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      On Sunday, July 12, the Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, DC, and of the National Cathedral, will be presiding and preaching at a combined liturgy at All Saints at 10:15 AM. Following worship, Bishop Budde will read from and sign copies of her new children's picture book, I Can Learn to Be Brave, which will be available for purchase. 

      The new book explores a theme the bishop previously examined for adults in her New York Times bestseller How We Learn to Be Brave: Decisive Moments in LIfe and Faith and adapted for middle schoolers in We Can Be Brave.

      Kirkus Review has praised I Can Learn to Be Brave as “a heartening secular parable…. Budde, who knows something about bravery herself, narrates this fablelike tale with a gently guiding tone that rings true…. A boon to uncertain youngsters everywhere.”

      Many will remember Bishop Budde's own act of bravery when, during her sermon at a prayer service in the National Cathedral for Donald Trump's second inauguration, she addressed the president directly and urged him to "have mercy on the people in our country who are scared now."

      As our rector, the Rev. Kathryn King recalls, "Bishop Budde looked directly at the most powerful man in the world and asked — gently, clearly, and without flinching — for mercy. Mercy for immigrants. Mercy for LGBTQ children. Mercy for the vulnerable and the frightened. She did not shout. She simply spoke the truth of the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She spoke it in love.  Watching the service, I felt pride in her courage, pride in our Episcopal tradition, and pride in the kind of faith that does not shrink from hard rooms or difficult conversations. She reminded the whole watching world that the Church has a voice, and that voice, at its best, is one of compassionate, unflinching truth."

      Her perspectives as a mother and grandmother also shape the bishop's "empathetic approach to how children understand uncertainty and change." Bishop Budde notes, “Bravery isn’t a medal we earn or a title we receive. It’s a practice; one that people of all ages participate in every day. It is my hope that every child understands that in the face of what initially seems impossible, they too can learn to be brave.”

     According to the publisher, I Can Learn to Be Brave features "warm, emotionally resonant illustrations by New York Times bestselling artist Holly Hatam. The story follows a young protagonist who, with the help of a new friend, begins to see courage differently. She discovers it in climbing a hill, trying a rope swing, and pausing to take in a beautiful sunset. Step by step, her confidence builds, showing that even the smallest acts can open the door to something bigger."

      The new book will be released for sale to the public on July 7, 2026, and Bishop Budde will begin signing copies that will be available for purchase at All Saints around 11:30 a.m..

      "At a time when many families are navigating new environments and challenges, from summer transitions to back-to-school, I Can Learn to Be Brave offers a simple framework for building confidence and emotional awareness so young readers can find their voice and use it with care," notes the publisher.

     The Rev. King adds, "Invite a friend, a neighbor, someone you have been meaning to bring to All Saints who may be looking for just the kind of faithful, welcoming, service-minded community that has been formed here over the century. This is one of those mornings you do not want to miss. There is something extraordinary about being in the room with someone whose faith has been tested so publicly and stood firm in the whirlwind."

       For more information, contact the Church Office.