of one human family—God’s beloved family. And as we see in the… Read More

This week Christians light the Shepherd candle symbolizing the JOY the world experienced with the birth of Jesus. We hear the word joy often during Advent in both scripture and song. The shepherds received good news of great joy and—then and now—it resounds around us. Among our Stewards spreading joy… Read More

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.  (John 1:5)   I was born in Bethlehem… (wait for it) …Pennsylvania.  June 5, 1967. On that day, two significant things happened that impacted millions of people: 1. Darkness—there was a massive power outage on the… Read More

Advent Greetings, “For unto us a child is born…” What comes to mind when you read these words from the Prophet Isaiah?  There are many possibilities… Perhaps you are among the minority of Christians who attend worship on Christmas Day, when Isaiah 9:2-7 is… Read More

Whoever said, “Don’t judge a book by its cover…” never met the Heritage Edition of The Saint John’s Bible, or the amazing people who bind this rare and wonderful work of sacred art. The binding, case, and box of the Heritage Edition are nothing short of a masterpiece—handmade with love… Read More

During August 2022, we took steps to more fully understand your engagement with The Saint John’s Bible to help us continue our mission to ignite the spiritual imagination of people around the world. We asked friends and Stewards to share thoughts and ideas about the Heritage Program through a short… Read More

Dear Friends, It is with deep gratitude and joy that I offer this mid-year update on the Heritage Program of The Saint John’s Bible. I’m pleased to report good news in virtually every area of our mission: to ignite the spiritual imagination of people around the world of all faith… Read More

Wheaton College seized a special opportunity for collaboration, discovery, and celebration when the grand opening of their Armerding Center for Music and the Arts aligned with the joyful return of students, faculty, and the community to campus in the fall of 2021. And it was grand. A full year of… Read More

Dear Friends & Stewards of The Heritage Edition, We have made our way through the season of Lent creating a “Margin of Grace” with help from The Saint John’s Bible.  Now we are in Holy Week and today is Maundy Thursday—the day we remember Jesus’ mandate that we love one… Read More

“Moment of Beauty” Week 6: The Raising of Lazarus: Donald Jackson’s illumination of John 11:1-57 offers a stark visual contrast between the powers of darkness and death on the one hand, and the powers of light and new life on the other.   For an additional “Margin” experience:… Read More

“Moment of Beauty” Week 5: Valley of the Dry Bones: Donald Jackson’s rendering of Ezekiel 37: 1-14 re-imagines the gap between the ways humans have invented to crush both one another and the earth and the Divine promise never to be parted from us.   For an additional “Margin” experience:… Read More

“Moment of Beauty” Week 4: Suffering Servant: Donald Jackson’s searing illumination of Isaiah 52-53 in which the Suffering Servant portrayed echoes Jesus’s own silence as he is led to his accusers, tormentors, and eventually to his executioners.   For an additional “Margin” experience: “Visio Divina” Week 4:… Read More

“Moment of Beauty” Week 3: Out of the Whirlwind He Will Wipe Away Every Tear: Thomas Ingmire’s illumination based on Job 38-42, is set to the music, “Resume” composed by Alex Hastings, and performed by the University of Portland Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Dr. Rebekah Hanson. The music was inspired… Read More

“Moment of Beauty” Week 2: Elisha and the Six Miracles: Based on 2 Kings 4-6, Donald Jackson and Aidan Hart illuminate Elisha–dressed in the green robes of a priest–foreshadowing Jesus’s own miracles pf providing people’s essential needs: food, drink, healing, wholeness.   For an additional “Margin” experience:… Read More

“Moment of Beauty” Week 1: Creation: Genesis 1:1-2, 4a. As we enter Lent, Donald Jackson’s illumination may remind us that God’s plan is the salvation of the entire created world.   For an additional “Margin” experience: “Visio Divina” Week 1: Suffering Servant: A visual contemplation of Isaiah… Read More

Margins on a page are something that we can easily take for granted. But margins are what makes it possible for us to fully appreciate the thousands of columns of script and the hundreds of fantastic illuminations that lie between them in The Saint John’s Bible. Similarly, intentionally creating space… Read More

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.”  In October 2020, the Benedictine community of Christ the King Priory, in Schuyler, Nebraska, blessed The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition in their St. Benedict Center, described as “an oasis of peace open to guests of all faiths.” The… Read More

Dear Friend, It is my honor to greet you and to wish you and yours a blessed holiday season! For 30 years of pastoral ministry, a member of my family or I read the words of John 1:1-5 at the close every Christmas Eve service. In that spirit, I hope you’ll… Read More

In this engaging video, St. Luke’s Parish in Darien, Connecticut, celebrates their profound experience during A Year With The Saint John’s Bible program. Read More

“There’s a saying at Saint. John’s that we have irreplaceable people, but they need to be replaced,” says Rob Culligan, Vice President for Institutional Advancement. So, when Jim Triggs announced he was leaving his position as the Executive Director of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition Program after 13 years… Read More

Father Eric Hollas, OSB, recalls his first conversation with Donald Jackson about what would become The Saint John’s Bible. The year was 1995, and the two had just given a joint presentation on calligraphy at the Newberry Library in Chicago. Over lunch, Jackson raised “his life’s ambition, which was to… Read More

June 18, 2011, was a historic day for The Saint John’s Bible—the date that the final crosses were embossed on the page and the work of the Bible’s creators was complete. Now, on the tenth anniversary of that day, members of the Saint John’s community are looking back in reflection… Read More

What does an endowment mean for a church, and how can churches be the best stewards of their resources far into the future? Since the foundation of the Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes in 1985, the organization has broadened its focus beyond traditional endowments to recognize that different kinds of… Read More

In a livestreamed event on April 8, London’s famous St. Martin-in-the-Fields church was host to a performance of Handel’s “Messiah,” complemented by projections of illuminations from The Saint John’s Bible on the church’s iconic east window. Those who missed the live event still have the opportunity to… Read More

Followers of The Saint John’s Bible who are looking to extend their Easter celebrations this year have a special event to look forward to on Thursday, April 8. On that date, London’s famous St. Martin-in-the-Fields church will be the site of a streaming online performance of Handel’s “Messiah,” complemented by projections of… Read More

How do contemporary Christians understand Jesus’ resurrection? What is the nature of Jesus’ appearances to his disciples after the crucifixion and resurrection, and what do these appearances mean? Also, is Jesus coming back? If so, will he come back in a historical body? In her book Jesus Risen in our… Read More

Developed by the McGrath Institute for Church Life at the University of Notre Dame, this six-unit series allows you to explore the beauty and tradition of illuminated manuscripts, and unpack several illuminations from The Saint John’s Bible along with the Scripture passages they depict. You’ll also learn how to pray with Scripture and art… Read More

Today is National Handwriting Day. To help celebrate the day, the Star Tribune was very gracious in publishing an op-ed written by Jim Triggs, executive director of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Program.  We hope you enjoy it.  (Please click the link below.) Human Touch Endures in… Read More

For the 2020 edition of Christmas Illuminated, we invited students at Visitation High School in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, to reflect on Donald Jackson’s Birth of Christ illumination in the Gospels and Acts volume of The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition. Given all that has happened in 2020, these young voices of… Read More

On its website, the Benedictine community of Christ the King Priory, in Schuyler, Nebraska, refers to their St. Benedict Center as “an oasis of peace open to visitors of all faiths.” Thanks to the generosity of Allen and Vivian Hager, this invitation “to all” makes the retreat center the perfect home… Read More

The Illuminate Series was launched in two parts on Thursday, September 24, 2020. Part one is a presentation Tim Ternes, director of The Saint John’s Bible, gave at Wayzata Community Church on Friday, September 18, 2020, in Wayzata, Minnesota. Working with a small group from five Twin Cities churches, Tim… Read More

The Heritage Program is excited to announce its new Illuminate Series.  This online lecture and webinar program allows Saint John’s and other institutions to share the best practices of using The Saint John’s Bible in academics, worship, healthcare, fine arts, and community outreach. Our first featured speaker is Tim Ternes.  Tim is the director… Read More

Because the Illuminate 2020 conference was canceled due to the pandemic, Saint John’s will offer a yearlong webinar and online presentation series for The Saint John’s Bible community.  Jim Triggs, executive director of the Heritage Program at Saint John’s University, provides an overview of the series.   In… Read More

Saint Luke’s Parish is an Episcopal “community of faith, prayer, fellowship and service” based in Darien, Connecticut. Through Saint John’s University’s “A Year With The Saint John’s Bible” program, the parish scheduled a series of events, many of which coincided with the liturgical calendar.  In this latest edition of The… Read More

Beyond the formal rituals that play an important role in our spiritual lives, the simple ones that are part of daily life help us through the day. For many of us, COVID-19 has derailed these rituals.  Our experience with students preparing to turn the pages of The Saint John’s Bible… Read More

As the Covid-19 pandemic disrupts planned gatherings around the world, countless church communities have been asking themselves how they can best come together and carry on traditions remotely. At Epiphany Parish in Seattle, The Saint John’s Bible has played a helpful role in these efforts, serving as a familiar touchstone… Read More

The Saint John’s Bible team at Saint John’s University has the honor of working with a large community of churches, universities, hospitals and families around the world. One of our partners recently asked us for a comprehensive list of online resources, which they could in turn offer their community. We… Read More

Every year, Donald Jackson receives letters and cards from admirers – many from children – thanking him for the years of work it took to create this monumental Bible. Donald reads every single one. “It’s so refreshing to learn … how The Saint John’s Bible has actually touched their lives,” he says. Read More

Faith leaders play some of the most visible roles in their congregations – organizing programming, guiding creative methods of worship, and serving as a face for the church within their communities. But as the members of St. Luke’s Parish in Darien, Connecticut, have found over the past year, parishioners themselves can shine in these duties [...] Read More

The Saint John’s community expresses its sympathy for the passing of Fr. Hilary Thimmesh, OSB, the 10th president of Saint John’s University, whose career highlighted a spirit of service that spanned more than seven decades. Originally an SJU student in 1946, Fr. Hilary served as professor, Dean and President over 73 years [...] Read More

More than 100 locations around the world use the Heritage Edition to ignite the spiritual imagination of their communities in creative and engaging ways. Illuminate 2020—the first-ever conference focused on those who own or host The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Edition—is the ideal forum to learn how others have shared… Read More

The possibilities for enhancing faith outreach with The Saint John’s Bible are nearly infinite. We believe that the more communities are informed about the creation of this Bible, the better they can use it to complement their mission. Our Workshops, one of our most engaging educational offerings, bring together hosts and owners of the Heritage Edition for a firsthand look at how The Saint John’s Bible was made, carefully replicated and used to reach communities across the world. Read More

Epiphany Parish Seattle’s annual Holy Week Bible readings came alive in a new way, says church leadership, when they added The Saint John’s Bible to the event. Read More

Exploring the question of existence – the nature of being, “where” we come from and why – is a recurring sticking point between the worlds of faith and science. Ironically, it’s also the uniting ideological thread between the two: the idea that, with enough dedication and the right perspective, humans… Read More

The Bible has been translated into some 1,500 languages – at least, in part. The Saint John’s Bible, however, is hand-penned in English, relying on the New Revised Standard Version translation to preserve the accuracy of the Word among various Christian denominations. But multilingual host communities are making an extra… Read More

Many stories on this blog have featured communities participating in the Year with The Saint John’s Bible program. But how does this program actually work, and what do host communities gain from it? Saint John’s University has recently published new details about this unique program and the opportunities it offers… Read More

One of the best ways of understanding any work of art is having a knowledgeable teacher who can guide our thinking, ask challenging questions, and help us discover and articulate our personal responses. At the Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, Arizona, fondly called the Casa, this philosophy is applied not… Read More

The Saint John’s Bible continues to ignite spiritual imaginations around the world thanks to the Heritage Edition and the Year With The Saint John’s Bible program. Here is an update on the communities sharing The Saint John’s Bible Heritage Editions.* *The following information represents a partial list that does not… Read More

The Rev. Poulson Reed, rector of All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Phoenix, Arizona, cites Psalm 96:9 when discussing how The Saint John’s Bible came to find a home at All Saints’. “Our Episcopal liturgy truly seeks to ‘worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness,’” he wrote. “Having the Heritage Edition… Read More

Ahead of their upcoming A Year With The Saint John’s Bible, Saint Luke’s Parish in Darien, Connecticut, featured the Gospels & Acts volume of the Heritage Edition in their June 24 services. The visit from the Heritage Edition complemented an appearance by The Right Rev. Dr. Rowan Williams, the… Read More

As an Episcopal congregation, Epiphany Parish in Seattle observes two foundational liturgical practices: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Table. The former includes reading scripture, prayer, and sermons. The latter creates a more tangible space in which to experience the divine: “It’s mysterious,” according to The… Read More

The Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City, New York, was founded in 1885 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. With impressive Gothic architecture, stained glass windows and a 200-foot spire, the cathedral is the centerpiece of Garden City. Its staff feels a responsibility to make… Read More

George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, is heavily influenced by its Quaker roots. A layman’s understanding of Quaker values might be summed up in the words of Dr. Paul Anderson, professor of biblical and Quaker studies: “With a deep spiritual interest, Quakers are very plain and concerned with simplicity in… Read More

The Diocese of Hamilton in Hamilton, Ontario, will celebrate the reception of all seven volumes of the Heritage Edition with music inspired by The Saint John's Bible on Sunday, April 29, at Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King. Read More

The Heritage Edition offers the opportunity to spread the artistry and message of The Saint John’s Bible. For Christ Church Charlotte, it also deepens a community’s connection with its own spiritual imagination. On April 2, Christ Church finished their extended six-month partnership as hosts of the Heritage Edition. “The driving… Read More

The Saint John’s community fondly remembers Jo (Alice Joan) White, the multi-talented artist known as “the mother of The Saint John’s Bible.” Jo passed away in February at the age of 87. As the founder of The Colleagues of Calligraphy, Jo created a community for calligraphers around the world to… Read More

Bishop Douglas Crosby knew The Saint John’s Bible had a place in the Diocese of Hamilton in Ontario, Canada, long before it found its way there. The question the Diocese faced wasn’t “if” they would make a place for the Bible – it was “how.” Read More

“When you start the Year with the Heritage Edition, the assumption is that after a year, the Bible goes back to Saint John’s,” said Nancy Werner, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. “It was always my hope that wouldn’t be the case for us.”

The University of Portland has been one of the most active and creative keepers of the Heritage Edition. Each year, the university presents new Saint

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine in Florida, the site of the first parish church in North America, recently celebrated its 450th anniversary. What better place, then, to celebrate the arrival of the first handwritten Bible illuminated by Benedictines in over 500 years?

The Diocese of St. Augustine is participating in the Year With The Saint John’s Bible and, after series of events in the greater Jacksonville area, the cathedral in St. Augustine now has the Gospels & Acts volume on display. In addition, on February 21, Professor Jack Daniels, Th.D., will discuss the spread of the Gospel over time via the Sacred Scriptures.

“To the Ends of the Earth” is an illumination you will find on the very last page of the Gospels and Acts volume of The

We celebrate locations around the world that have made a home for The Saint John’s Bible. May the spirit of Christmas illuminate your world!

One of the most vibrant Bible study programs in the country can be found in Charlotte, North Carolina, at Christ Church. Each week, hundreds of