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{"id":7042276262079,"title":"Sharing the Easter Story: From reading to living the gospel","handle":"sharing-the-easter-story","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIn \u003c\/span\u003ethis year’s BRF Lent book Sally Welch explores two questions: What is the Easter story really about, and how do we share it?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThrough each week of Lent, a different aspect of the Easter story is examined:\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003erepenting\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eforgiving\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ehoping\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003etrusting\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003esacrificing, loving \u003c\/strong\u003eand \u003cstrong\u003echanging\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWithin each week, the days are focused on what we need to do in order to share the story:\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003elistening\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eunderstanding\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ereflecting\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eliving\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003etelling\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003esharing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ebecoming\u003c\/strong\u003e. Each day offers a Bible passage, followed by a reflection and a prayer. Suggestions for group study and group study questions are also included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eJourneymakers\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brf.org.uk\/product\/journeymakers-a-pilgrimage-through-lent\/\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eJourneymakers\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003eis a series of downloadable resources inviting you to turn your walk into a pilgrimage during the weeks of Lent. Each PDF contains reflective material from the book which you can download or print out and take it with you as an aid to witnessing the work of God in creation. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eSally Welch is a parish priest of 20 years’ standing, having ministered in both rural and urban contexts within the Diocese of Oxford. She is currently the diocesan spirituality adviser and co-director of the Centre for Christian Pilgrimage. Sally is a committed pilgrim and has walked many pilgrim routes in the UK and Europe, with plans for many more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003ePraise for the book\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘Imbued with biblical insight, this book delves into the basic human\u003cbr\u003enature of our lives, the failings, the forgivings and the foibles of the\u003cbr\u003eway we are and the way we behave. Into the glorious muddle of\u003cbr\u003eour lives, we search for God and find God, revealed distinctively in\u003cbr\u003ethe Easter story. We find God on a journey through repentance and\u003cbr\u003erestitution, forgiveness and faith, arriving at the Easter dawn with\u003cbr\u003ea renewed sense of our place in the world and the way in which we\u003cbr\u003ecan and should relate to each other and to God. In Sally Welch we\u003cbr\u003ehave a delightful, experienced pastoral guide who looks back at\u003cbr\u003elockdowns and opens up new pastures of faith, hope and love as\u003cbr\u003ewe journey on.’\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGordon Giles, canon chancellor, Rochester Cathedral and author of\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt Home in Lent\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘Sally has a wonderful gift of bringing the biblical text alive by\u003cbr\u003econnecting its stories and images to contemporary examples we\u003cbr\u003eare familiar with and perhaps experience ourselves. The result is\u003cbr\u003efresh insight into God’s great overarching story and an invitation\u003cbr\u003eto participate in it ourselves.’\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eElizabeth Hoare, director of spiritual formation and pastoral care,\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWycliffe Hall\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘In this both challenging and encouraging Lent book, Sally has\u003cbr\u003ewoven a beautiful golden cord, binding together scriptural truth and\u003cbr\u003ewisdom, profound contemporary relevance and insightful personal\u003cbr\u003eexperience. Written with warmth, love and understanding, this is a\u003cbr\u003egenuine treasure to accompany your Lenten journey and, indeed,\u003cbr\u003efor any time or season.’\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMargaret Silf, author of Lighted Windows\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry online February 2022. Review by Sue Piper\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSharing the Easter Story\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSally Welch leads us through Lent from reading, to living the gospel. In her introduction, she explains how we might share the Easter story as individuals, or as a group. She also offers a study structure that might be used by a group from opening prayer, discussion, forum, reflection, plenary and through to a closing prayer. Her seven weeks take us through repenting, forgiving, hoping, trusting, sacrificing, loving and changing. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, each daily bible reading is followed by the author’s reflection, then she offers some questions for discussion or for self-examination: questions such as ‘Learning to trust is one of life’s most difficult tasks. Who do you trust and why? Do you find it easy or difficult to trust God?’ Each session ends with a closing prayer appropriate to that day’s subject. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReading and praying my way through this beautiful Lent book has helped me to focus more deeply on my personal faith as well as understanding more about how God has been, and still is, at work in me and the world around me. I have been made to examine my own human frailties and sharing together in a group would help me understand more about myself and those with whom I share. In her epilogue the author gives us some final reflections such as: ‘What have I learned about myself during this Lenten period?’ and ‘How might I share all that God means to me – and all that he could mean to others?’ Are you brave enough to take on this loving Lenten challenge? \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Sue Piper\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2021-10-27T10:36:05+01:00","created_at":"2021-10-27T10:34:13+01:00","vendor":"Sally Welch","type":"Paperback","tags":["Centenary Collection","Easter","Kindle","Lent","Nov-21"],"price":899,"price_min":899,"price_max":899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":40941108953279,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781800390980","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":30665452912831,"product_id":7042276262079,"position":1,"created_at":"2021-10-27T10:34:13+01:00","updated_at":"2021-10-27T10:34:15+01:00","alt":null,"width":1000,"height":1524,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390980.jpg?v=1635327255","variant_ids":[40941108953279]},"available":true,"name":"Sharing the Easter Story: From reading to living the gospel - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":899,"weight":175,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781800390980","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":23102828019903,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390980.jpg?v=1635327255"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390980.jpg?v=1635327255"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390980.jpg?v=1635327255","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":23102828019903,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390980.jpg?v=1635327255"},"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390980.jpg?v=1635327255","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIn \u003c\/span\u003ethis year’s BRF Lent book Sally Welch explores two questions: What is the Easter story really about, and how do we share it?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThrough each week of Lent, a different aspect of the Easter story is examined:\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003erepenting\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eforgiving\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ehoping\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003etrusting\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003esacrificing, loving \u003c\/strong\u003eand \u003cstrong\u003echanging\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eWithin each week, the days are focused on what we need to do in order to share the story:\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003elistening\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eunderstanding\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ereflecting\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eliving\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003etelling\u003c\/strong\u003e,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003esharing\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ebecoming\u003c\/strong\u003e. Each day offers a Bible passage, followed by a reflection and a prayer. Suggestions for group study and group study questions are also included.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5 data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eJourneymakers\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brf.org.uk\/product\/journeymakers-a-pilgrimage-through-lent\/\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eJourneymakers\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003eis a series of downloadable resources inviting you to turn your walk into a pilgrimage during the weeks of Lent. Each PDF contains reflective material from the book which you can download or print out and take it with you as an aid to witnessing the work of God in creation. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eSally Welch is a parish priest of 20 years’ standing, having ministered in both rural and urban contexts within the Diocese of Oxford. She is currently the diocesan spirituality adviser and co-director of the Centre for Christian Pilgrimage. Sally is a committed pilgrim and has walked many pilgrim routes in the UK and Europe, with plans for many more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003ePraise for the book\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘Imbued with biblical insight, this book delves into the basic human\u003cbr\u003enature of our lives, the failings, the forgivings and the foibles of the\u003cbr\u003eway we are and the way we behave. Into the glorious muddle of\u003cbr\u003eour lives, we search for God and find God, revealed distinctively in\u003cbr\u003ethe Easter story. We find God on a journey through repentance and\u003cbr\u003erestitution, forgiveness and faith, arriving at the Easter dawn with\u003cbr\u003ea renewed sense of our place in the world and the way in which we\u003cbr\u003ecan and should relate to each other and to God. In Sally Welch we\u003cbr\u003ehave a delightful, experienced pastoral guide who looks back at\u003cbr\u003elockdowns and opens up new pastures of faith, hope and love as\u003cbr\u003ewe journey on.’\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGordon Giles, canon chancellor, Rochester Cathedral and author of\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAt Home in Lent\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘Sally has a wonderful gift of bringing the biblical text alive by\u003cbr\u003econnecting its stories and images to contemporary examples we\u003cbr\u003eare familiar with and perhaps experience ourselves. The result is\u003cbr\u003efresh insight into God’s great overarching story and an invitation\u003cbr\u003eto participate in it ourselves.’\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eElizabeth Hoare, director of spiritual formation and pastoral care,\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWycliffe Hall\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘In this both challenging and encouraging Lent book, Sally has\u003cbr\u003ewoven a beautiful golden cord, binding together scriptural truth and\u003cbr\u003ewisdom, profound contemporary relevance and insightful personal\u003cbr\u003eexperience. Written with warmth, love and understanding, this is a\u003cbr\u003egenuine treasure to accompany your Lenten journey and, indeed,\u003cbr\u003efor any time or season.’\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMargaret Silf, author of Lighted Windows\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry online February 2022. Review by Sue Piper\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSharing the Easter Story\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSally Welch leads us through Lent from reading, to living the gospel. In her introduction, she explains how we might share the Easter story as individuals, or as a group. She also offers a study structure that might be used by a group from opening prayer, discussion, forum, reflection, plenary and through to a closing prayer. Her seven weeks take us through repenting, forgiving, hoping, trusting, sacrificing, loving and changing. Beginning on Ash Wednesday, each daily bible reading is followed by the author’s reflection, then she offers some questions for discussion or for self-examination: questions such as ‘Learning to trust is one of life’s most difficult tasks. Who do you trust and why? Do you find it easy or difficult to trust God?’ Each session ends with a closing prayer appropriate to that day’s subject. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReading and praying my way through this beautiful Lent book has helped me to focus more deeply on my personal faith as well as understanding more about how God has been, and still is, at work in me and the world around me. I have been made to examine my own human frailties and sharing together in a group would help me understand more about myself and those with whom I share. In her epilogue the author gives us some final reflections such as: ‘What have I learned about myself during this Lenten period?’ and ‘How might I share all that God means to me – and all that he could mean to others?’ Are you brave enough to take on this loving Lenten challenge? \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Sue Piper\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e"}
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Sharing the Easter Story: From reading to living the gospel
£8.99
In this year’s BRF Lent book Sally Welch explores two questions: What is the Easter story really about, and how do...
{"id":7565823410367,"title":"Spiritual Growth in a Time of Change: Following God in midlife","handle":"spiritual-growth-in-a-time-of-change-following-god-in-midlife-1","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHow to navigate a spiritual journey through these years, leading to deeper faith and a closer walk with God.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOur 40s and 50s can be times of change and turbulent emotional transitions as we encounter a range of challenging personal issues. They can also be some of the most important years of our lives in spiritual terms.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTony Horsfall addresses a number of ‘midlife’ issues – from facing up to the past to renegotiating relationships – and explores how to navigate a spiritual journey through these years, leading to deeper faith and a closer walk with God.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e‘Accessible and an easy read. The exercises are practical and pose useful questions. Spiritual Growth in a Time of Change offers a straightforward introduction to the issues, and may provide some welcome lightbulb moments for anyone who is new to the concept of midlife.’ Sarah Meyrick, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eChurch Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2023-10-24T13:32:34+01:00","created_at":"2023-10-24T13:32:34+01:00","vendor":"Tony Horsfall","type":"Paperback","tags":["Discipleship","For individuals","Glassboxx","Pastoral care","Spirituality","Tony Horsfall"],"price":999,"price_min":999,"price_max":999,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":43664155377855,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781800392021","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":34963725025471,"product_id":7565823410367,"position":1,"created_at":"2023-10-24T13:37:52+01:00","updated_at":"2023-10-24T13:37:54+01:00","alt":null,"width":1535,"height":2339,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/SpiritualGrowthinaTimeofChange2023.jpg?v=1698151074","variant_ids":[43664155377855]},"available":true,"name":"Spiritual Growth in a Time of Change: Following God in midlife - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":999,"weight":180,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781800392021","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":27679710380223,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":2339,"width":1535,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/SpiritualGrowthinaTimeofChange2023.jpg?v=1698151074"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/SpiritualGrowthinaTimeofChange2023.jpg?v=1698151074"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/SpiritualGrowthinaTimeofChange2023.jpg?v=1698151074","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":27679710380223,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":2339,"width":1535,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/SpiritualGrowthinaTimeofChange2023.jpg?v=1698151074"},"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":2339,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/SpiritualGrowthinaTimeofChange2023.jpg?v=1698151074","width":1535}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eHow to navigate a spiritual journey through these years, leading to deeper faith and a closer walk with God.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eOur 40s and 50s can be times of change and turbulent emotional transitions as we encounter a range of challenging personal issues. They can also be some of the most important years of our lives in spiritual terms.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTony Horsfall addresses a number of ‘midlife’ issues – from facing up to the past to renegotiating relationships – and explores how to navigate a spiritual journey through these years, leading to deeper faith and a closer walk with God.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e‘Accessible and an easy read. The exercises are practical and pose useful questions. Spiritual Growth in a Time of Change offers a straightforward introduction to the issues, and may provide some welcome lightbulb moments for anyone who is new to the concept of midlife.’ Sarah Meyrick, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eChurch Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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Spiritual Growth in a Time of Change: Following God in midlife
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How to navigate a spiritual journey through these years, leading to deeper faith and a closer walk with God.Our 40s...
{"id":2439775223908,"title":"St Aidan's Way of Mission: Celtic insights for a post-Christian world","handle":"st-aidans-way-of-mission-celtic-insights-for-a-post-christian-world","description":"\u003cp\u003eSurveying the life and times of Aidan of Lindisfarne, this book draws insights into missional approaches to inspire both outreach and discipleship for today's Church. As in his previous BRF book, Hilda of Whitby, Ray Simpson shows that such figures from past centuries can provide models for Christian life and witness today. An author and speaker on Celtic spirituality with a worldwide reputation, he combines historical fact with spiritual lessons in a highly accessible style, with an appeal to a wide audience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\nRay Simpson is a founder of the international new monastic movement known as The Community of Aidan and Hilda and is principal tutor of its Celtic Christian Studies programmes. He has written some thirty books on spirituality and lives on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, where many Christian leaders come to the Community's Retreat House and Library and for consultation. He tweets a daily prayer @whitehouseviews and writes a weekly blog on www.raysimpson.org\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 25 November 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eRay Simpson is the Lindisfarne-based founder of a new monastic movement, the Community of Aidan and Hilda. His Australian co-author, Brent Lyons-Lee, is an expert in indigenous mission initiatives.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAt one point, the authors commend the practice of lectio divina. It means 'godly reading', and is based around the four Rs of reading, reflection, response, and relaxing. It serves them well. Often, all there is to go on is fleeting insights into Aidan's life from Bede. But, in the spiritual realm, a little goes a long way. The Irish saint's very name means 'little flame'. From the book's first chapter - 'Incarnational and indigenous mission' - we are carried straight to religious flashpoints of contemporary importance.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eBorn at about the time that St Columba died, at the end of the sixth century, Aidan was commissioned from Iona to evangelise the brutally warring Anglo-Saxon settlers of Northumbria. Not for him the later Romanised colonial model of mission, a model replic ated from Australia to the Americas, where 'the gospel was preached, but abuse was modelled.' Instead, the Lindisfarne mission seeded 'little colonies of heaven' that helped to grow 'an indigenous, English-speaking church'.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eI loved the chapter on 'Soul friends and lifelong learning'. Here we are reminded that, when universities were separated from a spiritual grounding in the Beatitudes, and Christ's relationship to nature, they lost 'a holistic understanding of godly learning that embraces head, heart and hands'. Other chapters explore pilgrimage, women as spiritual foster-mothers, social justice, and religious rule and rhythm.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThere are those who would see 'Celtic Christianity' dead and buried. There are those who believe the future to be post-Christian. This little gem is a lectio divina of the signs of resurrection.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eDr McIntosh is an Honorary Fellow in divinity at Edinburgh University\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eProgressive Voices September 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThis small book is an attempt to draw on the principles underpinning St Aidan's involvement in Celtic Christianity at its height, and apply them to our day. Although sometimes there's a slight element of 'St Aidan can do no wrong', it's important to say that the author is very clear about the mistakes of the representatives of both Roman and Celtic Christianity in Saxon Britain.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe chapters tackle topics ranging from church and state to the environment, the need for spiritual soul mates and the way the church continues to inflict inequality on women.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eI think the heart of the book is in chapter 5. The author is sceptical of current models of doing Church and instead expounds the notion of the local expression of Christianity as a village of God. The following has become a bit of a mantra for the author:\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA 24-hour society calls for seven-days-a-week faith communities.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA cafe society calls for churches that are eating places.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA travelling society calls for churches that provide accommodation.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA stressed society calls for churches that nurture retreats and meditation.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA multi-choice society calls for churches that have a choice of styles and facilities.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA fragmented society calls for holistic models and whole-life discipling.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eAn eco-threatened society calls for more locally sustainable communities that have roots in the soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThere are other pithy sayings of this sort, particularly in the chapter on church and state which develops into a brief summary of the author's thoughts on social justice issues.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe essential message of the book is that we have reached a point where Christianity needs re-rooting in British (and European) soil, that this will be a long process requiring patience and a long-term approach as exemplified by St Aidan's dealings with the ordinary person and nobility of his day.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eGuy Whitehouse\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eJournal of Contemporary Ministry No 2 (2016)\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAidan is an inspiring saint whose Irish mission to the English is an instructive model for mission in the post-Christendom Western world today, suggest Ray Simpson with Brent Lyons-Lee.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eRay Simpson is the founding Guardian and chief liturgist of the International New Monastic Community of Aidan and Hilda and author of over thirty books on spirituality and mission. Brent Lyons-Lee is Mission Catalyst for Community Engagement with the Baptist Union of Victoria and a social justice activist. This is his third book he has co-written with Ray Simpson connecting Celtic insights with spirituality that can be at home in Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe story began when Aidan was posted to the Iona monastery. When a previous mission effort to Northumbria failed, Aidan was sent from Iona to Northumbria in 635. He learned English, built trust with King Oswald and his court, and walked around the region seeking to incarnate the gospel and create indigenous 'colonies of heaven.'\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eI loved the invitation of the book to reflect on Aidan's example of the Christian life as a pilgrimage, not a possession. Irish pilgrims or peregrine allowed God's Spirit to blow them where it wished and let mission take as long as it needed. As reflected in vows of the Community of Aidan and Hilda, it is about setting sail and letting the 'Wild Goose' or untameable Spirit of God lead into wild or windy places, and then make them places of welcome and wonder. To find your calling, Simpson often says, 'Let your feet follow your heart until you find your place of resurrection' (p. 29). The place of resurrection is about not only where you will literally die, but also where you can experience shalom and harmony between yourself and your place and neighbours (and so where you may as well stay until you die). It is where 'fruit comes as a gift because we are the right person in the right place at the right time. Creativity flows. Connections take place. Synchronicity occurs. Jesus is revealed' (p. 29). That is sufficient vision to invite us to let go of what we hold (and what holds us) and step out on a Spirit-led journey, and keep walking till we find a place where the bells ring for us.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe second inspiring lesson I got from this book is that, rather than viewing the church as institutional and attractional, do-it-yourself or even focused on mission only, Aidan's vision of church was as 'God-shaped hub communities that have a heart for God, others and society' (p. 87). Starting in Lindisfarne, Aidan planted a network of monastic communities that included schools, libraries and guest quarters, and space for productive farming as well as celebratory feasting. Simpson suggests today's global village still needs churches as 'villages of God':\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA 24-hour society calls for seven-days-a-week faith communities.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA cafe society calls for churches that are eating places.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA travelling society calls for churches that provide accommodation.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA stressed society calls for churches that nurture retreats and meditation.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA multi-choice society calls for churches that have a choice of styles and facilities.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA fragmented society calls for holistic models and whole-life discipling.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eAn eco-threatened society calls for more locally sustainable communities that have roots in the soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a model of church functioning in ways that are responsive to one's adopted city and seeking to foster shalom.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAidan also celebrated the image and gifts of God in women as well as men. Aidan prioritised practices and rhythms, and I appreciated the writer's urging to identify practices worth commending to people in my community. Moreover, Aidan had a grounded vision of an earthy faith that cares for Creation. The book is practical about how to do this, but also beautifully weaves together Celtic and Australian indigenous stories.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eFinally, Simpson and Lyons-Lee stressed the importance that Aidan taught of having soul friends who help us cultivate balanced and prayerful living and a lifelong love for learning wisdom. Aidan's spirituality and teaching were not focused only on book learning but also on cultivating a deep devotion, as this prayer urged:\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eDivine Mentor,\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTeach us the habits of holy learning,\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTo know your ways\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTo explore your world\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTo learn from experience\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTo understand people\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTo manage time and talents\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTo draw on wellsprings of wisdom\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eUntil we become a people of saints and scholars (p. 47).\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe Church in the West does not need another one-size-fits-all off-the-shelf program. However, we do need stories of saints who have walked journeys of courageous faith and adventurous mission - not to imitate closely but to suggest principles and ways of engaging our neighbourhoods in fresh and humble ways. St Aidan's Way of Mission is a delightful read, weaving together the story of this inspiring saint and implications for contemporary ministry.[p\u0026gt;]\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eDr Darren Cronshaw\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eRay Simpson's writing is readable and thought-provoking. The subtitle for this book is 'Celtic insights for a post-Christian world', and is a helpful reminder how valuable the insights of the Celtic saints are for the challenges we face today. The authors reflect on life as a Christian in a world that has lost touch with a deeply-rooted spirituality, returning to the mission of St Aidan and his deep desire to bring the relevance of Christianity to day to day life. They explain the relevance of Aidan in the globally dangerous world we find ourselves in and remind us of the call to live the eternal values of Christianity, but also the need to ensure we are culturally relevant. Lyons-Lee brings an Australian cross-cultural mission perspective and contributes an interesting angle to the spirituality of place and how this relates to the Celtic church.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAidan was a man of his time (seventh century), yet in the great missions of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, many missionaries dispersed from Britain and Ireland, and clearly could not have done this had it not been for the work of their forefathers and mothers. Simpson and Lee remind us for the need for a 'bottom up' rather than a 'top down' culture of mission. They argue that the question of whether we are post-Christian relates closely to our post-colonial heritage, taking in the strands of evangelism and the prosperity gospel, and other negative forms of Christianity which favour the few. They demonstrate the model of mission where networks and communities have justice integrated within them.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eCeltic women feature strongly, and certainly I was left wanting more of the great women who are considered the key Celtic saints- Hilda Brigid and Bega. They are women who could offer a lot to our churches and different models of leadership and ministry. When the writers state that in the history of Christianity, only three countries have routinely dignified them by appointing them to lead large monasteries of women and men, I would have liked to know more of these women within the German, French and English traditions. I can imagine some of the names that would be included here, but found myself wondering about these founders about whom little is known, women who were known for leadership and soul friendship and would have been the early spiritual directors. This book raises important questions and the chapter focussing particularly on women would be a creative study for our 'Catholic Women's Ordination' groups.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eKatharine Salmon\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2019-01-18T15:22:08+00:00","created_at":"2019-01-18T15:22:09+00:00","vendor":"Ray Simpson","type":"Paperback","tags":["For individuals","Jul-16","Kindle","Mission","Spirituality"],"price":799,"price_min":799,"price_max":799,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":21769401073764,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857464859","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":7436707463268,"product_id":2439775223908,"position":1,"created_at":"2019-01-18T15:22:09+00:00","updated_at":"2019-02-01T17:45:56+00:00","alt":null,"width":426,"height":650,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464859-l.jpg?v=1549043156","variant_ids":[21769401073764]},"available":true,"name":"St Aidan's Way of Mission: Celtic insights for a post-Christian world - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":799,"weight":188,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857464859","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":3238877659275,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.655,"height":650,"width":426,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464859-l.jpg?v=1549043156"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464859-l.jpg?v=1549043156"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464859-l.jpg?v=1549043156","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":3238877659275,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.655,"height":650,"width":426,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464859-l.jpg?v=1549043156"},"aspect_ratio":0.655,"height":650,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464859-l.jpg?v=1549043156","width":426}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eSurveying the life and times of Aidan of Lindisfarne, this book draws insights into missional approaches to inspire both outreach and discipleship for today's Church. As in his previous BRF book, Hilda of Whitby, Ray Simpson shows that such figures from past centuries can provide models for Christian life and witness today. An author and speaker on Celtic spirituality with a worldwide reputation, he combines historical fact with spiritual lessons in a highly accessible style, with an appeal to a wide audience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\nRay Simpson is a founder of the international new monastic movement known as The Community of Aidan and Hilda and is principal tutor of its Celtic Christian Studies programmes. He has written some thirty books on spirituality and lives on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, where many Christian leaders come to the Community's Retreat House and Library and for consultation. He tweets a daily prayer @whitehouseviews and writes a weekly blog on www.raysimpson.org\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 25 November 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eRay Simpson is the Lindisfarne-based founder of a new monastic movement, the Community of Aidan and Hilda. His Australian co-author, Brent Lyons-Lee, is an expert in indigenous mission initiatives.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAt one point, the authors commend the practice of lectio divina. It means 'godly reading', and is based around the four Rs of reading, reflection, response, and relaxing. It serves them well. Often, all there is to go on is fleeting insights into Aidan's life from Bede. But, in the spiritual realm, a little goes a long way. The Irish saint's very name means 'little flame'. From the book's first chapter - 'Incarnational and indigenous mission' - we are carried straight to religious flashpoints of contemporary importance.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eBorn at about the time that St Columba died, at the end of the sixth century, Aidan was commissioned from Iona to evangelise the brutally warring Anglo-Saxon settlers of Northumbria. Not for him the later Romanised colonial model of mission, a model replic ated from Australia to the Americas, where 'the gospel was preached, but abuse was modelled.' Instead, the Lindisfarne mission seeded 'little colonies of heaven' that helped to grow 'an indigenous, English-speaking church'.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eI loved the chapter on 'Soul friends and lifelong learning'. Here we are reminded that, when universities were separated from a spiritual grounding in the Beatitudes, and Christ's relationship to nature, they lost 'a holistic understanding of godly learning that embraces head, heart and hands'. Other chapters explore pilgrimage, women as spiritual foster-mothers, social justice, and religious rule and rhythm.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThere are those who would see 'Celtic Christianity' dead and buried. There are those who believe the future to be post-Christian. This little gem is a lectio divina of the signs of resurrection.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eDr McIntosh is an Honorary Fellow in divinity at Edinburgh University\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eProgressive Voices September 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThis small book is an attempt to draw on the principles underpinning St Aidan's involvement in Celtic Christianity at its height, and apply them to our day. Although sometimes there's a slight element of 'St Aidan can do no wrong', it's important to say that the author is very clear about the mistakes of the representatives of both Roman and Celtic Christianity in Saxon Britain.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe chapters tackle topics ranging from church and state to the environment, the need for spiritual soul mates and the way the church continues to inflict inequality on women.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eI think the heart of the book is in chapter 5. The author is sceptical of current models of doing Church and instead expounds the notion of the local expression of Christianity as a village of God. The following has become a bit of a mantra for the author:\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA 24-hour society calls for seven-days-a-week faith communities.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA cafe society calls for churches that are eating places.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA travelling society calls for churches that provide accommodation.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA stressed society calls for churches that nurture retreats and meditation.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA multi-choice society calls for churches that have a choice of styles and facilities.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA fragmented society calls for holistic models and whole-life discipling.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eAn eco-threatened society calls for more locally sustainable communities that have roots in the soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThere are other pithy sayings of this sort, particularly in the chapter on church and state which develops into a brief summary of the author's thoughts on social justice issues.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe essential message of the book is that we have reached a point where Christianity needs re-rooting in British (and European) soil, that this will be a long process requiring patience and a long-term approach as exemplified by St Aidan's dealings with the ordinary person and nobility of his day.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eGuy Whitehouse\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eJournal of Contemporary Ministry No 2 (2016)\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAidan is an inspiring saint whose Irish mission to the English is an instructive model for mission in the post-Christendom Western world today, suggest Ray Simpson with Brent Lyons-Lee.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eRay Simpson is the founding Guardian and chief liturgist of the International New Monastic Community of Aidan and Hilda and author of over thirty books on spirituality and mission. Brent Lyons-Lee is Mission Catalyst for Community Engagement with the Baptist Union of Victoria and a social justice activist. This is his third book he has co-written with Ray Simpson connecting Celtic insights with spirituality that can be at home in Australia.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe story began when Aidan was posted to the Iona monastery. When a previous mission effort to Northumbria failed, Aidan was sent from Iona to Northumbria in 635. He learned English, built trust with King Oswald and his court, and walked around the region seeking to incarnate the gospel and create indigenous 'colonies of heaven.'\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eI loved the invitation of the book to reflect on Aidan's example of the Christian life as a pilgrimage, not a possession. Irish pilgrims or peregrine allowed God's Spirit to blow them where it wished and let mission take as long as it needed. As reflected in vows of the Community of Aidan and Hilda, it is about setting sail and letting the 'Wild Goose' or untameable Spirit of God lead into wild or windy places, and then make them places of welcome and wonder. To find your calling, Simpson often says, 'Let your feet follow your heart until you find your place of resurrection' (p. 29). The place of resurrection is about not only where you will literally die, but also where you can experience shalom and harmony between yourself and your place and neighbours (and so where you may as well stay until you die). It is where 'fruit comes as a gift because we are the right person in the right place at the right time. Creativity flows. Connections take place. Synchronicity occurs. Jesus is revealed' (p. 29). That is sufficient vision to invite us to let go of what we hold (and what holds us) and step out on a Spirit-led journey, and keep walking till we find a place where the bells ring for us.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe second inspiring lesson I got from this book is that, rather than viewing the church as institutional and attractional, do-it-yourself or even focused on mission only, Aidan's vision of church was as 'God-shaped hub communities that have a heart for God, others and society' (p. 87). Starting in Lindisfarne, Aidan planted a network of monastic communities that included schools, libraries and guest quarters, and space for productive farming as well as celebratory feasting. Simpson suggests today's global village still needs churches as 'villages of God':\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA 24-hour society calls for seven-days-a-week faith communities.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA cafe society calls for churches that are eating places.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA travelling society calls for churches that provide accommodation.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA stressed society calls for churches that nurture retreats and meditation.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA multi-choice society calls for churches that have a choice of styles and facilities.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eA fragmented society calls for holistic models and whole-life discipling.\u003c\/li\u003e\r\n\u003cli\u003eAn eco-threatened society calls for more locally sustainable communities that have roots in the soil.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a model of church functioning in ways that are responsive to one's adopted city and seeking to foster shalom.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAidan also celebrated the image and gifts of God in women as well as men. Aidan prioritised practices and rhythms, and I appreciated the writer's urging to identify practices worth commending to people in my community. Moreover, Aidan had a grounded vision of an earthy faith that cares for Creation. The book is practical about how to do this, but also beautifully weaves together Celtic and Australian indigenous stories.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eFinally, Simpson and Lyons-Lee stressed the importance that Aidan taught of having soul friends who help us cultivate balanced and prayerful living and a lifelong love for learning wisdom. Aidan's spirituality and teaching were not focused only on book learning but also on cultivating a deep devotion, as this prayer urged:\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eDivine Mentor,\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTeach us the habits of holy learning,\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTo know your ways\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTo explore your world\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTo learn from experience\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTo understand people\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTo manage time and talents\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eTo draw on wellsprings of wisdom\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eUntil we become a people of saints and scholars (p. 47).\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eThe Church in the West does not need another one-size-fits-all off-the-shelf program. However, we do need stories of saints who have walked journeys of courageous faith and adventurous mission - not to imitate closely but to suggest principles and ways of engaging our neighbourhoods in fresh and humble ways. St Aidan's Way of Mission is a delightful read, weaving together the story of this inspiring saint and implications for contemporary ministry.[p\u0026gt;]\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eDr Darren Cronshaw\u003c\/strong\u003e\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003chr\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eRay Simpson's writing is readable and thought-provoking. The subtitle for this book is 'Celtic insights for a post-Christian world', and is a helpful reminder how valuable the insights of the Celtic saints are for the challenges we face today. The authors reflect on life as a Christian in a world that has lost touch with a deeply-rooted spirituality, returning to the mission of St Aidan and his deep desire to bring the relevance of Christianity to day to day life. They explain the relevance of Aidan in the globally dangerous world we find ourselves in and remind us of the call to live the eternal values of Christianity, but also the need to ensure we are culturally relevant. Lyons-Lee brings an Australian cross-cultural mission perspective and contributes an interesting angle to the spirituality of place and how this relates to the Celtic church.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eAidan was a man of his time (seventh century), yet in the great missions of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, many missionaries dispersed from Britain and Ireland, and clearly could not have done this had it not been for the work of their forefathers and mothers. Simpson and Lee remind us for the need for a 'bottom up' rather than a 'top down' culture of mission. They argue that the question of whether we are post-Christian relates closely to our post-colonial heritage, taking in the strands of evangelism and the prosperity gospel, and other negative forms of Christianity which favour the few. They demonstrate the model of mission where networks and communities have justice integrated within them.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003eCeltic women feature strongly, and certainly I was left wanting more of the great women who are considered the key Celtic saints- Hilda Brigid and Bega. They are women who could offer a lot to our churches and different models of leadership and ministry. When the writers state that in the history of Christianity, only three countries have routinely dignified them by appointing them to lead large monasteries of women and men, I would have liked to know more of these women within the German, French and English traditions. I can imagine some of the names that would be included here, but found myself wondering about these founders about whom little is known, women who were known for leadership and soul friendship and would have been the early spiritual directors. This book raises important questions and the chapter focussing particularly on women would be a creative study for our 'Catholic Women's Ordination' groups.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\r\n\u003cstrong\u003eKatharine Salmon\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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St Aidan's Way of Mission: Celtic insights for a post-Christian world
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{"id":7487704203455,"title":"Starting Your Messy Church","handle":"starting-your-messy-church","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn all-in-one introduction to Messy Church. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen you need to introduce your children's workers, family coordinators and church leaders to the concept of all-involving, activity-based, new-to-church worship, this is the quick-to-read resource that explains it all. Starting Your Messy Church is structured into bite-sized sections which take you through the essentials of how to construct a strategy and put your plans to start your own Messy Church ministry into action. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe book includes (among many other things) checklists, milestones and questions to ask of a Messy Church that you might visit, together with an honest and down-to-earth look at the 'Things we wish we'd known' from experienced Messy Church practitioners.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthor\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLucy Moore \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLucy Moore is the founder of Messy Church and is now head of the Church of England's Growing Faith Foundation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/LucyMooreRGB72dpi_480x480.jpg?v=1683646009\" width=\"139\" height=\"139\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/LucyMooreRGB72dpi_480x480.jpg?v=1683646009\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAike Kennet-Brown \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAike Kennett-Brown is BRF's Messy Church Ministry Lead.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"152\" width=\"152\" style=\"margin-right: 20px; float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/Aike_Kennett-Brown_480x480.jpg?v=1677509845\" data-mce-style=\"margin-right: 20px; float: left;\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/Aike_Kennett-Brown_480x480.jpg?v=1677509845\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJane Leadbetter\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMost recently part of the BRF Messy Church team, Jane Leadbetter has worked as a primary school teacher and was Childrenʼs Work Adviser in the Diocese of Liverpool for twelve years. She runs L19: Messy Church once a month.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"158\" width=\"158\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/JaneLeadbetterRGB72dpi_480x480.jpg?v=1683646209\" alt=\"\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/JaneLeadbetterRGB72dpi_480x480.jpg?v=1683646209\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom Country Way - June to September 2013\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe were having problems with the format of our all-age worship in a small rural church - we weren't reaching young families so we thought we would try something different.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is just what it says in its introduction: 'short, punchy ....it gets the basics across quickly.' It's not a book about setting up yet another children's programme. God is at the heart of it, with a passion shining through for all generations to meet Jesus in a fun and accessible way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a useful resource with some practical checklists and lots of encouragement. It sets out the principles and values of Messy Church, and is full of practical tips - about praying, funding, venue, child protection etc.. It shares some useful experiences of those already involved with established Messy Churches. It doesn't pull its punches about the difficulties and challenges likely to be faced but it does stress the encouragements and excitement the team will experience as they too grow as disciples as they get involved in the vision.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce you have decided to give it a go, you are not on your own. The book lists lots of other resources - more books, the Messy Church website, training and regional networks - you never need to be short of ideas and inspiration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have been running Messy Church now for six months. It's hard work but it's fun. It's encouraging our regular church families and it's involving people who, a year ago, 'wouldn't darken the doors of a church'. It's an opportunity to share the Gospel with them and to build relationships. Above all - it's messy!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviewed by Gillian Roberts\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom Country Way Issue 60 - May 2012 -\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"www.countryway.org.uk\" rel=\"external\" href=\"http:\/\/www.countryway.org.uk\" data-mce-href=\"http:\/\/www.countryway.org.uk\"\u003ewww.countryway.org.uk\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe introduction to this book says it is 'short, punchy and easily passed round a team... It gets the basics across quickly...' That is exactly what it does. It gives a straightforward clear and concise overview of what Messy Church is and isn't. It tells you how to set up and maintain a Messy Church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat is both its strength and the weakness. St Wilfrid's, Cowplain, (where it started) were innovative and thought creatively when they set up the first Messy Church. It is that innovation and the ability to think outside the box that other churches need to replicate. But just following a process that worked extremely well for St Wilfrid's may not work for other churches. Parts of the book recognise this: 'there are plenty of equally valid different ways of doing Messy Church and God is there in all of them.' Other parts of the book don't: 'stick with the Messy Church 'brand'. It is tried and tested; don't fall into the trap of ...tinkering about with it.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI shall be passing the book around in the hope that it will encourage us to learn from the Messy Church experience. I hope we will take the good ideas in it, think about what will work here, and no doubt will tinker about with it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviewed by Robert Barlow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom The Good Bookstall - 30 April 2012\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a slim volume of 55 pages (sales help fund the Messy Church ministry) introducing this popular Fresh Expression of church to those considering starting a Messy Church in their community. It sets out to be 'short, punchy and easily passed round a team' and it fulfils this aim well. Providing help to think through whether or not this is for your church, it counsels not rushing into starting a Messy Church. 'What matters is that your want to help families meet Jesus' this is not just for children, but a form of church for children and adults that involves creativity, celebration and hospitality. The big picture to hold in mind is that it is all about making disciples.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSupport from the whole church is needed, along with commitment from the leadership and prayer, and there is also good advice in seeking out the 'unlikely' people to be involved. It stresses that this is a team ministry and all will need to be prepared for hard work. Messy Church once a month is the normal pattern giving time for preparation and reflection between the sessions. The availability of help, encouragement and resources from the wider Messy Church network through people, books and online support is also covered.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Margaret Brasier, Beeston, Nottingham\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom The Church Times - 17 February 2012\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMESSY CHURCH, say Lucy Moore and Jane Leadbetter, is not a children's church, nor a way of attracting more people to a church's existing services. It is, they explain in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eStarting Your Messy Church: A beginner's guide for churches\u003c\/em\u003e, a form of church for children and adults which involves creativity, celebration, and hospitality. It meets at a time and sometimes in a place that suit people who don't belong to a church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'The way you go about making disciples may involve horrifying amounts of icing sugar and glitter glue,' they say - but making disciples is what it's all about. The aim is 'to introduce Jesus through hospitality, friendship, stories, and worship'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLucy Moore is the Bible Reading Fellowship's Messy Church Team Leader, and her co-author is a member of the team. Their small book is jolly, encouraging, and full of good and detailed advice for those interested in this kind of worship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","published_at":"2023-05-09T16:19:11+01:00","created_at":"2023-05-09T16:19:11+01:00","vendor":"Messy Church","type":"Paperback","tags":["Children and family ministry","Glassboxx","Leadership","Messy Church","Messy Church books","Messy Masterclass"],"price":499,"price_min":499,"price_max":499,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":42450822824127,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781800392243","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":34422898294975,"product_id":7487704203455,"position":1,"created_at":"2023-05-09T16:19:11+01:00","updated_at":"2023-05-09T16:19:12+01:00","alt":null,"width":1535,"height":2339,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/StartingYourMessyChurch2023.jpg?v=1683645552","variant_ids":[42450822824127]},"available":true,"name":"Starting Your Messy Church - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":499,"weight":84,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781800392243","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":27039501910207,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":2339,"width":1535,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/StartingYourMessyChurch2023.jpg?v=1683645552"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/StartingYourMessyChurch2023.jpg?v=1683645552"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/StartingYourMessyChurch2023.jpg?v=1683645552","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":27039501910207,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":2339,"width":1535,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/StartingYourMessyChurch2023.jpg?v=1683645552"},"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":2339,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/StartingYourMessyChurch2023.jpg?v=1683645552","width":1535}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAn all-in-one introduction to Messy Church. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen you need to introduce your children's workers, family coordinators and church leaders to the concept of all-involving, activity-based, new-to-church worship, this is the quick-to-read resource that explains it all. Starting Your Messy Church is structured into bite-sized sections which take you through the essentials of how to construct a strategy and put your plans to start your own Messy Church ministry into action. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe book includes (among many other things) checklists, milestones and questions to ask of a Messy Church that you might visit, together with an honest and down-to-earth look at the 'Things we wish we'd known' from experienced Messy Church practitioners.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAuthor\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLucy Moore \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLucy Moore is the founder of Messy Church and is now head of the Church of England's Growing Faith Foundation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/LucyMooreRGB72dpi_480x480.jpg?v=1683646009\" width=\"139\" height=\"139\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/LucyMooreRGB72dpi_480x480.jpg?v=1683646009\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAike Kennet-Brown \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAike Kennett-Brown is BRF's Messy Church Ministry Lead.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"152\" width=\"152\" style=\"margin-right: 20px; float: left;\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/Aike_Kennett-Brown_480x480.jpg?v=1677509845\" data-mce-style=\"margin-right: 20px; float: left;\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/Aike_Kennett-Brown_480x480.jpg?v=1677509845\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJane Leadbetter\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMost recently part of the BRF Messy Church team, Jane Leadbetter has worked as a primary school teacher and was Childrenʼs Work Adviser in the Diocese of Liverpool for twelve years. She runs L19: Messy Church once a month.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg height=\"158\" width=\"158\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/JaneLeadbetterRGB72dpi_480x480.jpg?v=1683646209\" alt=\"\" data-mce-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/JaneLeadbetterRGB72dpi_480x480.jpg?v=1683646209\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\" data-mce-style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom Country Way - June to September 2013\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe were having problems with the format of our all-age worship in a small rural church - we weren't reaching young families so we thought we would try something different.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is just what it says in its introduction: 'short, punchy ....it gets the basics across quickly.' It's not a book about setting up yet another children's programme. God is at the heart of it, with a passion shining through for all generations to meet Jesus in a fun and accessible way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a useful resource with some practical checklists and lots of encouragement. It sets out the principles and values of Messy Church, and is full of practical tips - about praying, funding, venue, child protection etc.. It shares some useful experiences of those already involved with established Messy Churches. It doesn't pull its punches about the difficulties and challenges likely to be faced but it does stress the encouragements and excitement the team will experience as they too grow as disciples as they get involved in the vision.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOnce you have decided to give it a go, you are not on your own. The book lists lots of other resources - more books, the Messy Church website, training and regional networks - you never need to be short of ideas and inspiration.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe have been running Messy Church now for six months. It's hard work but it's fun. It's encouraging our regular church families and it's involving people who, a year ago, 'wouldn't darken the doors of a church'. It's an opportunity to share the Gospel with them and to build relationships. Above all - it's messy!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviewed by Gillian Roberts\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom Country Way Issue 60 - May 2012 -\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca title=\"www.countryway.org.uk\" rel=\"external\" href=\"http:\/\/www.countryway.org.uk\" data-mce-href=\"http:\/\/www.countryway.org.uk\"\u003ewww.countryway.org.uk\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe introduction to this book says it is 'short, punchy and easily passed round a team... It gets the basics across quickly...' That is exactly what it does. It gives a straightforward clear and concise overview of what Messy Church is and isn't. It tells you how to set up and maintain a Messy Church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat is both its strength and the weakness. St Wilfrid's, Cowplain, (where it started) were innovative and thought creatively when they set up the first Messy Church. It is that innovation and the ability to think outside the box that other churches need to replicate. But just following a process that worked extremely well for St Wilfrid's may not work for other churches. Parts of the book recognise this: 'there are plenty of equally valid different ways of doing Messy Church and God is there in all of them.' Other parts of the book don't: 'stick with the Messy Church 'brand'. It is tried and tested; don't fall into the trap of ...tinkering about with it.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI shall be passing the book around in the hope that it will encourage us to learn from the Messy Church experience. I hope we will take the good ideas in it, think about what will work here, and no doubt will tinker about with it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviewed by Robert Barlow\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom The Good Bookstall - 30 April 2012\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a slim volume of 55 pages (sales help fund the Messy Church ministry) introducing this popular Fresh Expression of church to those considering starting a Messy Church in their community. It sets out to be 'short, punchy and easily passed round a team' and it fulfils this aim well. Providing help to think through whether or not this is for your church, it counsels not rushing into starting a Messy Church. 'What matters is that your want to help families meet Jesus' this is not just for children, but a form of church for children and adults that involves creativity, celebration and hospitality. The big picture to hold in mind is that it is all about making disciples.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSupport from the whole church is needed, along with commitment from the leadership and prayer, and there is also good advice in seeking out the 'unlikely' people to be involved. It stresses that this is a team ministry and all will need to be prepared for hard work. Messy Church once a month is the normal pattern giving time for preparation and reflection between the sessions. The availability of help, encouragement and resources from the wider Messy Church network through people, books and online support is also covered.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Margaret Brasier, Beeston, Nottingham\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom The Church Times - 17 February 2012\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMESSY CHURCH, say Lucy Moore and Jane Leadbetter, is not a children's church, nor a way of attracting more people to a church's existing services. It is, they explain in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eStarting Your Messy Church: A beginner's guide for churches\u003c\/em\u003e, a form of church for children and adults which involves creativity, celebration, and hospitality. It meets at a time and sometimes in a place that suit people who don't belong to a church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'The way you go about making disciples may involve horrifying amounts of icing sugar and glitter glue,' they say - but making disciples is what it's all about. The aim is 'to introduce Jesus through hospitality, friendship, stories, and worship'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLucy Moore is the Bible Reading Fellowship's Messy Church Team Leader, and her co-author is a member of the team. Their small book is jolly, encouraging, and full of good and detailed advice for those interested in this kind of worship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e"}
You may also like:
Starting Your Messy Church
£4.99
An all-in-one introduction to Messy Church. When you need to introduce your children's workers, family coordinators and church leaders to...
{"id":2439780597860,"title":"Stepping into Grace: Moving beyond ambition to contemplative mission","handle":"stepping-into-grace-moving-beyond-ambition-to-contemplative-mission","description":"\u003cp\u003eJourney with the prophet Jonah...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWritten by someone with experience of pioneering mission, reflecting on the Jonah story in the light of his experience, Stepping into Grace finds powerful connections between the call and mission of Jonah and the mission context of our own time. Using the narrative thread of the biblical story to explore themes of ambition, vocation, spirituality, mission, leadership and personal growth, it argues for a ministry rooted in grace, where who we are becoming in Christ provides a foundation for our participation in the mission of God. This unique journey takes us to a place of grace where the work of God, in shaping who we are, finds space alongside what we feel called to do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the people of the Bible needed to work out their choices and challenges of God and faith they told a story. Paul Bradbury has done the same. He has listened, wrestled and travelled with Jonah's story through his own calling. The result is honest, creative and transforming.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e David Runcorn, author of Dust and Glory (BRF, 2015) \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo quote the paraphrase: \"God's strength shows up best in weak people.\" This book unpacks that truth in a refreshingly humble, inspiring and personal way. A must read for aspiring pioneer leaders.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Phil Potter, Leader of Fresh Expressions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased in Poole Paul is a pioneer minister in the Church of England leading a missional community with a vision to connect with unchurched people. Writer, birdwatcher, runner, cricketer. Married to Emily with 2 children. Paul has written a book for SPCK in the past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom Church Time 31 March 2017\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProphet to pioneers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSteven Croft finds a study of Jonah to be required reading\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Book of Jonah is bigger than it looks. Four short chapters of parable, drama, and psalm hide uneasily among the minor prophets. The story delights children and defies the literalists. Jonah's story, read well, draws us into an ever deepening reflection on our calling and life and service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Bradbury's short guide to Jonah is also somewhat bigger than it looks. There are seven short chapters on themes that arise jointly from the text and from Paul's experience of pioneer ministry in Poole. The chapters explore big themes: ambition, fear, chaos, darkness, limits, grace and the contemplative life. For me, the most helpful chapters were the first and the last.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book owes an acknowledged debt to Eugene Peterson's profound reflection on Jonah (Under the Unpredictable Plant: A study in vocational holiness, Eerdmans, 1992), which I have read at almost every vocational junction. The insights from text and context here are fresh. Peterson's book is shaped to be a call to a long obedience in the same direction. Bradbury is wrestling with the call to pioneer in new forms and places and styles. He challenges some emerging myths about new forms of ministry and wrestles with some classic temptations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scholarship is excellent. I enjoyed most the careful attention to the Hebrew texts. Bradbury quotes Rowan Williams, Richard Rohr, Pope Benedict, Brene Brown, and many others. The writing is in parts very clear and in other parts very dense and concentrated. The author has almost too much to say in some of the chapters for the space available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePioneer ministry is still a relatively recent development in the Church of England's long experience of ministry. The literature remains small, and I am not aware of many books that offer biblical and theological reflection in this depth. I hope that Stepping into Grace will find a place on reading lists for those considering ordination and those being formed for pioneer ministry. It would be a good Lenten companion for anyone wanting to reflect on ministry and discipleship in any context. The reader should be prepared for challenge as well as fresh insight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviewed by Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2024-12-14T16:30:49+00:00","created_at":"2019-01-18T15:22:32+00:00","vendor":"Paul Bradbury","type":"Paperback","tags":["Biblical engagement","For individuals","Kindle","Mission","Nov-16","Spirituality"],"price":799,"price_min":799,"price_max":799,"available":false,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":21769492496484,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857465238","requires_shipping":false,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":7436746326116,"product_id":2439780597860,"position":1,"created_at":"2019-01-18T15:22:32+00:00","updated_at":"2019-02-01T17:45:51+00:00","alt":null,"width":427,"height":650,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465238-l.jpg?v=1549043151","variant_ids":[21769492496484]},"available":false,"name":"Stepping into Grace: Moving beyond ambition to contemplative mission - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":799,"weight":164,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857465238","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":3238878085259,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.657,"height":650,"width":427,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465238-l.jpg?v=1549043151"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465238-l.jpg?v=1549043151"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465238-l.jpg?v=1549043151","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":3238878085259,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.657,"height":650,"width":427,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465238-l.jpg?v=1549043151"},"aspect_ratio":0.657,"height":650,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465238-l.jpg?v=1549043151","width":427}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eJourney with the prophet Jonah...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWritten by someone with experience of pioneering mission, reflecting on the Jonah story in the light of his experience, Stepping into Grace finds powerful connections between the call and mission of Jonah and the mission context of our own time. Using the narrative thread of the biblical story to explore themes of ambition, vocation, spirituality, mission, leadership and personal growth, it argues for a ministry rooted in grace, where who we are becoming in Christ provides a foundation for our participation in the mission of God. This unique journey takes us to a place of grace where the work of God, in shaping who we are, finds space alongside what we feel called to do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen the people of the Bible needed to work out their choices and challenges of God and faith they told a story. Paul Bradbury has done the same. He has listened, wrestled and travelled with Jonah's story through his own calling. The result is honest, creative and transforming.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e David Runcorn, author of Dust and Glory (BRF, 2015) \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo quote the paraphrase: \"God's strength shows up best in weak people.\" This book unpacks that truth in a refreshingly humble, inspiring and personal way. A must read for aspiring pioneer leaders.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Phil Potter, Leader of Fresh Expressions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased in Poole Paul is a pioneer minister in the Church of England leading a missional community with a vision to connect with unchurched people. Writer, birdwatcher, runner, cricketer. Married to Emily with 2 children. Paul has written a book for SPCK in the past.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom Church Time 31 March 2017\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eProphet to pioneers\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSteven Croft finds a study of Jonah to be required reading\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Book of Jonah is bigger than it looks. Four short chapters of parable, drama, and psalm hide uneasily among the minor prophets. The story delights children and defies the literalists. Jonah's story, read well, draws us into an ever deepening reflection on our calling and life and service.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Bradbury's short guide to Jonah is also somewhat bigger than it looks. There are seven short chapters on themes that arise jointly from the text and from Paul's experience of pioneer ministry in Poole. The chapters explore big themes: ambition, fear, chaos, darkness, limits, grace and the contemplative life. For me, the most helpful chapters were the first and the last.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book owes an acknowledged debt to Eugene Peterson's profound reflection on Jonah (Under the Unpredictable Plant: A study in vocational holiness, Eerdmans, 1992), which I have read at almost every vocational junction. The insights from text and context here are fresh. Peterson's book is shaped to be a call to a long obedience in the same direction. Bradbury is wrestling with the call to pioneer in new forms and places and styles. He challenges some emerging myths about new forms of ministry and wrestles with some classic temptations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scholarship is excellent. I enjoyed most the careful attention to the Hebrew texts. Bradbury quotes Rowan Williams, Richard Rohr, Pope Benedict, Brene Brown, and many others. The writing is in parts very clear and in other parts very dense and concentrated. The author has almost too much to say in some of the chapters for the space available.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePioneer ministry is still a relatively recent development in the Church of England's long experience of ministry. The literature remains small, and I am not aware of many books that offer biblical and theological reflection in this depth. I hope that Stepping into Grace will find a place on reading lists for those considering ordination and those being formed for pioneer ministry. It would be a good Lenten companion for anyone wanting to reflect on ministry and discipleship in any context. The reader should be prepared for challenge as well as fresh insight.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviewed by Dr Steven Croft, Bishop of Oxford\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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Stepping into Grace: Moving beyond ambition to contemplative mission
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Journey with the prophet Jonah... Written by someone with experience of pioneering mission, reflecting on the Jonah story in the...
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{"id":2439743307876,"title":"Stories for Interactive Assemblies: 15 story-based assemblies to get children talking","handle":"stories-for-interactive-assemblies-15-story-based-assemblies-to-get-children-talking","description":"\u003cp\u003eFifteen easy-to-tell stories combining biblical teaching with contemporary storytelling. Set within the world of the classroom, each story has its roots in one of Jesus' parables. Primary children will recognise themselves and their classmates in the stories and relate to the underlying message that is the essence of the parable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach assembly outline is topped and tailed by a theme to help direct the teacher towards the main teaching objective of the story, and a prayer or reflection and suggested song to close the assembly if desired. Each unit also contains a teacher's page giving the Bible reference for the original parable and information to link the teaching to PSHE\/Citizenship and the National Framework for RE or local SACRE guidelines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\nNigel Bishop is Head Teacher at Strand Community School Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire. His teaching career spans 20 years. During this time, during which time he has taught children from four to eleven years in a wide range of schools in Grimsby and Cleethorpes, trying to share with them his passion for experiential learning. Nigel is also a Methodist Lay Preacher and has used his communication skills in all-age worship as well as numerous school assemblies. He hopes that the stories he has used in schools and churches might reach and inspire a wider audience through their publication. Nigel lives in Grimsby with his wife, Jackie, their children Nicola and Jonathan, and Megan the dog. \n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\nEvery school should have one of these books. The stories are easy to listen to and children remain engrossed throughout the assembly, even those who find listening difficult. The reason for this is that they can relate to the scenario depicted by the story. An excellent resource and certainly a 'must have' for both KS1 and KS2.'\r\n\u003cem\u003eChristine Taylor\u003c\/em\u003e","published_at":"2019-01-18T15:20:12+00:00","created_at":"2019-01-18T15:20:13+00:00","vendor":"Nigel Bishop","type":"Paperback","tags":["Feb-12","For schools","RE"],"price":699,"price_min":699,"price_max":699,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":21768999174244,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857461438","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Stories for Interactive Assemblies: 15 story-based assemblies to get children talking - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":699,"weight":165,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857461438","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857461438-l.jpg?v=1549043177"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857461438-l.jpg?v=1549043177","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":3238874677387,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.655,"height":562,"width":368,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857461438-l.jpg?v=1549043177"},"aspect_ratio":0.655,"height":562,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857461438-l.jpg?v=1549043177","width":368}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eFifteen easy-to-tell stories combining biblical teaching with contemporary storytelling. Set within the world of the classroom, each story has its roots in one of Jesus' parables. Primary children will recognise themselves and their classmates in the stories and relate to the underlying message that is the essence of the parable.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach assembly outline is topped and tailed by a theme to help direct the teacher towards the main teaching objective of the story, and a prayer or reflection and suggested song to close the assembly if desired. Each unit also contains a teacher's page giving the Bible reference for the original parable and information to link the teaching to PSHE\/Citizenship and the National Framework for RE or local SACRE guidelines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\nNigel Bishop is Head Teacher at Strand Community School Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire. His teaching career spans 20 years. During this time, during which time he has taught children from four to eleven years in a wide range of schools in Grimsby and Cleethorpes, trying to share with them his passion for experiential learning. Nigel is also a Methodist Lay Preacher and has used his communication skills in all-age worship as well as numerous school assemblies. He hopes that the stories he has used in schools and churches might reach and inspire a wider audience through their publication. Nigel lives in Grimsby with his wife, Jackie, their children Nicola and Jonathan, and Megan the dog. \n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\nEvery school should have one of these books. The stories are easy to listen to and children remain engrossed throughout the assembly, even those who find listening difficult. The reason for this is that they can relate to the scenario depicted by the story. An excellent resource and certainly a 'must have' for both KS1 and KS2.'\r\n\u003cem\u003eChristine Taylor\u003c\/em\u003e"}
You may also like:
Stories for Interactive Assemblies: 15 story-based assemblies to get children talking
£6.99
Fifteen easy-to-tell stories combining biblical teaching with contemporary storytelling. Set within the world of the classroom, each story has its...
{"id":2439829749860,"title":"Stories of Everyday Saints: 40 stories with Bible links and related activities","handle":"stories-of-everyday-saints-40-stories-with-bible-links-and-related-activities","description":"The forty men and women whose stories are told in this book may not have started out as perfect people, but they were used by God to do his work. Saints are people who listen to God and try to do what he wants.\u003cp\u003eThe saints included in the book fall into four categories:\u003cbr\u003eBible saints from the New Testament, such as St Paul\u003cbr\u003eHistorical and legendary saints, such as St George\u003cbr\u003eWorldwide saints, such as St Francis of Assisi\u003cbr\u003eMore recent and contemporary saints, such as Mother Teresa\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach story is accompanied by:\u003cbr\u003eKey date and brief description of the saint\u003cbr\u003eBible link\u003cbr\u003ePrayer\u003cbr\u003eRelated activities\u003cbr\u003eSymbol\u003cbr\u003eSuggested songs that might be used\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSome of the people have been formally named as saints by their church. In such cases, their name will appear with 'St' before it, as in St Patrick. Others have not been recognized publicly in this way, but are included in this book because God used them to carry out a particular task. These people are referred to simply by their ordinary names such as Florence Nightingale.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\nVeronica Heley has taught in Junior Church, and Youth Clubs, and been Events Organiser for the Association of Christian Writers. She now gives talks and runs workshops for writers of all ages. She is author of approximately forty books including Who, Me? Paul and The Easter Tree both published under the Barnabas imprint.\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n","published_at":"2019-01-18T15:25:42+00:00","created_at":"2019-01-18T15:25:44+00:00","vendor":"Veronica Heley","type":"Paperback","tags":["Children and family ministry","For schools","RE","Sep-02"],"price":999,"price_min":999,"price_max":999,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":21770244685924,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857460721","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"Stories of Everyday Saints: 40 stories with Bible links and related activities - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":999,"weight":321,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857460721","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857460721-l.jpg?v=1549043116"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857460721-l.jpg?v=1549043116","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":3238882082955,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.677,"height":650,"width":440,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857460721-l.jpg?v=1549043116"},"aspect_ratio":0.677,"height":650,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857460721-l.jpg?v=1549043116","width":440}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"The forty men and women whose stories are told in this book may not have started out as perfect people, but they were used by God to do his work. Saints are people who listen to God and try to do what he wants.\u003cp\u003eThe saints included in the book fall into four categories:\u003cbr\u003eBible saints from the New Testament, such as St Paul\u003cbr\u003eHistorical and legendary saints, such as St George\u003cbr\u003eWorldwide saints, such as St Francis of Assisi\u003cbr\u003eMore recent and contemporary saints, such as Mother Teresa\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEach story is accompanied by:\u003cbr\u003eKey date and brief description of the saint\u003cbr\u003eBible link\u003cbr\u003ePrayer\u003cbr\u003eRelated activities\u003cbr\u003eSymbol\u003cbr\u003eSuggested songs that might be used\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSome of the people have been formally named as saints by their church. In such cases, their name will appear with 'St' before it, as in St Patrick. Others have not been recognized publicly in this way, but are included in this book because God used them to carry out a particular task. These people are referred to simply by their ordinary names such as Florence Nightingale.\n\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\nVeronica Heley has taught in Junior Church, and Youth Clubs, and been Events Organiser for the Association of Christian Writers. She now gives talks and runs workshops for writers of all ages. She is author of approximately forty books including Who, Me? Paul and The Easter Tree both published under the Barnabas imprint.\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n"}
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Stories of Everyday Saints: 40 stories with Bible links and related activities
£9.99
The forty men and women whose stories are told in this book may not have started out as perfect people,...
{"id":2439813398628,"title":"Sustaining Leadership: You are more important than your ministry","handle":"sustaining-leadership-you-are-more-important-than-your-ministry","description":"\u003cp\u003eMany books on leadership and ministry are written from the point of view of success and strength. In Sustaining Leadership Paul Swann writes out of the raw experience of failure, getting to the heart of who we are as leaders rather than what we do. From this, he offers both hope and practical resources for sustaining effective long-term ministry, looking at self-care, balance and healthy ministry, feasting on divine love, and more. As he says, this is the best gift we can offer those we serve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a story of a successfully growing ministry plunged suddenly into soul searching physical, mental and emotional depths. At times shockingly raw, these personal experiences, reflected on so honestly, drive home such hard learned spiritual insights, that I needed to re-read some sections to allow the message to sink in. And it's a profound message: learning simply to be still before God; clinging to personal worth even at the expense of ministry; loving self as well as neighbour; enjoying real Sabbath rest. This is not a book for the casual believer or religiously comfortable. Neither is it just for 'leaders'. Rather, it is essential reading for those courageous enough to accept a God given call to active and costly service. Spoiler alert! It does all work out well in the end. But that, after all, is rather down to God.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClive Langmead, Author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis courageous, raw and inspiring book is a 'must read' for any who long to live in the fullness God intends for us, amidst the realities and challenges of everyday life. A 'how to' walk the Truth of God's strength in our weakness. I wish I had had this treasure twenty years ago!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlina Clarke\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is both wonderfully easy to read yet at the same time deeply challenging. Paul Swann's gutsy and honest story made me realise the true importance of self-care in ministry (which is ideal as I prepare for ordination). The 'Pause to Reflect' moments scattered throughout the book really help with not just reading it as someone else's story but as a guide through your own story too. This will be re-read many times in the years to come!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSarah Bardell (Ordinand)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuthenticity is perhaps the most important value for any religion in the 21st Century Western world. Paul Swann demonstrates in this vital book how the Christian religion and its leaders can be authentic and life-giving even in the most desperate, dark and dismal of experiences that arise from becoming 'addicted' to ministry. Combining insights from the bible, contemporary film and popular culture with his own deeply vulnerable experience here is a plea for leadership which is rooted way down in the God who simply is and therefore is not trying to be anything it can't be, other than the sharing of our beautiful and flawed humanity. I hope it becomes widely used in our highly anxious and often success oriented church systems.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRevd Canon Dr Nigel Rooms, Leader, Partnership for Missional Church UK\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul, I wish you had written your book 50 years ago! But at least it was published at the end of a long hot summer, when I'm wondering if I shall ever walk the hills again... but the last chapter (as you say) belongs to hope! Your humbling honesty, coupled with wonderful biblical expositions, have brought both inspiration and clarification. I now know what I want to be when I grow up!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRevd Michael Dunn (Spiritual Director and Retired Priest)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSO refreshing to have this deep wisdom - on being\/doing, self-care\/giving, nature of success etc - served up from the point of view of someone who has got there the hard way. This is not a happy, shiny, just-copy-me sort of read, it's more in the painful\/raw\/honest category, which adds to its value. And although this is a Christian book written out of his experience of being a vicar I'd say it's pretty clearly going to be profoundly helpful to a whole range of people. I've already bought four more to pass on!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRevd Owen Gallacher (Vicar)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHaving known Paul for many years, we initially bought this book to support him. I'm not a great reader but it was such a delight that I soon finished it. Paul speaks openly of his struggles and sets out the challenges we all face in our lives and how to balance things before it gets too much. I would highly recommend this resource to people in any form of leadership.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAndy Davenport (Computer Programmer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Swann trained for ordination in the Anglican Church and served in two growing parishes in the Diocese of Worcester. In 2008, Paul was forced to retire early and spent four years in the wilderness of total fatigue. Since 2012, Paul has begun to offer a new ministry from this place of weakness. He has served as diocesan adviser on spirituality, offers spiritual direction and leads retreats. The insights of this book are drawn from these experiences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview of Sustaining Leadership - Evangelicals Now, April 2019. Review by\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRichard Underwood\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Swann served in two Anglican parishes in the Diocese of Worcester. In 2008, he retired early and spent two years existing on what he describes as 'Planet Fragile'.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eSustaining Leadership\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eis his story, but much more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Part I, Swann describes the process of his own disintegration as he slipped into that slough of physical, mental and emotional despond we call ME.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Part II, he offers us first his personal and theological reflection on reintegration and then, in Part III, a host of practical and life-enhancing measures towards beginning and nurturing that process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWriting for a broader constituency than mine and drawing on an impressive range of sources and resources, the basic thesis of this short book is that 'broken is best' ... that our human capabilities are often expressions of weakness rather than strength ... that Father-God is more concerned about we are in him than what we do for him. As Paul Swann rightly observes, we are 'human beings' rather than 'human doings'. What we do should flow from who we are, rather than the other way round.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe remedy for our pervasive passion for proving ourselves is to take a long hard look at the three dials on the dashboard of our humanity - our God-given physical, spiritual and emotional needs. It's time for those of us who are pastors to take control of our self care and our soul care. If we can't care for ourselves, how can we hope to care for those the Lord Jesus has entrusted to us?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe don't have to do this on our own; we need both personal friends and the body of the local church to help and encourage us. Taking\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eSustaining Leadership\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eto heart will fill us not with optimism, but with hope. As Paul Swann rightly observes: 'What we hope for is secondary to who we hope in'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWho should read this book? Every pastor on sabbatical who has time to think and pray. Every member of a leadership team that has responsibility for caring for its pastoral staff. And every church member who is concerned to encourage their pastors and help them thrive in serving the Lord Jesus for the long haul. Humanly, the health of our churches and the spread of the Lord Jesus' mission depends on the well-being of our pastors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Richard Underwood, Elder, Christchurch, Market Harborough\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e_______________________________________________\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Reader, Spring 2019. Review by John Knowles\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Jesus' disciples learnt what it meant to follow him through failed fishing trips, under-catered picnics and abortive exorcisms' sets the context for a very frank description of what happened after Paul Swann woke one morning with chronic ME. In his own words: 'I had been smashed to pieces through overwork, stress, damage to health and lack of self-care.' Out of his own experience come very practical and specific self-care strategies that recognise the specific stresses, positive and negative, that often accompany church leadership. Central to the book's thrust is its subtitle - 'You are more important that your ministry' - with the need to keep life and ministry in balance, where being is more important than doing and the rediscovery of Sabbath can be the antidote to 'hurry sickness'. Ministry can be very challenging and my experience as a diocesan Warden of Readers would suggest that it is not just stipendiary clergy who need to take care of themselves, making the advice enormously valuable to all in church leadership long before any warning lights begin to flash. Buy a copy for yourself and one for your incumbent!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by John Knowles\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Revd Kate Wharton. 12.01.19 \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/katewharton.blogspot.com\/2019\/01\/book-review-sustaining-leadership.html\"\u003ehttps:\/\/katewharton.blogspot.com\/2019\/01\/book-review-sustaining-leadership.html\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a wildly and hopelessly overdue blog! I read this wonderful book ages ago, and promised to review it here, but never got round to it. And be assured that the irony of not being able to find time to review a book about developing and maintaining healthy patterns of life and work is in no way lost on me...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book is written by Paul Swann, and its subtitle is 'You are more important than your ministry'. A reasonable enough statement, you'd think, except that so many of us seem to forget this at one time or another, as we fall into the trap of believing ourselves to be indispensable, and allow our diaries, our ministries and our pressures define us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Swann speaks from very personal, and very difficult, experience. In 2005 he experienced a period of illness and fatigue which resulted in 4 years of trying to manage his health and ministry, before he decided completely to step back from his full time role. Out of that experience, and the ways in which he has since sought to rebuild and rebalance his life, he shares much insight and wisdom which every one of us in any sort of 'ministry' role would do well to heed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is really superb, and an absolute must read. It's easy to read in the sense of being clear and well written, with short chapters, but certainly not in the sense of being without substance. I sense that it's a book I will return to time and time again throughout the course of my ministry, when I need to be reminded of the nuggets it contains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the first page of the Introduction comes a quote that I know I need to keep front and centre of my mind (from Parker Palmer): 'Self-care is never a selfish act - it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI know I have found a book enormously helpful when I highlight something on almost every page - and my copy of Sustaining Leadership is already well thumbed and with many yellow highlights! \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn Part 1, entitled 'Disintegration' Paul outlines his own story in 'Arriving on Planet Fragile'. I read it knowing it could easily have been me or any one of us. He is honest about his own personal and painful experiences, and the devastating impact they had upon him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn Part 2, 'Reintegration', Paul describes how he began to recover, and gives a wealth of invaluable advice about self care, what healthy and unhealthy patterns of ministry might look like, and how we can find the right balance of all the competing demands and priorities within our lives.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI often say that the thing I find most frustrating about my job as a vicar (which I love almost all of the time), is that it is simply never finished. There is always something more which could or should be done. Paul speaks to this when he writes, 'From where will you get your permission to stop? It will not come from completing a job that has no ending, from receiving affirmation that seldom comes or from a hierarchical permission that rarely exists. Instead, it will have to come from the self-love and self-care of which we have spoken, augmented by obedience to the fourth commandment, which is our permission to rest.' I'm seriously considering getting that tattooed on my person, or at the very least stuck on the door of my study!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart 3 is called 'Holding on to Hope'. This reminds us of why we ultimately do what we do, and in whose strength we do it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI really enjoyed the way this book is written. It is very practical, and actively encourages the reader to engage with the content rather than just to read the words. Throughout the book there are grey boxes where questions are asked which invite us to pause and reflect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is immensely real and honest, with just the right level of challenge - having gone through such a difficult period in his own life, Paul very much wants to make sure that others don't have to go through the same thing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is wonderful and important - a definite must read for anyone involved in any kind of leadership or ministry. The future you will be glad you read this book now!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs Paul says in the Introduction: 'Sustaining Leadership is not a book about what to do as a leader. It is a book about how to be as a leader.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Kate Wharton\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLead On - CPAS e-newsletter, January 2019 Review by James Lawrence\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the start of the year it is good to take stock, to think and pray about the pressure and pace of life and leadership and any adjustments that it might be good to make for the year ahead. If you are planning to do that in any way, may I encourage you to get hold of Sustaining Leadership.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Swann writes from personal experience of having 'four years in the wilderness of total fatigue'. This is an honest book. It recounts his descent into a place of fragility, and the stripping away of many of the things he relied on to bolster his own sense of identity. He reflects that there are 'no words to describe the density of the darkness and the intensity of the isolation.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThen follow chapters that helpfully explore the relationship between self-care and self-sacrifice, ways of identifying 'hurry sickness', symptoms of burn out and stress, the place of boundary keeping and Sabbath disciplines. The insights are well illustrated from a wide variety of sources, and contain short perceptive comments that make you think: for example 'margin is the vital space between your load and your limits.' The final chapters on soul food and holding onto hope introduce practical ways to self-compassion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSustaining Leadership will make a good companion for a Quiet Day or a month of reflecting on yourself through January. Heed its wise insights, and we may find ourselves in a more sustainable place as leaders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by James Lawrence, Director CPAS\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times, 12 October 2018. Review by Peter Selby, former Bishop of Worcester\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee beyond the small size of this book to an offering of generosity and wide-ranging wisdom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts generosity lies in Paul Swann's writing about his experience of illness without holding much back: he invites us into his experience of chronic fatigue. We are given a graphic, though not over-dramatised, account of the terrible toll that ME took on the author.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEven more significant is the particular distress that burnout brings to a person of great talent and deep commitment, when he reaches the point when he has to say, 'I can't do this any more.' Fragility - to put it mildly - was what he encountered as he 'hit the buffers'; then fragility was what had gradually to be emerged from, and then, as its meaning became clear, to be embraced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo, the first third of the book is about that experience, although even as we read it we have the sense that faith, though tested, never totally lost its ability to provide perspective and meaning in his suffering. That perspective is the foundation for the wisdom in the next hundred pages: the practical necessity as well as the spiritual importance of self-care, particularly for the most energetic, creative, and committed, who find self-care hardest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn many sermons, the Pauline image of the clay pot - to which Swann refers a great deal - can remain a general comment about ministerial humility rather than pointing to specific vulnerabilities that need specific remedies and responses. It is because this author gets specific that this book is lifted above well-meaning exhortation to be both challenging and of practical use to those who find it hard in practice to accept the subtitle's message that 'You are more important than your ministry.' The many examples of vulnerability and practical self-care are supported by a wide selection of biblical citation and the wider reading that was, no doubt, part of the author's self-care.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlongside all that is worth while in the book, there remain some questions. Surely, a more artistic and nourishing front-cover design would have portrayed the book more accurately. And isn't the subtitle rather than the title the real message of this book? It is for everyone, not just, or even mainly, 'leaders'? The book is at least partly a critique of what the designation 'leader' engenders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYet, if this is a book for everyone, it especially challenges those who have oversight of others' ministry. I happen to have been the bishop involved in the author's call to undertake the special challenge of growing and enlivening a church in the centre of Worcester. It is hardly a decision that I can regret, given all the good that has flowed from it. But, since the disintegration and the reintegration that this book describes are also what (in part) flowed from that decision, I found the book a particular challenge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLooking at my former ministry, I ask myself, in gladly appointing some of our strongest people to the hardest tasks, are we as aware as we need to be of the particular support and resourcing needs that such colleagues have? Or do we just hope that the talented and the committed will find their own way of avoiding burnout? That goes along with a more searching question: how well are we ourselves modelling self-care?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut this gentle author also knows how to use examples that challenge lightly; so if you ever catch yourself not completing the two minutes that your electric toothbrush allows, remember it's not just your teeth that you're not caring for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by t\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003ehe Rt Revd Dr Peter Selby, a former Bishop of Worcester\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Revd Canon Steve Coneys, Mission and Growth Advisor, Canterbury Diocese\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat happens when you realise that the work you love is making you sick?\u003cbr\u003eThis gem of a book traces the story of how a capable Christian leader experiences such physical and emotional disintegration that he hears himself saying to his bishop, 'I can't do this any more'.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLucid and concise, Paul Swann's book is an essay in practical spirituality, one that is based on grace rather than our own attempts at self-justifying significance. The central argument is that, with a proper understanding of our belovedness as God's children, and a clear view of God's loving character, we can be freed to care for ourselves and live healthy, grateful lives. How many of us, not just Christian leaders, need to learn this lesson?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is the way the writer communicates the reality of grace in the midst his own sense of failure and weakness which distinguishes this book: 'One day, as I was struggling with low self-esteem and the battle to recover... I complained to God, 'This is too hard for me to do!' Swiftly and firmly, but with extreme gentleness, came the response: 'Is it too hard to be my son?'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eInsights from films like Wonder Woman, spiritual writers like Margery Kempe, storytellers such as Lewis Carroll and theologians like Walter Breuggemann, combine with Paul Swann's own experience of reintegration to make the book a compelling read. The lesson that every Christian minister - every human being - needs to hear is brought home with elegance and power: you are more important than what you do. Get hold of this book and read it slowly. If I could, I would buy a copy for every church leader I know.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRevd Canon Steve Coneys, Mission and Growth Advisor, Canterbury Diocese\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by John Pellowe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is a real challenge to church leaders to take better care of themselves and to more intentionally build up the local church they serve. Paul Swann's story of his descent into illness, burnout, and depression is mercifully short (one chapter) but it is sufficient to help people who have not had a similar experience to understand what it is really like, and how much they are suffering something real. He gave me a real empathy for those who suffered as he did.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI really thought it helpful how he framed his situation - 'fragility' is such a good word! We are all fragile people and need to accept that fragility is part of our human condition. No one is impervious to what this writer experienced. The two chapters on emerging from fragility and embracing fragility are very practical and inspirational. Paul has redeemed his story of recovery in sharing it with others, and much good will come of it, I'm sure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rest of the book is full of great ideas to build strength into the people of the Church so that we can better serve those in the world around us who are suffering, as well as protecting ourselves from suffering as Paul did.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen I finished the book, my thought was, 'How much more effective the Church would be if we all caught on to the principles and practices outlined in the book!'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by John Pellowe, CEO Canadian Council of Christian Charities\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Timothy Marlow, Business Consultant and IT Director\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the world in which we live, everyone wants to be seen as perfect. We gloss over the failures, claim insight after the event which wasn't there at the time, even post our best selfies on social media. We long to be seen as successful, and to be liked by all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut what happens when it all goes wrong? When you're made redundant? Or you're broken by the expectations placed on you? Especially if you're supposed to be in Christian ministry?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Swann has helpfully broken this book into small digestible chunks, with loads of practical advice. If you're in pain, or struggling in any way. Even if you're just feeling a little weary or burdened, then you can flick through it and find something which resonates before working out from there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul observes that burnout doesn't suddenly happen. Rather it creeps up on us over time. We all need the advice he gives for maintaining ourselves. Buy this book, read it carefully, then keep it handy so that you can dip into it regularly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTimothy Marlow, Business Consultant and IT Director\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Steve Chase\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSustaining Leadership is written from the reality of Paul Swann's own personal journey through the difficult challenges of leadership and life. He writes with honesty, great vulnerability and deep self-awareness. Sharing lessons hard learnt in the weakness of his humanity, Paul takes the reader gently into some of the places we so often avoid. He offers proven examples from his own faith journey, along with insights from the lives of those who gone before, that our most authentic identity is found in being loved by God. Paul encourages the discovery of that authentic place of 'being', from which all can learn to love well, live well and lead well! I have already brought 3 copies and passed them on!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSteve Chase\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2019-01-18T15:24:42+00:00","created_at":"2019-01-18T15:24:43+00:00","vendor":"Paul Swann","type":"Paperback","tags":["Jul-18","Kindle","Leadership"],"price":899,"price_min":899,"price_max":899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":21769971662948,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857466518","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":7436952633444,"product_id":2439813398628,"position":1,"created_at":"2019-01-18T15:24:43+00:00","updated_at":"2019-02-01T17:45:26+00:00","alt":null,"width":427,"height":650,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857466518-l.jpg?v=1549043126","variant_ids":[21769971662948]},"available":true,"name":"Sustaining Leadership: You are more important than your ministry - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":899,"weight":186,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857466518","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":3238880805003,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.657,"height":650,"width":427,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857466518-l.jpg?v=1549043126"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857466518-l.jpg?v=1549043126"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857466518-l.jpg?v=1549043126","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":3238880805003,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.657,"height":650,"width":427,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857466518-l.jpg?v=1549043126"},"aspect_ratio":0.657,"height":650,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857466518-l.jpg?v=1549043126","width":427}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eMany books on leadership and ministry are written from the point of view of success and strength. In Sustaining Leadership Paul Swann writes out of the raw experience of failure, getting to the heart of who we are as leaders rather than what we do. From this, he offers both hope and practical resources for sustaining effective long-term ministry, looking at self-care, balance and healthy ministry, feasting on divine love, and more. As he says, this is the best gift we can offer those we serve.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a story of a successfully growing ministry plunged suddenly into soul searching physical, mental and emotional depths. At times shockingly raw, these personal experiences, reflected on so honestly, drive home such hard learned spiritual insights, that I needed to re-read some sections to allow the message to sink in. And it's a profound message: learning simply to be still before God; clinging to personal worth even at the expense of ministry; loving self as well as neighbour; enjoying real Sabbath rest. This is not a book for the casual believer or religiously comfortable. Neither is it just for 'leaders'. Rather, it is essential reading for those courageous enough to accept a God given call to active and costly service. Spoiler alert! It does all work out well in the end. But that, after all, is rather down to God.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClive Langmead, Author\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis courageous, raw and inspiring book is a 'must read' for any who long to live in the fullness God intends for us, amidst the realities and challenges of everyday life. A 'how to' walk the Truth of God's strength in our weakness. I wish I had had this treasure twenty years ago!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAlina Clarke\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is both wonderfully easy to read yet at the same time deeply challenging. Paul Swann's gutsy and honest story made me realise the true importance of self-care in ministry (which is ideal as I prepare for ordination). The 'Pause to Reflect' moments scattered throughout the book really help with not just reading it as someone else's story but as a guide through your own story too. This will be re-read many times in the years to come!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSarah Bardell (Ordinand)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuthenticity is perhaps the most important value for any religion in the 21st Century Western world. Paul Swann demonstrates in this vital book how the Christian religion and its leaders can be authentic and life-giving even in the most desperate, dark and dismal of experiences that arise from becoming 'addicted' to ministry. Combining insights from the bible, contemporary film and popular culture with his own deeply vulnerable experience here is a plea for leadership which is rooted way down in the God who simply is and therefore is not trying to be anything it can't be, other than the sharing of our beautiful and flawed humanity. I hope it becomes widely used in our highly anxious and often success oriented church systems.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRevd Canon Dr Nigel Rooms, Leader, Partnership for Missional Church UK\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul, I wish you had written your book 50 years ago! But at least it was published at the end of a long hot summer, when I'm wondering if I shall ever walk the hills again... but the last chapter (as you say) belongs to hope! Your humbling honesty, coupled with wonderful biblical expositions, have brought both inspiration and clarification. I now know what I want to be when I grow up!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRevd Michael Dunn (Spiritual Director and Retired Priest)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSO refreshing to have this deep wisdom - on being\/doing, self-care\/giving, nature of success etc - served up from the point of view of someone who has got there the hard way. This is not a happy, shiny, just-copy-me sort of read, it's more in the painful\/raw\/honest category, which adds to its value. And although this is a Christian book written out of his experience of being a vicar I'd say it's pretty clearly going to be profoundly helpful to a whole range of people. I've already bought four more to pass on!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRevd Owen Gallacher (Vicar)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHaving known Paul for many years, we initially bought this book to support him. I'm not a great reader but it was such a delight that I soon finished it. Paul speaks openly of his struggles and sets out the challenges we all face in our lives and how to balance things before it gets too much. I would highly recommend this resource to people in any form of leadership.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAndy Davenport (Computer Programmer)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Swann trained for ordination in the Anglican Church and served in two growing parishes in the Diocese of Worcester. In 2008, Paul was forced to retire early and spent four years in the wilderness of total fatigue. Since 2012, Paul has begun to offer a new ministry from this place of weakness. He has served as diocesan adviser on spirituality, offers spiritual direction and leads retreats. The insights of this book are drawn from these experiences.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview of Sustaining Leadership - Evangelicals Now, April 2019. Review by\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRichard Underwood\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Swann served in two Anglican parishes in the Diocese of Worcester. In 2008, he retired early and spent two years existing on what he describes as 'Planet Fragile'.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eSustaining Leadership\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eis his story, but much more.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Part I, Swann describes the process of his own disintegration as he slipped into that slough of physical, mental and emotional despond we call ME.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Part II, he offers us first his personal and theological reflection on reintegration and then, in Part III, a host of practical and life-enhancing measures towards beginning and nurturing that process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWriting for a broader constituency than mine and drawing on an impressive range of sources and resources, the basic thesis of this short book is that 'broken is best' ... that our human capabilities are often expressions of weakness rather than strength ... that Father-God is more concerned about we are in him than what we do for him. As Paul Swann rightly observes, we are 'human beings' rather than 'human doings'. What we do should flow from who we are, rather than the other way round.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe remedy for our pervasive passion for proving ourselves is to take a long hard look at the three dials on the dashboard of our humanity - our God-given physical, spiritual and emotional needs. It's time for those of us who are pastors to take control of our self care and our soul care. If we can't care for ourselves, how can we hope to care for those the Lord Jesus has entrusted to us?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe don't have to do this on our own; we need both personal friends and the body of the local church to help and encourage us. Taking\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eSustaining Leadership\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eto heart will fill us not with optimism, but with hope. As Paul Swann rightly observes: 'What we hope for is secondary to who we hope in'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWho should read this book? Every pastor on sabbatical who has time to think and pray. Every member of a leadership team that has responsibility for caring for its pastoral staff. And every church member who is concerned to encourage their pastors and help them thrive in serving the Lord Jesus for the long haul. Humanly, the health of our churches and the spread of the Lord Jesus' mission depends on the well-being of our pastors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Richard Underwood, Elder, Christchurch, Market Harborough\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e_______________________________________________\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Reader, Spring 2019. Review by John Knowles\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Jesus' disciples learnt what it meant to follow him through failed fishing trips, under-catered picnics and abortive exorcisms' sets the context for a very frank description of what happened after Paul Swann woke one morning with chronic ME. In his own words: 'I had been smashed to pieces through overwork, stress, damage to health and lack of self-care.' Out of his own experience come very practical and specific self-care strategies that recognise the specific stresses, positive and negative, that often accompany church leadership. Central to the book's thrust is its subtitle - 'You are more important that your ministry' - with the need to keep life and ministry in balance, where being is more important than doing and the rediscovery of Sabbath can be the antidote to 'hurry sickness'. Ministry can be very challenging and my experience as a diocesan Warden of Readers would suggest that it is not just stipendiary clergy who need to take care of themselves, making the advice enormously valuable to all in church leadership long before any warning lights begin to flash. Buy a copy for yourself and one for your incumbent!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by John Knowles\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Revd Kate Wharton. 12.01.19 \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/katewharton.blogspot.com\/2019\/01\/book-review-sustaining-leadership.html\"\u003ehttps:\/\/katewharton.blogspot.com\/2019\/01\/book-review-sustaining-leadership.html\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a wildly and hopelessly overdue blog! I read this wonderful book ages ago, and promised to review it here, but never got round to it. And be assured that the irony of not being able to find time to review a book about developing and maintaining healthy patterns of life and work is in no way lost on me...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book is written by Paul Swann, and its subtitle is 'You are more important than your ministry'. A reasonable enough statement, you'd think, except that so many of us seem to forget this at one time or another, as we fall into the trap of believing ourselves to be indispensable, and allow our diaries, our ministries and our pressures define us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Swann speaks from very personal, and very difficult, experience. In 2005 he experienced a period of illness and fatigue which resulted in 4 years of trying to manage his health and ministry, before he decided completely to step back from his full time role. Out of that experience, and the ways in which he has since sought to rebuild and rebalance his life, he shares much insight and wisdom which every one of us in any sort of 'ministry' role would do well to heed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is really superb, and an absolute must read. It's easy to read in the sense of being clear and well written, with short chapters, but certainly not in the sense of being without substance. I sense that it's a book I will return to time and time again throughout the course of my ministry, when I need to be reminded of the nuggets it contains.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOn the first page of the Introduction comes a quote that I know I need to keep front and centre of my mind (from Parker Palmer): 'Self-care is never a selfish act - it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer to others.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI know I have found a book enormously helpful when I highlight something on almost every page - and my copy of Sustaining Leadership is already well thumbed and with many yellow highlights! \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn Part 1, entitled 'Disintegration' Paul outlines his own story in 'Arriving on Planet Fragile'. I read it knowing it could easily have been me or any one of us. He is honest about his own personal and painful experiences, and the devastating impact they had upon him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn Part 2, 'Reintegration', Paul describes how he began to recover, and gives a wealth of invaluable advice about self care, what healthy and unhealthy patterns of ministry might look like, and how we can find the right balance of all the competing demands and priorities within our lives.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI often say that the thing I find most frustrating about my job as a vicar (which I love almost all of the time), is that it is simply never finished. There is always something more which could or should be done. Paul speaks to this when he writes, 'From where will you get your permission to stop? It will not come from completing a job that has no ending, from receiving affirmation that seldom comes or from a hierarchical permission that rarely exists. Instead, it will have to come from the self-love and self-care of which we have spoken, augmented by obedience to the fourth commandment, which is our permission to rest.' I'm seriously considering getting that tattooed on my person, or at the very least stuck on the door of my study!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart 3 is called 'Holding on to Hope'. This reminds us of why we ultimately do what we do, and in whose strength we do it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI really enjoyed the way this book is written. It is very practical, and actively encourages the reader to engage with the content rather than just to read the words. Throughout the book there are grey boxes where questions are asked which invite us to pause and reflect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is immensely real and honest, with just the right level of challenge - having gone through such a difficult period in his own life, Paul very much wants to make sure that others don't have to go through the same thing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is wonderful and important - a definite must read for anyone involved in any kind of leadership or ministry. The future you will be glad you read this book now!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs Paul says in the Introduction: 'Sustaining Leadership is not a book about what to do as a leader. It is a book about how to be as a leader.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Kate Wharton\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLead On - CPAS e-newsletter, January 2019 Review by James Lawrence\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the start of the year it is good to take stock, to think and pray about the pressure and pace of life and leadership and any adjustments that it might be good to make for the year ahead. If you are planning to do that in any way, may I encourage you to get hold of Sustaining Leadership.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Swann writes from personal experience of having 'four years in the wilderness of total fatigue'. This is an honest book. It recounts his descent into a place of fragility, and the stripping away of many of the things he relied on to bolster his own sense of identity. He reflects that there are 'no words to describe the density of the darkness and the intensity of the isolation.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThen follow chapters that helpfully explore the relationship between self-care and self-sacrifice, ways of identifying 'hurry sickness', symptoms of burn out and stress, the place of boundary keeping and Sabbath disciplines. The insights are well illustrated from a wide variety of sources, and contain short perceptive comments that make you think: for example 'margin is the vital space between your load and your limits.' The final chapters on soul food and holding onto hope introduce practical ways to self-compassion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSustaining Leadership will make a good companion for a Quiet Day or a month of reflecting on yourself through January. Heed its wise insights, and we may find ourselves in a more sustainable place as leaders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by James Lawrence, Director CPAS\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times, 12 October 2018. Review by Peter Selby, former Bishop of Worcester\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSee beyond the small size of this book to an offering of generosity and wide-ranging wisdom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts generosity lies in Paul Swann's writing about his experience of illness without holding much back: he invites us into his experience of chronic fatigue. We are given a graphic, though not over-dramatised, account of the terrible toll that ME took on the author.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEven more significant is the particular distress that burnout brings to a person of great talent and deep commitment, when he reaches the point when he has to say, 'I can't do this any more.' Fragility - to put it mildly - was what he encountered as he 'hit the buffers'; then fragility was what had gradually to be emerged from, and then, as its meaning became clear, to be embraced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo, the first third of the book is about that experience, although even as we read it we have the sense that faith, though tested, never totally lost its ability to provide perspective and meaning in his suffering. That perspective is the foundation for the wisdom in the next hundred pages: the practical necessity as well as the spiritual importance of self-care, particularly for the most energetic, creative, and committed, who find self-care hardest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn many sermons, the Pauline image of the clay pot - to which Swann refers a great deal - can remain a general comment about ministerial humility rather than pointing to specific vulnerabilities that need specific remedies and responses. It is because this author gets specific that this book is lifted above well-meaning exhortation to be both challenging and of practical use to those who find it hard in practice to accept the subtitle's message that 'You are more important than your ministry.' The many examples of vulnerability and practical self-care are supported by a wide selection of biblical citation and the wider reading that was, no doubt, part of the author's self-care.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlongside all that is worth while in the book, there remain some questions. Surely, a more artistic and nourishing front-cover design would have portrayed the book more accurately. And isn't the subtitle rather than the title the real message of this book? It is for everyone, not just, or even mainly, 'leaders'? The book is at least partly a critique of what the designation 'leader' engenders.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYet, if this is a book for everyone, it especially challenges those who have oversight of others' ministry. I happen to have been the bishop involved in the author's call to undertake the special challenge of growing and enlivening a church in the centre of Worcester. It is hardly a decision that I can regret, given all the good that has flowed from it. But, since the disintegration and the reintegration that this book describes are also what (in part) flowed from that decision, I found the book a particular challenge.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLooking at my former ministry, I ask myself, in gladly appointing some of our strongest people to the hardest tasks, are we as aware as we need to be of the particular support and resourcing needs that such colleagues have? Or do we just hope that the talented and the committed will find their own way of avoiding burnout? That goes along with a more searching question: how well are we ourselves modelling self-care?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut this gentle author also knows how to use examples that challenge lightly; so if you ever catch yourself not completing the two minutes that your electric toothbrush allows, remember it's not just your teeth that you're not caring for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by t\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003ehe Rt Revd Dr Peter Selby, a former Bishop of Worcester\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Revd Canon Steve Coneys, Mission and Growth Advisor, Canterbury Diocese\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat happens when you realise that the work you love is making you sick?\u003cbr\u003eThis gem of a book traces the story of how a capable Christian leader experiences such physical and emotional disintegration that he hears himself saying to his bishop, 'I can't do this any more'.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLucid and concise, Paul Swann's book is an essay in practical spirituality, one that is based on grace rather than our own attempts at self-justifying significance. The central argument is that, with a proper understanding of our belovedness as God's children, and a clear view of God's loving character, we can be freed to care for ourselves and live healthy, grateful lives. How many of us, not just Christian leaders, need to learn this lesson?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is the way the writer communicates the reality of grace in the midst his own sense of failure and weakness which distinguishes this book: 'One day, as I was struggling with low self-esteem and the battle to recover... I complained to God, 'This is too hard for me to do!' Swiftly and firmly, but with extreme gentleness, came the response: 'Is it too hard to be my son?'\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eInsights from films like Wonder Woman, spiritual writers like Margery Kempe, storytellers such as Lewis Carroll and theologians like Walter Breuggemann, combine with Paul Swann's own experience of reintegration to make the book a compelling read. The lesson that every Christian minister - every human being - needs to hear is brought home with elegance and power: you are more important than what you do. Get hold of this book and read it slowly. If I could, I would buy a copy for every church leader I know.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRevd Canon Steve Coneys, Mission and Growth Advisor, Canterbury Diocese\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by John Pellowe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is a real challenge to church leaders to take better care of themselves and to more intentionally build up the local church they serve. Paul Swann's story of his descent into illness, burnout, and depression is mercifully short (one chapter) but it is sufficient to help people who have not had a similar experience to understand what it is really like, and how much they are suffering something real. He gave me a real empathy for those who suffered as he did.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI really thought it helpful how he framed his situation - 'fragility' is such a good word! We are all fragile people and need to accept that fragility is part of our human condition. No one is impervious to what this writer experienced. The two chapters on emerging from fragility and embracing fragility are very practical and inspirational. Paul has redeemed his story of recovery in sharing it with others, and much good will come of it, I'm sure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rest of the book is full of great ideas to build strength into the people of the Church so that we can better serve those in the world around us who are suffering, as well as protecting ourselves from suffering as Paul did.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen I finished the book, my thought was, 'How much more effective the Church would be if we all caught on to the principles and practices outlined in the book!'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by John Pellowe, CEO Canadian Council of Christian Charities\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Timothy Marlow, Business Consultant and IT Director\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the world in which we live, everyone wants to be seen as perfect. We gloss over the failures, claim insight after the event which wasn't there at the time, even post our best selfies on social media. We long to be seen as successful, and to be liked by all.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut what happens when it all goes wrong? When you're made redundant? Or you're broken by the expectations placed on you? Especially if you're supposed to be in Christian ministry?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul Swann has helpfully broken this book into small digestible chunks, with loads of practical advice. If you're in pain, or struggling in any way. Even if you're just feeling a little weary or burdened, then you can flick through it and find something which resonates before working out from there.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaul observes that burnout doesn't suddenly happen. Rather it creeps up on us over time. We all need the advice he gives for maintaining ourselves. Buy this book, read it carefully, then keep it handy so that you can dip into it regularly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTimothy Marlow, Business Consultant and IT Director\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Steve Chase\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSustaining Leadership is written from the reality of Paul Swann's own personal journey through the difficult challenges of leadership and life. He writes with honesty, great vulnerability and deep self-awareness. Sharing lessons hard learnt in the weakness of his humanity, Paul takes the reader gently into some of the places we so often avoid. He offers proven examples from his own faith journey, along with insights from the lives of those who gone before, that our most authentic identity is found in being loved by God. Paul encourages the discovery of that authentic place of 'being', from which all can learn to love well, live well and lead well! I have already brought 3 copies and passed them on!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSteve Chase\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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{"id":6317254181055,"title":"The Art of Peace: Life lessons from Christian mystics","handle":"the-art-of-peace-life-lessons-from-christian-mystics","description":"\u003cp\u003eDeep inner peace and peace of mind with spiritual balance is something everyone wants, but how does one attain it? More importantly, how does one maintain it in the midst of everyday life? Moving through sections on Stillness, Silence, Solitude and Sanctuary, this book draws on the lived experience and learning of the author, as well as the wisdom of Christian contemplatives and mystics from the past, to help people walk the mystic path of peace through life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Cole (aka Brother Cassian) is an international spiritual teacher and retreat leader and the Deputy Guardian for the Community of Aidan and Hilda. He is the founder of Waymark Ministries, which creates opportunities for people to engage with the Christian message. His books include \u003cem\u003eCeltic Advent\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eCeltic Lent\u003c\/em\u003e (BRF, 2018), \u003cem\u003eCeltic Saints\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Celtic Year\u003c\/em\u003e (BRF, 2020).\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Julian Meetings Magazine, April 2022. Review by Janet Robinson\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI glanced through this book and felt that perhaps I should be practising contemplative prayer rather than reading about it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, I did read it and found it comprehensive, deeply thoughtful and very helpful. Cole is a leader and spiritual guide in the Community of Aidan and Hilda, which seeks to apply lessons from the Celtic Church in Britain to the church of today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book is arranged in four sections which discuss Stillness, Silence, Solitude and Sanctuary. Much of David Cole‘s advice is practical. For example, he suggests how the reader might engage in learning to slow down: meditating momentarily ─ small moments in the day when we take a few breaths and re-centre; then creating a small period of time in the day just to sit and Be; planning to withdraw weekly for perhaps half a day; and, if it can be arranged, having a longer time once a month. He also suggests, at various points in the book, that the reader stops reading, puts the book down and is simply still for a little while. In this way it almost becomes a retreat in book form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI particularly valued his pertinent examples from the works of other Christian mystics, including some favourites: Julian, the author of the Cloud of Unknowing and Meister Eckhart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy reading very slowly and including the recommended pauses, this workbook could provide a home-based retreat during these days when travelling is difficult. It could enhance our own sense of peace.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Janet Robinson\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry, winter 2021-2022. Review by Margaret Tinsley\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Art of Peace\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Cole, known as Brother Cassian in his order, uses a mix of extracts from Christian mystics and his own experiences to accomplish his aim: ‘to transition the reader from being somebody interested in, or simply practising, contemplation to being a contemplative.’ He does this by considering four different areas: stillness, silence, solitude, sanctuary. He often challenges the reader by giving the instruction to stop reading, leave the book and practise, for example being still for a time. While the book is written in a relaxed, easily comprehensible style, the reader needs to accept the author’s terminology, most notably when he uses the term ‘the Divine’ as he feels the word ‘God’ is too limiting. His biblical quotations come from the Passion Translation, which often gives a fresh understanding of scripture. With his considerable awareness of Christian mystics of all ages and their works and his personal knowledge of the dispersed Community of Aidan and Hilda, David Cole provides material here for a retreat in book form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eReviewed by Margaret Tinsley \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 24.09.21. Review by Anne Spalding\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Cole brings together writings, ancient and contemporary, under the themes of Stillness, Silence, Solitude, and Sanctuary. He starts with the need for stillness, drawing on Evelyn Underhill, Thomas Merton, Julian of Norwich, and Brother Lawrence, and inviting readers to slow down and stop intentionally, in order to ‘go and be’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis invitation seems to be particularly for those who have not previously tried stillness, silence, and contemplation. The author’s style is colloquial, and he mostly uses ‘the Divine’, in case ‘God’ carries un - helpful images. Similarly, scriptural quotes are often from contemporary versions such as the Passion Translation, so that scripture can be read with fresh eyes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCole next describes the pursuit of silence to find the Divine presence, and the part played by listening in ‘the sound of sheer silence’ (like Elijah). He also introduces the practice of wordlessness in God’s presence; the need to move away from the limitations of language to be with the one who is indescribable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on the Desert Fathers and Mothers, Cole goes on to focus on solitude in the cell. This is balanced with being ‘alone together’, which he illustrates with the Way of Life in his own (dispersed) community, the Community of Aidan and Hilda.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLastly, Cole acknowledges that sometimes we need refuge or sanctuary, and explores reasons for this from Meister Eckhart, the author of The Cloud of Unknowing, St John of the Cross, and Anthony de Mello. He advocates finding sanctuary in the Divine presence within. Cole also recognises that many find closeness to the Divine in the natural world, describing this with writings from the Eastern Orthodox tradition and elsewhere.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo me, the various writings felt like a patchwork rather than a whole, but there is good material to explore, and references are provided for anyone wishing to follow up on a particular theme.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDr Anne Spalding is a member of the Third Order of the Society of St Francis, and lives in Suffolk\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviewed by Richard Frost\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs his other books demonstrate, David Cole is a thought-provoking writer and \u003cem\u003eThe Art of Peace\u003c\/em\u003e is no different.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFocussing on four key themes of stillness, silence, solitude and sanctuary, Brother Cassian (as he is known in the new monastic Community of Aidan and Hilda) explores how Celtic tradition has influenced many aspects of spirituality. Add in to that material from other strands of thought from a range of writers and this is a very rich book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor those who are less familiar with contemplative approaches, this book provides a very good introduction. For those of us with some experience, there are helpful reminders of what may have been lost in the passing and rushing of time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike much writing on Christian mysticism some sections (some paragraphs even) require reading more than once. ‘You will have picked up that oxymorons and paradoxes are part and parcel of mysticism,’ the author acknowledges. But it is worth the extra effort.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHelpfully, at regularly intervals, the writer encourages the reader to stop, put the book down and reflect on the content of the relevant chapter. Using this book, he writes, ‘the reader will be able to transition from being someone interested in, or simply practising, contemplation to \u003cem\u003ebeing\u003c\/em\u003e a contemplative.’\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is of course much more to it than that but \u003cem\u003eThe Art of Peace\u003c\/em\u003e is a very helpful thread in the tapestry of faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRichard Frost is the author of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/life-with-st-benedict-the-rule-re-imagined-for-everyday-living\"\u003eLife with St Benedict\u003c\/a\u003e and writes a blog at \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/workrestpray.com\/\"\u003eworkrestpray.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2021-02-09T14:53:51+00:00","created_at":"2021-02-09T14:52:02+00:00","vendor":"David Cole","type":"Paperback","tags":["Anna Chaplaincy books","For individuals","Jun-21","Prayer","Spirituality"],"price":899,"price_min":899,"price_max":899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":38148387111103,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857469922","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Art of Peace: Life lessons from Christian mystics","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":899,"weight":175,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857469922","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469922.jpg?v=1612882413"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469922.jpg?v=1612882413","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":15824307585215,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469922.jpg?v=1612882413"},"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469922.jpg?v=1612882413","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eDeep inner peace and peace of mind with spiritual balance is something everyone wants, but how does one attain it? More importantly, how does one maintain it in the midst of everyday life? Moving through sections on Stillness, Silence, Solitude and Sanctuary, this book draws on the lived experience and learning of the author, as well as the wisdom of Christian contemplatives and mystics from the past, to help people walk the mystic path of peace through life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Cole (aka Brother Cassian) is an international spiritual teacher and retreat leader and the Deputy Guardian for the Community of Aidan and Hilda. He is the founder of Waymark Ministries, which creates opportunities for people to engage with the Christian message. His books include \u003cem\u003eCeltic Advent\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eCeltic Lent\u003c\/em\u003e (BRF, 2018), \u003cem\u003eCeltic Saints\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Celtic Year\u003c\/em\u003e (BRF, 2020).\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Julian Meetings Magazine, April 2022. Review by Janet Robinson\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI glanced through this book and felt that perhaps I should be practising contemplative prayer rather than reading about it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, I did read it and found it comprehensive, deeply thoughtful and very helpful. Cole is a leader and spiritual guide in the Community of Aidan and Hilda, which seeks to apply lessons from the Celtic Church in Britain to the church of today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book is arranged in four sections which discuss Stillness, Silence, Solitude and Sanctuary. Much of David Cole‘s advice is practical. For example, he suggests how the reader might engage in learning to slow down: meditating momentarily ─ small moments in the day when we take a few breaths and re-centre; then creating a small period of time in the day just to sit and Be; planning to withdraw weekly for perhaps half a day; and, if it can be arranged, having a longer time once a month. He also suggests, at various points in the book, that the reader stops reading, puts the book down and is simply still for a little while. In this way it almost becomes a retreat in book form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI particularly valued his pertinent examples from the works of other Christian mystics, including some favourites: Julian, the author of the Cloud of Unknowing and Meister Eckhart.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy reading very slowly and including the recommended pauses, this workbook could provide a home-based retreat during these days when travelling is difficult. It could enhance our own sense of peace.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Janet Robinson\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry, winter 2021-2022. Review by Margaret Tinsley\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Art of Peace\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Cole, known as Brother Cassian in his order, uses a mix of extracts from Christian mystics and his own experiences to accomplish his aim: ‘to transition the reader from being somebody interested in, or simply practising, contemplation to being a contemplative.’ He does this by considering four different areas: stillness, silence, solitude, sanctuary. He often challenges the reader by giving the instruction to stop reading, leave the book and practise, for example being still for a time. While the book is written in a relaxed, easily comprehensible style, the reader needs to accept the author’s terminology, most notably when he uses the term ‘the Divine’ as he feels the word ‘God’ is too limiting. His biblical quotations come from the Passion Translation, which often gives a fresh understanding of scripture. With his considerable awareness of Christian mystics of all ages and their works and his personal knowledge of the dispersed Community of Aidan and Hilda, David Cole provides material here for a retreat in book form.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eReviewed by Margaret Tinsley \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 24.09.21. Review by Anne Spalding\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Cole brings together writings, ancient and contemporary, under the themes of Stillness, Silence, Solitude, and Sanctuary. He starts with the need for stillness, drawing on Evelyn Underhill, Thomas Merton, Julian of Norwich, and Brother Lawrence, and inviting readers to slow down and stop intentionally, in order to ‘go and be’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis invitation seems to be particularly for those who have not previously tried stillness, silence, and contemplation. The author’s style is colloquial, and he mostly uses ‘the Divine’, in case ‘God’ carries un - helpful images. Similarly, scriptural quotes are often from contemporary versions such as the Passion Translation, so that scripture can be read with fresh eyes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCole next describes the pursuit of silence to find the Divine presence, and the part played by listening in ‘the sound of sheer silence’ (like Elijah). He also introduces the practice of wordlessness in God’s presence; the need to move away from the limitations of language to be with the one who is indescribable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on the Desert Fathers and Mothers, Cole goes on to focus on solitude in the cell. This is balanced with being ‘alone together’, which he illustrates with the Way of Life in his own (dispersed) community, the Community of Aidan and Hilda.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLastly, Cole acknowledges that sometimes we need refuge or sanctuary, and explores reasons for this from Meister Eckhart, the author of The Cloud of Unknowing, St John of the Cross, and Anthony de Mello. He advocates finding sanctuary in the Divine presence within. Cole also recognises that many find closeness to the Divine in the natural world, describing this with writings from the Eastern Orthodox tradition and elsewhere.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo me, the various writings felt like a patchwork rather than a whole, but there is good material to explore, and references are provided for anyone wishing to follow up on a particular theme.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eDr Anne Spalding is a member of the Third Order of the Society of St Francis, and lives in Suffolk\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviewed by Richard Frost\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs his other books demonstrate, David Cole is a thought-provoking writer and \u003cem\u003eThe Art of Peace\u003c\/em\u003e is no different.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFocussing on four key themes of stillness, silence, solitude and sanctuary, Brother Cassian (as he is known in the new monastic Community of Aidan and Hilda) explores how Celtic tradition has influenced many aspects of spirituality. Add in to that material from other strands of thought from a range of writers and this is a very rich book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor those who are less familiar with contemplative approaches, this book provides a very good introduction. For those of us with some experience, there are helpful reminders of what may have been lost in the passing and rushing of time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike much writing on Christian mysticism some sections (some paragraphs even) require reading more than once. ‘You will have picked up that oxymorons and paradoxes are part and parcel of mysticism,’ the author acknowledges. But it is worth the extra effort.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHelpfully, at regularly intervals, the writer encourages the reader to stop, put the book down and reflect on the content of the relevant chapter. Using this book, he writes, ‘the reader will be able to transition from being someone interested in, or simply practising, contemplation to \u003cem\u003ebeing\u003c\/em\u003e a contemplative.’\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is of course much more to it than that but \u003cem\u003eThe Art of Peace\u003c\/em\u003e is a very helpful thread in the tapestry of faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRichard Frost is the author of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/life-with-st-benedict-the-rule-re-imagined-for-everyday-living\"\u003eLife with St Benedict\u003c\/a\u003e and writes a blog at \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/workrestpray.com\/\"\u003eworkrestpray.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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The Art of Peace: Life lessons from Christian mystics
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{"id":5441437532312,"title":"The Barnabas 365 Story Bible","handle":"the-barnabas-365-story-bible","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis is the Bible retold for younger children in 365 much-loved stories. It offers a continuous narrative from Genesis to Revelation in chronological order and is illustrated by a variety of popular artists. Each story includes the relevant Bible reference so that readers can explore further if they wish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSally Ann Wright is a trained teacher and experienced author. She has written a large number of books for children, including several retellings of well-loved Bible stories. Married with four children, she lives just outside London.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2020-07-07T11:09:07+01:00","created_at":"2020-07-07T11:05:26+01:00","vendor":"Sally Ann Wright","type":"Hardback","tags":["Bibles","Children and family ministry","For children"],"price":1299,"price_min":1299,"price_max":1299,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":35117334069400,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857463531","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Barnabas 365 Story Bible","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":1299,"weight":877,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857463531","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857463531.jpg?v=1594116419"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857463531.jpg?v=1594116419","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":10012135358616,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.746,"height":1800,"width":1342,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857463531.jpg?v=1594116419"},"aspect_ratio":0.746,"height":1800,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857463531.jpg?v=1594116419","width":1342}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eThis is the Bible retold for younger children in 365 much-loved stories. It offers a continuous narrative from Genesis to Revelation in chronological order and is illustrated by a variety of popular artists. Each story includes the relevant Bible reference so that readers can explore further if they wish.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSally Ann Wright is a trained teacher and experienced author. She has written a large number of books for children, including several retellings of well-loved Bible stories. Married with four children, she lives just outside London.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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The Barnabas 365 Story Bible
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{"id":2439748321380,"title":"The Barnabas Family Bible","handle":"the-barnabas-family-bible","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn essential resource for families to share together\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Barnabas Family Bible is designed to equip parents and carers to look at key Bible passages with their children in a structured way. Differing from a children's Bible in that it is written to promote an interactive family study time, it contains 110 key extracts, using the Contemporary English Version of the Bible text and spanning the whole Bible narrative. Each section includes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCommentary on the passage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eQuestions to discuss\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVisual aid\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eActivity idea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrayer idea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKey verse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOld or New Testament story link\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso included:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuidance and support for sharing faith as a family\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA family-friendly overview of the Bible story\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA selection of best-loved Bible passages\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFurther resources to support families and family Bible study\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ca id=\"interview\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJane and Martyn introduce the Barnabas Family Bible\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI wonder how the Christian faith was passed on to you. Did you read Bible stories together at home? How did your parents encourage you to pray? Was God ever mentioned in everyday life?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll current research on faith development affirms that if faith isn't passed on, lived out and nurtured in the home, we can't then reasonably expect children and grandchildren to catch that faith. For too long, particularly in the Protestant Church, we have over-relied on our Sunday worship as the key way to pass on the good news to the next generation. But how on earth can 40 minutes of Sunday school once a week and the occasional family service ever be expected to nurture a deep and real encounter with God for our children? Unless we experience God's presence in the everyday of our weekday lives, faith is highly likely to remain sheltered, shallow and vulnerable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBRF has been building on these insights for some years now and, in partnership with others, has sought to put faith nurture back in the hands of parents and carers. The publication this autumn of The Barnabas Family Bible will be a huge help in this respect. For each of its 110 key Bible stories there is a wealth of support material designed to equip parents and carers to explore those stories creatively with children in the home environment. There are suggestions for family activities and ideas for prayer and visual aids, as well as a short commentary on each passage that applies its teaching to the cut and thrust of family life today. As such it will be an invaluable resource to those parents and carers who long to help their children enjoy the Bible and who also, along with their children, want to hear how God can speak to them and be with them seven days a week.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis publication from BRF also contains helpful guidelines for parents and carers about passing on our faith within the family, on topics such as prayer, reading the Bible together and handling difficult questions. It will also, we believe, prove to be a really useful tool for leaders of all-age worship who are looking for inspiration to bring Bible stories to life when children are present in services.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMoses advised all the people of God to talk about his laws together and 'to tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time, whether you're at home or walking on the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning' (Deuteronomy 6:7, CEV). This is the way to pass on our Christian faith - not necessarily needing to find more hours in an already overstretched schedule but to find God in your existing life pattern; to find God in the everyday. \u003cstrong\u003eThe Barnabas Family Bible\u003c\/strong\u003e offers to help parents and children today to do just that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\nBible Society believes that every child has the right to experience the Bible for themselves and that's why we're excited to be partnering with BRF in the publication of The Barnabas Family Bible. This book encourages families to sit and explore the riches of the Bible together, reading the Bible text of 110 popular stories while delving deeper through activities, questions and prayers. Millions of people around the world have grown up with the Bible stories. It is our hope that The Barnabas Family Bible will enable families to keep the Bible alive for another generation. James Catford, Group Chief Executive, Bible Society\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview from April\/May 2015 Childrenswork magazine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Barnabas Family Bible is for parents, grandparents, carers and anyone of a similar nature, but this resource would still work in a small group setting. The book provides 100 stories with an activity idea, a visual aid, key verse and questions for each story. It's a refreshing change to see a few stories in here that other resources haven't explored such as sill-sleeping Eutychus, Rahab and the spies and Revelation. The bright cover is unfortunately where the bold colours stop as each story is displayed using only black and white text. The activities and visual aid section for each story gives you detailed ideas of what to use to fill this gap but requires a little more preparation time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI used this resource with my own children who are four, seven and ten. With that wide an age range it was clear that there was something for each of them in each story but that some elements are a bit advanced for younger children. The visual aids and activities however do provide a chance for them to all do something together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere isn't a suggested time for each story which is fine because some stories needed more time to unpack and some needed to be picked up again at another time. The commentaries for each story are great if you need to better summarise the story but can't do so in your own words. There is a helpful section at the back if you are trying something like this for the first time, with tips on how to pray as a family and ideas on how to establish a time for these activities. This is a solid resource, making these stories relatable and easier to understand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLloyd Kinsley, Premier Childrenswork\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom Pobl Dewi, Diocese of St David's March 2015\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is a fantastic gem to have in your homes, churches, Sunday schools and children's clubs - it's a book to be used and not left on the shelf. The Barnabas Family Bible is an excellent resource and contains 110 essential Bible stories for families - grandparents, parents, carers or anyone who has the privilege and responsibility of caring for children - which they can share together. It contains a superb range of stories from the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation. Each story is presented on a double page with the reading on one side and, on the other, a variety of different ways to engage with the biblical passage which includes a short commentary and questions that can be used around the food table or in a group. Other suggestions are also included under the headings 'visual aid', 'activity idea' and 'prayer idea', with an Old or New Testament story link. There doesn't seem to be a suggested time limit on the activities or how many days you spend on a particular story and this would have been beneficial, especially for different age ranges. This vibrant, colourful cover catches the eye immediately and gives the impression that the book contains a fluidity of colour. Unfortunately, when you open it up the vibrant colour disappears and you are left with grayscale throughout; for toddlers there do not seem to be any pictures that could captivate their imagination and engage with the story. What I found encouraging was, at the back of the book, there is a section called 'Guidance and Support'. It is written for adults to be inspired and to play an active role in sharing and exploring their faith with their children, and the way in which faith is lived out. The guidance and support engages with reading the Bible together, handling difficult questions, praying as a family and more. There is also a section that covers best-loved Bible passages and a page with further resources for you to explore. This is a simple, fun and engaging resource that can be used to nurture families in the faith. Although it lacks in presentation I recommend this book and encourage you to share it with others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Revd Victoria Jon\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the STAR News - Diocese of Peterborough November 2014\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a wonderful Bible for the whole family to enjoy together. The stories are easy to read and have a commentary alongside them, and a number of reflective questions to consider. These are all really useful, as they help to put the story into context, allowing children to understand why it was written and how it may be relevant to us today. There is also a suggestion for a visual aid, an activity related to the story, and a prayer idea. The Bible is written for adults to read with their children, as it has no pictures and may be hard for younger children to read themselves. Having read and enjoyed some of the activities with my children, my 8 year old daughter, Molly, said that this Bible is 'Outstanding, because it has lots of really fun activities to do. Can we keep it?' It would also be useful for Children's and Families workers to use when planning services and Sunday school lessons. Well worth investing in!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eby Evie McNally (and Molly, aged 8)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Well - Autumn 2014 Methodist Church\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe introduction says, 'Family is a big idea... Wherever children are being nurtured in love by significant adults in their lives, there is family.' And this book of Bible stories, commentary and activities gives a brilliant opportunity for families of all kinds to explore God's word together in an interesting, accessible and interactive way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStories span the whole Bible narrative, taken from the Old and New Testament, from the flood in Genesis to the battle of Jericho, through the story of Nehemiah to the life of Jesus and the early Church. Alongside each one a brief commentary is offered as well as some questions to reflect on, prayer and activity suggestions and a visual aid. It gives a helpful and creative selection of ways to engage with the story meaningfully, allowing you to 'pick and mix' ideas depending on time available, ages of family members and how deep everyone wants to explore the story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTowards the end there's also a valuable section that offers guidance and support in\u003cbr\u003eusing the book, suggesting ways to set time aside, engaging with the stories as part of a regular family routine and reminding adults that we don't have to know all the answers! There's much on these pages that parents, carers, grandparents or readers of any kind will find hugely beneficial when engaging with the Bible and its stories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's worth mentioning that whilst it covers a significant number of stories there are no\u003cbr\u003ereferences to Psalms or Paul's letters, but despite this it takes families on a superb\u003cbr\u003ejourney through God's big story. This is a fantastic addition to any family's library\u003cbr\u003eand comes highly recommended for those working with them too!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGail Adcock - Family Ministries Development Officer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e","published_at":"2019-01-18T15:20:33+00:00","created_at":"2019-01-18T15:20:34+00:00","vendor":"Martyn Payne","type":"Paperback","tags":["Bibles","For children","Sep-14"],"price":999,"price_min":999,"price_max":999,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":21769055338596,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781841017136","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":7436544016484,"product_id":2439748321380,"position":1,"created_at":"2019-01-18T15:20:34+00:00","updated_at":"2019-02-01T17:46:13+00:00","alt":null,"width":650,"height":650,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781841017136-l.jpg?v=1549043173","variant_ids":[21769055338596]},"available":true,"name":"The Barnabas Family Bible - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":999,"weight":477,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781841017136","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":3238875037835,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":650,"width":650,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781841017136-l.jpg?v=1549043173"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781841017136-l.jpg?v=1549043173"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781841017136-l.jpg?v=1549043173","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":3238875037835,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":650,"width":650,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781841017136-l.jpg?v=1549043173"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":650,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781841017136-l.jpg?v=1549043173","width":650}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eAn essential resource for families to share together\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Barnabas Family Bible is designed to equip parents and carers to look at key Bible passages with their children in a structured way. Differing from a children's Bible in that it is written to promote an interactive family study time, it contains 110 key extracts, using the Contemporary English Version of the Bible text and spanning the whole Bible narrative. Each section includes:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCommentary on the passage\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eQuestions to discuss\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVisual aid\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eActivity idea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrayer idea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKey verse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOld or New Testament story link\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlso included:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGuidance and support for sharing faith as a family\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA family-friendly overview of the Bible story\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA selection of best-loved Bible passages\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFurther resources to support families and family Bible study\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ca id=\"interview\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJane and Martyn introduce the Barnabas Family Bible\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI wonder how the Christian faith was passed on to you. Did you read Bible stories together at home? How did your parents encourage you to pray? Was God ever mentioned in everyday life?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll current research on faith development affirms that if faith isn't passed on, lived out and nurtured in the home, we can't then reasonably expect children and grandchildren to catch that faith. For too long, particularly in the Protestant Church, we have over-relied on our Sunday worship as the key way to pass on the good news to the next generation. But how on earth can 40 minutes of Sunday school once a week and the occasional family service ever be expected to nurture a deep and real encounter with God for our children? Unless we experience God's presence in the everyday of our weekday lives, faith is highly likely to remain sheltered, shallow and vulnerable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBRF has been building on these insights for some years now and, in partnership with others, has sought to put faith nurture back in the hands of parents and carers. The publication this autumn of The Barnabas Family Bible will be a huge help in this respect. For each of its 110 key Bible stories there is a wealth of support material designed to equip parents and carers to explore those stories creatively with children in the home environment. There are suggestions for family activities and ideas for prayer and visual aids, as well as a short commentary on each passage that applies its teaching to the cut and thrust of family life today. As such it will be an invaluable resource to those parents and carers who long to help their children enjoy the Bible and who also, along with their children, want to hear how God can speak to them and be with them seven days a week.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis publication from BRF also contains helpful guidelines for parents and carers about passing on our faith within the family, on topics such as prayer, reading the Bible together and handling difficult questions. It will also, we believe, prove to be a really useful tool for leaders of all-age worship who are looking for inspiration to bring Bible stories to life when children are present in services.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMoses advised all the people of God to talk about his laws together and 'to tell them to your children over and over again. Talk about them all the time, whether you're at home or walking on the road or going to bed at night, or getting up in the morning' (Deuteronomy 6:7, CEV). This is the way to pass on our Christian faith - not necessarily needing to find more hours in an already overstretched schedule but to find God in your existing life pattern; to find God in the everyday. \u003cstrong\u003eThe Barnabas Family Bible\u003c\/strong\u003e offers to help parents and children today to do just that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\nBible Society believes that every child has the right to experience the Bible for themselves and that's why we're excited to be partnering with BRF in the publication of The Barnabas Family Bible. This book encourages families to sit and explore the riches of the Bible together, reading the Bible text of 110 popular stories while delving deeper through activities, questions and prayers. Millions of people around the world have grown up with the Bible stories. It is our hope that The Barnabas Family Bible will enable families to keep the Bible alive for another generation. James Catford, Group Chief Executive, Bible Society\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview from April\/May 2015 Childrenswork magazine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Barnabas Family Bible is for parents, grandparents, carers and anyone of a similar nature, but this resource would still work in a small group setting. The book provides 100 stories with an activity idea, a visual aid, key verse and questions for each story. It's a refreshing change to see a few stories in here that other resources haven't explored such as sill-sleeping Eutychus, Rahab and the spies and Revelation. The bright cover is unfortunately where the bold colours stop as each story is displayed using only black and white text. The activities and visual aid section for each story gives you detailed ideas of what to use to fill this gap but requires a little more preparation time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI used this resource with my own children who are four, seven and ten. With that wide an age range it was clear that there was something for each of them in each story but that some elements are a bit advanced for younger children. The visual aids and activities however do provide a chance for them to all do something together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere isn't a suggested time for each story which is fine because some stories needed more time to unpack and some needed to be picked up again at another time. The commentaries for each story are great if you need to better summarise the story but can't do so in your own words. There is a helpful section at the back if you are trying something like this for the first time, with tips on how to pray as a family and ideas on how to establish a time for these activities. This is a solid resource, making these stories relatable and easier to understand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLloyd Kinsley, Premier Childrenswork\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom Pobl Dewi, Diocese of St David's March 2015\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is a fantastic gem to have in your homes, churches, Sunday schools and children's clubs - it's a book to be used and not left on the shelf. The Barnabas Family Bible is an excellent resource and contains 110 essential Bible stories for families - grandparents, parents, carers or anyone who has the privilege and responsibility of caring for children - which they can share together. It contains a superb range of stories from the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation. Each story is presented on a double page with the reading on one side and, on the other, a variety of different ways to engage with the biblical passage which includes a short commentary and questions that can be used around the food table or in a group. Other suggestions are also included under the headings 'visual aid', 'activity idea' and 'prayer idea', with an Old or New Testament story link. There doesn't seem to be a suggested time limit on the activities or how many days you spend on a particular story and this would have been beneficial, especially for different age ranges. This vibrant, colourful cover catches the eye immediately and gives the impression that the book contains a fluidity of colour. Unfortunately, when you open it up the vibrant colour disappears and you are left with grayscale throughout; for toddlers there do not seem to be any pictures that could captivate their imagination and engage with the story. What I found encouraging was, at the back of the book, there is a section called 'Guidance and Support'. It is written for adults to be inspired and to play an active role in sharing and exploring their faith with their children, and the way in which faith is lived out. The guidance and support engages with reading the Bible together, handling difficult questions, praying as a family and more. There is also a section that covers best-loved Bible passages and a page with further resources for you to explore. This is a simple, fun and engaging resource that can be used to nurture families in the faith. Although it lacks in presentation I recommend this book and encourage you to share it with others.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Revd Victoria Jon\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the STAR News - Diocese of Peterborough November 2014\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a wonderful Bible for the whole family to enjoy together. The stories are easy to read and have a commentary alongside them, and a number of reflective questions to consider. These are all really useful, as they help to put the story into context, allowing children to understand why it was written and how it may be relevant to us today. There is also a suggestion for a visual aid, an activity related to the story, and a prayer idea. The Bible is written for adults to read with their children, as it has no pictures and may be hard for younger children to read themselves. Having read and enjoyed some of the activities with my children, my 8 year old daughter, Molly, said that this Bible is 'Outstanding, because it has lots of really fun activities to do. Can we keep it?' It would also be useful for Children's and Families workers to use when planning services and Sunday school lessons. Well worth investing in!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eby Evie McNally (and Molly, aged 8)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Well - Autumn 2014 Methodist Church\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe introduction says, 'Family is a big idea... Wherever children are being nurtured in love by significant adults in their lives, there is family.' And this book of Bible stories, commentary and activities gives a brilliant opportunity for families of all kinds to explore God's word together in an interesting, accessible and interactive way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStories span the whole Bible narrative, taken from the Old and New Testament, from the flood in Genesis to the battle of Jericho, through the story of Nehemiah to the life of Jesus and the early Church. Alongside each one a brief commentary is offered as well as some questions to reflect on, prayer and activity suggestions and a visual aid. It gives a helpful and creative selection of ways to engage with the story meaningfully, allowing you to 'pick and mix' ideas depending on time available, ages of family members and how deep everyone wants to explore the story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTowards the end there's also a valuable section that offers guidance and support in\u003cbr\u003eusing the book, suggesting ways to set time aside, engaging with the stories as part of a regular family routine and reminding adults that we don't have to know all the answers! There's much on these pages that parents, carers, grandparents or readers of any kind will find hugely beneficial when engaging with the Bible and its stories.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's worth mentioning that whilst it covers a significant number of stories there are no\u003cbr\u003ereferences to Psalms or Paul's letters, but despite this it takes families on a superb\u003cbr\u003ejourney through God's big story. This is a fantastic addition to any family's library\u003cbr\u003eand comes highly recommended for those working with them too!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGail Adcock - Family Ministries Development Officer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e"}
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The Barnabas Family Bible
£9.99
An essential resource for families to share together The Barnabas Family Bible is designed to equip parents and carers to...
{"id":2439765360740,"title":"The Barnabas Page a Day Bible","handle":"the-barnabas-page-a-day-bible","description":"\u003cp\u003eContains 365 illustrated stories from the Bible, a page for every day of the year. Every main event in the Bible is included, retold as a continuous narrative to make the Bible accessible to all readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\nRhona Davies is a trained teacher actively involved in her local church and writes for children. She is married with teenage sons and is passionate about reading, gardening and genealogy. Rhona lives in England with her roots in south Wales. Marcin Piwowarski worked as a freelance illustrator for more than ten years before managing a graphic studio. He is a successful illustrator with more than 100 children's books published worldwide. Marcin lives with his wife and two young children in the centre of Poland\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e","published_at":"2019-01-18T15:21:31+00:00","created_at":"2019-01-18T15:21:33+00:00","vendor":"Rhona Davies","type":"Paperback","tags":["Bibles","For children","Sep-15"],"price":1099,"price_min":1099,"price_max":1099,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":21769253617764,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857464125","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Barnabas Page a Day Bible - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":1099,"weight":644,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857464125","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464125-l.jpg?v=1549043163"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464125-l.jpg?v=1549043163","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":3238876971147,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.752,"height":650,"width":489,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464125-l.jpg?v=1549043163"},"aspect_ratio":0.752,"height":650,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464125-l.jpg?v=1549043163","width":489}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eContains 365 illustrated stories from the Bible, a page for every day of the year. Every main event in the Bible is included, retold as a continuous narrative to make the Bible accessible to all readers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\nRhona Davies is a trained teacher actively involved in her local church and writes for children. She is married with teenage sons and is passionate about reading, gardening and genealogy. Rhona lives in England with her roots in south Wales. Marcin Piwowarski worked as a freelance illustrator for more than ten years before managing a graphic studio. He is a successful illustrator with more than 100 children's books published worldwide. Marcin lives with his wife and two young children in the centre of Poland\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e"}
You may also like:
The Barnabas Page a Day Bible
£10.99
Contains 365 illustrated stories from the Bible, a page for every day of the year. Every main event in the...
{"id":4853424980107,"title":"The Bible Doesn’t Tell Me So: Why you don’t have to submit to domestic abuse and coercive control","handle":"the-bible-doesn-t-tell-me-so-why-you-don-t-have-to-submit-to-domestic-abuse-and-coercive-control","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis book is addressed directly to women experiencing domestic abuse, and to those who seek to support them, including pastoral leaders, friends and support organisations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt debunks the myths – perpetuated by some abusers and, unwittingly, by many churches – which prevent women from getting out of harm’s way. It helps them realise that the Bible does not belong to their abuser but is a text of liberation. Written with careful attention to pastoral issues, it closely examines and clearly explains the relevant scriptural texts.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlso available from the Centre for the Study of Bible \u0026amp; Violence, a six-week video course for use by church small groups \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.csbvbristol.org.uk\/study-videos\/\" title=\"The Bible Doesn't Tell Me So\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehttps:\/\/www.csbvbristol.org.uk\/study-videos\/\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iRWOUDQBFXc\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHelen Paynter is Director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence. A Baptist minister and biblical specialist, she has published at popular and scholarly levels, including \u003cem\u003eGod of Violence Yesterday, God of Love Today?\u003c\/em\u003e (2019) for BRF. She speaks nationally and internationally about the interpretation of biblical violence and the abuse of the Bible to promote violence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘This book is important. Helen Paynter’s expertise with scripture, her approachability and her engagement with the reality of abuse ensure The Bible Doesn’t Tell Me So is extremely helpful, both for Christians who have been subjected to abuse and for those wanting a strong biblical approach to addressing domestic abuse issues. It is both theological and practical and offers an authoritative and ultimately healing approach to scripture for women who have been abused. I know it will make a positive difference to women’s lives!’\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNatalie Collins, author of Out of Control: Couples, conflict and the capacity for change\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘I have all too often seen the Bible I love weaponised by men to control and subordinate their wives. The sad truth is that domestic abuse is as prevalent in the church as it is in the world outside. I am deeply grateful for this book and Helen’s detailed study and balanced explanation of the texts that have been used throughout the centuries to “bash” women. It is an academically excellent book, which sheds light on the complex scriptures it covers, yet remains immensely readable. It is thorough and profound and enables the reader to not just wrestle with these verses, but also to consider God's original plan for the relationship between men and women. This book shows the Bible is liberating for women and challenging for some men, and I pray The Bible Doesn’t Tell Me So will become a core text for leaders as they learn to recognise and respond to domestic abuse within their churches.’\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBekah Legg, director of Restored\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePreach magazine, Autumn 2023. Review by Charmaine Yip\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eWe don’t talk about domestic abuse: we close our eyes and pretend it’s not happening. The shocking truth is that in the UK, a woman is killed by a current or previous partner every four days, and domestic abuse is as prevalent in the church as in wider society. Worse, the Bible is deliberately ‘weaponised’ to facilitate this abuse. The main aim of this book is to show that nowhere does the Bible license abuse and violation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAddressed primarily to women experiencing domestic abuse but also to churches seeking to support them, this book is written from a pastoral perspective and with a cogency befitting its subject. Paynter explores the whole biblical narrative as well as specific texts to build a watertight case that abuse is never permitted by scripture. She shows, for example, that Paul’s exhortation to women to submit to their husbands applies only in a loving supportive marriage, and does not authorise men to force their wives into submission.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis applies even if we consider the doctrine of male headship and female submission to be timeless. While not convinced by the so-called ‘trajectory hermeneutic’, I found the chapter highlighting the less obvious misuses of scripture, such as passages around forgiveness, suffering and divorce, which can trap women in toxic marriages, incredibly insightful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaynter does not shy away from calling out abuse committed by pastors. One of the chief obstacles to bringing accusations is the fallacy that the ‘Lord’s anointed’ is above censure, but Paynter goes to great lengths to establish that it is our God-given duty to call out abusive pastors. A minister herself, Paynter argues for robust accountability structures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is a must-read for church leaders. The chapter outlining how churches might collude in the abuse by closing ranks and keeping silent is a real eye-opener. There is another chapter addressed directly to church leaders warning against potential pitfalls, such as misdiagnosing abuse. Leaders are instead encouraged to believe the woman, exercise church discipline and cultivate a culture in which all may flourish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo explore this issue as a whole church, there is a six-session video resource, ideal for small groups. The interview format video resource, ideal for small groups. The interview format of these videos is compelling and the final session, focusing on next steps, pastoral care and preaching insights, particularly healing. This is a high-quality resource, offering lots of thought-provoking material as well as sensitive pauses. It is available at www.csbvbristol.org.uk\/study-videos\/ for a small donation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Charmaine Yip, who writes for Preach magazine, occasionally preaches short \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003esermons for Premier Radio, and is the 2022 winner of Sermon of the Year.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInspire magazine, New Zealand Spring 2021. Review by John Meredith\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is addressed to women experiencing domestic abuse or coercive control within a church setting and people, including church leaders, supporting women who are being abused. Why is such a book needed? Abuse by clergy has been well publicised but domestic abuse and coercive control within church families is wider than is often recognised. I have painful memories of three daughters asking me not to refer to their father as a loving husband at his funeral. They claimed that their mother, who had suffered from his behaviour, had remained within the marriage only because she felt trapped financially. They said their father, who considered himself a man of Christian virtue, emphasised repeatedly it was a wife’s duty to obey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is estimated that around 80% of domestic abuse is never reported. As well as physical or sexual violence, abusive relationships may include various forms of personal or social control, threats, accusations and intimidation. Overwhelmingly abusers are male. Domestic abuse and coercive control will often be denied by men and accepted by their female partners as just the way things are. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaynter’s book is arranged in three parts. Part 1 deals with what she terms the weaponization of scripture. Passages in Ephesians 5, 1 Corinthians 11 and 1 Peter 3 have been used as weapons against women. Using scholarly exegesis Paynter shows how even if one believes that a wife should submit to her husband as head of the household this is intended to be within a mutually loving, supportive and affirming relationship. It is argued that to use biblical texts to discourage a woman from divorcing an abusive husband is to contravene biblical teaching about respect for human dignity. And it is a misuse of scripture to argue that Christian faith requires a wife to keep on forgiving an abusive husband, or that pastoral care for a parishioner can be expressed through a sexual relationship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart 2 is titled ‘The truth will set you free.’ Abusive husbands strip their wives of power, but Paynter shows how throughout scripture God is for the powerless and oppressed. Scripture affirms that all people have a God-given dignity. In the gospels women’s dignity is affirmed by Jesus. There is nothing in scripture that justifies the subordination of wives or women.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor too long women have not been believed or have been hushed up. But scripture affirms that God is neither indifferent nor concerned to help anyone exercise power over another. In the light of God’s word injustice will always be revealed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart 3 includes three personal addresses: to those trapped by an abuser, to church leaders and to the perpetrator. Abused women are urged to have a safety plan and a helpful list is provided. Church leaders are encouraged to listen, to name what is wrong and never to promote gender roles or a theology that creates a sense of male entitlement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDomestic abuse and coercion are a travesty of relationships and the subordination of women is a biblical distortion. As stated on the cover this book debunks myths that prevent women from getting out of harm’s way. By helping clarify how church leaders need to act to protect women from abuse and free them from guilt and fear the book is a valuable pastoral resource.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by John Meredith\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.baptist.org.uk\/Articles\/592122\/The_Bible_Doesn.aspx\"\u003eBaptist Times 18.11.20\u003c\/a\u003e. Review by Jenni Entrican\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an important book, and even more so during this time of COVID pandemic when levels of domestic abuse have significantly increased. As the title suggests, it is clear that specific interpretations of the Bible are used to validate totally unacceptable violations against women by their partners. Helen names this as ‘scripture being weaponised against women’, and her aim is to show that the Bible does not support the abuse of anyone.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is an important book too because of the hidden nature of domestic abuse, particularly within Christian communities who believe that ‘it doesn’t happen here’, or that it is simply a relationship issue where counselling can help, or that it is the fault of the person being abused who needs to deal with low self esteem, or forgive the abuser. If this sounds simplistic, the reality is that these reactions are not uncommon, and thus perpetuate behaviour that is so contrary to God’s intention for humankind.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThus, Helen’s book, addressed primarily to those suffering abuse, but also to those who support them and church leaders, does an excellent job of unpacking, both the whole sweep of the Biblical narrative, as well as specific scripture passages which are used to validate abusive behaviour. She addresses the Genesis account of the creation of men and women and their relationship; Paul’s exhortation to submit to one another, alongside the revolutionary injunction for men to love their wives as Christ loves the church; truths about what forgiveness looks like; how Jesus viewed and treated women and what God’s heart is for those who are abused.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe finishes briefly by addressing those trapped by an abuser, church leaders on how they can support such, and lastly, she addresses someone who is an abuser.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book, standing alongside other important books, has an important place in recognising and helping us to deal with what is a hugely important Kingdom and justice issue. It is time for us to grapple with the reality of violence and coercion of women within society as a whole, and particularly within the Christian church.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn one way it is not an easy read as Helen draws on the lived experiences of women who have been in contact with her and we should weep at their stories. However it is carefully crafted to be both deeply theological, yet simple to read. I highly recommend reading this book and offering it to others, as a resource, but also to bind up some very real wounds.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs I have travelled through the UK and Europe these past five years as Baptists Together and European Baptist Federation Presidents, I have met many fascinating and wonderful women, but I have also been aware of how often women are not given the opportunities to use their gifts freely. The more I hear and read of the way the female gender is treated worldwide, the more my heart cries out for more books like these, and for more people to engage with issues of gender justice. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eJenni Entrican was European Baptist Federation President 2017-19, and is a member of the Baptist World Alliance Commission on Racial, Gender and Economic Justice 2020 -2025\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Kate Lemon, Services Manager One 25: a Bristol based charity supporting women who have experience trauma, helping them to 'heal and thrive'.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is crucial in opening up conversations about domestic abuse within the church. For a long time domestic abuse has not been recognised and this has left women who were being abused isolated and totally unsupported. Moreover this system protected perpetrators of abuse. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHelen Paynter’s book plays a vital role in demonstrating that abuse happens everywhere, including within Christianity, that it is not acceptable and crucially that the bible does not advocate abuse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI also support the audiences that the author has targeted: \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Women who are experiencing domestic abuse and coercive control: this is so important. They need to know that their voices are heard and their experiences recognised as part of the church community. They need to see evidence that the bible does not advocate the abuse they are experiencing. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Others in the Christian community who accept, allow or ignore instances of domestic abuse, and particularly church leaders. They are the people in power who need to listen to women and acknowledge what is happening in their church, community and the wider world. They are the people who must put in systems to challenge and stop domestic abuse at a local, national and international level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHelen’s detailed explanation of what the bible states and what this means is essential in challenging the discourse around women’s place and safety in society. Her position as a knowledgeable minister and biblical specialist gives clear authority to this element of the book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs well as victims of domestic abuse and church leaders, there are other target audiences for this book: the Christian community as a whole, including volunteers, pastoral assistants and lay leaders. I would also add academics who train ministers and Christian workers, to ensure that this topic is covered in training and staff development. And finally, academics and researchers who study gender politics, women’s rights, sexual violence and abuse, and coercive control. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy key takeaways from this book are these:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst, the overriding message that God is for all who are oppressed and that includes women experiencing domestic abuse: God is for them and supports them. God does not advocate their abuse nor condone it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd second, the safety plan: practical list of what women should do if they are planning to leave their abusers in order to keep themselves as safe as possible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Kate Lemon, Services Manager, One25 \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2020-05-01T16:32:57+01:00","created_at":"2020-05-01T17:23:36+01:00","vendor":"Helen Paynter","type":"Paperback","tags":["Kindle","Oct-20","Pastoral care","Women"],"price":899,"price_min":899,"price_max":899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":33575220379787,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857469892","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Bible Doesn’t Tell Me So: Why you don’t have to submit to domestic abuse and coercive control","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":899,"weight":203,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857469892","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469892.jpg?v=1588350218"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469892.jpg?v=1588350218","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":7670273114251,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469892.jpg?v=1588350218"},"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469892.jpg?v=1588350218","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eThis book is addressed directly to women experiencing domestic abuse, and to those who seek to support them, including pastoral leaders, friends and support organisations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt debunks the myths – perpetuated by some abusers and, unwittingly, by many churches – which prevent women from getting out of harm’s way. It helps them realise that the Bible does not belong to their abuser but is a text of liberation. Written with careful attention to pastoral issues, it closely examines and clearly explains the relevant scriptural texts.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlso available from the Centre for the Study of Bible \u0026amp; Violence, a six-week video course for use by church small groups \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.csbvbristol.org.uk\/study-videos\/\" title=\"The Bible Doesn't Tell Me So\" target=\"_blank\"\u003ehttps:\/\/www.csbvbristol.org.uk\/study-videos\/\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003ciframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iRWOUDQBFXc\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHelen Paynter is Director of the Centre for the Study of Bible and Violence. A Baptist minister and biblical specialist, she has published at popular and scholarly levels, including \u003cem\u003eGod of Violence Yesterday, God of Love Today?\u003c\/em\u003e (2019) for BRF. She speaks nationally and internationally about the interpretation of biblical violence and the abuse of the Bible to promote violence.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘This book is important. Helen Paynter’s expertise with scripture, her approachability and her engagement with the reality of abuse ensure The Bible Doesn’t Tell Me So is extremely helpful, both for Christians who have been subjected to abuse and for those wanting a strong biblical approach to addressing domestic abuse issues. It is both theological and practical and offers an authoritative and ultimately healing approach to scripture for women who have been abused. I know it will make a positive difference to women’s lives!’\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNatalie Collins, author of Out of Control: Couples, conflict and the capacity for change\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e‘I have all too often seen the Bible I love weaponised by men to control and subordinate their wives. The sad truth is that domestic abuse is as prevalent in the church as it is in the world outside. I am deeply grateful for this book and Helen’s detailed study and balanced explanation of the texts that have been used throughout the centuries to “bash” women. It is an academically excellent book, which sheds light on the complex scriptures it covers, yet remains immensely readable. It is thorough and profound and enables the reader to not just wrestle with these verses, but also to consider God's original plan for the relationship between men and women. This book shows the Bible is liberating for women and challenging for some men, and I pray The Bible Doesn’t Tell Me So will become a core text for leaders as they learn to recognise and respond to domestic abuse within their churches.’\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBekah Legg, director of Restored\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePreach magazine, Autumn 2023. Review by Charmaine Yip\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003eWe don’t talk about domestic abuse: we close our eyes and pretend it’s not happening. The shocking truth is that in the UK, a woman is killed by a current or previous partner every four days, and domestic abuse is as prevalent in the church as in wider society. Worse, the Bible is deliberately ‘weaponised’ to facilitate this abuse. The main aim of this book is to show that nowhere does the Bible license abuse and violation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAddressed primarily to women experiencing domestic abuse but also to churches seeking to support them, this book is written from a pastoral perspective and with a cogency befitting its subject. Paynter explores the whole biblical narrative as well as specific texts to build a watertight case that abuse is never permitted by scripture. She shows, for example, that Paul’s exhortation to women to submit to their husbands applies only in a loving supportive marriage, and does not authorise men to force their wives into submission.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis applies even if we consider the doctrine of male headship and female submission to be timeless. While not convinced by the so-called ‘trajectory hermeneutic’, I found the chapter highlighting the less obvious misuses of scripture, such as passages around forgiveness, suffering and divorce, which can trap women in toxic marriages, incredibly insightful.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaynter does not shy away from calling out abuse committed by pastors. One of the chief obstacles to bringing accusations is the fallacy that the ‘Lord’s anointed’ is above censure, but Paynter goes to great lengths to establish that it is our God-given duty to call out abusive pastors. A minister herself, Paynter argues for robust accountability structures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is a must-read for church leaders. The chapter outlining how churches might collude in the abuse by closing ranks and keeping silent is a real eye-opener. There is another chapter addressed directly to church leaders warning against potential pitfalls, such as misdiagnosing abuse. Leaders are instead encouraged to believe the woman, exercise church discipline and cultivate a culture in which all may flourish.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo explore this issue as a whole church, there is a six-session video resource, ideal for small groups. The interview format video resource, ideal for small groups. The interview format of these videos is compelling and the final session, focusing on next steps, pastoral care and preaching insights, particularly healing. This is a high-quality resource, offering lots of thought-provoking material as well as sensitive pauses. It is available at www.csbvbristol.org.uk\/study-videos\/ for a small donation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Charmaine Yip, who writes for Preach magazine, occasionally preaches short \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003esermons for Premier Radio, and is the 2022 winner of Sermon of the Year.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eInspire magazine, New Zealand Spring 2021. Review by John Meredith\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is addressed to women experiencing domestic abuse or coercive control within a church setting and people, including church leaders, supporting women who are being abused. Why is such a book needed? Abuse by clergy has been well publicised but domestic abuse and coercive control within church families is wider than is often recognised. I have painful memories of three daughters asking me not to refer to their father as a loving husband at his funeral. They claimed that their mother, who had suffered from his behaviour, had remained within the marriage only because she felt trapped financially. They said their father, who considered himself a man of Christian virtue, emphasised repeatedly it was a wife’s duty to obey.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is estimated that around 80% of domestic abuse is never reported. As well as physical or sexual violence, abusive relationships may include various forms of personal or social control, threats, accusations and intimidation. Overwhelmingly abusers are male. Domestic abuse and coercive control will often be denied by men and accepted by their female partners as just the way things are. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaynter’s book is arranged in three parts. Part 1 deals with what she terms the weaponization of scripture. Passages in Ephesians 5, 1 Corinthians 11 and 1 Peter 3 have been used as weapons against women. Using scholarly exegesis Paynter shows how even if one believes that a wife should submit to her husband as head of the household this is intended to be within a mutually loving, supportive and affirming relationship. It is argued that to use biblical texts to discourage a woman from divorcing an abusive husband is to contravene biblical teaching about respect for human dignity. And it is a misuse of scripture to argue that Christian faith requires a wife to keep on forgiving an abusive husband, or that pastoral care for a parishioner can be expressed through a sexual relationship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart 2 is titled ‘The truth will set you free.’ Abusive husbands strip their wives of power, but Paynter shows how throughout scripture God is for the powerless and oppressed. Scripture affirms that all people have a God-given dignity. In the gospels women’s dignity is affirmed by Jesus. There is nothing in scripture that justifies the subordination of wives or women.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor too long women have not been believed or have been hushed up. But scripture affirms that God is neither indifferent nor concerned to help anyone exercise power over another. In the light of God’s word injustice will always be revealed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart 3 includes three personal addresses: to those trapped by an abuser, to church leaders and to the perpetrator. Abused women are urged to have a safety plan and a helpful list is provided. Church leaders are encouraged to listen, to name what is wrong and never to promote gender roles or a theology that creates a sense of male entitlement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDomestic abuse and coercion are a travesty of relationships and the subordination of women is a biblical distortion. As stated on the cover this book debunks myths that prevent women from getting out of harm’s way. By helping clarify how church leaders need to act to protect women from abuse and free them from guilt and fear the book is a valuable pastoral resource.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by John Meredith\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.baptist.org.uk\/Articles\/592122\/The_Bible_Doesn.aspx\"\u003eBaptist Times 18.11.20\u003c\/a\u003e. Review by Jenni Entrican\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an important book, and even more so during this time of COVID pandemic when levels of domestic abuse have significantly increased. As the title suggests, it is clear that specific interpretations of the Bible are used to validate totally unacceptable violations against women by their partners. Helen names this as ‘scripture being weaponised against women’, and her aim is to show that the Bible does not support the abuse of anyone.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt is an important book too because of the hidden nature of domestic abuse, particularly within Christian communities who believe that ‘it doesn’t happen here’, or that it is simply a relationship issue where counselling can help, or that it is the fault of the person being abused who needs to deal with low self esteem, or forgive the abuser. If this sounds simplistic, the reality is that these reactions are not uncommon, and thus perpetuate behaviour that is so contrary to God’s intention for humankind.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThus, Helen’s book, addressed primarily to those suffering abuse, but also to those who support them and church leaders, does an excellent job of unpacking, both the whole sweep of the Biblical narrative, as well as specific scripture passages which are used to validate abusive behaviour. She addresses the Genesis account of the creation of men and women and their relationship; Paul’s exhortation to submit to one another, alongside the revolutionary injunction for men to love their wives as Christ loves the church; truths about what forgiveness looks like; how Jesus viewed and treated women and what God’s heart is for those who are abused.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eShe finishes briefly by addressing those trapped by an abuser, church leaders on how they can support such, and lastly, she addresses someone who is an abuser.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book, standing alongside other important books, has an important place in recognising and helping us to deal with what is a hugely important Kingdom and justice issue. It is time for us to grapple with the reality of violence and coercion of women within society as a whole, and particularly within the Christian church.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn one way it is not an easy read as Helen draws on the lived experiences of women who have been in contact with her and we should weep at their stories. However it is carefully crafted to be both deeply theological, yet simple to read. I highly recommend reading this book and offering it to others, as a resource, but also to bind up some very real wounds.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs I have travelled through the UK and Europe these past five years as Baptists Together and European Baptist Federation Presidents, I have met many fascinating and wonderful women, but I have also been aware of how often women are not given the opportunities to use their gifts freely. The more I hear and read of the way the female gender is treated worldwide, the more my heart cries out for more books like these, and for more people to engage with issues of gender justice. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eJenni Entrican was European Baptist Federation President 2017-19, and is a member of the Baptist World Alliance Commission on Racial, Gender and Economic Justice 2020 -2025\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Kate Lemon, Services Manager One 25: a Bristol based charity supporting women who have experience trauma, helping them to 'heal and thrive'.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is crucial in opening up conversations about domestic abuse within the church. For a long time domestic abuse has not been recognised and this has left women who were being abused isolated and totally unsupported. Moreover this system protected perpetrators of abuse. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHelen Paynter’s book plays a vital role in demonstrating that abuse happens everywhere, including within Christianity, that it is not acceptable and crucially that the bible does not advocate abuse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI also support the audiences that the author has targeted: \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Women who are experiencing domestic abuse and coercive control: this is so important. They need to know that their voices are heard and their experiences recognised as part of the church community. They need to see evidence that the bible does not advocate the abuse they are experiencing. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e- Others in the Christian community who accept, allow or ignore instances of domestic abuse, and particularly church leaders. They are the people in power who need to listen to women and acknowledge what is happening in their church, community and the wider world. They are the people who must put in systems to challenge and stop domestic abuse at a local, national and international level.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHelen’s detailed explanation of what the bible states and what this means is essential in challenging the discourse around women’s place and safety in society. Her position as a knowledgeable minister and biblical specialist gives clear authority to this element of the book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs well as victims of domestic abuse and church leaders, there are other target audiences for this book: the Christian community as a whole, including volunteers, pastoral assistants and lay leaders. I would also add academics who train ministers and Christian workers, to ensure that this topic is covered in training and staff development. And finally, academics and researchers who study gender politics, women’s rights, sexual violence and abuse, and coercive control. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy key takeaways from this book are these:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFirst, the overriding message that God is for all who are oppressed and that includes women experiencing domestic abuse: God is for them and supports them. God does not advocate their abuse nor condone it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd second, the safety plan: practical list of what women should do if they are planning to leave their abusers in order to keep themselves as safe as possible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Kate Lemon, Services Manager, One25 \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e"}
You may also like:
The Bible Doesn’t Tell Me So: Why you don’t have to submit to domestic abuse and coercive control
£8.99
This book is addressed directly to women experiencing domestic abuse, and to those who seek to support them, including pastoral...
{"id":7223738597567,"title":"The Bible in Cockney","handle":"the-bible-in-cockney","description":"\u003cp\u003eRead how Jesus feeds five thousand geezers with just five loaves of Uncle Fred and two Lillian Gish. Or how Noah built a bloomin’ massive nanny. Then there’s always the story of David and that massive geezer Goliath, or the time when Simon’s finger and thumb-in-law was Tom and Dick in Uncle Ned and Jesus healed her... A very down-to-earth ‘translation’ that brings scripture out of the pulpit and back onto the streets. ‘It certainly is a good laugh while imparting the essential message of the Bible.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbout the author\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eNow working as a funeral celebrant in Essex, Mike Coles was for many years head of religious education at Sir John Cass Church of England Secondary School in Stepney, East London. He hated RE when he was at school, and vowed that he would never make the children suffer as he had to! When he moved to the East End, he immediately fell in love with Cockney rhyming slang and started to use it in his lessons. The children loved it, he decided to write down some of his stories and – well, here they are.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReview from previous edition\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e'It certainly is a good laugh while imparting the essential message of the Bible.' Reverend Stan in The Badge, the London cab drivers' newspaper\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2022-04-19T10:19:21+01:00","created_at":"2022-04-19T10:16:39+01:00","vendor":"Mike Coles","type":"Hardback","tags":["Biblical engagement","Centenary Classics","Centenary Collection"],"price":1499,"price_min":1499,"price_max":1499,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":1499,"compare_at_price_min":1499,"compare_at_price_max":1499,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":41565101162687,"title":"Hardback","option1":"Hardback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781800390904","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":true,"featured_image":{"id":32215161569471,"product_id":7223738597567,"position":1,"created_at":"2022-04-19T10:16:39+01:00","updated_at":"2022-04-19T10:16:41+01:00","alt":null,"width":1181,"height":1800,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390904.jpg?v=1650359801","variant_ids":[41565101162687]},"available":true,"name":"The Bible in Cockney - Hardback","public_title":"Hardback","options":["Hardback"],"price":1499,"weight":169,"compare_at_price":1499,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781800390904","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":24727088726207,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1800,"width":1181,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390904.jpg?v=1650359801"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390904.jpg?v=1650359801"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390904.jpg?v=1650359801","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":24727088726207,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1800,"width":1181,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390904.jpg?v=1650359801"},"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1800,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390904.jpg?v=1650359801","width":1181}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eRead how Jesus feeds five thousand geezers with just five loaves of Uncle Fred and two Lillian Gish. Or how Noah built a bloomin’ massive nanny. Then there’s always the story of David and that massive geezer Goliath, or the time when Simon’s finger and thumb-in-law was Tom and Dick in Uncle Ned and Jesus healed her... A very down-to-earth ‘translation’ that brings scripture out of the pulpit and back onto the streets. ‘It certainly is a good laugh while imparting the essential message of the Bible.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAbout the author\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003eNow working as a funeral celebrant in Essex, Mike Coles was for many years head of religious education at Sir John Cass Church of England Secondary School in Stepney, East London. He hated RE when he was at school, and vowed that he would never make the children suffer as he had to! When he moved to the East End, he immediately fell in love with Cockney rhyming slang and started to use it in his lessons. The children loved it, he decided to write down some of his stories and – well, here they are.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReview from previous edition\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e'It certainly is a good laugh while imparting the essential message of the Bible.' Reverend Stan in The Badge, the London cab drivers' newspaper\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
You may also like:
The Bible in Cockney
£14.99
Read how Jesus feeds five thousand geezers with just five loaves of Uncle Fred and two Lillian Gish. Or how...
{"id":2439777222756,"title":"The Big Book of Bible Crafts","handle":"the-big-book-of-bible-crafts","description":"\u003cp\u003eIf only you knew that every craft you planned for your children's ministry would be a winner... Now you can be certain of success with over 100 tried-and-tested crafts, submitted by children's workers like you, and used with real kids in real churches. Structured into three sections of crafts for younger and older primary ages and for all ages together, The Big Book of Bible Crafts is a lifesaver for Sunday school, midweek groups and holiday clubs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHand in Hand E-Newsletter July 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e110 of the best craft ideas - all contributed by people working with children in churches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlmost 20 years ago, at our first Children's Ministry conference, I offered an optional workshop on Bible crafts. I expected 50-100 delegates but almost 400 packed the hall and the workshop had to become a demonstration! Back then there were no books to recommend to those delegates and the many more wanting easy ideas that I met at other training events, so I wrote 100 Simple Bible Craft Ideas for Children - a book now out of print. Since then, a plethora of craft ideas books and web resources have been produced but it is good to see a new collection of simple ideas cross-referenced by Bible passage and season and including some extension ideas on how to incorporate them into a session.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSue Price - Children's Ministry\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e","published_at":"2019-01-18T15:22:17+00:00","created_at":"2019-01-18T15:22:18+00:00","vendor":"Laurie Copley","type":"Paperback","tags":["Children and family ministry","Collective worship","Jun-16","Worship"],"price":1199,"price_min":1199,"price_max":1199,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":21769434005604,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857464958","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Big Book of Bible Crafts - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":1199,"weight":399,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857464958","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464958-l.jpg?v=1549043154"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464958-l.jpg?v=1549043154","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":3238877823115,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.703,"height":650,"width":457,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464958-l.jpg?v=1549043154"},"aspect_ratio":0.703,"height":650,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464958-l.jpg?v=1549043154","width":457}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eIf only you knew that every craft you planned for your children's ministry would be a winner... Now you can be certain of success with over 100 tried-and-tested crafts, submitted by children's workers like you, and used with real kids in real churches. Structured into three sections of crafts for younger and older primary ages and for all ages together, The Big Book of Bible Crafts is a lifesaver for Sunday school, midweek groups and holiday clubs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHand in Hand E-Newsletter July 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e110 of the best craft ideas - all contributed by people working with children in churches.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAlmost 20 years ago, at our first Children's Ministry conference, I offered an optional workshop on Bible crafts. I expected 50-100 delegates but almost 400 packed the hall and the workshop had to become a demonstration! Back then there were no books to recommend to those delegates and the many more wanting easy ideas that I met at other training events, so I wrote 100 Simple Bible Craft Ideas for Children - a book now out of print. Since then, a plethora of craft ideas books and web resources have been produced but it is good to see a new collection of simple ideas cross-referenced by Bible passage and season and including some extension ideas on how to incorporate them into a session.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSue Price - Children's Ministry\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e"}
You may also like:
The Big Book of Bible Crafts
£11.99
If only you knew that every craft you planned for your children's ministry would be a winner... Now you can...
{"id":7130706116799,"title":"The BRF Book of 100 Prayers: Resourcing your spiritual journey","handle":"the-brf-book-of-100-prayers","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn illustrated collection of prayers by Martyn Payne. Prayer is at the heart of BRFʼs work, and this special illustrated anniversary collection is a celebration of prayer for BRFʼs centenary year. It can be used in a range of different settings, from individual devotions to corporate worship. Including sections on prayers of preparation, seasonal prayers, and themed prayers for special times and hard times, it is the perfect daily companion to resource your spiritual journey.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart 1: Approaching God\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePart 2: Prayers for the journey\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePart 3: Seasons of the Christian year\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePart 4: Together through the generations\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePart 5: How should we live?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8IEyVK5wrZI\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor information\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFormerly part of BRFʼs Messy Church team, Martyn Payne is BRFʼs prayer advocate and a gifted storyteller whose previous books The Big Story (2011) and Creative Ways to Tell a Bible Story (2012) demonstrate the variety of approaches he uses to bring the Bible alive for children and adults alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry Summer 2023. Review by Liz Pacey\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor those of us who regularly write prayers, this book has immediate appeal. A celebration of BRF’s centenary year, the slim, attractively bound volume is a joy to hold. Most prayers were written and shared online during the pandemic, and it is very special to reflect on words of encouragement from those difficult times. The book also covers a wider timespan, containing prayers and excerpts written at the beginning of the BRF ministry. It is wonderful to look back and see how prayer has truly shaped a ministry and made it bloom. The book has five categories: Approaching God; Prayers for the Journey; Seasons of the Christian Year; Together through the generations; How should we live? Each short daily prayer is accompanied by a thought, many of which are quotations from a wide variety of spiritual leaders, past and present. It encourages us to take the space to pray, meditate and wonder on our own, and then be prepared to be catapulted into the heady joy of sharing. A book to keep and, maybe, buy an extra copy as a gift.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Liz Pacey \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCountry Way Autumn 2022\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003eThis is a small hardback book with a ribbon book mark. It would easily fit into a small back or not take up much space in a rucksack. This book has been published to commemorate the centenary of the Bible Reading Foundation to ‘Resource Your Spiritual Journey’. In the foreword, it reminds us that the world was fighting a pandemic in 1918, just as we were fighting our own pandemic in 2020 and tells us that nearly all of the prayers written in this book were done so during the lockdown of Covid-19. The prayers are divided into five sections which can be used in either a church setting or by individuals. What I liked best about this book is that not only do you have the prayers, but there are also little quotes or thoughts and occasionally a bible verse, written on each page. These little messages helped me to think more deeply about what had been written in the prayers and definitely guided me on my journey. This book would make a lovely gift for a friend or loved one, whether they are just starting out on their spiritual journey or are well travelled.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMethodist Recorder 26.08.22. Review by Judith Lampard\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eIn order to celebrate its centenary, BRF has published this treasury of prayers. Appropriately, The BRF Book of 100 Prayers: Resourcing your Spiritual Journey by Martin Payne begins with its Centenary Prayer thanking God for the growth of the work, from its local beginnings to its worldwide reach today. The Rev Leslie Mannering’s challenging words to his congregation in Brixton, south London, 100 years ago are remembered: ‘How can St Matthew’s become a spiritual force?… Only if our congregation as a solid whole realises that prayer and intercession is their supreme work as Christians.’ This is still BRFs’ vision today. Currently BRF has four areas of ministry: Anna Chaplaincy, offering spiritual care in older life; Living Faith; Messy Church and Parenting for Faith. Many readers will be aware of the regular prayer resources the charity produces. This book is a most welcome addition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eMartyn Payne reminds readers that at the end of the First World War, the so-called Spanish flu killed around 50 million people. A century later the coronavirus pandemic spread rapidly around the world, again causing millions of deaths. Many of these prayers were composed at the time of this pandemic, some appearing initially on social media. With the similarity of emotions of fear, anxiety and loss, at both the start and close of this centenary, BRF is again encouraging people to ‘get a move on’ spiritually, as the need for prayer is as urgent today as it was a century ago.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eThese 100 new prayers are intended for private and public use and are divided into five sections: Approaching God, Prayers for the journey, Seasons of the year, Together through the generations, and How should we live? The text is accessible, concise, with well-chosen language and illustrations to complement the words. In addition to the numbered prayers, there are thoughts, comments and biblical quotes offering inspiration, hope and encouragement to readers on their personal spiritual journeys.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eThe BRF Book of 100 Prayers, in addition to the useful, excellent, content, comes with an attractive cover and a ribbon marker and would be very suitable as a gift on significant occasions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eReviewed by Judith Lampard, a local preacher in the City Road circuit.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2022-01-20T17:07:09+00:00","created_at":"2022-01-10T16:46:29+00:00","vendor":"Martyn Payne","type":"Hardback","tags":["Biblical engagement","Centenary Collection","Devotional","Glassboxx","Prayer"],"price":1299,"price_min":1299,"price_max":1299,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":41214473273535,"title":"Hardback","option1":"Hardback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781800391475","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":31387119091903,"product_id":7130706116799,"position":1,"created_at":"2022-01-10T16:46:29+00:00","updated_at":"2022-10-05T15:17:17+01:00","alt":null,"width":1000,"height":1603,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391475.jpg?v=1664979437","variant_ids":[41214473273535]},"available":true,"name":"The BRF Book of 100 Prayers: Resourcing your spiritual journey - Hardback","public_title":"Hardback","options":["Hardback"],"price":1299,"weight":200,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781800391475","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":23845249319103,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.624,"height":1603,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391475.jpg?v=1664979437"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391475.jpg?v=1664979437"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391475.jpg?v=1664979437","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":23845249319103,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.624,"height":1603,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391475.jpg?v=1664979437"},"aspect_ratio":0.624,"height":1603,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391475.jpg?v=1664979437","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eAn illustrated collection of prayers by Martyn Payne. Prayer is at the heart of BRFʼs work, and this special illustrated anniversary collection is a celebration of prayer for BRFʼs centenary year. It can be used in a range of different settings, from individual devotions to corporate worship. Including sections on prayers of preparation, seasonal prayers, and themed prayers for special times and hard times, it is the perfect daily companion to resource your spiritual journey.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart 1: Approaching God\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePart 2: Prayers for the journey\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePart 3: Seasons of the Christian year\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePart 4: Together through the generations\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePart 5: How should we live?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8IEyVK5wrZI\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor information\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFormerly part of BRFʼs Messy Church team, Martyn Payne is BRFʼs prayer advocate and a gifted storyteller whose previous books The Big Story (2011) and Creative Ways to Tell a Bible Story (2012) demonstrate the variety of approaches he uses to bring the Bible alive for children and adults alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry Summer 2023. Review by Liz Pacey\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor those of us who regularly write prayers, this book has immediate appeal. A celebration of BRF’s centenary year, the slim, attractively bound volume is a joy to hold. Most prayers were written and shared online during the pandemic, and it is very special to reflect on words of encouragement from those difficult times. The book also covers a wider timespan, containing prayers and excerpts written at the beginning of the BRF ministry. It is wonderful to look back and see how prayer has truly shaped a ministry and made it bloom. The book has five categories: Approaching God; Prayers for the Journey; Seasons of the Christian Year; Together through the generations; How should we live? Each short daily prayer is accompanied by a thought, many of which are quotations from a wide variety of spiritual leaders, past and present. It encourages us to take the space to pray, meditate and wonder on our own, and then be prepared to be catapulted into the heady joy of sharing. A book to keep and, maybe, buy an extra copy as a gift.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Liz Pacey \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCountry Way Autumn 2022\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003eThis is a small hardback book with a ribbon book mark. It would easily fit into a small back or not take up much space in a rucksack. This book has been published to commemorate the centenary of the Bible Reading Foundation to ‘Resource Your Spiritual Journey’. In the foreword, it reminds us that the world was fighting a pandemic in 1918, just as we were fighting our own pandemic in 2020 and tells us that nearly all of the prayers written in this book were done so during the lockdown of Covid-19. The prayers are divided into five sections which can be used in either a church setting or by individuals. What I liked best about this book is that not only do you have the prayers, but there are also little quotes or thoughts and occasionally a bible verse, written on each page. These little messages helped me to think more deeply about what had been written in the prayers and definitely guided me on my journey. This book would make a lovely gift for a friend or loved one, whether they are just starting out on their spiritual journey or are well travelled.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMethodist Recorder 26.08.22. Review by Judith Lampard\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eIn order to celebrate its centenary, BRF has published this treasury of prayers. Appropriately, The BRF Book of 100 Prayers: Resourcing your Spiritual Journey by Martin Payne begins with its Centenary Prayer thanking God for the growth of the work, from its local beginnings to its worldwide reach today. The Rev Leslie Mannering’s challenging words to his congregation in Brixton, south London, 100 years ago are remembered: ‘How can St Matthew’s become a spiritual force?… Only if our congregation as a solid whole realises that prayer and intercession is their supreme work as Christians.’ This is still BRFs’ vision today. Currently BRF has four areas of ministry: Anna Chaplaincy, offering spiritual care in older life; Living Faith; Messy Church and Parenting for Faith. Many readers will be aware of the regular prayer resources the charity produces. This book is a most welcome addition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eMartyn Payne reminds readers that at the end of the First World War, the so-called Spanish flu killed around 50 million people. A century later the coronavirus pandemic spread rapidly around the world, again causing millions of deaths. Many of these prayers were composed at the time of this pandemic, some appearing initially on social media. With the similarity of emotions of fear, anxiety and loss, at both the start and close of this centenary, BRF is again encouraging people to ‘get a move on’ spiritually, as the need for prayer is as urgent today as it was a century ago.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eThese 100 new prayers are intended for private and public use and are divided into five sections: Approaching God, Prayers for the journey, Seasons of the year, Together through the generations, and How should we live? The text is accessible, concise, with well-chosen language and illustrations to complement the words. In addition to the numbered prayers, there are thoughts, comments and biblical quotes offering inspiration, hope and encouragement to readers on their personal spiritual journeys.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eThe BRF Book of 100 Prayers, in addition to the useful, excellent, content, comes with an attractive cover and a ribbon marker and would be very suitable as a gift on significant occasions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eReviewed by Judith Lampard, a local preacher in the City Road circuit.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
You may also like:
The BRF Book of 100 Prayers: Resourcing your spiritual journey
£12.99
An illustrated collection of prayers by Martyn Payne. Prayer is at the heart of BRFʼs work, and this special illustrated anniversary...
{"id":14698948329852,"title":"The BRF Book of 100 Prayers: Resourcing your spiritual journey","handle":"the-brf-book-of-100-prayers-resourcing-your-spiritual-journey","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDigital eBook Only - \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eAn illustrated collection of prayers by Martyn Payne. Prayer is at the heart of BRFʼs work, and this special illustrated anniversary collection is a celebration of prayer for BRFʼs centenary year. It can be used in a range of different settings, from individual devotions to corporate worship. Including sections on prayers of preparation, seasonal prayers, and themed prayers for special times and hard times, it is the perfect daily companion to resource your spiritual journey.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart 1: Approaching God\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePart 2: Prayers for the journey\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePart 3: Seasons of the Christian year\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePart 4: Together through the generations\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePart 5: How should we live?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8IEyVK5wrZI\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor information\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFormerly part of BRFʼs Messy Church team, Martyn Payne is BRFʼs prayer advocate and a gifted storyteller whose previous books The Big Story (2011) and Creative Ways to Tell a Bible Story (2012) demonstrate the variety of approaches he uses to bring the Bible alive for children and adults alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry Summer 2023. Review by Liz Pacey\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor those of us who regularly write prayers, this book has immediate appeal. A celebration of BRF’s centenary year, the slim, attractively bound volume is a joy to hold. Most prayers were written and shared online during the pandemic, and it is very special to reflect on words of encouragement from those difficult times. The book also covers a wider timespan, containing prayers and excerpts written at the beginning of the BRF ministry. It is wonderful to look back and see how prayer has truly shaped a ministry and made it bloom. The book has five categories: Approaching God; Prayers for the Journey; Seasons of the Christian Year; Together through the generations; How should we live? Each short daily prayer is accompanied by a thought, many of which are quotations from a wide variety of spiritual leaders, past and present. It encourages us to take the space to pray, meditate and wonder on our own, and then be prepared to be catapulted into the heady joy of sharing. A book to keep and, maybe, buy an extra copy as a gift.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Liz Pacey \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCountry Way Autumn 2022\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003eThis is a small hardback book with a ribbon book mark. It would easily fit into a small back or not take up much space in a rucksack. This book has been published to commemorate the centenary of the Bible Reading Foundation to ‘Resource Your Spiritual Journey’. In the foreword, it reminds us that the world was fighting a pandemic in 1918, just as we were fighting our own pandemic in 2020 and tells us that nearly all of the prayers written in this book were done so during the lockdown of Covid-19. The prayers are divided into five sections which can be used in either a church setting or by individuals. What I liked best about this book is that not only do you have the prayers, but there are also little quotes or thoughts and occasionally a bible verse, written on each page. These little messages helped me to think more deeply about what had been written in the prayers and definitely guided me on my journey. This book would make a lovely gift for a friend or loved one, whether they are just starting out on their spiritual journey or are well travelled.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMethodist Recorder 26.08.22. Review by Judith Lampard\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eIn order to celebrate its centenary, BRF has published this treasury of prayers. Appropriately, The BRF Book of 100 Prayers: Resourcing your Spiritual Journey by Martin Payne begins with its Centenary Prayer thanking God for the growth of the work, from its local beginnings to its worldwide reach today. The Rev Leslie Mannering’s challenging words to his congregation in Brixton, south London, 100 years ago are remembered: ‘How can St Matthew’s become a spiritual force?… Only if our congregation as a solid whole realises that prayer and intercession is their supreme work as Christians.’ This is still BRFs’ vision today. Currently BRF has four areas of ministry: Anna Chaplaincy, offering spiritual care in older life; Living Faith; Messy Church and Parenting for Faith. Many readers will be aware of the regular prayer resources the charity produces. This book is a most welcome addition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eMartyn Payne reminds readers that at the end of the First World War, the so-called Spanish flu killed around 50 million people. A century later the coronavirus pandemic spread rapidly around the world, again causing millions of deaths. Many of these prayers were composed at the time of this pandemic, some appearing initially on social media. With the similarity of emotions of fear, anxiety and loss, at both the start and close of this centenary, BRF is again encouraging people to ‘get a move on’ spiritually, as the need for prayer is as urgent today as it was a century ago.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eThese 100 new prayers are intended for private and public use and are divided into five sections: Approaching God, Prayers for the journey, Seasons of the year, Together through the generations, and How should we live? The text is accessible, concise, with well-chosen language and illustrations to complement the words. In addition to the numbered prayers, there are thoughts, comments and biblical quotes offering inspiration, hope and encouragement to readers on their personal spiritual journeys.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eThe BRF Book of 100 Prayers, in addition to the useful, excellent, content, comes with an attractive cover and a ribbon marker and would be very suitable as a gift on significant occasions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eReviewed by Judith Lampard, a local preacher in the City Road circuit.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2024-10-28T15:49:05+00:00","created_at":"2024-10-28T15:48:16+00:00","vendor":"Martyn Payne","type":"eBook","tags":["Biblical engagement","Centenary Collection","Devotional","Glassboxx","Prayer"],"price":1299,"price_min":1299,"price_max":1299,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":53602954969468,"title":"eBook","option1":"eBook","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781800391697","requires_shipping":false,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The BRF Book of 100 Prayers: Resourcing your spiritual journey - eBook","public_title":"eBook","options":["eBook"],"price":1299,"weight":200,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781800391697","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/194.png?v=1730134967","\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/196.png?v=1730134948"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/194.png?v=1730134967","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":62923503468924,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"width":1303,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/194.png?v=1730134967"},"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/194.png?v=1730134967","width":1303},{"alt":null,"id":62923501535612,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"width":1303,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/196.png?v=1730134948"},"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/196.png?v=1730134948","width":1303}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan style=\"color: rgb(255, 42, 0);\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDigital eBook Only - \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eAn illustrated collection of prayers by Martyn Payne. Prayer is at the heart of BRFʼs work, and this special illustrated anniversary collection is a celebration of prayer for BRFʼs centenary year. It can be used in a range of different settings, from individual devotions to corporate worship. Including sections on prayers of preparation, seasonal prayers, and themed prayers for special times and hard times, it is the perfect daily companion to resource your spiritual journey.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart 1: Approaching God\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePart 2: Prayers for the journey\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePart 3: Seasons of the Christian year\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePart 4: Together through the generations\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePart 5: How should we live?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ciframe title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8IEyVK5wrZI\" height=\"315\" width=\"560\" allowfullscreen=\"\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" frameborder=\"0\"\u003e\u003c\/iframe\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor information\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFormerly part of BRFʼs Messy Church team, Martyn Payne is BRFʼs prayer advocate and a gifted storyteller whose previous books The Big Story (2011) and Creative Ways to Tell a Bible Story (2012) demonstrate the variety of approaches he uses to bring the Bible alive for children and adults alike.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry Summer 2023. Review by Liz Pacey\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor those of us who regularly write prayers, this book has immediate appeal. A celebration of BRF’s centenary year, the slim, attractively bound volume is a joy to hold. Most prayers were written and shared online during the pandemic, and it is very special to reflect on words of encouragement from those difficult times. The book also covers a wider timespan, containing prayers and excerpts written at the beginning of the BRF ministry. It is wonderful to look back and see how prayer has truly shaped a ministry and made it bloom. The book has five categories: Approaching God; Prayers for the Journey; Seasons of the Christian Year; Together through the generations; How should we live? Each short daily prayer is accompanied by a thought, many of which are quotations from a wide variety of spiritual leaders, past and present. It encourages us to take the space to pray, meditate and wonder on our own, and then be prepared to be catapulted into the heady joy of sharing. A book to keep and, maybe, buy an extra copy as a gift.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Liz Pacey \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eCountry Way Autumn 2022\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003eThis is a small hardback book with a ribbon book mark. It would easily fit into a small back or not take up much space in a rucksack. This book has been published to commemorate the centenary of the Bible Reading Foundation to ‘Resource Your Spiritual Journey’. In the foreword, it reminds us that the world was fighting a pandemic in 1918, just as we were fighting our own pandemic in 2020 and tells us that nearly all of the prayers written in this book were done so during the lockdown of Covid-19. The prayers are divided into five sections which can be used in either a church setting or by individuals. What I liked best about this book is that not only do you have the prayers, but there are also little quotes or thoughts and occasionally a bible verse, written on each page. These little messages helped me to think more deeply about what had been written in the prayers and definitely guided me on my journey. This book would make a lovely gift for a friend or loved one, whether they are just starting out on their spiritual journey or are well travelled.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eMethodist Recorder 26.08.22. Review by Judith Lampard\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eIn order to celebrate its centenary, BRF has published this treasury of prayers. Appropriately, The BRF Book of 100 Prayers: Resourcing your Spiritual Journey by Martin Payne begins with its Centenary Prayer thanking God for the growth of the work, from its local beginnings to its worldwide reach today. The Rev Leslie Mannering’s challenging words to his congregation in Brixton, south London, 100 years ago are remembered: ‘How can St Matthew’s become a spiritual force?… Only if our congregation as a solid whole realises that prayer and intercession is their supreme work as Christians.’ This is still BRFs’ vision today. Currently BRF has four areas of ministry: Anna Chaplaincy, offering spiritual care in older life; Living Faith; Messy Church and Parenting for Faith. Many readers will be aware of the regular prayer resources the charity produces. This book is a most welcome addition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eMartyn Payne reminds readers that at the end of the First World War, the so-called Spanish flu killed around 50 million people. A century later the coronavirus pandemic spread rapidly around the world, again causing millions of deaths. Many of these prayers were composed at the time of this pandemic, some appearing initially on social media. With the similarity of emotions of fear, anxiety and loss, at both the start and close of this centenary, BRF is again encouraging people to ‘get a move on’ spiritually, as the need for prayer is as urgent today as it was a century ago.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eThese 100 new prayers are intended for private and public use and are divided into five sections: Approaching God, Prayers for the journey, Seasons of the year, Together through the generations, and How should we live? The text is accessible, concise, with well-chosen language and illustrations to complement the words. In addition to the numbered prayers, there are thoughts, comments and biblical quotes offering inspiration, hope and encouragement to readers on their personal spiritual journeys.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eThe BRF Book of 100 Prayers, in addition to the useful, excellent, content, comes with an attractive cover and a ribbon marker and would be very suitable as a gift on significant occasions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003ci\u003eReviewed by Judith Lampard, a local preacher in the City Road circuit.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"x_MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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The BRF Book of 100 Prayers: Resourcing your spiritual journey
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Digital eBook Only - An illustrated collection of prayers by Martyn Payne. Prayer is at the heart of BRFʼs work, and...
{"id":6841099911359,"title":"The BRF Book of 365 Bible Reflections: with contributions from BRF authors, supporters and well-wishers","handle":"the-brf-book-of-365-bible-reflections-with-contributions-from-brf-authors-supporters-and-well-wishers","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe Bible is at the heart of BRF’s work, and this special anniversary collection is a celebration of the Bible for BRF’s centenary year. Bringing together a fantastically wide-ranging writing team of authors, supporters and well-wishers from all areas of BRF’s work, this resource is designed to help us go deeper into the story of the Bible and reflect on how we can share it in our everyday lives.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIncluding sections which lead us through the Bible narrative as well as thematic and seasonal sections, it is the perfect daily companion to resource your spiritual journey.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eContributors include: Ian Adams, John Bell, Inderjit Bhogal, Amy Boucher Pye, Stephen Cottrell, Steven Croft, Mark Greene, Isabelle Hamley, Bob Hartman, Bev Jullien, Krish Kandiah, Paul Kerensa, Ann Lewin, Bex Lewis, Chine McDonald, Lucy Moore, Rob Parsons, John Pritchard, Jennifer Rees Larcombe, Pam Rhodes, Margaret Silf, Jo Swinney, Stephen Timms, Graham Tomlin and Justin Welby.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eReviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry (digital version May 2022). Reviewed by David Sellick\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eThe year 2022 celebrates the centenary of BRF’s famous notes encouraging Bible reading and supporting faith. The 365 reflections are grouped into five sections; Seeing God in the Bible, Journeying through the Bible, Journeying through the Christian year, Together through the generations, and How should we live? Only the ‘Christian Year’ section is chronologically tied; the other sections can be dipped into individually; this is facilitated by a page ‘Index of Bible references’ at the end of the book; Readers could use this to take them to a page where the Bible passage that had stimulated the writer’s ‘reflection’ is printed matches the passage that is part of a reading set for the day on which the Reader is due to preach. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe editors selected single ‘reflections’ from the invited writers – many of great eminence – so ‘the result is a glorious range of different perspectives on God’s word’. The Bible extracts are from every book in the Bible, and come from 17 different Bible translations. Some reflections are personal, some are moving, many are challenging and thought provoking; the compilation can be used as a resource or simply read as an illustration of how just a couple of Bible verses can stimulate such a wide range profound insights into faith and practice.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by David Sellick \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviewed by Canon John Twisleton, December 2021\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA hundred years ago in January 2022 Revd Leslie Mannering of St Matthew’s Brixton circulated his first monthly leaflet of bible readings with commentaries ‘for the purpose of deepening the life of Prayer, Bible-reading and Holy Communion in each one of us’. So began what became the world-wide movement we know as BRF, the Bible Reading Fellowship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Centenary is being launched with publication of 365 bible reflections written by different contributors, including myself, geared to energise searching of scripture and submission of lives to the Word of God. As Sally Welch writes, ‘we are not a people of a book… we are children of God… we follow a person, not a page; the Word, not words’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe genius of BRF is its steering away from both biblical literalism and renegotiation of scripture to fit in with contemporary thinking. \u003cem\u003eThe BRF book of 365 Bible Reflections\u003c\/em\u003e is a series of windows to be opened daily providing ‘light to our paths’ (Psalm 119:105).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe variety of readings and contributors are structured around celebrating the transformative power of scripture and ‘BRF’s long history of coming alongside people at all stages of faith, encouraging Bible reading and everyday faith since 1922’. A third of the commentaries are constituted from daily readings journeying through Old and New Testament without Apocrypha. Another third journeys through the Christian year from Advent to Pentecost. Shorter sections include praying the Psalms, the Bible and old age and a final section linked to the marks of mission adopted by the Anglican Communion: tell, teach, tend, transform and treasure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe theme of ‘Sharing the Story’ runs through the collection of one page reflections which end appropriately with the invitation in Romans to listen more deeply to the longings of creation and deepen environmental stewardship. The book is well geared for flexible use as, for examples, deciding to use it in a season like Lent or to follow a three month tour through Old and New Testament or spend a fortnight on what the Bible has to say to older people. Each day has different scripture and contributor and that makes for ongoing freshness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is no word of God without power. In this book BRF provides a variety of insight from hundreds of co-authors into the transforming power of the good news of Jesus Christ.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Canon Dr John Twisleton \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviewed by Richard Frost\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was George Eliot who coined the phrase: ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover.’\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWell, when it comes to \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe BRF Book of 365 Bible Reflections\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003ethe cover is the starting point to a beautiful collection of daily readings to celebrate an organisation which has been sharing the story since 1922.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBRF reaches in to many different places in our communities and churches. From Messy Church and Parenting for Faith through to Holy Habits and Anna Chaplaincy. And still, one hundred years on, at the core of its overall ministry, alongside many other books, remains the provision of daily readings and reflections. And this book is no exception.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGathering together contributions from BRF authors, supporters and well-wishers, we are taken through the Bible and the Christian year, enabled to consider five aspects of how we can live and to cross generational barriers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut this is no ordinary set of daily readings. And that is its genius.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor it is only in Advent where the readings are dated. Lent is split in to weeks but aside from that, those seasonal times are there for you as a reader to make your own way of encountering God through scripture. The rest of the book is completely undated: and that for me, although the editors describe it as ‘controversial’, is where that genius lies. For so many of us feel guilty when we ‘fall behind’ with our daily readings. Many of us may feel that in particular periods we want to move on to a different topic or set of passages but somehow feel tied to following the timetable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd there is one other aspect which is equally brilliant. Some of the contributors are well-known. Others, like your reviewer, less well. Some are living. Some are living in glory. And they are all listed. But there’s no index. So, it’s not possible to simply look up one’s favourites writers and read only them. And why is that genius? Because it enables us to give intentional attention to God and not to people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is those two factors, alongside an indexed list of Bible passages, which for me give this book the structure that enables us to encounter God in new ways every day of the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThrough its meaningful and thoughtful reflections, this book enables the reader to encounter the riches of the Bible in the complete freedom that God both allows and wants for us. It provides a wealth of biblical insights combined with practical reflections and suggestions for living out our faith in modern times. May it be a rich blessing to you as you encounter God’s love through it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRichard Frost is the author of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/life-with-st-benedict-the-rule-re-imagined-for-everyday-living\"\u003eLife with St Benedict\u003c\/a\u003e and writes a blog at \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/workrestpray.com\/\"\u003eworkrestpray.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2021-08-12T08:55:48+01:00","created_at":"2021-07-28T21:00:55+01:00","vendor":"Karen Laister and Olivia Warburton","type":"Jacketed hardback","tags":["Centenary Collection","Devotional","For individuals","Glassboxx","oct-21","Prayer"],"price":1499,"price_min":1499,"price_max":1499,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":43664142074047,"title":"Jacketed Hardback","option1":"Jacketed Hardback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781800391000","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":29500299739327,"product_id":6841099911359,"position":1,"created_at":"2021-07-28T21:00:57+01:00","updated_at":"2021-07-28T21:00:57+01:00","alt":null,"width":1177,"height":1800,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391000.jpg?v=1627502457","variant_ids":[43664142074047]},"available":true,"name":"The BRF Book of 365 Bible Reflections: with contributions from BRF authors, supporters and well-wishers - Jacketed Hardback","public_title":"Jacketed Hardback","options":["Jacketed Hardback"],"price":1499,"weight":770,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781800391000","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":21874976325823,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.654,"height":1800,"width":1177,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391000.jpg?v=1627502457"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391000.jpg?v=1627502457"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391000.jpg?v=1627502457","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":21874976325823,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.654,"height":1800,"width":1177,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391000.jpg?v=1627502457"},"aspect_ratio":0.654,"height":1800,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391000.jpg?v=1627502457","width":1177}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eThe Bible is at the heart of BRF’s work, and this special anniversary collection is a celebration of the Bible for BRF’s centenary year. Bringing together a fantastically wide-ranging writing team of authors, supporters and well-wishers from all areas of BRF’s work, this resource is designed to help us go deeper into the story of the Bible and reflect on how we can share it in our everyday lives.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIncluding sections which lead us through the Bible narrative as well as thematic and seasonal sections, it is the perfect daily companion to resource your spiritual journey.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eContributors include: Ian Adams, John Bell, Inderjit Bhogal, Amy Boucher Pye, Stephen Cottrell, Steven Croft, Mark Greene, Isabelle Hamley, Bob Hartman, Bev Jullien, Krish Kandiah, Paul Kerensa, Ann Lewin, Bex Lewis, Chine McDonald, Lucy Moore, Rob Parsons, John Pritchard, Jennifer Rees Larcombe, Pam Rhodes, Margaret Silf, Jo Swinney, Stephen Timms, Graham Tomlin and Justin Welby.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eReviews\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry (digital version May 2022). Reviewed by David Sellick\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003eThe year 2022 celebrates the centenary of BRF’s famous notes encouraging Bible reading and supporting faith. The 365 reflections are grouped into five sections; Seeing God in the Bible, Journeying through the Bible, Journeying through the Christian year, Together through the generations, and How should we live? Only the ‘Christian Year’ section is chronologically tied; the other sections can be dipped into individually; this is facilitated by a page ‘Index of Bible references’ at the end of the book; Readers could use this to take them to a page where the Bible passage that had stimulated the writer’s ‘reflection’ is printed matches the passage that is part of a reading set for the day on which the Reader is due to preach. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe editors selected single ‘reflections’ from the invited writers – many of great eminence – so ‘the result is a glorious range of different perspectives on God’s word’. The Bible extracts are from every book in the Bible, and come from 17 different Bible translations. Some reflections are personal, some are moving, many are challenging and thought provoking; the compilation can be used as a resource or simply read as an illustration of how just a couple of Bible verses can stimulate such a wide range profound insights into faith and practice.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by David Sellick \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviewed by Canon John Twisleton, December 2021\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA hundred years ago in January 2022 Revd Leslie Mannering of St Matthew’s Brixton circulated his first monthly leaflet of bible readings with commentaries ‘for the purpose of deepening the life of Prayer, Bible-reading and Holy Communion in each one of us’. So began what became the world-wide movement we know as BRF, the Bible Reading Fellowship.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Centenary is being launched with publication of 365 bible reflections written by different contributors, including myself, geared to energise searching of scripture and submission of lives to the Word of God. As Sally Welch writes, ‘we are not a people of a book… we are children of God… we follow a person, not a page; the Word, not words’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe genius of BRF is its steering away from both biblical literalism and renegotiation of scripture to fit in with contemporary thinking. \u003cem\u003eThe BRF book of 365 Bible Reflections\u003c\/em\u003e is a series of windows to be opened daily providing ‘light to our paths’ (Psalm 119:105).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe variety of readings and contributors are structured around celebrating the transformative power of scripture and ‘BRF’s long history of coming alongside people at all stages of faith, encouraging Bible reading and everyday faith since 1922’. A third of the commentaries are constituted from daily readings journeying through Old and New Testament without Apocrypha. Another third journeys through the Christian year from Advent to Pentecost. Shorter sections include praying the Psalms, the Bible and old age and a final section linked to the marks of mission adopted by the Anglican Communion: tell, teach, tend, transform and treasure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe theme of ‘Sharing the Story’ runs through the collection of one page reflections which end appropriately with the invitation in Romans to listen more deeply to the longings of creation and deepen environmental stewardship. The book is well geared for flexible use as, for examples, deciding to use it in a season like Lent or to follow a three month tour through Old and New Testament or spend a fortnight on what the Bible has to say to older people. Each day has different scripture and contributor and that makes for ongoing freshness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is no word of God without power. In this book BRF provides a variety of insight from hundreds of co-authors into the transforming power of the good news of Jesus Christ.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Canon Dr John Twisleton \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReviewed by Richard Frost\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was George Eliot who coined the phrase: ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover.’\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWell, when it comes to \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe BRF Book of 365 Bible Reflections\u003c\/em\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003ethe cover is the starting point to a beautiful collection of daily readings to celebrate an organisation which has been sharing the story since 1922.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBRF reaches in to many different places in our communities and churches. From Messy Church and Parenting for Faith through to Holy Habits and Anna Chaplaincy. And still, one hundred years on, at the core of its overall ministry, alongside many other books, remains the provision of daily readings and reflections. And this book is no exception.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGathering together contributions from BRF authors, supporters and well-wishers, we are taken through the Bible and the Christian year, enabled to consider five aspects of how we can live and to cross generational barriers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut this is no ordinary set of daily readings. And that is its genius.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor it is only in Advent where the readings are dated. Lent is split in to weeks but aside from that, those seasonal times are there for you as a reader to make your own way of encountering God through scripture. The rest of the book is completely undated: and that for me, although the editors describe it as ‘controversial’, is where that genius lies. For so many of us feel guilty when we ‘fall behind’ with our daily readings. Many of us may feel that in particular periods we want to move on to a different topic or set of passages but somehow feel tied to following the timetable.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd there is one other aspect which is equally brilliant. Some of the contributors are well-known. Others, like your reviewer, less well. Some are living. Some are living in glory. And they are all listed. But there’s no index. So, it’s not possible to simply look up one’s favourites writers and read only them. And why is that genius? Because it enables us to give intentional attention to God and not to people.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is those two factors, alongside an indexed list of Bible passages, which for me give this book the structure that enables us to encounter God in new ways every day of the year.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThrough its meaningful and thoughtful reflections, this book enables the reader to encounter the riches of the Bible in the complete freedom that God both allows and wants for us. It provides a wealth of biblical insights combined with practical reflections and suggestions for living out our faith in modern times. May it be a rich blessing to you as you encounter God’s love through it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRichard Frost is the author of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/life-with-st-benedict-the-rule-re-imagined-for-everyday-living\"\u003eLife with St Benedict\u003c\/a\u003e and writes a blog at \u003ca href=\"http:\/\/workrestpray.com\/\"\u003eworkrestpray.com\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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The BRF Book of 365 Bible Reflections: with contributions from BRF authors, supporters and well-wishers
£14.99
The Bible is at the heart of BRF’s work, and this special anniversary collection is a celebration of the Bible...
{"id":4853345976459,"title":"The Celtic Year: A rhythm of prayer and meditation for the eight points of the Celtic year","handle":"the-celtic-year-a-rhythm-of-prayer-and-meditation-for-the-eight-points-of-the-celtic-year","description":"\u003cp\u003e‘David Cole is a careful, wise and skilful writer and guide.’\u003cbr\u003eThe Revd Canon Professor James Woodward, Principal, Sarum College, Salisbury\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFollowing the ancient rhythm of the Celtic year, these prayers, meditations and liturgies will help you focus on the natural flow of life as it changes around you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased on the eight points of the Celtic year – the four season changes, and the four midpoints of each season – and moving from winter to spring, summer and harvest, each of the eight sections includes a liturgy for a full service, a week of daily readings, guided contemplations and a selection of prayers and blessings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePreviously a full-time church minister, David Cole is an international spiritual teacher and retreat leader, an award-winning author and the Deputy Guardian for the Community of Aidan and Hilda. He is also the founder of Waymark Ministries, which creates opportunities for people to engage with the Christian message.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing the Celtic year and reconnecting with the cycles of the earth’s turning in relation to the sun, moon and seasons, David Cole provides a rich diet of biblically based daily devotions which will sustain, challenge and comfort all who follow them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProfessor Ian Bradley, emeritus professor of cultural and spiritual history, University of St Andrews, and author of Following the Celtic Way\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCountless people have long been crying out for a book such as this. It is well researched, beautifully crafted, and will, I think, become a classic.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRay Simpson, founding guardian of the International Community of Aidan and Hilda (aidanandhilda.org)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid has provided us with a beautifully crafted, richly resourced and easy-to-use worship book that will enable us to worship our God in tune with the seasons. I felt my heart lifted by the compelling blend of ancient stories of faith, enlivening scriptures, thoughtful reflections and earthy, yet heaven-touching, prayers and blessings.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMichael Mitton, leader of international Celtic pilgrimages and author of Restoring the Woven Cord\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Celtic Year: A rhythm of prayer and meditation for the eight points of the Celtic year, \u003c\/em\u003eDavid Cole, Abingdon: 2020, 160 pp, £8.99, 9780857469687\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews \u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/transformingministrymagazine.co.uk\/the-celtic-year\/\"\u003eonline\u003c\/a\u003e November 2020. Review by Margaret Tinsley\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Cole is well known and respected for the books he has already produced on Celtic Advent, Celtic Saints and Celtic Lent. This new work focuses on the eight points of the Celtic year: the four seasons, and the midpoints of each season. Each of these sections contains an introduction, a liturgy, daily devotions and prayers and blessings. Perhaps, in these uncertain days, like our Celtic forebears, we need to connect more to the cycles of the year and appreciate the flow from samhain, or winter, to imbolc (spring) then to beltane or summer and, finally, lughnasa or lammas, which is autumn. Reading this book is an ideal way to do so, with meaningful and moving liturgies and daily devotions covering a theme for each day of the week, starting with creation on Mondays and leading us through incarnation, the Holy Spirit, community, the cross, the saints to the resurrection or new life. While this carefully researched book is of interest to all readers it is a wonderful resource for those taking services, like Forest Church, which reflect the Celtic tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Margaret Tinsley\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIrish Methodist Newsletter, autumn 2020. Review by Stephen Skuce.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are people who pray, and one of our ongoing challenges is to find the ways and approaches to prayer that are most helpful to us to both meet with God and hear from God. Many find versions of how our Celtic forebears prayed to be increasingly helpful today, and this is where David Cole’s book comes in. It is an attempt to lay out a pattern or rhythm of prayer to assist us, using the Celtic year as the framework.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Celtic year isn’t really that much different to how we understand seasons today. It has a spring, summer, autumn and winter but with one increased emphasis. There are a further four points to the year that relate to the movement of the sun - the two solstices and two equinoxes. On each side of each of these four points there is either a waxing or waning. And so the Celtic year maps a little more overtly onto our usual understanding of the passage of time, which is of course focused on the movement of the earth around the sun in any case. An interesting little quirk is that the Celtic day started at dusk. We might find that strange, but it is the way our Jewish friends still orientate their sabbath and was the way of Jesus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book is split into 8 chapters with a chapter covering winter, a second chapter the winter solstice and so on through the seasons. Within each chapter there is a liturgy which could be used or adapted for a church service, a seven day rhythm of scripture, reflection and prayer with a short final section of appropriate prayers and blessings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Celtic Christianity the seven days of the week each had a focus. Monday is creation, Tuesday is incarnation, Wednesday is the Holy Spirit, Thursday is community, Friday is the cross, Saturday is the saints and Sunday is the resurrection and new life. Occasionally we misunderstand today what we mean regarding the saints. Today we see those who have gone before us as examples of faith and witness. We mine the life of the Wesley’s and so many others for examples to help us. We do the same with the Celtic heroes and heroines of faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe winter of 2020 into 2021 is one that will live long with us for the ongoing awfulness of the global pandemic. So I turn to a prayer for springtime to finish and like most Celtic prayers it is natural, realistic and observational. ‘God bless the earth that is beneath us, the growth that is around us, the spring that is before us, your image deep within us’ (p80).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Revd Dr Stephen Skuce, District Superintendent, the North Western district, the Methodist Church in Ireland\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2020-05-01T16:32:57+01:00","created_at":"2020-05-01T17:00:14+01:00","vendor":"David Cole","type":"Paperback","tags":["Celtic Christianity","Devotional","For individuals","Kindle","Prayer","Sep-20","Spirituality"],"price":899,"price_min":899,"price_max":899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":33574966067339,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857469687","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Celtic Year: A rhythm of prayer and meditation for the eight points of the Celtic year","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":899,"weight":165,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857469687","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469687.jpg?v=1597143907"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469687.jpg?v=1597143907","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":10849066942616,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469687.jpg?v=1597143907"},"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469687.jpg?v=1597143907","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003e‘David Cole is a careful, wise and skilful writer and guide.’\u003cbr\u003eThe Revd Canon Professor James Woodward, Principal, Sarum College, Salisbury\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFollowing the ancient rhythm of the Celtic year, these prayers, meditations and liturgies will help you focus on the natural flow of life as it changes around you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBased on the eight points of the Celtic year – the four season changes, and the four midpoints of each season – and moving from winter to spring, summer and harvest, each of the eight sections includes a liturgy for a full service, a week of daily readings, guided contemplations and a selection of prayers and blessings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePreviously a full-time church minister, David Cole is an international spiritual teacher and retreat leader, an award-winning author and the Deputy Guardian for the Community of Aidan and Hilda. He is also the founder of Waymark Ministries, which creates opportunities for people to engage with the Christian message.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing the Celtic year and reconnecting with the cycles of the earth’s turning in relation to the sun, moon and seasons, David Cole provides a rich diet of biblically based daily devotions which will sustain, challenge and comfort all who follow them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProfessor Ian Bradley, emeritus professor of cultural and spiritual history, University of St Andrews, and author of Following the Celtic Way\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCountless people have long been crying out for a book such as this. It is well researched, beautifully crafted, and will, I think, become a classic.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRay Simpson, founding guardian of the International Community of Aidan and Hilda (aidanandhilda.org)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid has provided us with a beautifully crafted, richly resourced and easy-to-use worship book that will enable us to worship our God in tune with the seasons. I felt my heart lifted by the compelling blend of ancient stories of faith, enlivening scriptures, thoughtful reflections and earthy, yet heaven-touching, prayers and blessings.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMichael Mitton, leader of international Celtic pilgrimages and author of Restoring the Woven Cord\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Celtic Year: A rhythm of prayer and meditation for the eight points of the Celtic year, \u003c\/em\u003eDavid Cole, Abingdon: 2020, 160 pp, £8.99, 9780857469687\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews \u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/transformingministrymagazine.co.uk\/the-celtic-year\/\"\u003eonline\u003c\/a\u003e November 2020. Review by Margaret Tinsley\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDavid Cole is well known and respected for the books he has already produced on Celtic Advent, Celtic Saints and Celtic Lent. This new work focuses on the eight points of the Celtic year: the four seasons, and the midpoints of each season. Each of these sections contains an introduction, a liturgy, daily devotions and prayers and blessings. Perhaps, in these uncertain days, like our Celtic forebears, we need to connect more to the cycles of the year and appreciate the flow from samhain, or winter, to imbolc (spring) then to beltane or summer and, finally, lughnasa or lammas, which is autumn. Reading this book is an ideal way to do so, with meaningful and moving liturgies and daily devotions covering a theme for each day of the week, starting with creation on Mondays and leading us through incarnation, the Holy Spirit, community, the cross, the saints to the resurrection or new life. While this carefully researched book is of interest to all readers it is a wonderful resource for those taking services, like Forest Church, which reflect the Celtic tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Margaret Tinsley\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIrish Methodist Newsletter, autumn 2020. Review by Stephen Skuce.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe are people who pray, and one of our ongoing challenges is to find the ways and approaches to prayer that are most helpful to us to both meet with God and hear from God. Many find versions of how our Celtic forebears prayed to be increasingly helpful today, and this is where David Cole’s book comes in. It is an attempt to lay out a pattern or rhythm of prayer to assist us, using the Celtic year as the framework.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Celtic year isn’t really that much different to how we understand seasons today. It has a spring, summer, autumn and winter but with one increased emphasis. There are a further four points to the year that relate to the movement of the sun - the two solstices and two equinoxes. On each side of each of these four points there is either a waxing or waning. And so the Celtic year maps a little more overtly onto our usual understanding of the passage of time, which is of course focused on the movement of the earth around the sun in any case. An interesting little quirk is that the Celtic day started at dusk. We might find that strange, but it is the way our Jewish friends still orientate their sabbath and was the way of Jesus.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book is split into 8 chapters with a chapter covering winter, a second chapter the winter solstice and so on through the seasons. Within each chapter there is a liturgy which could be used or adapted for a church service, a seven day rhythm of scripture, reflection and prayer with a short final section of appropriate prayers and blessings.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn Celtic Christianity the seven days of the week each had a focus. Monday is creation, Tuesday is incarnation, Wednesday is the Holy Spirit, Thursday is community, Friday is the cross, Saturday is the saints and Sunday is the resurrection and new life. Occasionally we misunderstand today what we mean regarding the saints. Today we see those who have gone before us as examples of faith and witness. We mine the life of the Wesley’s and so many others for examples to help us. We do the same with the Celtic heroes and heroines of faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe winter of 2020 into 2021 is one that will live long with us for the ongoing awfulness of the global pandemic. So I turn to a prayer for springtime to finish and like most Celtic prayers it is natural, realistic and observational. ‘God bless the earth that is beneath us, the growth that is around us, the spring that is before us, your image deep within us’ (p80).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Revd Dr Stephen Skuce, District Superintendent, the North Western district, the Methodist Church in Ireland\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
You may also like:
The Celtic Year: A rhythm of prayer and meditation for the eight points of the Celtic year
£8.99
‘David Cole is a careful, wise and skilful writer and guide.’The Revd Canon Professor James Woodward, Principal, Sarum College, SalisburyFollowing...
{"id":7395855466687,"title":"The Christmas Story","handle":"the-christmas-story-1","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eExplore the story of the first Christmas together as a family!\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Christmas Story\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis written for parents, grandparents and carers to share with their children through an interactive family Bible and prayer time. Each section provides a brief comment on the passage, questions to discuss, a visual aid to encourage engagement with the story, an activity idea, a prayer idea, a key verse and an Old Testament story link.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMultipack offers are available, please do select the quantity you require below.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBuy 10 copies save 10% XMASSTORY10\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBuy 25 copies save 20% XMASSTORY20\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBuy 50 copies save 30% XMASSTORY30\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBuy 100 copies save 40% XMASSTORY40\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePraise for\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Easter Story\u003c\/em\u003e: \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e‘A superb resource. If I were still a minister of a local church, I would ensure that every family in my church received a copy!’ Paul Beasley-Murray,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eChurch Matters\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e'A little gem which brings the Bible to life, introduces creativity and encourages family prayer.' Elizabeth Hogg,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTransforming Ministry \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFormerly part of BRF’s Messy Church team, Martyn Payne is a gifted storyteller whose previous books The Big Story (2011) and Creative Ways to Tell a Bible Story (2012) demonstrate the variety of approaches he uses to bring the Bible alive for children and adults alike. He is passionate about the blessing that comes when generations explore faith together.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry Advent 2021. Review by Sue Piper\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis little book covers the Christmas story from the announcement to Zechariah of the coming of the Christ child, to the escape to Egypt of the Holy family. Each section offers a reading from scripture, followed by a commentary, questions, ideas and activities for families to do together. The author was part of BRF’s Messy Church team and is passionate about the richness experienced when families talk about faith together; this book would make an excellent inexpensive pre-Christmas gift and would generate new ideas and conversations about the importance of celebrating the Nativity and what it means to us today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Sue Piper\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2023-11-08T11:49:45+00:00","created_at":"2022-11-16T16:58:55+00:00","vendor":"Martyn Payne","type":"Paperback","tags":["Advent","Children and family ministry","Christmas","For children","Parenting"],"price":250,"price_min":250,"price_max":250,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":42085442519231,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781800391208","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":33641497002175,"product_id":7395855466687,"position":1,"created_at":"2022-11-16T16:58:57+00:00","updated_at":"2022-11-16T16:58:57+00:00","alt":null,"width":1000,"height":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391208_6b13ed73-6f98-4a4e-ad06-0a622c42b249.jpg?v=1668617937","variant_ids":[42085442519231]},"available":true,"name":"The Christmas Story","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":250,"weight":100,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781800391208","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":26237856612543,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":1000,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391208_6b13ed73-6f98-4a4e-ad06-0a622c42b249.jpg?v=1668617937"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391208_6b13ed73-6f98-4a4e-ad06-0a622c42b249.jpg?v=1668617937"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391208_6b13ed73-6f98-4a4e-ad06-0a622c42b249.jpg?v=1668617937","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":26237856612543,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":1000,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391208_6b13ed73-6f98-4a4e-ad06-0a622c42b249.jpg?v=1668617937"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":1000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800391208_6b13ed73-6f98-4a4e-ad06-0a622c42b249.jpg?v=1668617937","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eExplore the story of the first Christmas together as a family!\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Christmas Story\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis written for parents, grandparents and carers to share with their children through an interactive family Bible and prayer time. Each section provides a brief comment on the passage, questions to discuss, a visual aid to encourage engagement with the story, an activity idea, a prayer idea, a key verse and an Old Testament story link.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eMultipack offers are available, please do select the quantity you require below.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBuy 10 copies save 10% XMASSTORY10\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBuy 25 copies save 20% XMASSTORY20\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBuy 50 copies save 30% XMASSTORY30\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBuy 100 copies save 40% XMASSTORY40\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-mce-fragment=\"1\" style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePraise for\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Easter Story\u003c\/em\u003e: \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e‘A superb resource. If I were still a minister of a local church, I would ensure that every family in my church received a copy!’ Paul Beasley-Murray,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eChurch Matters\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e'A little gem which brings the Bible to life, introduces creativity and encourages family prayer.' Elizabeth Hogg,\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTransforming Ministry \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cem data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFormerly part of BRF’s Messy Church team, Martyn Payne is a gifted storyteller whose previous books The Big Story (2011) and Creative Ways to Tell a Bible Story (2012) demonstrate the variety of approaches he uses to bring the Bible alive for children and adults alike. He is passionate about the blessing that comes when generations explore faith together.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry Advent 2021. Review by Sue Piper\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis little book covers the Christmas story from the announcement to Zechariah of the coming of the Christ child, to the escape to Egypt of the Holy family. Each section offers a reading from scripture, followed by a commentary, questions, ideas and activities for families to do together. The author was part of BRF’s Messy Church team and is passionate about the richness experienced when families talk about faith together; this book would make an excellent inexpensive pre-Christmas gift and would generate new ideas and conversations about the importance of celebrating the Nativity and what it means to us today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Sue Piper\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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The Christmas Story
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Explore the story of the first Christmas together as a family! The Christmas Story is written for parents, grandparents and carers to...
{"id":2439761035364,"title":"The Contemplative Minister: Learning to lead from the still centre","handle":"the-contemplative-minister-learning-to-lead-from-the-still-centre","description":"\u003cp\u003eEugene Peterson's bestselling book \u003cstrong\u003eThe Contemplative Pastor\u003c\/strong\u003e has helped many church leaders to keep a strong spiritual centre to ministry as they are engulfed by the busyness of church life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe church landscape has now moved on considerably since Peterson's book was published 20 years ago, both in the USA and the UK. Electronic media, multi-parish appointments and the ever increasing stress and demands of modern-day ministry have continued to challenge church leaders aggressively. Today, many are looking for a different way of being in ministry, a better way of serving Christ than the relentless busyness and pressure that have become the norm. But how?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan Cowley, Coordinator of Vocations and Spirituality in Salisbury Diocese, offers direction for contemplative leaders in the 21st century, drawing on his South African roots and the influence of contemplative leaders such as Desmond Tutu. He explains practically how to prioritise a relationship with God and lead others into that relationship, creating a shared ministry to allow the leader to nurture faith and spirituality amid the hectic life that is ministry today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is concerned with the central vocation of those who are called to the ordained ministry. As priests, we are called to be people in whom others may see God. There is a great hunger for God among many people today. This is a hunger which is not just for things about God, for sermons, books, talks and videos, but for God himself. A contemplative minister is someone who is called first of all to God and to his heart of love, so that the world may also know God and his love for all that he has made.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eArchbishop Desmond Tutu\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan Cowley is Vocations and Spirituality Coordinator for the Diocese of Salisbury and since 2010 has led and developed The Contemplative Minister programme in the Diocese, which has been greatly appreciated by many clergy. He has also written The Transformation Principle (2002), Going Empty Handed (1996) and A People of Hope (1993). He has been a parish priest in Natal, South Africa, and also in Cambridge and Peterborough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo read Ian's lockdown blog, 'Wild times and the love of God', click \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/blogs\/collections\/wild-times-and-the-love-of-god\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wycliffite issue no 1, Review of reprint (2016)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere was a time when Christian ministry offered the opportunity to spend your life in the study of God's word, in reading and reflection, in prayer and sermon preparation and in the quiet and faithful pastoral care of a community. The world has changed, and with it most of the expectations that govern church appointments. These days there are very few jobs in full time ministry which do not require a heroic combination of stamina, multi-tasking and change management. This book gives practical advice on how to nurture faith and a sense of calling amid the hectic life that is ministry today. Drawing on his experience of developing and leading training programmes in this area, Ian Cowley assesses the stresses and pressures of the job and shows how to grow into being a 'contemplative minister', prioritising a relationship of deepening love with God. He also offers guidance on leading others into that same relationship, without your own spiritual life running dry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReview in \u003cstrong\u003eLead-on \u003c\/strong\u003eJanuary 2018\u003cbr\u003e 'Those who work without prayer - no matter how good the work, no matter how sincere the minister - soon dry up inside.' (John Chittiter) \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The Contemplative Minister aims to help us avoid this scenario. It is a good introduction to how to remain prayerful and rooted in Christ in the ups and downs of public leadership, or a good reminder for those who have read around this topic before.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e In seven parts it covers vocation, contemplative ministry, prayer, rooted in Jesus, letting go, contemplative living, and becoming a contemplative church. Throughout Cowley refers to a wide body of material and offers practical insights into how to shape a contemplative life. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The chapters on rules and exercises and on spiritual formation are particularly helpful. Cowley outlines eight spiritual disciplines that he has found are core to the contemplative life, including detachment, attentiveness, gratitude and servanthood. For example, he encourages us to use the opportunities daily life affords to learn detachment: when stuck in a traffic jam, when a train is delayed, when we become ill at an inconvenient time, etc. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e For Cowley 'spiritual formation means being formed into the likeness of Jesus for the sake of others.' This book certainly helps with that process. My guess is that it will be even more helpful if we study it with others and gain some accountability for putting into practice some of the helpful ideas it contains. \u003cstrong\u003eLead-on\u003c\/strong\u003e is the monthly newsletter of the CPAS \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cpas.us8.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=9c4386d25a49e13c1e4be3e09\u0026amp;id=cd0c8513e9\u0026amp;e=2ba37f7c1e\"\u003ewww.cpas.org.uk\/leadon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Church Times - 4 November 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThough saved by grace, we act as if we are saved by works, busily ministering in a hyperactive Church and hectic world. Ian Cowley's counter-cultural book presents a heady foil to frenetic activity, questioning the need for it, seeing being contemplative as non-negotiable, even seeking it when busyness just cannot be avoided.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn his bracing foreword, Desmond Tutu urges us simply to accept that we are accepted. Quoting Evelyn Underhill, 'Christ was trained in a carpenter's shop, but we persist in preferring a confectioner's shop,' Tutu fears that frantic activity is both a distraction and avoidance of faith's core demands - whereas being assured of God's love fires you to truckle to no man, and even face martyrdom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowley presents an immensely readable tour de force through vocation; several methods of prayer; being rooted in Jesus; and letting go to enable our ministry, living and Church to be grounded in contem plation. Priests are called both to be and to do, finding what is life-giving and doing it; but also, by their sheer holiness, drawing in others to do tasks they cannot or should not do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith poignant examples from his ministry in South Africa, Sheffield, Cambridge, Peterborough and Salisbury, Cowley is blisteringly honest about when ministry was sheer hard slog, when he projected a 'false self' and failed to 'let go and let God'. The varied strategies that he outlines to reconnect with contemplative ministry have a hard-won and grounded feel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is a galaxy of quotations. Billy Connolly sees vocation as akin to wandering through a city centre and noting which shop window you are drawn to. Eugene Peterson avoids burnout by diarising two-hour appointments with FD three times per week. FD stands for Fyodor Dostoevsky!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe best was from Henri Nouwen: 'The leader of the future will be the one who dares to claim his irrelevance in the contemporary world as a divine vocation that allows him or her to enter into a deep solidarity with the anguish underlying all the glitter of success and to bring the light of Jesus there.' That rules Henri out of the Lambeth Talent Pool, then.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Rt Revd David Wilbourne is the Assistant Bishop of Llandaff\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Reader Spring 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Remember, Ian, being comes before doing'. These words spoken to the author as a young man are at the heart of this volume. Subtitled 'Learning to lead from the still centre' Cowley is at pains to stress that this is not dependent on outward circumstances, and that we do not need to go out of the world to find God. Seven distinct sections take us on a journey from vocation, through contemplative ministry, prayer, being rooted in Jesus, letting go, contemplative living, and becoming a contemplative church. The book contains not only the author's personal experience but also is full of thought provoking examples and references which will inspire us on our own journey. Written primarily for clergy, there is more than enough food for thought for both established Readers and those seeking their calling. A compelling read at whatever stage of ministry we may be.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLiz Pacey\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Contemplative Minister\u003c\/em\u003e: Learning to lead from the still centre by Ian Cowley Reading is a book for our time, fit for reading over Christmas, before you head back into the maelstrom, to survive the pressures on your time. All of us are ministers; all of us need to be contemplatives. This book, by an evangelically-minded Anglican priest who has imbibed some of the riches of the Catholic tradition of spirituality, is for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNicholas King: The Tablet 10 December 2015\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003ca title=\"The Tablet Books of the Year\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thetablet.co.uk\/books\/10\/7519\/books-of-the-year-2\"\u003eThe Tablet Books of the Year 2015\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJulian Meeting Magazine December 2015\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI was drawn to this book by the title. As a clergy wife and long-time member of Julian Meetings it looked interesting, and I was not disappointed: much of this book is both inspiring and wise. Ian Cowley, as Vocations \u0026amp; Spiritual Adviser for the Diocese of Salisbury, developed a programme for ordained ministers. This book arose from that, so its emphasis is largely for active ministers. However, a lot in this book relates to us all whatever our vocation or calling. The book has many themes but it centres on finding the balance between 'being' and 'doing', and how the need for 'silent waiting on God' is essential in finding this balance. We are called first to a relationship with our Lord and unless that relationship is nurtured and sustained we will fail in our vocation. Alongside this Ian Cowley shows how we have to come to an understanding of our true selves: much of the time our 'false self' drives our actions, particularly our need for control and approval. So part of our journey with God is discovering the qualities of holiness and integrity. Ian Cowley is open and honest about his own experiences. As a South African he witnessed the oppression of his own people and shares insights of his ministry in this country too. I think anyone trying to follow the contemplative way will find a lot here to guide and help them. My own response was 'Alleluia': here is someone who really understands the transformative power of silence and stillness before God and can communicate this to others - quite refreshing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChrissie Rapsey\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom Reform Magazine - November 2015\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a profoundly attractive book. Ian Cowley is vocations and spirituality coordinator for the Diocese of Salisbury. Writing for those who exercise ordained ministry, Cowley stresses that we need to lead disciplined, consecrated lives to be effective instruments of God's peace. Daily prayer is a nonnegotiable personal discipline.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a society obsessed with league tables and measurable success, many in ordained ministry either burn out or bail out. Cowley challenges this ethos, reminding the disciples of Jesus that being comes before doing, that we need to be rooted in the unconditional love of God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowley calls us to find our deepest identity in Christ through silence, prayer, stillness and Bible reading. To be contemplative is to see that prayer allows us to descend with the mind into the heart and there to stand before the face of the Lord, who is ever present, all seeing within you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to Cowley, the contemplative minister will only focus on three areas of ministry: Prayer, pastoral care and preaching. Cowley believes that the Church neither accepts nor understands the contemplative minister because prayer and being in the Kingdom of God cannot be easily measured. This book draws heavily on Cowley's Anglican spirituality. Though it is principally for ordained ministers, with a bit of creative imagination, all followers of Jesus will find this book helpful. Cowley's teaching in this book is both gentle and compelling, using personal testimony and judicious quotes. At a time when the United Reformed Church is trying to discern its calling for the future, this little book is worth being still with. It would be all too easy to justify our existence to the world by being busy; Cowley reminds us that, as the Church, we are called to be experts in prayer, and he wonders where, along the way, we managed to move from keeping the Sabbath to the Protestant work ethic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Gordon is a church minister serving in the central Sussex area\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom The Methodist Recorder - 30 October 2015\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan Cowley is the Vocations and Spirituality co-ordinator for the Diocese of Salisbury. His new book, The Contemplative Minister - Learning to Lead from the Still Centre (Bible Reading Fellowship, GBP8.99), is addressed to ministers and priests who 'like swimmers in the open sea are only just managing to keep their heads above the waves'. There was a time when being a Christian minister or priest offered an opportunity of spending a lifetime in prayer, study, delivering sermons and exercising pastoral care within a community. Not anymore! Today the job requires such 'a heroic combination of stamina, multitasking and change management' that any awareness of God gets stifled. There are seven parts to this book - each with a couple of easily read short chapters. The whole book is written in a homely style. One can easily imagine Ian Cowley sitting with a small group of priests within the diocese and giving them the wisdom of his experience as a parish priest in South Africa, Cambridge and Peterborough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart One examines vocation and the difficulty of remaining in touch with God. Parts Two and Three spell out the need for the rediscovery of our true still-centre. 'Self -management of self should occupy 50 per cent of our time'. To this end he gives helpful tips about retreats, quiet days, time sheets, quietening the body, living with uncluttered space, the daily office and use of Scripture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom Part Four the author begins to draw out biblical insights; letting peace rule our hearts, living 'in Christ Jesus' and fighting 'our adrenaline filled existence'. From part Five onwards he focuses on letting go, establishing a 'rule of life', spiritual formation and servant leadership. The book ends by describing how one establishes a 'contemplative church'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lack of ecumenical perspective is the main weak ness of the book, as is its failure adequately to address the circumstances of those of us who minister among aged congregations in churches of ever declining numbers. It would be wrong, however, to suggest that this book cannot be read with profit by non-Anglicans.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf Desmond Tutu is prepared to write its Foreword, then we can be certain that the subject of this book is significant!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Rev Tom Stuckey is a former President of the Conference.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTimely and relevant. Recommend this to any ordained minister. They will need it. Ministry is a high calling. It's not about finance, admin and committees, but primarily about prayer and service. Yet this vocation is in peril of being swamped by the mundane. Worth reading for Desmond Tutu's foreword alone!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEddie Olliffe, Together Magazine Nov\/Dec 2015\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan Cowley writes from a background of life in Christian ministry and as someone now passionately engaged in seeking to help others thrive in ministry. This short, accessible book is filled to the brim with spiritual insight, but it is in concentrated form. You will need to take time to savour it and to reflect on it, and then find ways to implement it in your life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowley's contention is that in the increasingly demanding context of the 21st Century church a new way of being in ministry is needed, what he terms contemplative ministry - 'the call to an ever deepening relationship of love for God, to lead others into that relationship and to enable them to respond to God in loving service and mission' (p18).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author is writing mainly for those ordained in the Anglican church, and the book is a call to return to values of the ordination service, and in particular a life of prayer. He urges fellow ministers to nurture their inner life with God and to be deeply rooted in Christ so that they can sustain themselves in the challenges of ministerial life. The rationale for this is that our being must undergird our doing, and that to have authority in our leadership we must first be willing to allow God to change and transform us by the Holy Spirit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is never simply theoretical in approach. Cowley provides lots of practical ways by which we can deepen our inner life, and his personal illustrations give vitality to his suggestions. He writes with a warm, compassionate tone which is never idealistic or legalistic. His passion for the contemplative life is clear, but he is humble, honest and sincere as he urges his readers to consider how they live and minister.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book though is not just about the inner life. The final section, which I found the most engaging, is about his vision for a contemplative church, a community where there is a life of prayer and deepening relationship with God, of servant ministry and living simply for the sake of others. Such a community he suggests will instinctively be missional, and this is where the future of the Church lies. I suspect his ideas here are not yet fully formed, which suggests there might well be room for a second book on The Contemplative Church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome ministers, already aware of the importance of the inner life, will be able to integrate Cowley's teaching into their present ministry smoothly and easily. Others may find to become more contemplative they will have to make significant changes to the foundations of how they live and work. If they do so they will reap enormous benefits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuy this book for yourself or someone you know in ministry. It could be a life-saver. It will certainly be a life-giver.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTony Horsfall, author, freelance trainer and retreat leader\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e","published_at":"2019-01-18T15:21:16+00:00","created_at":"2019-01-18T15:21:17+00:00","vendor":"Ian Cowley","type":"Paperback","tags":["Glassboxx","Jun-15","Leadership"],"price":899,"price_min":899,"price_max":899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":21769204531300,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857463609","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":7436619284580,"product_id":2439761035364,"position":1,"created_at":"2019-01-18T15:21:17+00:00","updated_at":"2019-02-01T17:46:05+00:00","alt":null,"width":425,"height":650,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857463609-l.jpg?v=1549043165","variant_ids":[21769204531300]},"available":true,"name":"The Contemplative Minister: Learning to lead from the still centre - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":899,"weight":183,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857463609","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":3238876741771,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.654,"height":650,"width":425,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857463609-l.jpg?v=1549043165"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857463609-l.jpg?v=1549043165"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857463609-l.jpg?v=1549043165","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":3238876741771,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.654,"height":650,"width":425,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857463609-l.jpg?v=1549043165"},"aspect_ratio":0.654,"height":650,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857463609-l.jpg?v=1549043165","width":425}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eEugene Peterson's bestselling book \u003cstrong\u003eThe Contemplative Pastor\u003c\/strong\u003e has helped many church leaders to keep a strong spiritual centre to ministry as they are engulfed by the busyness of church life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe church landscape has now moved on considerably since Peterson's book was published 20 years ago, both in the USA and the UK. Electronic media, multi-parish appointments and the ever increasing stress and demands of modern-day ministry have continued to challenge church leaders aggressively. Today, many are looking for a different way of being in ministry, a better way of serving Christ than the relentless busyness and pressure that have become the norm. But how?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan Cowley, Coordinator of Vocations and Spirituality in Salisbury Diocese, offers direction for contemplative leaders in the 21st century, drawing on his South African roots and the influence of contemplative leaders such as Desmond Tutu. He explains practically how to prioritise a relationship with God and lead others into that relationship, creating a shared ministry to allow the leader to nurture faith and spirituality amid the hectic life that is ministry today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is concerned with the central vocation of those who are called to the ordained ministry. As priests, we are called to be people in whom others may see God. There is a great hunger for God among many people today. This is a hunger which is not just for things about God, for sermons, books, talks and videos, but for God himself. A contemplative minister is someone who is called first of all to God and to his heart of love, so that the world may also know God and his love for all that he has made.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eArchbishop Desmond Tutu\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan Cowley is Vocations and Spirituality Coordinator for the Diocese of Salisbury and since 2010 has led and developed The Contemplative Minister programme in the Diocese, which has been greatly appreciated by many clergy. He has also written The Transformation Principle (2002), Going Empty Handed (1996) and A People of Hope (1993). He has been a parish priest in Natal, South Africa, and also in Cambridge and Peterborough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo read Ian's lockdown blog, 'Wild times and the love of God', click \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/blogs\/collections\/wild-times-and-the-love-of-god\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Wycliffite issue no 1, Review of reprint (2016)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere was a time when Christian ministry offered the opportunity to spend your life in the study of God's word, in reading and reflection, in prayer and sermon preparation and in the quiet and faithful pastoral care of a community. The world has changed, and with it most of the expectations that govern church appointments. These days there are very few jobs in full time ministry which do not require a heroic combination of stamina, multi-tasking and change management. This book gives practical advice on how to nurture faith and a sense of calling amid the hectic life that is ministry today. Drawing on his experience of developing and leading training programmes in this area, Ian Cowley assesses the stresses and pressures of the job and shows how to grow into being a 'contemplative minister', prioritising a relationship of deepening love with God. He also offers guidance on leading others into that same relationship, without your own spiritual life running dry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReview in \u003cstrong\u003eLead-on \u003c\/strong\u003eJanuary 2018\u003cbr\u003e 'Those who work without prayer - no matter how good the work, no matter how sincere the minister - soon dry up inside.' (John Chittiter) \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The Contemplative Minister aims to help us avoid this scenario. It is a good introduction to how to remain prayerful and rooted in Christ in the ups and downs of public leadership, or a good reminder for those who have read around this topic before.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e In seven parts it covers vocation, contemplative ministry, prayer, rooted in Jesus, letting go, contemplative living, and becoming a contemplative church. Throughout Cowley refers to a wide body of material and offers practical insights into how to shape a contemplative life. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The chapters on rules and exercises and on spiritual formation are particularly helpful. Cowley outlines eight spiritual disciplines that he has found are core to the contemplative life, including detachment, attentiveness, gratitude and servanthood. For example, he encourages us to use the opportunities daily life affords to learn detachment: when stuck in a traffic jam, when a train is delayed, when we become ill at an inconvenient time, etc. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e For Cowley 'spiritual formation means being formed into the likeness of Jesus for the sake of others.' This book certainly helps with that process. My guess is that it will be even more helpful if we study it with others and gain some accountability for putting into practice some of the helpful ideas it contains. \u003cstrong\u003eLead-on\u003c\/strong\u003e is the monthly newsletter of the CPAS \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/cpas.us8.list-manage.com\/track\/click?u=9c4386d25a49e13c1e4be3e09\u0026amp;id=cd0c8513e9\u0026amp;e=2ba37f7c1e\"\u003ewww.cpas.org.uk\/leadon\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Church Times - 4 November 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThough saved by grace, we act as if we are saved by works, busily ministering in a hyperactive Church and hectic world. Ian Cowley's counter-cultural book presents a heady foil to frenetic activity, questioning the need for it, seeing being contemplative as non-negotiable, even seeking it when busyness just cannot be avoided.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn his bracing foreword, Desmond Tutu urges us simply to accept that we are accepted. Quoting Evelyn Underhill, 'Christ was trained in a carpenter's shop, but we persist in preferring a confectioner's shop,' Tutu fears that frantic activity is both a distraction and avoidance of faith's core demands - whereas being assured of God's love fires you to truckle to no man, and even face martyrdom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowley presents an immensely readable tour de force through vocation; several methods of prayer; being rooted in Jesus; and letting go to enable our ministry, living and Church to be grounded in contem plation. Priests are called both to be and to do, finding what is life-giving and doing it; but also, by their sheer holiness, drawing in others to do tasks they cannot or should not do.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith poignant examples from his ministry in South Africa, Sheffield, Cambridge, Peterborough and Salisbury, Cowley is blisteringly honest about when ministry was sheer hard slog, when he projected a 'false self' and failed to 'let go and let God'. The varied strategies that he outlines to reconnect with contemplative ministry have a hard-won and grounded feel.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere is a galaxy of quotations. Billy Connolly sees vocation as akin to wandering through a city centre and noting which shop window you are drawn to. Eugene Peterson avoids burnout by diarising two-hour appointments with FD three times per week. FD stands for Fyodor Dostoevsky!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe best was from Henri Nouwen: 'The leader of the future will be the one who dares to claim his irrelevance in the contemporary world as a divine vocation that allows him or her to enter into a deep solidarity with the anguish underlying all the glitter of success and to bring the light of Jesus there.' That rules Henri out of the Lambeth Talent Pool, then.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Rt Revd David Wilbourne is the Assistant Bishop of Llandaff\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Reader Spring 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'Remember, Ian, being comes before doing'. These words spoken to the author as a young man are at the heart of this volume. Subtitled 'Learning to lead from the still centre' Cowley is at pains to stress that this is not dependent on outward circumstances, and that we do not need to go out of the world to find God. Seven distinct sections take us on a journey from vocation, through contemplative ministry, prayer, being rooted in Jesus, letting go, contemplative living, and becoming a contemplative church. The book contains not only the author's personal experience but also is full of thought provoking examples and references which will inspire us on our own journey. Written primarily for clergy, there is more than enough food for thought for both established Readers and those seeking their calling. A compelling read at whatever stage of ministry we may be.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLiz Pacey\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Contemplative Minister\u003c\/em\u003e: Learning to lead from the still centre by Ian Cowley Reading is a book for our time, fit for reading over Christmas, before you head back into the maelstrom, to survive the pressures on your time. All of us are ministers; all of us need to be contemplatives. This book, by an evangelically-minded Anglican priest who has imbibed some of the riches of the Catholic tradition of spirituality, is for you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNicholas King: The Tablet 10 December 2015\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003ca title=\"The Tablet Books of the Year\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thetablet.co.uk\/books\/10\/7519\/books-of-the-year-2\"\u003eThe Tablet Books of the Year 2015\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJulian Meeting Magazine December 2015\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI was drawn to this book by the title. As a clergy wife and long-time member of Julian Meetings it looked interesting, and I was not disappointed: much of this book is both inspiring and wise. Ian Cowley, as Vocations \u0026amp; Spiritual Adviser for the Diocese of Salisbury, developed a programme for ordained ministers. This book arose from that, so its emphasis is largely for active ministers. However, a lot in this book relates to us all whatever our vocation or calling. The book has many themes but it centres on finding the balance between 'being' and 'doing', and how the need for 'silent waiting on God' is essential in finding this balance. We are called first to a relationship with our Lord and unless that relationship is nurtured and sustained we will fail in our vocation. Alongside this Ian Cowley shows how we have to come to an understanding of our true selves: much of the time our 'false self' drives our actions, particularly our need for control and approval. So part of our journey with God is discovering the qualities of holiness and integrity. Ian Cowley is open and honest about his own experiences. As a South African he witnessed the oppression of his own people and shares insights of his ministry in this country too. I think anyone trying to follow the contemplative way will find a lot here to guide and help them. My own response was 'Alleluia': here is someone who really understands the transformative power of silence and stillness before God and can communicate this to others - quite refreshing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChrissie Rapsey\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom Reform Magazine - November 2015\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a profoundly attractive book. Ian Cowley is vocations and spirituality coordinator for the Diocese of Salisbury. Writing for those who exercise ordained ministry, Cowley stresses that we need to lead disciplined, consecrated lives to be effective instruments of God's peace. Daily prayer is a nonnegotiable personal discipline.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn a society obsessed with league tables and measurable success, many in ordained ministry either burn out or bail out. Cowley challenges this ethos, reminding the disciples of Jesus that being comes before doing, that we need to be rooted in the unconditional love of God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowley calls us to find our deepest identity in Christ through silence, prayer, stillness and Bible reading. To be contemplative is to see that prayer allows us to descend with the mind into the heart and there to stand before the face of the Lord, who is ever present, all seeing within you.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAccording to Cowley, the contemplative minister will only focus on three areas of ministry: Prayer, pastoral care and preaching. Cowley believes that the Church neither accepts nor understands the contemplative minister because prayer and being in the Kingdom of God cannot be easily measured. This book draws heavily on Cowley's Anglican spirituality. Though it is principally for ordained ministers, with a bit of creative imagination, all followers of Jesus will find this book helpful. Cowley's teaching in this book is both gentle and compelling, using personal testimony and judicious quotes. At a time when the United Reformed Church is trying to discern its calling for the future, this little book is worth being still with. It would be all too easy to justify our existence to the world by being busy; Cowley reminds us that, as the Church, we are called to be experts in prayer, and he wonders where, along the way, we managed to move from keeping the Sabbath to the Protestant work ethic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Gordon is a church minister serving in the central Sussex area\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom The Methodist Recorder - 30 October 2015\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan Cowley is the Vocations and Spirituality co-ordinator for the Diocese of Salisbury. His new book, The Contemplative Minister - Learning to Lead from the Still Centre (Bible Reading Fellowship, GBP8.99), is addressed to ministers and priests who 'like swimmers in the open sea are only just managing to keep their heads above the waves'. There was a time when being a Christian minister or priest offered an opportunity of spending a lifetime in prayer, study, delivering sermons and exercising pastoral care within a community. Not anymore! Today the job requires such 'a heroic combination of stamina, multitasking and change management' that any awareness of God gets stifled. There are seven parts to this book - each with a couple of easily read short chapters. The whole book is written in a homely style. One can easily imagine Ian Cowley sitting with a small group of priests within the diocese and giving them the wisdom of his experience as a parish priest in South Africa, Cambridge and Peterborough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePart One examines vocation and the difficulty of remaining in touch with God. Parts Two and Three spell out the need for the rediscovery of our true still-centre. 'Self -management of self should occupy 50 per cent of our time'. To this end he gives helpful tips about retreats, quiet days, time sheets, quietening the body, living with uncluttered space, the daily office and use of Scripture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom Part Four the author begins to draw out biblical insights; letting peace rule our hearts, living 'in Christ Jesus' and fighting 'our adrenaline filled existence'. From part Five onwards he focuses on letting go, establishing a 'rule of life', spiritual formation and servant leadership. The book ends by describing how one establishes a 'contemplative church'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe lack of ecumenical perspective is the main weak ness of the book, as is its failure adequately to address the circumstances of those of us who minister among aged congregations in churches of ever declining numbers. It would be wrong, however, to suggest that this book cannot be read with profit by non-Anglicans.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf Desmond Tutu is prepared to write its Foreword, then we can be certain that the subject of this book is significant!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Rev Tom Stuckey is a former President of the Conference.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTimely and relevant. Recommend this to any ordained minister. They will need it. Ministry is a high calling. It's not about finance, admin and committees, but primarily about prayer and service. Yet this vocation is in peril of being swamped by the mundane. Worth reading for Desmond Tutu's foreword alone!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEddie Olliffe, Together Magazine Nov\/Dec 2015\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan Cowley writes from a background of life in Christian ministry and as someone now passionately engaged in seeking to help others thrive in ministry. This short, accessible book is filled to the brim with spiritual insight, but it is in concentrated form. You will need to take time to savour it and to reflect on it, and then find ways to implement it in your life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowley's contention is that in the increasingly demanding context of the 21st Century church a new way of being in ministry is needed, what he terms contemplative ministry - 'the call to an ever deepening relationship of love for God, to lead others into that relationship and to enable them to respond to God in loving service and mission' (p18).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author is writing mainly for those ordained in the Anglican church, and the book is a call to return to values of the ordination service, and in particular a life of prayer. He urges fellow ministers to nurture their inner life with God and to be deeply rooted in Christ so that they can sustain themselves in the challenges of ministerial life. The rationale for this is that our being must undergird our doing, and that to have authority in our leadership we must first be willing to allow God to change and transform us by the Holy Spirit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is never simply theoretical in approach. Cowley provides lots of practical ways by which we can deepen our inner life, and his personal illustrations give vitality to his suggestions. He writes with a warm, compassionate tone which is never idealistic or legalistic. His passion for the contemplative life is clear, but he is humble, honest and sincere as he urges his readers to consider how they live and minister.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book though is not just about the inner life. The final section, which I found the most engaging, is about his vision for a contemplative church, a community where there is a life of prayer and deepening relationship with God, of servant ministry and living simply for the sake of others. Such a community he suggests will instinctively be missional, and this is where the future of the Church lies. I suspect his ideas here are not yet fully formed, which suggests there might well be room for a second book on The Contemplative Church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome ministers, already aware of the importance of the inner life, will be able to integrate Cowley's teaching into their present ministry smoothly and easily. Others may find to become more contemplative they will have to make significant changes to the foundations of how they live and work. If they do so they will reap enormous benefits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBuy this book for yourself or someone you know in ministry. It could be a life-saver. It will certainly be a life-giver.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTony Horsfall, author, freelance trainer and retreat leader\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e"}
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The Contemplative Minister: Learning to lead from the still centre
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Eugene Peterson's bestselling book The Contemplative Pastor has helped many church leaders to keep a strong spiritual centre to ministry...
{"id":2439813759076,"title":"The Contemplative Response: Leadership and ministry in a distracted culture","handle":"the-contemplative-response-leadership-and-ministry-in-a-distracted-culture","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe true self finds peace in resting in the love of God, in the peace which Jesus promises. Jesus says to each of us in ministry, 'As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide, rest, dwell, in my love' (John 15:9). This book will seek to show what this might mean for those in Christian ministry in the 21st century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing on from the success of \u003cem\u003eThe Contemplative Minister\u003c\/em\u003e, Ian Cowley offers new insight and greater depth for church leaders in a distracted world. Cowley emphasises that the true self finds peace in resting in the love of God, and he encourages ministers to minister to themselves as well as to others, and to ensure that, in the peace that Jesus promises, their spiritual lives don't run dry amid the pressures of the job.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA must-read for leaders wanting to stay the course.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan Cowley is Vocations and Spirituality Coordinator for the Diocese of Salisbury and set up and developed the Contemplative Minister programme, which has been greatly appreciated by many clergy. He has also written A People of Hope (Highland, 1993), Going Empty Handed (Monarch, 1996) and The Transformation Principle (Kingsway, 2002). He has been a parish priest in Natal, South Africa, and also in Cambridge and Peterborough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e To read Ian's lockdown blog 'Wild times and love of God' click \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/blogs\/collections\/wild-times-and-the-love-of-god\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Julian Meetings Magazine, April 2020. Review by Gail Ballinger\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book explores being a Christian minister or leader in a 'world of ceaseless busyness, endless demands \u0026amp; seductive consumerism'. How to respond to all that drags us away from intimacy with God. How to cope with our compulsive self-centredness. How to reground ourselves: learn contentment, detachment and self-control.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan considers issues of the false self: the desire to acquire, to achieve, to indulge, together with some ways to deal with them. However, the book opens with him studying theology in his native South Africa and the questions thrown up by apartheid. It closes with chapters on the contemplative heart, ending with interior silence drawing on the Rule of Taizé.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA rewarding and often challenging read, it is very accessible and sympathetic and is for ALL who seek to follow Christ, not just leaders and ministers. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Gail Ballinger\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Merton Journal, Advent 2019. Reviewed by Ben Hopkinson\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat we live in a distracted culture seems almost too obvious to say. Walk down a street, or sit in a railway carriage, and see how many people have their eyes glued to their phones or tablets. Sit in a restaurant and there are almost certainly fellow diners who, though sitting together, seem not to be interested in each other but only in their devices, as these things have come to be called.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mobile phone is a symbol of our present age, where old patterns of living and working, where old moralities have, in so many ways, been torn to shreds. This pattern of change is not only to be found in the affluent ‘west’ but increasingly across the whole world. Places that were once far removed from advanced technology are now no longer so. Even though there are many people who have not yet caught up or who are neglected, oppressed and set aside, those with power have now found a new means to enforce it. But it is worth noting, too, that the downtrodden are also finding ways of making themselves felt, using new technology to coordinate their protests. The symbol is set in the midst of an affluent culture that seems to set its values as being about how much one has, how successful one is in terms of work position or social status, and how much luxury and comfort a person can grasp, because therein the objectives of life seem to be set.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere, in this maze, do we set our compass bearings? How do we distinguish what is false about ourselves and our milieu, and find a direction that connects with the truth of who we are as human beings? How do we meet God in the middle of all this noise? These are the vital questions which this book poses and to which it gives possible answers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan Cowley is an Anglican priest who was born and grew up in South Africa during the years when apartheid was at its most appalling. He has served as a parish priest in Natal and in England. Before retiring from full time ministry he spent eight years as the Vocations and Spirituality Coordinator of the Diocese of Salisbury. He has travelled widely, and soaked himself in the wisdom of Thomas Merton. He finds that by opening ourselves to the presence of God in a way that is discovered through contemplative prayer we can reset our lives to eternal, true and fundamental reality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe subject matter of this book is of importance for anyone who is trying to follow the Christian way. It is timely, tackling essential problems of discipleship. Primarily, it is written with clergy in mind, and though written from Anglican experience, the quandaries and potential for despair that it addresses are common to clergy of all denominations. Cowley looks the problems in the face, examining them from his own personal context, as he has been 'led to reflect on my own inner life, and the ways in which I tend to respond to the demands and pressures of public ministry. In recent years I have been increasingly aware of my own desires for power and control, for safety and security and for esteem and significance, and of the ways in which these desires are able to rule my heart.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGo in peace, I found myself muttering, and pray for me, a sinner, too. His approach gives the book strength, turning it from a self-help manual into a long walk of discussion and suggestion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowley looks at how we — I speak, also, from my life as an Anglican priest — who are in positions of leadership, prominence and pastoral care in the Church, can so easily, and maybe willingly, become submerged into the crowd and be swept along in the currents of the day. It seems to me, moreover, that the book applies beyond the ordained ministry and will be equally helpful to lay people, the committed laity who are desperately concerned to live a life of faith in this age of distraction. He compares our situation to that of the swimmer who is caught in the surf of the Indian Ocean beaches of the South African shore, where the waves pick you up and hurl you willy-nilly. We find ourselves in an ocean of change, where new technology and inventions come along every day, making life into a perpetual catch-up, where the idea of Sabbath rest has gone out of the window. Sabbath rest, he says, is, in fact, a lifesaving self discipline which is part of the answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe then talks of how, from out of this falseness which so easily infects us, we can discover God as real. He writes movingly of how, as a young white from a farming background in South Africa, who had never met black people other than as servants and farm labourers, he was confronted in his first year at university by huge questions of the relationship between God and justice. He joined the University Christian Movement — a body which was later proscribed — and mixed face to face, for the first time, with students of different racial backgrounds, who were asking very searching questions and proposing very radical answers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom here grows a repeating theme of the book, the division between the false self and the real self. The false self is the one that conforms to the culture of the world and succumbs to all its lures and ambitions. The real self is the woman or man who is naked before God, brought to an understanding of their true identity, then clothed with the love of God in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Once we begin to know ourselves we can grow into who we are created to be.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowley discusses the blind alleys the false self can lead us into, such as the need to acquire, to achieve success and position, and to be self indulgent. He suggests remedies, like contentment, detachment and self-control. Fine — we can make resolutions but how do we keep to them? It is here, in the last section of the book, that Cowley truly shines, as he deals with how to build up our strength in God. The last four chapters are an excellent introduction to meeting God in contemplation, based on Merton’s teachings. I, for whom the understanding of contemplative prayer has been difficult and who am barely at the kindergarten stage, found them enormously helpful, especially in his relating contemplation to action.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI am not being adversely critical in any way when I say the book is incomplete. It strikes me, rather, as the second part of a trilogy, following on from Cowley’s earlier book \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/the-contemplative-minister-learning-to-lead-from-the-still-centre?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=c25d7cb32\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Contemplative Minister: Learning to lead from the still centre\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cem\u003e. \u003c\/em\u003eHe helps those already grounded in their faith to recover their real selves. I wonder if the next step is to ask how we may begin to bring the riches and insights shown, even in our diminutive knowing of God, to those, the majority in the west, who have lost almost all knowledge of God and many of whom are aggressively anti-Christian. Where and how do we meet? I recently read a passage written by a leading particle physicist:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'To have a scientific mind is to respect the consensus of fact … while maintaining an open mind to the still unknown. It helps to have a humble sense of the essential mystery of the world, for the aspects that are known become even more mysterious when we examine them further. … There is not a thing in nature so ordinary that its contemplation cannot be a route to a wordless sense of wonder and gratitude just to be a part of it all.'\u003csup\u003e2\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIs this a meeting point that needs to be developed, a contemplative approach to all knowledge, leading to an undreamed of unity? Fr. Cowley, please write further.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotes: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Lee Smolin: \u003cem\u003eEinstein’s Unfinished Revolution: the Search for what Lies Beyond the Quantum\u003c\/em\u003e (London: Penguin, 2019), Preface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBen Hopkinson \u003c\/strong\u003eis an Anglican priest, living in retirement in Northumberland. He has served in various parishes in the northern half of England and, also, for seven years, in Botswana, where he came face to face with some of the struggles of Southern Africa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Reader, Autumn 2019. Review by David Gillies\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe purpose of this book might be summed up in the phrase ‘how to put God at the centre of everything.’ The author tackles head on the compulsions of our consumerist culture and draws on his experience of the close links between contemplation, action and transformation to produce a very practical book for anyone (although its sub-title is ‘Leadership and Ministry in a Distracted Culture’) who is seeking to allow God to be God in him or herself. The middle section of the book, entitled ‘The false self: the compulsions and the remedies’, invites the reader to investigate who they are and to discover their true selves; and the last section of the book is an examination of the importance of contemplative practice in opening one’s heart to the love of God. There are helpful references to all the sources quoted in the book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by David Gillies\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e___________________________________________\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBaptist Times Round up May 2019. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Ed Jones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe subtitle for the latest book by Ian Cowley sets up beautifully one of the many challenges which we find ourselves facing in the world today: leadership and ministry in a distracted culture. It is easy to be distracted by a whole host of things, few are immune. What is more, distractions come in a variety of ways, catching each of us off guard at different times.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBroken into three parts, the book guides the reader to initially ground oneself once again ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’, to be aware of the pulls and strains from the world around us ‘The false self: the compulsion and the remedies’, before finally inviting the reader to connect afresh with God as the means of traversing onward: ‘The contemplative heart’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’ve read anything by Ian before, his style is easily readable and engaging. He writes from personal experience, open and honest to the fact that he doesn’t have it all sorted and totally together, yet never losing his focus or the heart of what he’s seeking to convey and communicate - this isn’t a book where the author takes centre stage, it being all about them. Knowledge of his previous book \u003cem\u003eThe Contemplative Minister\u003c\/em\u003e is not a necessity by any means, although he’s obviously building on what he’s written about before.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpeaking into themes of sabbath and rest, I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who finds themselves ‘too busy’, ‘up against it’ or ’on the treadmill’ of life unsure of what to do about this fact. Well worth taking time out to consider all Ian has to share and the impact it could have on your life and ministry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEd Jones is pastor and team leader at Battle Baptist Church in Sussex\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e__________________________________________\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2019-01-18T15:24:43+00:00","created_at":"2019-01-18T15:24:45+00:00","vendor":"Ian Cowley","type":"Paperback","tags":["Jan-19","Kindle","Leadership"],"price":899,"price_min":899,"price_max":899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":21769973629028,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857466563","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Contemplative Response: Leadership and ministry in a distracted culture - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":899,"weight":168,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857466563","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857466563-l.jpg?v=1549043126"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857466563-l.jpg?v=1549043126","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":3238880837771,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.655,"height":650,"width":426,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857466563-l.jpg?v=1549043126"},"aspect_ratio":0.655,"height":650,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857466563-l.jpg?v=1549043126","width":426}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eThe true self finds peace in resting in the love of God, in the peace which Jesus promises. Jesus says to each of us in ministry, 'As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide, rest, dwell, in my love' (John 15:9). This book will seek to show what this might mean for those in Christian ministry in the 21st century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFollowing on from the success of \u003cem\u003eThe Contemplative Minister\u003c\/em\u003e, Ian Cowley offers new insight and greater depth for church leaders in a distracted world. Cowley emphasises that the true self finds peace in resting in the love of God, and he encourages ministers to minister to themselves as well as to others, and to ensure that, in the peace that Jesus promises, their spiritual lives don't run dry amid the pressures of the job.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA must-read for leaders wanting to stay the course.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan Cowley is Vocations and Spirituality Coordinator for the Diocese of Salisbury and set up and developed the Contemplative Minister programme, which has been greatly appreciated by many clergy. He has also written A People of Hope (Highland, 1993), Going Empty Handed (Monarch, 1996) and The Transformation Principle (Kingsway, 2002). He has been a parish priest in Natal, South Africa, and also in Cambridge and Peterborough.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e To read Ian's lockdown blog 'Wild times and love of God' click \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/blogs\/collections\/wild-times-and-the-love-of-god\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Julian Meetings Magazine, April 2020. Review by Gail Ballinger\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book explores being a Christian minister or leader in a 'world of ceaseless busyness, endless demands \u0026amp; seductive consumerism'. How to respond to all that drags us away from intimacy with God. How to cope with our compulsive self-centredness. How to reground ourselves: learn contentment, detachment and self-control.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan considers issues of the false self: the desire to acquire, to achieve, to indulge, together with some ways to deal with them. However, the book opens with him studying theology in his native South Africa and the questions thrown up by apartheid. It closes with chapters on the contemplative heart, ending with interior silence drawing on the Rule of Taizé.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA rewarding and often challenging read, it is very accessible and sympathetic and is for ALL who seek to follow Christ, not just leaders and ministers. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Gail Ballinger\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Merton Journal, Advent 2019. Reviewed by Ben Hopkinson\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThat we live in a distracted culture seems almost too obvious to say. Walk down a street, or sit in a railway carriage, and see how many people have their eyes glued to their phones or tablets. Sit in a restaurant and there are almost certainly fellow diners who, though sitting together, seem not to be interested in each other but only in their devices, as these things have come to be called.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mobile phone is a symbol of our present age, where old patterns of living and working, where old moralities have, in so many ways, been torn to shreds. This pattern of change is not only to be found in the affluent ‘west’ but increasingly across the whole world. Places that were once far removed from advanced technology are now no longer so. Even though there are many people who have not yet caught up or who are neglected, oppressed and set aside, those with power have now found a new means to enforce it. But it is worth noting, too, that the downtrodden are also finding ways of making themselves felt, using new technology to coordinate their protests. The symbol is set in the midst of an affluent culture that seems to set its values as being about how much one has, how successful one is in terms of work position or social status, and how much luxury and comfort a person can grasp, because therein the objectives of life seem to be set.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhere, in this maze, do we set our compass bearings? How do we distinguish what is false about ourselves and our milieu, and find a direction that connects with the truth of who we are as human beings? How do we meet God in the middle of all this noise? These are the vital questions which this book poses and to which it gives possible answers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan Cowley is an Anglican priest who was born and grew up in South Africa during the years when apartheid was at its most appalling. He has served as a parish priest in Natal and in England. Before retiring from full time ministry he spent eight years as the Vocations and Spirituality Coordinator of the Diocese of Salisbury. He has travelled widely, and soaked himself in the wisdom of Thomas Merton. He finds that by opening ourselves to the presence of God in a way that is discovered through contemplative prayer we can reset our lives to eternal, true and fundamental reality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe subject matter of this book is of importance for anyone who is trying to follow the Christian way. It is timely, tackling essential problems of discipleship. Primarily, it is written with clergy in mind, and though written from Anglican experience, the quandaries and potential for despair that it addresses are common to clergy of all denominations. Cowley looks the problems in the face, examining them from his own personal context, as he has been 'led to reflect on my own inner life, and the ways in which I tend to respond to the demands and pressures of public ministry. In recent years I have been increasingly aware of my own desires for power and control, for safety and security and for esteem and significance, and of the ways in which these desires are able to rule my heart.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGo in peace, I found myself muttering, and pray for me, a sinner, too. His approach gives the book strength, turning it from a self-help manual into a long walk of discussion and suggestion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowley looks at how we — I speak, also, from my life as an Anglican priest — who are in positions of leadership, prominence and pastoral care in the Church, can so easily, and maybe willingly, become submerged into the crowd and be swept along in the currents of the day. It seems to me, moreover, that the book applies beyond the ordained ministry and will be equally helpful to lay people, the committed laity who are desperately concerned to live a life of faith in this age of distraction. He compares our situation to that of the swimmer who is caught in the surf of the Indian Ocean beaches of the South African shore, where the waves pick you up and hurl you willy-nilly. We find ourselves in an ocean of change, where new technology and inventions come along every day, making life into a perpetual catch-up, where the idea of Sabbath rest has gone out of the window. Sabbath rest, he says, is, in fact, a lifesaving self discipline which is part of the answer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe then talks of how, from out of this falseness which so easily infects us, we can discover God as real. He writes movingly of how, as a young white from a farming background in South Africa, who had never met black people other than as servants and farm labourers, he was confronted in his first year at university by huge questions of the relationship between God and justice. He joined the University Christian Movement — a body which was later proscribed — and mixed face to face, for the first time, with students of different racial backgrounds, who were asking very searching questions and proposing very radical answers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFrom here grows a repeating theme of the book, the division between the false self and the real self. The false self is the one that conforms to the culture of the world and succumbs to all its lures and ambitions. The real self is the woman or man who is naked before God, brought to an understanding of their true identity, then clothed with the love of God in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Once we begin to know ourselves we can grow into who we are created to be.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowley discusses the blind alleys the false self can lead us into, such as the need to acquire, to achieve success and position, and to be self indulgent. He suggests remedies, like contentment, detachment and self-control. Fine — we can make resolutions but how do we keep to them? It is here, in the last section of the book, that Cowley truly shines, as he deals with how to build up our strength in God. The last four chapters are an excellent introduction to meeting God in contemplation, based on Merton’s teachings. I, for whom the understanding of contemplative prayer has been difficult and who am barely at the kindergarten stage, found them enormously helpful, especially in his relating contemplation to action.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI am not being adversely critical in any way when I say the book is incomplete. It strikes me, rather, as the second part of a trilogy, following on from Cowley’s earlier book \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/the-contemplative-minister-learning-to-lead-from-the-still-centre?_pos=1\u0026amp;_sid=c25d7cb32\u0026amp;_ss=r\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Contemplative Minister: Learning to lead from the still centre\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cem\u003e. \u003c\/em\u003eHe helps those already grounded in their faith to recover their real selves. I wonder if the next step is to ask how we may begin to bring the riches and insights shown, even in our diminutive knowing of God, to those, the majority in the west, who have lost almost all knowledge of God and many of whom are aggressively anti-Christian. Where and how do we meet? I recently read a passage written by a leading particle physicist:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'To have a scientific mind is to respect the consensus of fact … while maintaining an open mind to the still unknown. It helps to have a humble sense of the essential mystery of the world, for the aspects that are known become even more mysterious when we examine them further. … There is not a thing in nature so ordinary that its contemplation cannot be a route to a wordless sense of wonder and gratitude just to be a part of it all.'\u003csup\u003e2\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIs this a meeting point that needs to be developed, a contemplative approach to all knowledge, leading to an undreamed of unity? Fr. Cowley, please write further.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotes: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Lee Smolin: \u003cem\u003eEinstein’s Unfinished Revolution: the Search for what Lies Beyond the Quantum\u003c\/em\u003e (London: Penguin, 2019), Preface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBen Hopkinson \u003c\/strong\u003eis an Anglican priest, living in retirement in Northumberland. He has served in various parishes in the northern half of England and, also, for seven years, in Botswana, where he came face to face with some of the struggles of Southern Africa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Reader, Autumn 2019. Review by David Gillies\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe purpose of this book might be summed up in the phrase ‘how to put God at the centre of everything.’ The author tackles head on the compulsions of our consumerist culture and draws on his experience of the close links between contemplation, action and transformation to produce a very practical book for anyone (although its sub-title is ‘Leadership and Ministry in a Distracted Culture’) who is seeking to allow God to be God in him or herself. The middle section of the book, entitled ‘The false self: the compulsions and the remedies’, invites the reader to investigate who they are and to discover their true selves; and the last section of the book is an examination of the importance of contemplative practice in opening one’s heart to the love of God. There are helpful references to all the sources quoted in the book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by David Gillies\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e___________________________________________\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBaptist Times Round up May 2019. \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Ed Jones\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe subtitle for the latest book by Ian Cowley sets up beautifully one of the many challenges which we find ourselves facing in the world today: leadership and ministry in a distracted culture. It is easy to be distracted by a whole host of things, few are immune. What is more, distractions come in a variety of ways, catching each of us off guard at different times.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBroken into three parts, the book guides the reader to initially ground oneself once again ‘Choose this day whom you will serve’, to be aware of the pulls and strains from the world around us ‘The false self: the compulsion and the remedies’, before finally inviting the reader to connect afresh with God as the means of traversing onward: ‘The contemplative heart’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you’ve read anything by Ian before, his style is easily readable and engaging. He writes from personal experience, open and honest to the fact that he doesn’t have it all sorted and totally together, yet never losing his focus or the heart of what he’s seeking to convey and communicate - this isn’t a book where the author takes centre stage, it being all about them. Knowledge of his previous book \u003cem\u003eThe Contemplative Minister\u003c\/em\u003e is not a necessity by any means, although he’s obviously building on what he’s written about before.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpeaking into themes of sabbath and rest, I’d highly recommend this book to anyone who finds themselves ‘too busy’, ‘up against it’ or ’on the treadmill’ of life unsure of what to do about this fact. Well worth taking time out to consider all Ian has to share and the impact it could have on your life and ministry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEd Jones is pastor and team leader at Battle Baptist Church in Sussex\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e__________________________________________\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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The Contemplative Response: Leadership and ministry in a distracted culture
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The true self finds peace in resting in the love of God, in the peace which Jesus promises. Jesus says...
{"id":5785318686872,"title":"The Contemplative Struggle: Radical discipleship in a broken world","handle":"the-contemplative-struggle-radical-discipleship-in-a-broken-world","description":"\u003cp\u003eHow do we embrace and work out our call to be disciples in a broken world? In \u003cem\u003eThe Contemplative Struggle\u003c\/em\u003e Ian Cowley sets the central themes of the gospel of John alongside each other – abiding in Christ, conflict, light and darkness, obedience, loving one another – and explores how these can be reconciled in daily life. Drawing on his experience of living in his native South Africa during the apartheid era and challenging understandings of contemplative prayer and spirituality as essentially inward-looking, he highlights the urgent need for Christians to be active in bringing transformation to a suffering world and paints a compelling picture of radical discipleship for today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘Just as we are all meant to be contemplatives and to hear the voice of God in our lives, we are all meant to answer God’s call to be his partners in transfiguring the world. This calling, this encounter with God, is always to send us into the midst of human suffering.’\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArchbishop Desmond Tutu\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan Cowley is an Anglican priest who has served in parish ministry in South Africa, Sheffield, Cambridge and Peterborough. From 2008 to 2016 he was Coordinator of Spirituality and Vocations in the Diocese of Salisbury, where he set up and developed the Contemplative Minister programme. He is the author of five books on spirituality, discipleship and the local church.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere is a much-needed book: the story of the battle against racism, injustice, poverty, held in tension with the necessity of time for contemplation. We need to hear it – there is much here that applies to our world today.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEsther de Waal, writer and scholar\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI do appreciate Ian Cowley’s interleaving of storytelling with spiritual reflection. It is good to have the story of UCM told to a wider audience than South Africa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan’s tribute to Steve Biko is welcome and true, and so is his account of white students’ struggle on the matter of conscription.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis major concern with contemplation fits well into his account of this crucial time in the South African church struggle... \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn D Davies, former bishop of Shrewsbury and one-time national chaplain of the Anglican Students’ Federation of South Africa\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat an incredible book this is! I was deeply moved reading it. It is very inspiring and ignited a hope that we can be agents of change in this world. As someone who has known the value of contemplative prayer and practice in my own life, it felt like a gentle call back to that which I know and love, without being remotely judgemental. In fact, the whole book brings a wonderful balance of challenge without condemnation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI pray that all who read this book will examine afresh their response to the issues raised and explore the riches of contemplative prayer for themselves.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLouise Rose, community projects manager, Fresh Hope Ministry, Stamford\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Contemplative Struggle\u003c\/em\u003e is a generous gift and a profound challenge. Ian Cowley draws on a deep well of (sometimes painful) personal experience to pour out this vision of contemplation in action. If you’re tired of rootless activism and otherworldly spirituality, and you’re looking for the common ground where prayer and protest can flourish, you need to read this book.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChris Webb, deputy warden of Launde Abbey and author of \u003cem\u003eGod Soaked Life\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry Winter 2021. Review by Margaret Ives\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are many books about contemplative prayer as a way of finding one’s true self in an experience of the Divine Presence. This book is unusual in that, while it proclaims that the constant awareness of God in our lives is essential, this is not sufficient to solve our current problems unless it inspires us to ‘radical discipleship in a broken world’. Growing up in South Africa during apartheid, Cowley came to realise that ‘being rooted and grounded in love’ is not a hidden treasure, but must be demonstrated in action against racism and injustice. Looking back, he remembers how hope in God, arising from contemplative prayer, enabled him to work alongside the black consciousness movement in their struggle to change the system, even though the odds were against them. Similarly, he believes, Christians today must use a heightened awareness of God’s love for everything in creation to join with those combating climate change and environmental disaster. This is an inspirational book which does not get bogged down in polemics, but offers a guide to contemplative prayer and some practical steps we can all take towards saving the planet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Margaret Ives\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Merton Journal Advent 2021 (Volume 28 no 2). Review by Ben Hopkinson\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHow ephemeral, and how localised, is our consciousness of history. That is why there have to be historians and history departments, because, so easily, what we know of the horrors some people are living through either goes quickly to the back of the mind or, by the next generation, becomes an unknown. Our attitude of localisation means that what happens to others may seem to have nothing to do with us. So Jewish people, for instance, have to campaign to keep the memory of the holocaust alive, and, while there may be an especially tense rivalry in games of football between England and Germany, how many remember what fascism really meant as a threat to the world? And Tiananmen Square?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI say this because Ian Cowley's short but powerful book finds the\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eorigins of what was, to him, the revelation of prayer as contemplation, in the racial cauldron of South Africa in the depths of the apartheid regime of the last century.1 His epiphany came through the University Christian Movement when he was a student at the University of Natal in Pietermaritzberg in the 1970s. There he came to understand the terrible sinfulness of the racial divide that ruled South Africa, and his life's course was changed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor me, Cowley's vivid account of South African life was a revision lesson. I was serving in Botswana at that time and, although it was a country with a quite different ethos, we in the Church were not isolated and were very aware of what was going on with our neighbours, not only South Africa but Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) as well. I became peripherally involved in some anti-apartheid activity that crossed the border and drew me in, so I relate to Cowley's descriptions. I knew some of the people he talks about, and reading his book I was taken back to a time which, while key in my life, has been overlaid by layers of subsequent life and work. Even experience has an ephemeral quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHence the thoughts about the ephemeral quality of contemporary\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ehistory. Who remembers even the word apartheid now, other than in an intellectual sense, apart from those who suffered it? The question applies even more strongly to those who are not South Africans. While there were, in Britain, some noble anti-apartheid activists who helped to cause profound change, their activity was outside the main stream of life and often looked upon with suspicion. Most people got on with life without worrying about South Africa. Now, bar Covid, that country is a favourite of tourists, who return to Europe unbrushed by a history that was all consuming at the time and still has many offshoots. Most were unborn when apartheid reigned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have to ask, then, whether for Cowley to use his South African life as a base for his argument is too esoteric. I hope not and I am sure it need not be, for not only does it gain great strength from being so personal, but it also makes us think into situations beyond our own circles. To think ourselves into apartheid South Africa is a good exercise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'There were giants on the earth in those days' is a quotation which comes to mind.2 South Africa was then, and still is, an extraordinary country, captivating, in the sense of drawing you in until you are engrossed. It is a land of wonderful beauty but what astounded me even more were the people one met. The mass of the people are a very interesting historical and anthropological mix, with their histories, cultures and divisions, but I will concentrate on two smaller sets: those implementing the apartheid policy and those who opposed them, struggling for what was later called, by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a \u003cstrong\u003e'rainbow nation'.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first thing to say is that these people were honed by apartheid. The giant of apartheid was Hendrick Vervoerd, the SA president who was assassinated in 1966. He gave the philosophical basis to the National Party's policy of racial separation and white dominance, which was implemented ruthlessly. It was a giant endeavour, and the skills developed by the Bureau of State Security (BOSS) were second to none. Their use of technology was as sophisticated as possible for that time, and their information gathering work was everywhere. Furthermore, they knew what was going on elsewhere in the world, and could use it very cleverly in persuading people to conform.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe resistors were also people of exceptional knowledge, understanding and courage. There are great names: Nelson Mandela, Albert Luthuli, Helen Suzman, the Black Sash leaders, Beyers Naude, Trevor Huddlestone, Desmond Tutu, Steve Biko, to name but a few. But there were many, many more who worked and witnessed at continual \u003cspan\u003erisk to themselves, both from BOSS and also from being denigrated by the mass of whites happy with apartheid. Organisations like the University Christian Movement (UCM) were banned and many people had their passports removed or were put under house arrest. I felt both very \u003c\/span\u003efortunate and also hugely humbled to meet some of these women and men. I did not meet Ian Cowley, but I am confident that he would be of these giants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the most noticeable aspects of the struggle against apartheid and for justice was how it had such a strong Christian motivation. I have to be careful here, because Christianity was active on both sides. The Afrikaner Dutch Reformed Church played a significant part in giving theological justification to apartheid, yet there were some notable DRC giants, the Bonhoeffers of their day, who rebelled against this, and were thrown out of the church. They played a great part. Nevertheless, it was very much among people from other churches that the understanding grew that the Christian law of love meant equality applied universally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowley grew up on a Natal farm, with church, Anglican and formal, on Sundays, remembered as very boring. It was at university that faith caught him through the remarkable, if short lived, UCM. He describes how vibrant student worship attracted him and how he worked through the trauma - for it was a trauma - of mixing with people of other races and finding them human. After some vicissitudes, he hears his vocation to the priesthood in the Anglican Church of the Province of South Africa and eventually he comes to England, where he is first a parish priest and then Coordinator of Vocations and Spirituality in the Diocese of Salisbury, where he set up the Contemplative Minister Programme.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe great question that runs through the book is: what does it mean to be held firm in Christ in the centre of our being and to live with integrity in the 21st century? Through his student days he comes to see the sinfulness of the way power is held and exercised in South Africa, and to long for the justice that he discovers through his Christian faith. How does he hold the two in balance, so that the one undergirds the other? In other words, there is a double question: on the one hand, how can you be an activist, mixing in the hurly, sometimes unsavoury, burly of life and be true to Christ? On the other, how can you be true to Christ without, in some way, being mixed up in the difficult life of practising the love of neighbour in all its roughness? Through friends and mentors and the trial and error of trying to live a life for justice, with mistakes and setbacks and leaps forward, he discovers prayer as God's invitation to see the world with His eyes and to feel it as He feels it. He reads Merton and his development from longing to be solitary to understanding that the world needs the witness of the contemplative if it is ever going to overcome evil with good, and that means that the contemplative has to know and be known.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow in South Africa the struggle against apartheid is over and an enormous wickedness has been demolished. In fact, though, when one injustice is stricken, the hydra of evil raises another. A strength of Cowley's book is that it is not only a memoir but makes use of his experience to show how Christian love is showing up many other aspects of life on the planet which threaten true human living, that is living as the \u003cspan\u003epeople of God. As we are drawn in to the presence of God, how do we live with the divide of rich and poor and with other forms of inequality; with climate change; with war, national ambition and xenophobia; with the continuing oppression of peoples in many parts of the world; with homelessness in our own country? The list goes on and on. Simply, how do we help to make the world more Godly, restoring the creation which \u003c\/span\u003eHe saw was good?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContemplative prayer is not shown as an opt-out but as the source of strength and ability. It is a struggle because of our fallen human nature, which is continually being pressed to sway one way or another. A hard struggle, but contemplation shows us how to 'put on the whole armour of God, for our struggle is not against the enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Contemplative Struggle \u003c\/em\u003eis written to encourage us workaday Christians as we try to follow Jesus in our daily lives. In this it certainly succeeds, and the author adds an excellent introduction to contemplative practice as an appendix.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo years ago I reviewed Ian Cowley's previous book, \u003cem\u003eThe \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eContemplative Response: Leadership and Ministry in a Distracted Culture. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eI suggested that it needed another volume, looking at how we can bring understanding of the love of God to the world outside the Christian community. In many ways this book does this, but may I ask Ian to set fingers to word processor once more and tackle the question of the contemplative response to the problems posed by today's atheists. When we talk of God in a universe of which astrophysics has revolutionised our understanding, how is He showing us how to talk of Him and act as His people? I find this an urgent question to stir the hearts of many. To ask an author for another book is, surely, a compliment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Apartheid was the policy of segregation and political, social, and economic\u003cbr\u003ediscrimination against the non-white majority in the Republic of South\u003cbr\u003eAfrica. The extreme racial segregation of apartheid lasted from 1948 to 1994 and included such restrictions as where people of certain races could live or own land, what jobs they could hold, and who could and couldn't participate \u003cstrong\u003ein government.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Genesis 6:4\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. Ephesians 6 :11-12.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBen Hopkinson \u003c\/strong\u003eis a priest, living in retirement in Northumberland. He was in the kindergarten of contemplation in 2019 and has still to enter the reception class.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 25.06.21. Review by John D. Davies\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan Cowley is a white South African man, born nearly 70 years ago, brought up in the benign rural environment of Natal. If he had fulfilled expectations, he would have become a conventional Anglican gentleman, a superior English-speaking member of the white race.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e But Cowley’s life took a somewhat different course. His book is primarily about spirituality; but, to convey his message, he has to tell something of his life-story. This starts with his entry into the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg, to study law and business administration. By the time that he started at university, the 1959 Extension of University Education Act had taken effect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis created a scattered establishment of black tribal colleges, segregated on racial and ethnic criteria. The previously ‘open’ universities, in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Natal, were restricted to white students only; they became white tribal colleges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut there were vigorous national student bodies; these functioned on these segregated campuses, but they flourished as racially integrated organisations at regional and national level. For both black and white students, their conferences provided a converting experience, an alternative vision of society, where black and white people could meet as genuine friends and not only on a master\/servant basis; and this was at a time when the apartheid machine was grinding ever more successfully, and when hope for change was wearing very thin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe integrated organisations enabled the generation of courageous, independent-minded students, who were prepared to defy the expectations of parents, teachers, and government. They included the Anglican Students’ Federation and the ecumenical University Christian Movement. For Cowley, they opened up a whole new world. They brought him into contact with impressive characters of all race-groups, people such as the dynamic black students’ leader Steve Biko (who would, in my view, have become the natural successor to President Mandela, if he had not been cruelly done to death by the Security Police).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese ecumenical organisations were viewed with suspicion by some other Christians, notably by Evangelicals who had been caught up in the newly arrived Charismatic Movement. For them, the ecumenical groups were unbiblical humanists, dangerous quasi-Marxists. For the ecumenical types, the Evangelicals were pietistic, concerned only with their individual salvation, indifferent to the injustices experienced by most of the population. But, for those who were impressed by the Black Consciousness influence, this hassle was merely white people’s games, irrelevant luxury. The Anglican Bishop Alphaeus Zulu summarised their position: ‘We Africans have no need of a Charismatic Movement — we have always been charismatic, without any pressure from outside.’\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeople like Cowley were attracted by the Evangelical emphasis on conversion, but it had to include conversion from the heresies and illusions of apartheid, which were otherwise winning all the battles. A new ingredient was being discovered in the Christian mix. This was where Cowley found himself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowley was deeply drawn to the insights of medieval spiritual teachers such as Richard Rolle and Thomas à Kempis, and Thomas Merton of our own day. This is the kind of commitment which underlies his book. Readers who are interested in spirituality will be attracted by his excellent summary of the discipline of contemplation. But, to get there, they will need to work through Cowley’s exploration of the demonic powers of racism, financial injustice, and indifference to the degradation of the environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis spirituality has been formed in a situation of loss, of oppression, of cruelty, when all the signs were that the powers of evil were winning. His kind of contemplation draws us to awareness of God’s critique of the disobedience in our human systems, and into commitment to the struggle for the realisation of God’s Kingdom. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd this is not only for South Africa; Cowley was ordained priest in his native land and served in parish ministry there. But he came to England some years ago, and has been a parish priest and adviser in spirituality in English dioceses. For South Africa and for Britain, his book provides a well-formed and personally validated guidance concerning the claims of our Creator upon our obedience and our energies. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Rt Revd John D. Davies was National Chaplain to the Anglican Students’ Federation of Southern Africa, and Convener of the Council of Churches’ Commission which created the University Christian Movement\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Nicholas King SJ\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eChristians are often charged with being of 'no earthly use' (because their gaze is fixed on the heavens); evangelicals find themselves accused of giving insufficient time to contemplative prayer; white Christian South Africans often have it alleged against them that their discipleship is pure self-indulgence, because they benefited so largely from the sin of apartheid; and that the Roman Catholic tradition has nothing to offer Christians today. In this splendid book, those four myths are soundly 'busted': Ian Cowley is an evangelical Christian who has given himself to transform this unjust world into something that looks like the Kingdom of God; he has for many years as a busy Anglican priest given himself over to the practice of solitary contemplative prayer (and offers some useful tips about how to approach it). More than that, he is a white South African whose Christianity drove him, at some considerable cost, to engage in student activism against the apartheid regime, and who reveals his immense admiration for Steve Biko, who died that appalling death in the hands of the SA Police. He has, moreover, drunk gratefully of the waters of the Roman Catholic contemplative tradition, including Thomas a Kempis, Richard Rolle, and that remarkable Cistercian monk, Thomas Merton. He has, besides, the Protestant gift of a solid grasp of Scripture and the awareness that it can change your life. He was also alert to the dangers of environmental pollution at a time when such interests were dismissed as mindlessly sentimental “tree-hugging”. Nowadays we wish that more students had followed his example, half a century ago. This book is to be warmly recommended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2020-09-17T14:48:53+01:00","created_at":"2020-09-17T14:48:51+01:00","vendor":"Ian Cowley","type":"Paperback","tags":["Discipleship","Leadership","Mar-21","Mission"],"price":899,"price_min":899,"price_max":899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":36353659338904,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857469823","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Contemplative Struggle: Radical discipleship in a broken world","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":899,"weight":163,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857469823","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469823.jpg?v=1600350533","\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469823-bc.jpg?v=1600350533"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469823.jpg?v=1600350533","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":11679577145496,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469823.jpg?v=1600350533"},"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469823.jpg?v=1600350533","width":1000},{"alt":null,"id":11679577211032,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469823-bc.jpg?v=1600350533"},"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857469823-bc.jpg?v=1600350533","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eHow do we embrace and work out our call to be disciples in a broken world? In \u003cem\u003eThe Contemplative Struggle\u003c\/em\u003e Ian Cowley sets the central themes of the gospel of John alongside each other – abiding in Christ, conflict, light and darkness, obedience, loving one another – and explores how these can be reconciled in daily life. Drawing on his experience of living in his native South Africa during the apartheid era and challenging understandings of contemplative prayer and spirituality as essentially inward-looking, he highlights the urgent need for Christians to be active in bringing transformation to a suffering world and paints a compelling picture of radical discipleship for today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘Just as we are all meant to be contemplatives and to hear the voice of God in our lives, we are all meant to answer God’s call to be his partners in transfiguring the world. This calling, this encounter with God, is always to send us into the midst of human suffering.’\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eArchbishop Desmond Tutu\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan Cowley is an Anglican priest who has served in parish ministry in South Africa, Sheffield, Cambridge and Peterborough. From 2008 to 2016 he was Coordinator of Spirituality and Vocations in the Diocese of Salisbury, where he set up and developed the Contemplative Minister programme. He is the author of five books on spirituality, discipleship and the local church.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHere is a much-needed book: the story of the battle against racism, injustice, poverty, held in tension with the necessity of time for contemplation. We need to hear it – there is much here that applies to our world today.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEsther de Waal, writer and scholar\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI do appreciate Ian Cowley’s interleaving of storytelling with spiritual reflection. It is good to have the story of UCM told to a wider audience than South Africa.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan’s tribute to Steve Biko is welcome and true, and so is his account of white students’ struggle on the matter of conscription.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis major concern with contemplation fits well into his account of this crucial time in the South African church struggle... \u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn D Davies, former bishop of Shrewsbury and one-time national chaplain of the Anglican Students’ Federation of South Africa\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat an incredible book this is! I was deeply moved reading it. It is very inspiring and ignited a hope that we can be agents of change in this world. As someone who has known the value of contemplative prayer and practice in my own life, it felt like a gentle call back to that which I know and love, without being remotely judgemental. In fact, the whole book brings a wonderful balance of challenge without condemnation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI pray that all who read this book will examine afresh their response to the issues raised and explore the riches of contemplative prayer for themselves.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLouise Rose, community projects manager, Fresh Hope Ministry, Stamford\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Contemplative Struggle\u003c\/em\u003e is a generous gift and a profound challenge. Ian Cowley draws on a deep well of (sometimes painful) personal experience to pour out this vision of contemplation in action. If you’re tired of rootless activism and otherworldly spirituality, and you’re looking for the common ground where prayer and protest can flourish, you need to read this book.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChris Webb, deputy warden of Launde Abbey and author of \u003cem\u003eGod Soaked Life\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry Winter 2021. Review by Margaret Ives\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere are many books about contemplative prayer as a way of finding one’s true self in an experience of the Divine Presence. This book is unusual in that, while it proclaims that the constant awareness of God in our lives is essential, this is not sufficient to solve our current problems unless it inspires us to ‘radical discipleship in a broken world’. Growing up in South Africa during apartheid, Cowley came to realise that ‘being rooted and grounded in love’ is not a hidden treasure, but must be demonstrated in action against racism and injustice. Looking back, he remembers how hope in God, arising from contemplative prayer, enabled him to work alongside the black consciousness movement in their struggle to change the system, even though the odds were against them. Similarly, he believes, Christians today must use a heightened awareness of God’s love for everything in creation to join with those combating climate change and environmental disaster. This is an inspirational book which does not get bogged down in polemics, but offers a guide to contemplative prayer and some practical steps we can all take towards saving the planet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Margaret Ives\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Merton Journal Advent 2021 (Volume 28 no 2). Review by Ben Hopkinson\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHow ephemeral, and how localised, is our consciousness of history. That is why there have to be historians and history departments, because, so easily, what we know of the horrors some people are living through either goes quickly to the back of the mind or, by the next generation, becomes an unknown. Our attitude of localisation means that what happens to others may seem to have nothing to do with us. So Jewish people, for instance, have to campaign to keep the memory of the holocaust alive, and, while there may be an especially tense rivalry in games of football between England and Germany, how many remember what fascism really meant as a threat to the world? And Tiananmen Square?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI say this because Ian Cowley's short but powerful book finds the\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eorigins of what was, to him, the revelation of prayer as contemplation, in the racial cauldron of South Africa in the depths of the apartheid regime of the last century.1 His epiphany came through the University Christian Movement when he was a student at the University of Natal in Pietermaritzberg in the 1970s. There he came to understand the terrible sinfulness of the racial divide that ruled South Africa, and his life's course was changed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor me, Cowley's vivid account of South African life was a revision lesson. I was serving in Botswana at that time and, although it was a country with a quite different ethos, we in the Church were not isolated and were very aware of what was going on with our neighbours, not only South Africa but Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) as well. I became peripherally involved in some anti-apartheid activity that crossed the border and drew me in, so I relate to Cowley's descriptions. I knew some of the people he talks about, and reading his book I was taken back to a time which, while key in my life, has been overlaid by layers of subsequent life and work. Even experience has an ephemeral quality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHence the thoughts about the ephemeral quality of contemporary\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ehistory. Who remembers even the word apartheid now, other than in an intellectual sense, apart from those who suffered it? The question applies even more strongly to those who are not South Africans. While there were, in Britain, some noble anti-apartheid activists who helped to cause profound change, their activity was outside the main stream of life and often looked upon with suspicion. Most people got on with life without worrying about South Africa. Now, bar Covid, that country is a favourite of tourists, who return to Europe unbrushed by a history that was all consuming at the time and still has many offshoots. Most were unborn when apartheid reigned.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have to ask, then, whether for Cowley to use his South African life as a base for his argument is too esoteric. I hope not and I am sure it need not be, for not only does it gain great strength from being so personal, but it also makes us think into situations beyond our own circles. To think ourselves into apartheid South Africa is a good exercise.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'There were giants on the earth in those days' is a quotation which comes to mind.2 South Africa was then, and still is, an extraordinary country, captivating, in the sense of drawing you in until you are engrossed. It is a land of wonderful beauty but what astounded me even more were the people one met. The mass of the people are a very interesting historical and anthropological mix, with their histories, cultures and divisions, but I will concentrate on two smaller sets: those implementing the apartheid policy and those who opposed them, struggling for what was later called, by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, a \u003cstrong\u003e'rainbow nation'.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe first thing to say is that these people were honed by apartheid. The giant of apartheid was Hendrick Vervoerd, the SA president who was assassinated in 1966. He gave the philosophical basis to the National Party's policy of racial separation and white dominance, which was implemented ruthlessly. It was a giant endeavour, and the skills developed by the Bureau of State Security (BOSS) were second to none. Their use of technology was as sophisticated as possible for that time, and their information gathering work was everywhere. Furthermore, they knew what was going on elsewhere in the world, and could use it very cleverly in persuading people to conform.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe resistors were also people of exceptional knowledge, understanding and courage. There are great names: Nelson Mandela, Albert Luthuli, Helen Suzman, the Black Sash leaders, Beyers Naude, Trevor Huddlestone, Desmond Tutu, Steve Biko, to name but a few. But there were many, many more who worked and witnessed at continual \u003cspan\u003erisk to themselves, both from BOSS and also from being denigrated by the mass of whites happy with apartheid. Organisations like the University Christian Movement (UCM) were banned and many people had their passports removed or were put under house arrest. I felt both very \u003c\/span\u003efortunate and also hugely humbled to meet some of these women and men. I did not meet Ian Cowley, but I am confident that he would be of these giants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the most noticeable aspects of the struggle against apartheid and for justice was how it had such a strong Christian motivation. I have to be careful here, because Christianity was active on both sides. The Afrikaner Dutch Reformed Church played a significant part in giving theological justification to apartheid, yet there were some notable DRC giants, the Bonhoeffers of their day, who rebelled against this, and were thrown out of the church. They played a great part. Nevertheless, it was very much among people from other churches that the understanding grew that the Christian law of love meant equality applied universally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowley grew up on a Natal farm, with church, Anglican and formal, on Sundays, remembered as very boring. It was at university that faith caught him through the remarkable, if short lived, UCM. He describes how vibrant student worship attracted him and how he worked through the trauma - for it was a trauma - of mixing with people of other races and finding them human. After some vicissitudes, he hears his vocation to the priesthood in the Anglican Church of the Province of South Africa and eventually he comes to England, where he is first a parish priest and then Coordinator of Vocations and Spirituality in the Diocese of Salisbury, where he set up the Contemplative Minister Programme.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe great question that runs through the book is: what does it mean to be held firm in Christ in the centre of our being and to live with integrity in the 21st century? Through his student days he comes to see the sinfulness of the way power is held and exercised in South Africa, and to long for the justice that he discovers through his Christian faith. How does he hold the two in balance, so that the one undergirds the other? In other words, there is a double question: on the one hand, how can you be an activist, mixing in the hurly, sometimes unsavoury, burly of life and be true to Christ? On the other, how can you be true to Christ without, in some way, being mixed up in the difficult life of practising the love of neighbour in all its roughness? Through friends and mentors and the trial and error of trying to live a life for justice, with mistakes and setbacks and leaps forward, he discovers prayer as God's invitation to see the world with His eyes and to feel it as He feels it. He reads Merton and his development from longing to be solitary to understanding that the world needs the witness of the contemplative if it is ever going to overcome evil with good, and that means that the contemplative has to know and be known.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNow in South Africa the struggle against apartheid is over and an enormous wickedness has been demolished. In fact, though, when one injustice is stricken, the hydra of evil raises another. A strength of Cowley's book is that it is not only a memoir but makes use of his experience to show how Christian love is showing up many other aspects of life on the planet which threaten true human living, that is living as the \u003cspan\u003epeople of God. As we are drawn in to the presence of God, how do we live with the divide of rich and poor and with other forms of inequality; with climate change; with war, national ambition and xenophobia; with the continuing oppression of peoples in many parts of the world; with homelessness in our own country? The list goes on and on. Simply, how do we help to make the world more Godly, restoring the creation which \u003c\/span\u003eHe saw was good?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eContemplative prayer is not shown as an opt-out but as the source of strength and ability. It is a struggle because of our fallen human nature, which is continually being pressed to sway one way or another. A hard struggle, but contemplation shows us how to 'put on the whole armour of God, for our struggle is not against the enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in heavenly places.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Contemplative Struggle \u003c\/em\u003eis written to encourage us workaday Christians as we try to follow Jesus in our daily lives. In this it certainly succeeds, and the author adds an excellent introduction to contemplative practice as an appendix.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTwo years ago I reviewed Ian Cowley's previous book, \u003cem\u003eThe \u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eContemplative Response: Leadership and Ministry in a Distracted Culture. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003eI suggested that it needed another volume, looking at how we can bring understanding of the love of God to the world outside the Christian community. In many ways this book does this, but may I ask Ian to set fingers to word processor once more and tackle the question of the contemplative response to the problems posed by today's atheists. When we talk of God in a universe of which astrophysics has revolutionised our understanding, how is He showing us how to talk of Him and act as His people? I find this an urgent question to stir the hearts of many. To ask an author for another book is, surely, a compliment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNotes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1. Apartheid was the policy of segregation and political, social, and economic\u003cbr\u003ediscrimination against the non-white majority in the Republic of South\u003cbr\u003eAfrica. The extreme racial segregation of apartheid lasted from 1948 to 1994 and included such restrictions as where people of certain races could live or own land, what jobs they could hold, and who could and couldn't participate \u003cstrong\u003ein government.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2. Genesis 6:4\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3. Ephesians 6 :11-12.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBen Hopkinson \u003c\/strong\u003eis a priest, living in retirement in Northumberland. He was in the kindergarten of contemplation in 2019 and has still to enter the reception class.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 25.06.21. Review by John D. Davies\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIan Cowley is a white South African man, born nearly 70 years ago, brought up in the benign rural environment of Natal. If he had fulfilled expectations, he would have become a conventional Anglican gentleman, a superior English-speaking member of the white race.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e But Cowley’s life took a somewhat different course. His book is primarily about spirituality; but, to convey his message, he has to tell something of his life-story. This starts with his entry into the University of Natal in Pietermaritzburg, to study law and business administration. By the time that he started at university, the 1959 Extension of University Education Act had taken effect.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis created a scattered establishment of black tribal colleges, segregated on racial and ethnic criteria. The previously ‘open’ universities, in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Natal, were restricted to white students only; they became white tribal colleges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut there were vigorous national student bodies; these functioned on these segregated campuses, but they flourished as racially integrated organisations at regional and national level. For both black and white students, their conferences provided a converting experience, an alternative vision of society, where black and white people could meet as genuine friends and not only on a master\/servant basis; and this was at a time when the apartheid machine was grinding ever more successfully, and when hope for change was wearing very thin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe integrated organisations enabled the generation of courageous, independent-minded students, who were prepared to defy the expectations of parents, teachers, and government. They included the Anglican Students’ Federation and the ecumenical University Christian Movement. For Cowley, they opened up a whole new world. They brought him into contact with impressive characters of all race-groups, people such as the dynamic black students’ leader Steve Biko (who would, in my view, have become the natural successor to President Mandela, if he had not been cruelly done to death by the Security Police).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese ecumenical organisations were viewed with suspicion by some other Christians, notably by Evangelicals who had been caught up in the newly arrived Charismatic Movement. For them, the ecumenical groups were unbiblical humanists, dangerous quasi-Marxists. For the ecumenical types, the Evangelicals were pietistic, concerned only with their individual salvation, indifferent to the injustices experienced by most of the population. But, for those who were impressed by the Black Consciousness influence, this hassle was merely white people’s games, irrelevant luxury. The Anglican Bishop Alphaeus Zulu summarised their position: ‘We Africans have no need of a Charismatic Movement — we have always been charismatic, without any pressure from outside.’\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePeople like Cowley were attracted by the Evangelical emphasis on conversion, but it had to include conversion from the heresies and illusions of apartheid, which were otherwise winning all the battles. A new ingredient was being discovered in the Christian mix. This was where Cowley found himself.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCowley was deeply drawn to the insights of medieval spiritual teachers such as Richard Rolle and Thomas à Kempis, and Thomas Merton of our own day. This is the kind of commitment which underlies his book. Readers who are interested in spirituality will be attracted by his excellent summary of the discipline of contemplation. But, to get there, they will need to work through Cowley’s exploration of the demonic powers of racism, financial injustice, and indifference to the degradation of the environment.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHis spirituality has been formed in a situation of loss, of oppression, of cruelty, when all the signs were that the powers of evil were winning. His kind of contemplation draws us to awareness of God’s critique of the disobedience in our human systems, and into commitment to the struggle for the realisation of God’s Kingdom. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAnd this is not only for South Africa; Cowley was ordained priest in his native land and served in parish ministry there. But he came to England some years ago, and has been a parish priest and adviser in spirituality in English dioceses. For South Africa and for Britain, his book provides a well-formed and personally validated guidance concerning the claims of our Creator upon our obedience and our energies. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Rt Revd John D. Davies was National Chaplain to the Anglican Students’ Federation of Southern Africa, and Convener of the Council of Churches’ Commission which created the University Christian Movement\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Nicholas King SJ\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eChristians are often charged with being of 'no earthly use' (because their gaze is fixed on the heavens); evangelicals find themselves accused of giving insufficient time to contemplative prayer; white Christian South Africans often have it alleged against them that their discipleship is pure self-indulgence, because they benefited so largely from the sin of apartheid; and that the Roman Catholic tradition has nothing to offer Christians today. In this splendid book, those four myths are soundly 'busted': Ian Cowley is an evangelical Christian who has given himself to transform this unjust world into something that looks like the Kingdom of God; he has for many years as a busy Anglican priest given himself over to the practice of solitary contemplative prayer (and offers some useful tips about how to approach it). More than that, he is a white South African whose Christianity drove him, at some considerable cost, to engage in student activism against the apartheid regime, and who reveals his immense admiration for Steve Biko, who died that appalling death in the hands of the SA Police. He has, moreover, drunk gratefully of the waters of the Roman Catholic contemplative tradition, including Thomas a Kempis, Richard Rolle, and that remarkable Cistercian monk, Thomas Merton. He has, besides, the Protestant gift of a solid grasp of Scripture and the awareness that it can change your life. He was also alert to the dangers of environmental pollution at a time when such interests were dismissed as mindlessly sentimental “tree-hugging”. Nowadays we wish that more students had followed his example, half a century ago. This book is to be warmly recommended.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e"}
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The Contemplative Struggle: Radical discipleship in a broken world
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How do we embrace and work out our call to be disciples in a broken world? In The Contemplative Struggle...
{"id":6208590938303,"title":"The Easter Story multipack","handle":"the-easter-story-multipack","description":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePurchase a multipack of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/the-easter-story-for-families-to-share\"\u003eThe Easter Story: for families to share\u003c\/a\u003e by Martyn Payne.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eExplore the story of the first Easter together as a family!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Easter Story\u003c\/em\u003e is written for parents, grandparents and carers to share with their children through an interactive family Bible and prayer time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eEach section provides a brief comment on the passage, questions to discuss, a visual aid to encourage engagement with the story, an activity idea, a prayer idea, a key verse and an Old Testament story link.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFormerly part of BRF’s Messy Church team, Martyn Payne is a gifted storyteller whose previous books \u003cem\u003eThe Big Story\u003c\/em\u003e (2011) and \u003cem\u003eCreative Ways to Tell a Bible Story\u003c\/em\u003e (2012) demonstrate the variety of approaches he uses to bring the Bible alive for children and adults alike. He is passionate about the blessing that comes when generations explore faith together.\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2021-01-04T12:31:51+00:00","created_at":"2020-12-21T09:54:25+00:00","vendor":"Martyn Payne","type":"Pack","tags":["Children and family ministry","Easter","Feb-21","For children","Parenting"],"price":2250,"price_min":2250,"price_max":15000,"available":true,"price_varies":true,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":37832425799871,"title":"10","option1":"10","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"TES10","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Easter Story multipack - 10","public_title":"10","options":["10"],"price":2250,"weight":580,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"TES10","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]},{"id":37832419344575,"title":"25","option1":"25","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"TES25","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Easter Story multipack - 25","public_title":"25","options":["25"],"price":5000,"weight":1450,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"TES25","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]},{"id":37832419410111,"title":"50","option1":"50","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"TES50","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Easter Story multipack - 50","public_title":"50","options":["50"],"price":8750,"weight":2900,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"TES50","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]},{"id":37832419475647,"title":"100","option1":"100","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"TES100","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Easter Story multipack - 100","public_title":"100","options":["100"],"price":15000,"weight":5800,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"TES100","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/TheEasterStorymultipack.png?v=1608545247"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/TheEasterStorymultipack.png?v=1608545247","options":["Pack size (click arrow for more options)"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":15398431064255,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":2048,"width":2048,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/TheEasterStorymultipack.png?v=1608545247"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":2048,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/TheEasterStorymultipack.png?v=1608545247","width":2048}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePurchase a multipack of \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/products\/the-easter-story-for-families-to-share\"\u003eThe Easter Story: for families to share\u003c\/a\u003e by Martyn Payne.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eExplore the story of the first Easter together as a family!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Easter Story\u003c\/em\u003e is written for parents, grandparents and carers to share with their children through an interactive family Bible and prayer time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eEach section provides a brief comment on the passage, questions to discuss, a visual aid to encourage engagement with the story, an activity idea, a prayer idea, a key verse and an Old Testament story link.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFormerly part of BRF’s Messy Church team, Martyn Payne is a gifted storyteller whose previous books \u003cem\u003eThe Big Story\u003c\/em\u003e (2011) and \u003cem\u003eCreative Ways to Tell a Bible Story\u003c\/em\u003e (2012) demonstrate the variety of approaches he uses to bring the Bible alive for children and adults alike. He is passionate about the blessing that comes when generations explore faith together.\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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The Easter Story multipack
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Purchase a multipack of The Easter Story: for families to share by Martyn Payne. Explore the story of the first Easter...
{"id":6104487755967,"title":"The Easter Story: for families to share","handle":"the-easter-story-for-families-to-share","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the story of the first Easter together as a family!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Easter Story\u003c\/em\u003e is written for parents, grandparents and carers to share with their children through an interactive family Bible and prayer time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach section provides a brief comment on the passage, questions to discuss, a visual aid to encourage engagement with the story, an activity idea, a prayer idea, a key verse and an Old Testament story link.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFormerly part of BRF’s Messy Church team, Martyn Payne is a gifted storyteller whose previous books \u003cem\u003eThe Big Story\u003c\/em\u003e (2011) and \u003cem\u003eCreative Ways to Tell a Bible Story\u003c\/em\u003e (2012) demonstrate the variety of approaches he uses to bring the Bible alive for children and adults alike. He is passionate about the blessing that comes when generations explore faith together.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Matters. Paul Beasley-Murray\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA superb resource. If I were still a minister of a local church, I would ensure that every family in my church received a copy!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry, digital edition 2. Reviewed by Elizabeth Hogg\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMartyn Payne, one of the pioneers of Messy Church, has written a little gem which brings the Bible to life, introduces creativity and encourages family prayer. There are questions to discuss and activities to develop within a context of family sharing – across the generations. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is presented in ten sections, from the entry into Jerusalem through to the crucifixion, so it is the story of Holy Week, rather than Eastertide, and only the final section features the risen Jesus’ appearance. Nonetheless, it is highly recommended, for it presents a narrative which is increasingly unknown among modern families. So buy this attractive little book during Lent, and if appropriate present it to your children or grandchildren on or around Palm Sunday. When family worship once again becomes the norm, it can be used at Junior Church, or given to families who attend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Elizabeth Hogg\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e","published_at":"2020-11-19T17:01:22+00:00","created_at":"2020-11-19T17:00:19+00:00","vendor":"Martyn Payne","type":"Paperback","tags":["Children and family ministry","Easter","Families Easter","Feb-21","For children","Parenting"],"price":250,"price_min":250,"price_max":250,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":37578126819519,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781800391017","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Easter Story: for families to share","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":250,"weight":58,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781800391017","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/EasterStory.jpg?v=1605805223"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/EasterStory.jpg?v=1605805223","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":15005604577471,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":1000,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/EasterStory.jpg?v=1605805223"},"aspect_ratio":1.0,"height":1000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/EasterStory.jpg?v=1605805223","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the story of the first Easter together as a family!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Easter Story\u003c\/em\u003e is written for parents, grandparents and carers to share with their children through an interactive family Bible and prayer time.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach section provides a brief comment on the passage, questions to discuss, a visual aid to encourage engagement with the story, an activity idea, a prayer idea, a key verse and an Old Testament story link.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFormerly part of BRF’s Messy Church team, Martyn Payne is a gifted storyteller whose previous books \u003cem\u003eThe Big Story\u003c\/em\u003e (2011) and \u003cem\u003eCreative Ways to Tell a Bible Story\u003c\/em\u003e (2012) demonstrate the variety of approaches he uses to bring the Bible alive for children and adults alike. He is passionate about the blessing that comes when generations explore faith together.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Matters. Paul Beasley-Murray\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA superb resource. If I were still a minister of a local church, I would ensure that every family in my church received a copy!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry, digital edition 2. Reviewed by Elizabeth Hogg\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMartyn Payne, one of the pioneers of Messy Church, has written a little gem which brings the Bible to life, introduces creativity and encourages family prayer. There are questions to discuss and activities to develop within a context of family sharing – across the generations. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is presented in ten sections, from the entry into Jerusalem through to the crucifixion, so it is the story of Holy Week, rather than Eastertide, and only the final section features the risen Jesus’ appearance. Nonetheless, it is highly recommended, for it presents a narrative which is increasingly unknown among modern families. So buy this attractive little book during Lent, and if appropriate present it to your children or grandchildren on or around Palm Sunday. When family worship once again becomes the norm, it can be used at Junior Church, or given to families who attend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Elizabeth Hogg\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h5\u003e"}
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The Easter Story: for families to share
£2.50
Explore the story of the first Easter together as a family! The Easter Story is written for parents, grandparents and...
{"id":3945364815966,"title":"The Essential Guide to Family Ministry: A practical guide for church-based family workers","handle":"the-essential-guide-to-family-ministry-a-practical-guide-for-church-based-family-workers","description":"\u003cp\u003eA comprehensive foundation for those working in the increasingly complex and diverse area of ministry with families, \u003cem\u003eThe Essential Guide to Family Ministry\u003c\/em\u003e presents an overview of contemporary family life, sets out the principles that underpin this work and offers strategic and practical approaches to working with families. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn essential read for all who are involved in this field and passionate about seeing God’s kingdom come in families, churches and communities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor Information\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGail Adcock is Family Ministry Development Officer with the Methodist Church GB, equipping and resourcing those working with families across the UK. She has a primary education background, was family pastor at Stopsley Baptist Church for ten years and completed an MA in Children and Family Ministry in 2013.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGail Adcock's \u003cem\u003eThe Essential Guide to Family Ministry\u003c\/em\u003e is just that. it is grounded in research, personal practitioning experience, deep listening and reflection and this is expressed in the content and structure of the book. The seven habits for highly successful family ministry are born out of insight and experience and are realistic and achievable. The book has reflective questions and theological reflections and can be used both as an exploration tool and a mirror to existing ministry. It is ideal for a book group, pastoral group, church, or leadership team to read and explore together to help develop new ministry with and among families or to review existing ministry. It is essential for those who want to understand context and where to start in family ministry as well as those who are already on the journey.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePenny Fuller, Children, Youth and Family Co-ordinator The Connexional Team \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFamilies don’t come in one size – nor does family ministry. In this much-needed book, Adcock lifts the lid on the theological underpinning and practical outworking of ministry with families of all shapes, stages and sizes. She lays out the map of family ministry and invites churches to explore theology and practice before planning their journey of ministry with families of all shapes, stages and sizes. Whether your church is just starting this journey, or has been on it for some time, there is plenty here to refresh your vision, understanding, strategy and practice.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMary Hawes, National Children and Youth Adviser, Church of England\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGail Adcock’s work is timely in a country facing uncertainty and turbulence, when we need to nurture unity. Scratch the surface, and we find that creating and building family remains of utmost importance to most people across all ages. The author’s emphasis on adopting a family-style intergenerational approach as a priority is prophetic and life-giving, not only for the flourishing of church community, but for the health of society as a whole.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCaroline Dollard, Marriage and Family Life Adviser, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhether you’re starting out working with families or you’ve been working in the field for a while, this well-researched book of cultural and theological reflection combined with practical wisdom will help you develop impactful ministry with families.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVictoria Beech, creator of GodVenture\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFamily ministry can be such a nebulous concept for churches to grapple with. What are it’s boundaries? Is there even anything left for the rest of the church leadership to focus on once we’ve listed everything we think the family ministry worker should be doing? In this clear and concise book, Gail Adcock helps churches think theologically and strategically to define family ministry for their setting. A must read for all church leaders as well as their family ministry teams.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSue Price, Hand in Hand Children’s and Family Ministry Conference Director, Kingsway CLC Trust\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGail’s extensive knowledge and experience offers strong foundational principles and examples of good working practice to resource family ministry. Covering aspects such as the changes within family life and its impact on church life and ministry is helpful to set a base from which the reader would be able to apply the material in a way that is relevant to their context. Whether a leader or church is just starting out or has years of experience, this book will be a valuable addition for use now and to be revisited as it offers such a wealth of material that can be referred back to, enabling family ministry to be reviewed and adapted to ensure it remains effective and relevant whatever the setting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJane Butcher, Children and Families Pioneer, BRF\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry digital edition 2. Review by Howard Rowe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book contains a wealth of valuable guidance to churches seeking to be effective in ministering to the family of God at every level. It is not about how to run family services, or about children and young parents, but about the whole family of God. There is so much thought and good advice in this book that it is difficult to imagine any church running out of things to be doing. In the early chapters, Adcock considers the nature of ‘family’ in the twenty-first century, and the opportunities and pitfalls for modern ministry in a church context. She then considers seven ‘habits’ in church practice which will help any ministry team grow in effectiveness. I found the chapter on being ‘intergenerational’ to be particularly thoughtful, and the chapter on being ‘church’ in the home similarly challenging. It is not a book that many will read from cover to cover, yet it is much more than a reference book. It is not a ‘how to do it’ guide, and it does not answer all the questions it poses. But if you and your colleagues care about the nature of the church and spend time with this book, you will be able to pray about and address family issues with a deeper level of understanding than before. I commend it to those engaged in leadership within the family of the church, and those whom God may be calling to such tasks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Howard Rowe\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 24.07.20\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReview by Philip Welsh\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book seeks to shape the approach of churches of all sorts towards families of all sorts, and Gail Adcock draws on wide experience as the Family Ministries Development Officer of the Methodist Church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the outset, she underlines the sheer diversity of contemporary family life, and then insists on the need to establish some theological perspectives. Here she looks at the home as the primary place of Christian nurture; the Trinity as paradigm of distinct persons dwelling in unity; and the challenge of Jesus’s inclusiveness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdcock points out the wide range of approaches to families inside and outside the congregation which can shelter under the umbrella of family ministry, and is emphatic that each church needs to clarify just what it is aiming to achieve before it starts setting up any initiatives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMuch of the book then consists in introducing what she calls Seven Habits for Highly Effective Family Ministry: to be strategic, supportive, collaborative, intergenerational, missional, holy at home, and reflective.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese chapters are full of sound advice, necessarily of a fairly generalised kind, offered in an easy-going style for the general reader. This is not a how-to-do-it book full of bright ideas and recommended activities. It aims, rather, to shape the basic attitudes and values that motivate ministry to families.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author is keen ‘to get away from the silo mentality of seeing family ministry as an isolated speciality’. It is refreshing that she recognises that single people and same-sex couples are part of the picture, though this is not developed. And she notes as a particular current trend ‘the rise of grandparents’. She is clear that being an intergenerational church is more about mind-set than programme, and will, no doubt, raise a weary cheer for her reserve about all-age services, ‘which in reality have become painful for everyone involved’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdcock does not claim originality, is generous in introducing the influential work of others, and offers a particularly helpful list of further resources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Essential Guide to Family Ministry is not just a book for those who work with young families. It will also be of value to clergy and PCC members at the outset of any review of their church’s ministry in relation to the pluriform reality of contemporary family life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Revd Philip Welsh is a retired priest in the diocese of London\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNicki Jemphrey, Family Ministry Coordinator of Knock Presbyterian Church, July 2020 \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eThe Essential Guide\u003c\/em\u003e … is a bold claim for any author or publisher to make of their book. Up until now there has been no work published in the UK which equals \u003cem\u003eThe Essential Guide to Family Ministry\u003c\/em\u003e in its breadth of definition of the term, depth of scholarship, sound theology and wealth of practical suggestions, all in response to extensive research in which the author was personally involved. The points made in the Family Ministry Short Course at Cliff College that I attended are expanded and fleshed out. The author writes in a relaxed and readable style, often referencing her own experience of family and practice, which helps the reader to engage with the often complex issues she is describing.\n\u003cp\u003eIn the first part of the book Gail Adcock examines the changing nature of family life within the UK and stresses the urgency in understanding this and in creating new frameworks in response to it. The importance of family function over form with regard to how we approach family ministry is introduced here and is a recurring theme of the book; fewer and fewer families in the UK fit the nuclear model of the mid-twentieth century and this is something not to be lamented but actively engaged with. She helpfully proposes three different theological perspectives which can offer practitioners a foundation for our ministry with families: Holiness at home, Trinity as family and the Jesus shaped family, all of which should involve reaching out to and including the outsider and have an intergenerational aspect where possible. The first section of the book concludes with some of the findings of the \u003cem\u003eWe are Family\u003c\/em\u003e report, which recognises the need for a holistic approach to family ministry, one which provides the dual strands of ministry and support.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe second part of the book goes on to examine what this might look like in practice, under the heading of “Seven Habits for Highly Effective Family Ministry”. Each habit is examined in detail, with plenty of practical tips for its implementation. The habits I found particularly helpful and feel I need to develop most in my role were the need to Be Strategic, Be Collaborative and Be Reflective. There is some overlap in the points made in these sections but that is no bad thing; they are principles of which we need to be constantly reminding ourselves. The habit I found most challenging was the need to Be Reflective. I very much identified with the barriers to good reflective practice mentioned: time, other people, ourselves and no better way. I know I need to improve in this area in order to become a more effective practitioner and will consider the different suggestions offered: keeping a reflective journal, peer support and mentoring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo does \u003cem\u003eThe Essential Guide to Family Ministry\u003c\/em\u003e live up to its title? In the drawing together of other important writing and thinking on the subject, combined with the findings of recent UK research and the knowledge of a vast range of practitioners as well as her own considerable experience, Gail Adcock has created a handbook which no family worker in the UK should be without. So rich is it in concepts and practical suggestions that it would be impossible to take in everything in one reading. It is indeed an indispensable guide, which should be kept close to hand and consulted on a regular basis. I am planning to do just that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRachel Ridler March 2020 \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rachelridlermumonamission.co.uk\/2020\/03\/spring-book-reviews\/\"\u003ehttps:\/\/rachelridlermumonamission.co.uk\/2020\/03\/spring-book-reviews\/\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have found this book so fascinating, and for anyone who is involved in children’s or families ministry, or church leadership in general, I think this is a must read. The first part of the book sets up how family life has changed through the generations, leading us to the world we find ourselves in now. How the 'extended family' of the pre-1900’s where everyone lived close and was in and our of each others lives changed to the 'nuclear family' ideal of the 50’s and 60’s, to the many many different ways that families can be now, with more acceptance of step-families, working families and dispersed families.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author then goes on to talk about the theology behind family ministry and what it should look like in our churches today. That actually we need to encourage faith at home, be more inter-generational rather than always splitting off age groups, and be missional in our activities too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe last part of the book outlines 7 habits for highly effective family ministry, and these are all really thought provoking. It has certainly got me thinking about how I plan the activities in my new role. So if you are re-thinking how you reach families or just if it is even important, then this is one to read.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIrish Methodist Newsletter Feb\/Mar 2020. Review by Revd Stephen Skuce\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s always a brave move to call your book ‘The Essential …’. You are saying that basically everything that is needed is in this book. And fair play to Gail Adcock. This excellent book covers the broad range of issues, is very readable and works really well as a one book resource for family ministry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book helpfully begins with a consideration of the changing shape of the family. The last 50 years have witnessed an increasing pace of change and as we reach out to all families, we engage with the myriad of family contexts. There is a good theological foundation laid, and then an overview chapter highlighting the variety of family ministry found in Britain today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bulk of the book is given to seven chapters that cover habits for highly effective family ministry. Some may react against this approach as the subtitle implies a formulaic ‘do this and excellent ministry will result’. But, once you get into the chapters you quickly recognise the importance of the habits or practices across a range of family ministry settings. Indeed, they are much more widely applicable than just family ministry. We are challenged to be strategic, be supportive, be collaborative, be intergenerational, be missional, be holy at home, and be reflective. Quite a bit of the insight in this book is drawn out of the influential ‘We are Family’ research project into family ministry from 2014. This helps to give a very objective and solid basis to the insights that are developed. There are very helpful ‘questions for reflection’ and ‘further reading section’ at the end of each chapter, with both books and easily accessible online material.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the chapter titled ‘Be Strategic’ the author argues for developing priorities that are focused on achieving what has been discerned as the key objectives. Most of us don’t, as ‘we’re keen to just get on and do the work of family ministry’ (p75). However, ‘by adopting a plan for our ministry, we can avoid the danger of jumping in too quickly before having a clear sense of what the goals are or how these might be accomplished’ (p76). This is clearly important in family ministry, but of course is much more widely applicable and stands as a good challenge to the activism of Irish Methodism where we are keen to do stuff, but often don’t develop strategy and consequently don’t always (or even usually?) see the results we are hoping for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerhaps two final things to note here. Gail Adcock is Family Ministry Development Officer for the British Methodist church and it’s good to see a British Methodist colleague leading the way in family ministry. And this excellent book is just £8.99. BRF are producing an increasingly significant range of resources for the Church, and are managing to keep these are a fairly low cost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRevd Dr Stephen Skuce,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eDistrict Superintendent, the North Western\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eMethodist \u003c\/em\u003eDistrict\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2019-08-13T10:03:32+01:00","created_at":"2019-08-13T10:09:57+01:00","vendor":"Gail Adcock","type":"Paperback","tags":["Children and family ministry","Jan-20","Kindle"],"price":899,"price_min":899,"price_max":899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":29434801127518,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857465788","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Essential Guide to Family Ministry: A practical guide for church-based family workers","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":899,"weight":210,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857465788","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465788.jpg?v=1569234809"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465788.jpg?v=1569234809","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":1514673176715,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.705,"height":1419,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465788.jpg?v=1569234809"},"aspect_ratio":0.705,"height":1419,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465788.jpg?v=1569234809","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eA comprehensive foundation for those working in the increasingly complex and diverse area of ministry with families, \u003cem\u003eThe Essential Guide to Family Ministry\u003c\/em\u003e presents an overview of contemporary family life, sets out the principles that underpin this work and offers strategic and practical approaches to working with families. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn essential read for all who are involved in this field and passionate about seeing God’s kingdom come in families, churches and communities.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor Information\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGail Adcock is Family Ministry Development Officer with the Methodist Church GB, equipping and resourcing those working with families across the UK. She has a primary education background, was family pastor at Stopsley Baptist Church for ten years and completed an MA in Children and Family Ministry in 2013.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGail Adcock's \u003cem\u003eThe Essential Guide to Family Ministry\u003c\/em\u003e is just that. it is grounded in research, personal practitioning experience, deep listening and reflection and this is expressed in the content and structure of the book. The seven habits for highly successful family ministry are born out of insight and experience and are realistic and achievable. The book has reflective questions and theological reflections and can be used both as an exploration tool and a mirror to existing ministry. It is ideal for a book group, pastoral group, church, or leadership team to read and explore together to help develop new ministry with and among families or to review existing ministry. It is essential for those who want to understand context and where to start in family ministry as well as those who are already on the journey.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePenny Fuller, Children, Youth and Family Co-ordinator The Connexional Team \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFamilies don’t come in one size – nor does family ministry. In this much-needed book, Adcock lifts the lid on the theological underpinning and practical outworking of ministry with families of all shapes, stages and sizes. She lays out the map of family ministry and invites churches to explore theology and practice before planning their journey of ministry with families of all shapes, stages and sizes. Whether your church is just starting this journey, or has been on it for some time, there is plenty here to refresh your vision, understanding, strategy and practice.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMary Hawes, National Children and Youth Adviser, Church of England\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGail Adcock’s work is timely in a country facing uncertainty and turbulence, when we need to nurture unity. Scratch the surface, and we find that creating and building family remains of utmost importance to most people across all ages. The author’s emphasis on adopting a family-style intergenerational approach as a priority is prophetic and life-giving, not only for the flourishing of church community, but for the health of society as a whole.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCaroline Dollard, Marriage and Family Life Adviser, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWhether you’re starting out working with families or you’ve been working in the field for a while, this well-researched book of cultural and theological reflection combined with practical wisdom will help you develop impactful ministry with families.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVictoria Beech, creator of GodVenture\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFamily ministry can be such a nebulous concept for churches to grapple with. What are it’s boundaries? Is there even anything left for the rest of the church leadership to focus on once we’ve listed everything we think the family ministry worker should be doing? In this clear and concise book, Gail Adcock helps churches think theologically and strategically to define family ministry for their setting. A must read for all church leaders as well as their family ministry teams.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSue Price, Hand in Hand Children’s and Family Ministry Conference Director, Kingsway CLC Trust\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGail’s extensive knowledge and experience offers strong foundational principles and examples of good working practice to resource family ministry. Covering aspects such as the changes within family life and its impact on church life and ministry is helpful to set a base from which the reader would be able to apply the material in a way that is relevant to their context. Whether a leader or church is just starting out or has years of experience, this book will be a valuable addition for use now and to be revisited as it offers such a wealth of material that can be referred back to, enabling family ministry to be reviewed and adapted to ensure it remains effective and relevant whatever the setting.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJane Butcher, Children and Families Pioneer, BRF\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry digital edition 2. Review by Howard Rowe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book contains a wealth of valuable guidance to churches seeking to be effective in ministering to the family of God at every level. It is not about how to run family services, or about children and young parents, but about the whole family of God. There is so much thought and good advice in this book that it is difficult to imagine any church running out of things to be doing. In the early chapters, Adcock considers the nature of ‘family’ in the twenty-first century, and the opportunities and pitfalls for modern ministry in a church context. She then considers seven ‘habits’ in church practice which will help any ministry team grow in effectiveness. I found the chapter on being ‘intergenerational’ to be particularly thoughtful, and the chapter on being ‘church’ in the home similarly challenging. It is not a book that many will read from cover to cover, yet it is much more than a reference book. It is not a ‘how to do it’ guide, and it does not answer all the questions it poses. But if you and your colleagues care about the nature of the church and spend time with this book, you will be able to pray about and address family issues with a deeper level of understanding than before. I commend it to those engaged in leadership within the family of the church, and those whom God may be calling to such tasks.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Howard Rowe\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 24.07.20\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReview by Philip Welsh\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book seeks to shape the approach of churches of all sorts towards families of all sorts, and Gail Adcock draws on wide experience as the Family Ministries Development Officer of the Methodist Church.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt the outset, she underlines the sheer diversity of contemporary family life, and then insists on the need to establish some theological perspectives. Here she looks at the home as the primary place of Christian nurture; the Trinity as paradigm of distinct persons dwelling in unity; and the challenge of Jesus’s inclusiveness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdcock points out the wide range of approaches to families inside and outside the congregation which can shelter under the umbrella of family ministry, and is emphatic that each church needs to clarify just what it is aiming to achieve before it starts setting up any initiatives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMuch of the book then consists in introducing what she calls Seven Habits for Highly Effective Family Ministry: to be strategic, supportive, collaborative, intergenerational, missional, holy at home, and reflective.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese chapters are full of sound advice, necessarily of a fairly generalised kind, offered in an easy-going style for the general reader. This is not a how-to-do-it book full of bright ideas and recommended activities. It aims, rather, to shape the basic attitudes and values that motivate ministry to families.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author is keen ‘to get away from the silo mentality of seeing family ministry as an isolated speciality’. It is refreshing that she recognises that single people and same-sex couples are part of the picture, though this is not developed. And she notes as a particular current trend ‘the rise of grandparents’. She is clear that being an intergenerational church is more about mind-set than programme, and will, no doubt, raise a weary cheer for her reserve about all-age services, ‘which in reality have become painful for everyone involved’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdcock does not claim originality, is generous in introducing the influential work of others, and offers a particularly helpful list of further resources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Essential Guide to Family Ministry is not just a book for those who work with young families. It will also be of value to clergy and PCC members at the outset of any review of their church’s ministry in relation to the pluriform reality of contemporary family life.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Revd Philip Welsh is a retired priest in the diocese of London\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNicki Jemphrey, Family Ministry Coordinator of Knock Presbyterian Church, July 2020 \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eThe Essential Guide\u003c\/em\u003e … is a bold claim for any author or publisher to make of their book. Up until now there has been no work published in the UK which equals \u003cem\u003eThe Essential Guide to Family Ministry\u003c\/em\u003e in its breadth of definition of the term, depth of scholarship, sound theology and wealth of practical suggestions, all in response to extensive research in which the author was personally involved. The points made in the Family Ministry Short Course at Cliff College that I attended are expanded and fleshed out. The author writes in a relaxed and readable style, often referencing her own experience of family and practice, which helps the reader to engage with the often complex issues she is describing.\n\u003cp\u003eIn the first part of the book Gail Adcock examines the changing nature of family life within the UK and stresses the urgency in understanding this and in creating new frameworks in response to it. The importance of family function over form with regard to how we approach family ministry is introduced here and is a recurring theme of the book; fewer and fewer families in the UK fit the nuclear model of the mid-twentieth century and this is something not to be lamented but actively engaged with. She helpfully proposes three different theological perspectives which can offer practitioners a foundation for our ministry with families: Holiness at home, Trinity as family and the Jesus shaped family, all of which should involve reaching out to and including the outsider and have an intergenerational aspect where possible. The first section of the book concludes with some of the findings of the \u003cem\u003eWe are Family\u003c\/em\u003e report, which recognises the need for a holistic approach to family ministry, one which provides the dual strands of ministry and support.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe second part of the book goes on to examine what this might look like in practice, under the heading of “Seven Habits for Highly Effective Family Ministry”. Each habit is examined in detail, with plenty of practical tips for its implementation. The habits I found particularly helpful and feel I need to develop most in my role were the need to Be Strategic, Be Collaborative and Be Reflective. There is some overlap in the points made in these sections but that is no bad thing; they are principles of which we need to be constantly reminding ourselves. The habit I found most challenging was the need to Be Reflective. I very much identified with the barriers to good reflective practice mentioned: time, other people, ourselves and no better way. I know I need to improve in this area in order to become a more effective practitioner and will consider the different suggestions offered: keeping a reflective journal, peer support and mentoring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo does \u003cem\u003eThe Essential Guide to Family Ministry\u003c\/em\u003e live up to its title? In the drawing together of other important writing and thinking on the subject, combined with the findings of recent UK research and the knowledge of a vast range of practitioners as well as her own considerable experience, Gail Adcock has created a handbook which no family worker in the UK should be without. So rich is it in concepts and practical suggestions that it would be impossible to take in everything in one reading. It is indeed an indispensable guide, which should be kept close to hand and consulted on a regular basis. I am planning to do just that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRachel Ridler March 2020 \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rachelridlermumonamission.co.uk\/2020\/03\/spring-book-reviews\/\"\u003ehttps:\/\/rachelridlermumonamission.co.uk\/2020\/03\/spring-book-reviews\/\u003c\/a\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI have found this book so fascinating, and for anyone who is involved in children’s or families ministry, or church leadership in general, I think this is a must read. The first part of the book sets up how family life has changed through the generations, leading us to the world we find ourselves in now. How the 'extended family' of the pre-1900’s where everyone lived close and was in and our of each others lives changed to the 'nuclear family' ideal of the 50’s and 60’s, to the many many different ways that families can be now, with more acceptance of step-families, working families and dispersed families.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author then goes on to talk about the theology behind family ministry and what it should look like in our churches today. That actually we need to encourage faith at home, be more inter-generational rather than always splitting off age groups, and be missional in our activities too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe last part of the book outlines 7 habits for highly effective family ministry, and these are all really thought provoking. It has certainly got me thinking about how I plan the activities in my new role. So if you are re-thinking how you reach families or just if it is even important, then this is one to read.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIrish Methodist Newsletter Feb\/Mar 2020. Review by Revd Stephen Skuce\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt’s always a brave move to call your book ‘The Essential …’. You are saying that basically everything that is needed is in this book. And fair play to Gail Adcock. This excellent book covers the broad range of issues, is very readable and works really well as a one book resource for family ministry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book helpfully begins with a consideration of the changing shape of the family. The last 50 years have witnessed an increasing pace of change and as we reach out to all families, we engage with the myriad of family contexts. There is a good theological foundation laid, and then an overview chapter highlighting the variety of family ministry found in Britain today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe bulk of the book is given to seven chapters that cover habits for highly effective family ministry. Some may react against this approach as the subtitle implies a formulaic ‘do this and excellent ministry will result’. But, once you get into the chapters you quickly recognise the importance of the habits or practices across a range of family ministry settings. Indeed, they are much more widely applicable than just family ministry. We are challenged to be strategic, be supportive, be collaborative, be intergenerational, be missional, be holy at home, and be reflective. Quite a bit of the insight in this book is drawn out of the influential ‘We are Family’ research project into family ministry from 2014. This helps to give a very objective and solid basis to the insights that are developed. There are very helpful ‘questions for reflection’ and ‘further reading section’ at the end of each chapter, with both books and easily accessible online material.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the chapter titled ‘Be Strategic’ the author argues for developing priorities that are focused on achieving what has been discerned as the key objectives. Most of us don’t, as ‘we’re keen to just get on and do the work of family ministry’ (p75). However, ‘by adopting a plan for our ministry, we can avoid the danger of jumping in too quickly before having a clear sense of what the goals are or how these might be accomplished’ (p76). This is clearly important in family ministry, but of course is much more widely applicable and stands as a good challenge to the activism of Irish Methodism where we are keen to do stuff, but often don’t develop strategy and consequently don’t always (or even usually?) see the results we are hoping for.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerhaps two final things to note here. Gail Adcock is Family Ministry Development Officer for the British Methodist church and it’s good to see a British Methodist colleague leading the way in family ministry. And this excellent book is just £8.99. BRF are producing an increasingly significant range of resources for the Church, and are managing to keep these are a fairly low cost.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRevd Dr Stephen Skuce,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cem\u003eDistrict Superintendent, the North Western\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eMethodist \u003c\/em\u003eDistrict\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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The Essential Guide to Family Ministry: A practical guide for church-based family workers
£8.99
A comprehensive foundation for those working in the increasingly complex and diverse area of ministry with families, The Essential Guide...
{"id":7619789979839,"title":"The Everyday God: Encountering the Divine in the works of mercy","handle":"the-everyday-god","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e‘The everyday God is a God who is for everyone…who appears in everyday events and ordinary people. He calls us to move out of our comfort zones and into his liminal space on the margins of our society, to see the face of Christ in a stranger…’ \u003cbr\u003eJonathan Arnold, a seasoned community engagement expert, delves deep into the heart of the biblical mandate to love one’s neighbour. Through a tapestry of real-life stories, he unveils the power of practical faith, illustrating how it can ignite transformation among the homeless, refugees, the poor and vulnerable, imprisoned and marginalised, as well as those living with dementia, disability and disease. \u003cbr\u003eIn these pages, you’ll witness how acts of social and environmental justice, intertwined with mercy, have the potential to reshape lives, offering a vivid portrait of the profound impact of embracing the everyday God. As he reflects upon Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 25:34–40, Arnold challenges us to discover God’s presence in the most unexpected places and join in with where he is acting, whether inside or outside our churches.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eRevd Dr Jonathan Arnold\u003c\/strong\u003e is Executive Director of the Social Justice Network in the Diocese of Canterbury, a charity that helps people at times of crisis, including migration, debt, hunger, homelessness, modern slavery and exploitation, the rehabilitation of ex-offenders and rural justice. He is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Kent, an Associate of Sidney De Hahn Centre for Arts and Health, Christ Church Canterbury University. Jonathan was formerly Dean of Divinity and Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was tutor in ecclesiastical history and chair of examiners for the theology faculty. Other books include Music and Faith: Conversations in a Post-Secular Age (2019); Sacred Music in Secular Society (2014); The Great Humanists (2011) and Dean John Colet of St. Paul's (2007). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 18.10.24. Review by Jonathan Evens\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eSometimes, books, like buses, come in pairs. The Everyday God could be a complementary pairing with Elizabeth Oldfield’s recently published Fully Alive (Books, 17 May, Podcast, 23 May). Oldfield’s book offers contemporary reflections on the seven deadly sins; and these then lead into reflections on the virtues that are the polar opposites of those sins. The kind of virtuous living that Oldfield seeks is characterised by the seven works of corporal mercy, which are the main focus of The Everyday God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eIn this book, Jonathan Arnold brings his varied background in music, theology, and social justice into play through frameworks deriving from each of these three to explore the seven works of corporal mercy and the concepts of justice and mercy more generally. In each chapter, a different musical approach is used to introduce the theme, stories — drawn from a lecture series organised by Canterbury Cathedral and the Social Justice Network that Arnold leads — give apposite examples of the seven works of mercy in practice, while the theological concepts of “being with” (Samuel Wells) and “being interrupted” (Al Barrett and Ruth Harley) inform much of the practice described.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eArnold weaves these strands and themes together in compelling ways which are ultimately based in the Wellsian insight that our fundamental issue is isolation rather than limitation, and the reversal found in the story of St Martin and the Beggar, in which an act of mercy leads to a deeper vison of Christ for the one acting mercifully. This latter insight leads to the polyphonic understanding that, as Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote, 'Christ plays in ten thousand places, Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his. . .' The everyday God is found in those with whom we are with as the seven works of corporal mercy are practised.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eIt is possible that specialists in music, theology, or social justice might think that their particular strand was insufficiently explored through Arnold’s approach; but for the generalist, like myself, there is more than enough of interest and insight to keep one engaged as his explorations proceed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eAt one point, he proposes an addition to or expansion of the concepts of 'being with' and 'being interrupted', in terms of 'being disrupted'. This comes from the story of Zacchaeus, but is applied to the one who triggers change through an act of mercy. Within that story, however, it is Zacchaeus, as recipient, who experiences disruption, meaning that this argument for disruption doesn’t work incarnationally as clearly as is the case for 'being with' and 'being interrupted'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThese are quibbles, however, in regard to a book that expands our understanding of the interconnections between music, theology and social justice, whilst actively inspiring incarnational mission.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Jonathan Evens, team rector of Wickford and Runwell in the diocese of Chelmsford.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTransforming Ministry Winter 2024. Review by Laura Hillman\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eThis book is a treasure chest of ideas and inspiration based on the experiences of the author – director of the Social Justice Network for the Diocese of Canterbury. He is also a musician who takes Augustine’s words ‘God is music’ as the thread connecting the rich variety of themes and real-life stories to the gospel narrative. Chapters are based on the traditional seven works of mercy: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, housing the homeless, welcoming strangers, visiting the sick and the imprisoned; burying the dead. There is an additional chapter on caring for creation. All include material for individual reflection as well as group discussion with suggestions for further reading and resources. There are first-hand accounts of changed lives from prisoners, asylum seekers and others on the margins of society. The honesty of those whose lives have been transformed is an inspiration and a challenge. This is a book to dip into: it will not fail to interest both on a personal level as an aid to meditation and as a catalyst for change in the community.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Laura Hillman\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Donato Tallo\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eJonathan Arnold has produced a thought provoking, practical and meditational book on the Everyday God who is alive and active, quite often in the most unexpected of places, and always both inside and outside of church buildings. The book reminds the reader that everyone is created in the image of God and that caring for all living beings and the environment as a whole is something that must be central to the life of a Christian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThis is a book that can be read by an individual at a pace to suit one's own needs or indeed would be a brilliant book for a church home group or equivalent gathering.\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eEach chapter presents the reader with challenges to think about, includes thoughts, reflections and teachings from a wide range of individuals and links in scripture to the particular work of mercy being explored. The book is accessible and the fact each chapter finishes with a reflection, prayer and spiritual exercise allows the reader to use it in a manner to aid their spiritual life and development both in terms of prayer and considering practical actions that could be taken forward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThe work Jonathan is engaged in the\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eDiocese of Canterbury is brought to life in an accessible and interesting format\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethough the pages of this book and provides the reader with a significant insight into how the work Jonathan and his colleagues are engaged which makes a significant difference to the lives of so many people each and every day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eWe live in a challenging world where so often it is easy to over look those in need, this book reminds the reader that we should not consider helping those in need as an option but consider it as a duty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eJonathan highlights to the reader that at different times in life different people can be vulnerable, that all of us can be scared or troubled in someway and that the Bible reminds us that loving our neighbour is something we should all do despite its challenges. God is there for everyone and through the works of mercy (feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, give shelter to travellers, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead) we can all see God in the face of others through our spiritual and practical actions linked to the works of mercy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThis book has inspired me to find out more about Jonathans work and to reflect more on how I can find God in all things and in all people as well as considering what more I can do each and everyday with regard to the works of mercy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Donato Tallo\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2024-01-02T12:54:23+00:00","created_at":"2024-01-02T12:54:23+00:00","vendor":"Jonathan Arnold","type":"Paperback","tags":["2024","Devotional","Discipleship","For churches","For individuals","Glassboxx"],"price":999,"price_min":999,"price_max":999,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":43664171401407,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781800392106","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":35270673531071,"product_id":7619789979839,"position":1,"created_at":"2024-01-02T14:10:19+00:00","updated_at":"2024-01-02T14:10:21+00:00","alt":null,"width":1535,"height":2339,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/EverydayGod.jpg?v=1704204621","variant_ids":[43664171401407]},"available":true,"name":"The Everyday God: Encountering the Divine in the works of mercy - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":999,"weight":250,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781800392106","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":27998080204991,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":2339,"width":1535,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/EverydayGod.jpg?v=1704204621"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/EverydayGod.jpg?v=1704204621"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/EverydayGod.jpg?v=1704204621","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":27998080204991,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":2339,"width":1535,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/EverydayGod.jpg?v=1704204621"},"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":2339,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/EverydayGod.jpg?v=1704204621","width":1535}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e‘The everyday God is a God who is for everyone…who appears in everyday events and ordinary people. He calls us to move out of our comfort zones and into his liminal space on the margins of our society, to see the face of Christ in a stranger…’ \u003cbr\u003eJonathan Arnold, a seasoned community engagement expert, delves deep into the heart of the biblical mandate to love one’s neighbour. Through a tapestry of real-life stories, he unveils the power of practical faith, illustrating how it can ignite transformation among the homeless, refugees, the poor and vulnerable, imprisoned and marginalised, as well as those living with dementia, disability and disease. \u003cbr\u003eIn these pages, you’ll witness how acts of social and environmental justice, intertwined with mercy, have the potential to reshape lives, offering a vivid portrait of the profound impact of embracing the everyday God. As he reflects upon Jesus’s teaching in Matthew 25:34–40, Arnold challenges us to discover God’s presence in the most unexpected places and join in with where he is acting, whether inside or outside our churches.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eRevd Dr Jonathan Arnold\u003c\/strong\u003e is Executive Director of the Social Justice Network in the Diocese of Canterbury, a charity that helps people at times of crisis, including migration, debt, hunger, homelessness, modern slavery and exploitation, the rehabilitation of ex-offenders and rural justice. He is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Kent, an Associate of Sidney De Hahn Centre for Arts and Health, Christ Church Canterbury University. Jonathan was formerly Dean of Divinity and Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, where he was tutor in ecclesiastical history and chair of examiners for the theology faculty. Other books include Music and Faith: Conversations in a Post-Secular Age (2019); Sacred Music in Secular Society (2014); The Great Humanists (2011) and Dean John Colet of St. Paul's (2007). \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times 18.10.24. Review by Jonathan Evens\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eSometimes, books, like buses, come in pairs. The Everyday God could be a complementary pairing with Elizabeth Oldfield’s recently published Fully Alive (Books, 17 May, Podcast, 23 May). Oldfield’s book offers contemporary reflections on the seven deadly sins; and these then lead into reflections on the virtues that are the polar opposites of those sins. The kind of virtuous living that Oldfield seeks is characterised by the seven works of corporal mercy, which are the main focus of The Everyday God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eIn this book, Jonathan Arnold brings his varied background in music, theology, and social justice into play through frameworks deriving from each of these three to explore the seven works of corporal mercy and the concepts of justice and mercy more generally. In each chapter, a different musical approach is used to introduce the theme, stories — drawn from a lecture series organised by Canterbury Cathedral and the Social Justice Network that Arnold leads — give apposite examples of the seven works of mercy in practice, while the theological concepts of “being with” (Samuel Wells) and “being interrupted” (Al Barrett and Ruth Harley) inform much of the practice described.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eArnold weaves these strands and themes together in compelling ways which are ultimately based in the Wellsian insight that our fundamental issue is isolation rather than limitation, and the reversal found in the story of St Martin and the Beggar, in which an act of mercy leads to a deeper vison of Christ for the one acting mercifully. This latter insight leads to the polyphonic understanding that, as Gerard Manley Hopkins wrote, 'Christ plays in ten thousand places, Lovely in limbs, and lovely in eyes not his. . .' The everyday God is found in those with whom we are with as the seven works of corporal mercy are practised.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eIt is possible that specialists in music, theology, or social justice might think that their particular strand was insufficiently explored through Arnold’s approach; but for the generalist, like myself, there is more than enough of interest and insight to keep one engaged as his explorations proceed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eAt one point, he proposes an addition to or expansion of the concepts of 'being with' and 'being interrupted', in terms of 'being disrupted'. This comes from the story of Zacchaeus, but is applied to the one who triggers change through an act of mercy. Within that story, however, it is Zacchaeus, as recipient, who experiences disruption, meaning that this argument for disruption doesn’t work incarnationally as clearly as is the case for 'being with' and 'being interrupted'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThese are quibbles, however, in regard to a book that expands our understanding of the interconnections between music, theology and social justice, whilst actively inspiring incarnational mission.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Jonathan Evens, team rector of Wickford and Runwell in the diocese of Chelmsford.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eTransforming Ministry Winter 2024. Review by Laura Hillman\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003eThis book is a treasure chest of ideas and inspiration based on the experiences of the author – director of the Social Justice Network for the Diocese of Canterbury. He is also a musician who takes Augustine’s words ‘God is music’ as the thread connecting the rich variety of themes and real-life stories to the gospel narrative. Chapters are based on the traditional seven works of mercy: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, housing the homeless, welcoming strangers, visiting the sick and the imprisoned; burying the dead. There is an additional chapter on caring for creation. All include material for individual reflection as well as group discussion with suggestions for further reading and resources. There are first-hand accounts of changed lives from prisoners, asylum seekers and others on the margins of society. The honesty of those whose lives have been transformed is an inspiration and a challenge. This is a book to dip into: it will not fail to interest both on a personal level as an aid to meditation and as a catalyst for change in the community.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Laura Hillman\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNoSpacing\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Donato Tallo\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eJonathan Arnold has produced a thought provoking, practical and meditational book on the Everyday God who is alive and active, quite often in the most unexpected of places, and always both inside and outside of church buildings. The book reminds the reader that everyone is created in the image of God and that caring for all living beings and the environment as a whole is something that must be central to the life of a Christian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThis is a book that can be read by an individual at a pace to suit one's own needs or indeed would be a brilliant book for a church home group or equivalent gathering.\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eEach chapter presents the reader with challenges to think about, includes thoughts, reflections and teachings from a wide range of individuals and links in scripture to the particular work of mercy being explored. The book is accessible and the fact each chapter finishes with a reflection, prayer and spiritual exercise allows the reader to use it in a manner to aid their spiritual life and development both in terms of prayer and considering practical actions that could be taken forward.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThe work Jonathan is engaged in the\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eDiocese of Canterbury is brought to life in an accessible and interesting format\u003cspan style=\"mso-spacerun: yes;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethough the pages of this book and provides the reader with a significant insight into how the work Jonathan and his colleagues are engaged which makes a significant difference to the lives of so many people each and every day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eWe live in a challenging world where so often it is easy to over look those in need, this book reminds the reader that we should not consider helping those in need as an option but consider it as a duty.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eJonathan highlights to the reader that at different times in life different people can be vulnerable, that all of us can be scared or troubled in someway and that the Bible reminds us that loving our neighbour is something we should all do despite its challenges. God is there for everyone and through the works of mercy (feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, give shelter to travellers, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead) we can all see God in the face of others through our spiritual and practical actions linked to the works of mercy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003eThis book has inspired me to find out more about Jonathans work and to reflect more on how I can find God in all things and in all people as well as considering what more I can do each and everyday with regard to the works of mercy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"MsoNormal\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Donato Tallo\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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The Everyday God: Encountering the Divine in the works of mercy
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‘The everyday God is a God who is for everyone…who appears in everyday events and ordinary people. He calls us...
{"id":2439779450980,"title":"The Freedom of Years: Ageing in perspective","handle":"the-freedom-of-years-ageing-in-perspective","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis positive, affirming book explores and reviews the meaning and purpose of our lives. As Christians, ageing gives us the opportunity to deepen and even transform our spiritual lives. The Freedom of Years helps those who want to undertake the journey by examining the ageing task, the inevitable changes and the possibilities of joy along the way. Read this book, see the potential and seek to age in the light of your Christian faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eContents\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWe are all ageing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat is ageing for?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSuccessful ageing: the story so far\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe spiritual journey: making meaning\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAttitudes to ageing: implications for spiritual care and support\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe context in which we age\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe discontents of ageing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e'Clouds of glory': the second half of life\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRetirement: doing things differently\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePractising ageing: choosing, believing, trusting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is a triumph. It explores life and the ageing process in an honest and straightforward way. It is a book for 'everyman' - carer or cared-for, professional or layperson, of faith or secular. The Mowats make sense of some important concepts and ideas from various disciplines and do so in a very accessible style. Readers seeking more in-depth knowledge can make use of their extensive bibliography. This book should be essential reading for anyone curious about their own life process and its meaning. Readers will be enriched and left a little bit less afraid of their own ageing and mortality.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Dr Janice Whittick, Retired Clinical Psychologist \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe gift of this book is the simple understanding that we are all ageing. It is a shared journey, whether we are younger or older, and we must therefore face the issues raised for our communities together. Those involved in spiritual care, with families or care staff, exploring questions of meaning and purpose, will find it a real resource in looking at the question of what is valued in the kind of communities we want to build.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Lynda Wright, Health Care Chaplain, NHS NES Scotland \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI really like this book: it is informative and deals with the spiritual in a way that is not intrusive or evangelistic! I particularly warm to the authors' use of psychological frameworks: all that resonates very positively with me. It is a wise book, relevant to older people in 2018.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e The Revd Dr Anne Townsend \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis engaging book for adults of all ages will make a difference to how readers approach their own ageing process and those for whom they care. There will be value in returning often to the dense thoroughness of ten chapters which hold a wealth of information and wisdom. As the fictional stories of Angus and Josephine unfold, they draw the reader into spiritual and practical challenges 'to live with each other in a state of mutual recognition of our common humanity'. This book is a gem of opportunity to face the ageing process with hope.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Elizabeth Baxter, Holyrood Retreat Centre \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHarriet Mowat has spent her working career researching the social impact of ageing and was influential in the development of Scottish health care chaplaincy. She has been a key adviser to BRF in developing its programme The Gift of Years, which resources the spiritual journey of older people. Donald Mowat is a retired psychiatrist, specialising in old age. He is an honorary staff member in the School of Divinity at the University of Aberdeen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Reader, Winter 2018. Review by Liz Pacey\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a society we are living longer, and this leads to many questions and concerns about our ability to age well, not least in the area of spirituality. This book subtitled 'Ageing in perspective', does a very good job of considering how all aspects of life come together, with thought-provoking references from the fields of psychology and literature. It examines the day-to-day lives, needs and anxieties of the elderly in our churches, including those who may now be noticeable by their absence. Two fictitious but very well researched case studies run through the book, enhancing the readability. The overall message is positive: old age in not a waiting room but a time when spirituality and awareness of God can grow. There is much material here to stimulate our thought processes, enhance our own view of ageing, and help us to understand and hopefully enrich the lives of those around us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Liz Pacey\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e_______________________________________________________________________\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Baptist Times, August 2018. Review by John Rackley\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe greatest moral question facing us in the 21st century is: what is ageing for? Harriet and Donald Mowat agree with this statement of James Woodward. They write from a lifetime in medical life and social science focussing on ageing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey write: we are trying to see beyond the idea that ageing is just about decline and painful joints. Nor is it about the time of life when those whom we love get ill and sometimes die. Rather whatever else it is about, ageing must be about changing and deepening our understanding of our place, in and outside time, which as we all know can be a struggle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo all of life is an ageing process. It is also a spiritual journey; spiritual in the sense of the need to seek purpose and meaning. So their book includes chapters on human development theory, attitudes toward and the discontents of ageing, midlife and beyond, retirement and the disciplines and virtues that accompany the practice of spiritual ageing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs we read about research, ideas and theory we also journey with Angus and Josephine; two imaginary characters that live their own ageing for us. They sound a ring of truth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether or not the purpose of ageing is the greatest moral question of the 21st century, it is certainly a neglected one both in our society and sadly in churches; which have an enervating ambiguity toward 'people of a certain age'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBRF is to be commended in publishing a number of books on ageing in later years from such authors as David Winter and Wanda Nash, as well as setting up a programme of resources for the spiritual journey of older people including the ministry of Anna Chaplains. This book bears the name of this programme and provides background reading for this study.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA minister or pastoral worker who is wishing to reflect on the witness of their church to those no longer young would be well served by this book. Its theology is implicit but it longs for people to know their God in all places and at all times.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eJohn Rackley is a Baptist minister living in Leicestershire\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e_______________________________________________________________________\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Maggie Greaves, leader of Journeying into Age, Milton Keynes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI found myself a bit resistant to it before I even started it ... partly because I didn't like the canoe photo on the front ...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, when I began it, I liked it more. The theories of Melanie Klein, Jung and the attachment work of Bowlby and later Winnicott, and then the life stage theories of Erikson were all familiar to me from my own working background and they were clearly - if briefly - sketched at the beginning of the book. ...They do refer back to these early developmental theories from time to time in the following chapters and I was impressed with that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI wasn't sure, either, about the case histories they chose when they were first described, but they won me over and they used them so creatively to illustrate various dilemmas that I decided in the end that they were a really helpful narrative device.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy favourite chapter was 7, the Discontents of Ageing, the whole of which I thought was excellent. It challenges the mental\/physical separation of health issues - which I found very helpful, but it raised questions of the social construction of disability in old age and was prepared to look at sociological and political questions which many writing on ageing don't tackle very helpfully. I particularly liked page 119 and the description of 'cumulative trivia' and 'mild cognitive impairment' which left me thinking in quite new ways about some of the assumptions I have made about friends who have had difficulties lately. When you think there's nothing new left to say about getting old, it's a treat to read something so fresh.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy only other comment would be to say that I'm not sure they quite had a handle on their proposed readership. From time to time it was as if they 'remembered' that they were supposed to be addressing caring staff and family carers with their advice, as well as speaking to an already elderly readership? It slid about a bit in that respect for me, perhaps a slightly tighter edit would have picked that up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI'm really grateful to have read it and I shall certainly pass it around our Journeying group as I'm sure others will find it helpful too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Maggie Greaves, leader of Journeying into Age, Milton Keynes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e_______________________________________________________________________\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2019-01-18T15:22:25+00:00","created_at":"2019-01-18T15:22:27+00:00","vendor":"Harriet and Donald Mowat","type":"Paperback","tags":["Feb-18","Kindle","Recommended for Anna Chaplaincy","Retired and inspired"],"price":899,"price_min":899,"price_max":899,"available":false,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":21769468936292,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857465061","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":false,"name":"The Freedom of Years: Ageing in perspective - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":899,"weight":214,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857465061","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465061-l.jpg?v=1549043152"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465061-l.jpg?v=1549043152","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":3238877986955,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.657,"height":650,"width":427,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465061-l.jpg?v=1549043152"},"aspect_ratio":0.657,"height":650,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465061-l.jpg?v=1549043152","width":427}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eThis positive, affirming book explores and reviews the meaning and purpose of our lives. As Christians, ageing gives us the opportunity to deepen and even transform our spiritual lives. The Freedom of Years helps those who want to undertake the journey by examining the ageing task, the inevitable changes and the possibilities of joy along the way. Read this book, see the potential and seek to age in the light of your Christian faith.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eContents\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWe are all ageing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWhat is ageing for?\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSuccessful ageing: the story so far\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe spiritual journey: making meaning\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAttitudes to ageing: implications for spiritual care and support\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe context in which we age\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe discontents of ageing\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e'Clouds of glory': the second half of life\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRetirement: doing things differently\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePractising ageing: choosing, believing, trusting\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is a triumph. It explores life and the ageing process in an honest and straightforward way. It is a book for 'everyman' - carer or cared-for, professional or layperson, of faith or secular. The Mowats make sense of some important concepts and ideas from various disciplines and do so in a very accessible style. Readers seeking more in-depth knowledge can make use of their extensive bibliography. This book should be essential reading for anyone curious about their own life process and its meaning. Readers will be enriched and left a little bit less afraid of their own ageing and mortality.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Dr Janice Whittick, Retired Clinical Psychologist \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe gift of this book is the simple understanding that we are all ageing. It is a shared journey, whether we are younger or older, and we must therefore face the issues raised for our communities together. Those involved in spiritual care, with families or care staff, exploring questions of meaning and purpose, will find it a real resource in looking at the question of what is valued in the kind of communities we want to build.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Lynda Wright, Health Care Chaplain, NHS NES Scotland \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI really like this book: it is informative and deals with the spiritual in a way that is not intrusive or evangelistic! I particularly warm to the authors' use of psychological frameworks: all that resonates very positively with me. It is a wise book, relevant to older people in 2018.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e The Revd Dr Anne Townsend \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis engaging book for adults of all ages will make a difference to how readers approach their own ageing process and those for whom they care. There will be value in returning often to the dense thoroughness of ten chapters which hold a wealth of information and wisdom. As the fictional stories of Angus and Josephine unfold, they draw the reader into spiritual and practical challenges 'to live with each other in a state of mutual recognition of our common humanity'. This book is a gem of opportunity to face the ageing process with hope.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Elizabeth Baxter, Holyrood Retreat Centre \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHarriet Mowat has spent her working career researching the social impact of ageing and was influential in the development of Scottish health care chaplaincy. She has been a key adviser to BRF in developing its programme The Gift of Years, which resources the spiritual journey of older people. Donald Mowat is a retired psychiatrist, specialising in old age. He is an honorary staff member in the School of Divinity at the University of Aberdeen.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Reader, Winter 2018. Review by Liz Pacey\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a society we are living longer, and this leads to many questions and concerns about our ability to age well, not least in the area of spirituality. This book subtitled 'Ageing in perspective', does a very good job of considering how all aspects of life come together, with thought-provoking references from the fields of psychology and literature. It examines the day-to-day lives, needs and anxieties of the elderly in our churches, including those who may now be noticeable by their absence. Two fictitious but very well researched case studies run through the book, enhancing the readability. The overall message is positive: old age in not a waiting room but a time when spirituality and awareness of God can grow. There is much material here to stimulate our thought processes, enhance our own view of ageing, and help us to understand and hopefully enrich the lives of those around us.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Liz Pacey\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e_______________________________________________________________________\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Baptist Times, August 2018. Review by John Rackley\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe greatest moral question facing us in the 21st century is: what is ageing for? Harriet and Donald Mowat agree with this statement of James Woodward. They write from a lifetime in medical life and social science focussing on ageing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThey write: we are trying to see beyond the idea that ageing is just about decline and painful joints. Nor is it about the time of life when those whom we love get ill and sometimes die. Rather whatever else it is about, ageing must be about changing and deepening our understanding of our place, in and outside time, which as we all know can be a struggle.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo all of life is an ageing process. It is also a spiritual journey; spiritual in the sense of the need to seek purpose and meaning. So their book includes chapters on human development theory, attitudes toward and the discontents of ageing, midlife and beyond, retirement and the disciplines and virtues that accompany the practice of spiritual ageing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs we read about research, ideas and theory we also journey with Angus and Josephine; two imaginary characters that live their own ageing for us. They sound a ring of truth.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhether or not the purpose of ageing is the greatest moral question of the 21st century, it is certainly a neglected one both in our society and sadly in churches; which have an enervating ambiguity toward 'people of a certain age'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBRF is to be commended in publishing a number of books on ageing in later years from such authors as David Winter and Wanda Nash, as well as setting up a programme of resources for the spiritual journey of older people including the ministry of Anna Chaplains. This book bears the name of this programme and provides background reading for this study.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA minister or pastoral worker who is wishing to reflect on the witness of their church to those no longer young would be well served by this book. Its theology is implicit but it longs for people to know their God in all places and at all times.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eJohn Rackley is a Baptist minister living in Leicestershire\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e_______________________________________________________________________\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Maggie Greaves, leader of Journeying into Age, Milton Keynes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI found myself a bit resistant to it before I even started it ... partly because I didn't like the canoe photo on the front ...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHowever, when I began it, I liked it more. The theories of Melanie Klein, Jung and the attachment work of Bowlby and later Winnicott, and then the life stage theories of Erikson were all familiar to me from my own working background and they were clearly - if briefly - sketched at the beginning of the book. ...They do refer back to these early developmental theories from time to time in the following chapters and I was impressed with that.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI wasn't sure, either, about the case histories they chose when they were first described, but they won me over and they used them so creatively to illustrate various dilemmas that I decided in the end that they were a really helpful narrative device.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy favourite chapter was 7, the Discontents of Ageing, the whole of which I thought was excellent. It challenges the mental\/physical separation of health issues - which I found very helpful, but it raised questions of the social construction of disability in old age and was prepared to look at sociological and political questions which many writing on ageing don't tackle very helpfully. I particularly liked page 119 and the description of 'cumulative trivia' and 'mild cognitive impairment' which left me thinking in quite new ways about some of the assumptions I have made about friends who have had difficulties lately. When you think there's nothing new left to say about getting old, it's a treat to read something so fresh.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMy only other comment would be to say that I'm not sure they quite had a handle on their proposed readership. From time to time it was as if they 'remembered' that they were supposed to be addressing caring staff and family carers with their advice, as well as speaking to an already elderly readership? It slid about a bit in that respect for me, perhaps a slightly tighter edit would have picked that up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI'm really grateful to have read it and I shall certainly pass it around our Journeying group as I'm sure others will find it helpful too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Maggie Greaves, leader of Journeying into Age, Milton Keynes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e_______________________________________________________________________\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
You may also like:
The Freedom of Years: Ageing in perspective
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This positive, affirming book explores and reviews the meaning and purpose of our lives. As Christians, ageing gives us the...
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{"id":7130654015679,"title":"The Jesus Prayer","handle":"the-jesus-prayer","description":"\u003cp\u003eʻLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.ʼ\u003cbr\u003eThis ancient prayer has been known and loved by generations of Christians for hundreds of years. It is a way of entering into the river of prayer which flows from the heart of God: the prayer of God himself, as Jesus continually prays for his people and for the world he loves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSimon Barrington-Ward teaches us how to use the Jesus Prayer as a devotional practice, and opens up the Bible passages that are crucial to understanding it. ʻWritten out of long experience, Simon Barrington-Ward's book is one of the clearest, practical and most timely introductions available.ʼ David Runcorn, author of Spirituality Workbook: A guide for explorers, pilgrims and seekers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAbout the author\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Right Reverend Simon Barrington-Ward was General Secretary of CMS from 1975 to 1985, became Bishop of Coventry in 1985 and retired to Cambridge in 1997. He travelled widely, speaking on prayer and spirituality, and died in April 2020.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Julian Meetings Magazine December 2022. Review by Ann Moran\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF) have reprinted Simon Barrington-Ward‘s book on The Jesus Prayer as part of their Centenary Classics Collection. First published in 1996, this new edition, a reprint of the 2007 2nd edition, is a hard-back that is a beautiful object to see and handle, and a pleasure to read.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book remains one of the best introductions to the Jesus Prayer. Quite short, it contains a huge amount of wisdom, guidance and scholarship, all expressed in clear and simple language. The BRF website has an excerpt to read, including the list of contents.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSimon Barrington-Ward tells about his own discovery of the prayer and its practice. He gives much information on the biblical roots of the prayer, its early use by the Desert Fathers and its development from Evagrius in the 4th century through to the present day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book gives clear instruction on how to practice the prayer, its value in intercession and the use of the traditional Orthodox knotted prayer cord, called a Chotki (Russian) or Komboskini (Greek). Barrington-Ward speaks from his own experience of the prayer, and was known for always carrying a prayer cord with him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book includes an excellent bibliography for those who want to learn more. However, it is not knowledge that is important but the practice of the prayer, which is very simple. It‘s a practice of the presence of God, and it is being in that presence, relaxed and alert.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Ann Moran \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2022-01-17T17:11:52+00:00","created_at":"2022-01-10T15:02:25+00:00","vendor":"Simon Barrington-Ward","type":"Hardback","tags":["Biblical engagement","Centenary Classics","Centenary Collection","Devotional","May-22","Prayer"],"price":1499,"price_min":1499,"price_max":1499,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":41214237343935,"title":"Hardback","option1":"Hardback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781800390874","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"The Jesus Prayer - Hardback","public_title":"Hardback","options":["Hardback"],"price":1499,"weight":0,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781800390874","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390874_cb0574e3-5dbc-4322-9ecb-935b5c1642cb.jpg?v=1648471771"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390874_cb0574e3-5dbc-4322-9ecb-935b5c1642cb.jpg?v=1648471771","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":24524116361407,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390874_cb0574e3-5dbc-4322-9ecb-935b5c1642cb.jpg?v=1648471771"},"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390874_cb0574e3-5dbc-4322-9ecb-935b5c1642cb.jpg?v=1648471771","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eʻLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.ʼ\u003cbr\u003eThis ancient prayer has been known and loved by generations of Christians for hundreds of years. It is a way of entering into the river of prayer which flows from the heart of God: the prayer of God himself, as Jesus continually prays for his people and for the world he loves.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSimon Barrington-Ward teaches us how to use the Jesus Prayer as a devotional practice, and opens up the Bible passages that are crucial to understanding it. ʻWritten out of long experience, Simon Barrington-Ward's book is one of the clearest, practical and most timely introductions available.ʼ David Runcorn, author of Spirituality Workbook: A guide for explorers, pilgrims and seekers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAbout the author\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Right Reverend Simon Barrington-Ward was General Secretary of CMS from 1975 to 1985, became Bishop of Coventry in 1985 and retired to Cambridge in 1997. He travelled widely, speaking on prayer and spirituality, and died in April 2020.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe Julian Meetings Magazine December 2022. Review by Ann Moran\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF) have reprinted Simon Barrington-Ward‘s book on The Jesus Prayer as part of their Centenary Classics Collection. First published in 1996, this new edition, a reprint of the 2007 2nd edition, is a hard-back that is a beautiful object to see and handle, and a pleasure to read.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book remains one of the best introductions to the Jesus Prayer. Quite short, it contains a huge amount of wisdom, guidance and scholarship, all expressed in clear and simple language. The BRF website has an excerpt to read, including the list of contents.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSimon Barrington-Ward tells about his own discovery of the prayer and its practice. He gives much information on the biblical roots of the prayer, its early use by the Desert Fathers and its development from Evagrius in the 4th century through to the present day.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book gives clear instruction on how to practice the prayer, its value in intercession and the use of the traditional Orthodox knotted prayer cord, called a Chotki (Russian) or Komboskini (Greek). Barrington-Ward speaks from his own experience of the prayer, and was known for always carrying a prayer cord with him.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe book includes an excellent bibliography for those who want to learn more. However, it is not knowledge that is important but the practice of the prayer, which is very simple. It‘s a practice of the presence of God, and it is being in that presence, relaxed and alert.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Ann Moran \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
You may also like:
The Jesus Prayer
£14.99
ʻLord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.ʼThis ancient prayer has been known and loved by generations of...
{"id":2439777583204,"title":"The Living Cross: Exploring God's gift of forgiveness and new life","handle":"the-living-cross-exploring-gods-gift-of-forgiveness-and-new-life","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the freeing, life-changing nature of forgiveness...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs we move from Ash Wednesday to Easter Day, daily reflections and prayers help us to experience the living power of the cross of Christ through biblical and modern-day stories of wrongdoing and forgiveness. Our journey through Lent will deepen our response to God's love and, as we allow the Holy Spirit to do his work, we will see spiritual transformation in our lives today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is quite the best of all the Lent books I've ever read. I just loved the way Amy takes us through the Bible, revealing God's forgiving heart and His burning desire that we should forgive one another.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Jennifer Rees Larcombe \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFew topics are more central to the Christian life - and life in general - than forgiveness. In this Lenten guide, Amy Boucher Pye traces the forgiveness theme through the length and breadth of scripture, finding it in both expected and surprising places. Combining deep insight and practical exercises, The Living Cross will help you live free from offences both committed and suffered.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Sheridan Voysey, Resurrection Year \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fresh approach to a timeless necessity to remain healthy as a child of God. A book that helps you to bring forgiveness home to your heart and life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Russ Parker, Forgiveness is Healing \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReading this book was, for me, as if Amy had taken a highlighter pen to the Bible and skilfully brought colour and clarification to so many passages where forgiveness and hope are found. Every page is like another journey into the grace of God. Also, the prayers and creative responses are so helpful for both individuals and small groups - this really is a wonderful resource for the Lent season and beyond. Cathy Madavan, Digging for Diamonds Amy has a distinct knack of distilling great thought and insight into just a few words. Her study of the excerpts of both the Old and New Testaments will help any reader reflect on the concept of forgiveness in an age where this can be a struggle. Amy will lead you on a journey of discovery, where you will be led to the cross of Jesus Christ. You will be confronted by God's great generosity, where you find your true identity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e The Rt Revd Rob Wickham, the Bishop of Edmonton \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Lenten journey you won't want to miss. From the Fall to the Cross and beyond, Amy Boucher Pye walks us down the centuries to meet the One she calls the \"Father of outstretched arms.\" With captivating writing and inspiring biblical insight, we are reassured from the stories of fallen heroes, fallible leaders and plain ordinary sinners that God's lavish forgiveness is available to each one of us. The more I read the more excited I became, and the more thankful I am for God's \"scandalous grace and love poured out.\" Simply superb. I can't wait to read it again!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Catherine Campbell, Chasing the Dawn \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book pleasantly surprised me. While it is essentially a book of daily reflections for Lent it is also a sensitive probing of the painful experiences people face and how the love of God through Christ can transform situations. The writer explores the depth and breadth of pain and hurt in life for many if not all. She crafts ancient Biblical stories with contemporary experience and draws insightful spiritual lessons and principles. While each day's reflection is brief there is depth in her understanding. The activities and questions mean this is a helpful resource for groups and individuals as well as hard pressed clergy or worship leaders looking for new ways to walk familiar paths. This could be a good resource for a discipleship course - Lent or not. It carefully exposes the human condition of brokenness before God and also presents the way forward in Christ by the Spirit.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Dianne Tidball, The Message of Women\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmy Boucher Pye is a writer, speaker and editor, and the author of Finding Myself in Britain: Our Search for Faith, Home \u0026amp; True Identity (Authentic Media, 2015). She runs the Woman Alive book club and enjoys writing Bible reading notes for Day by Day with God and Our Daily Bread, among others. She blogs at amyboucherpye.com.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003eHas it ever grated when you've been overlooked? Or when a close friend has betrayed you? Or when you struggle to guide unwilling children to the best course of life? If you have - and these are instances from this helpful book - you will appreciate Amy Boucher Pye's engagement with biblical guidance on living out forgiveness. In this Lent book, we are invited to shake the complacency which may have crept into our view of forgiveness, which is God's gift to be sought and lived as a recipe for effective Christian witness, as well as a good life. The book draws on the life experience and biblical knowledge of Amy Boucher Pye, who is styled as a 'writer, speaker and editor' and is a contributor to the Bible Reading Fellowship study notes.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e This study chooses six weeks' worth of daily Bible passages for Lent reading, linked to forgiveness. They range across the Testaments from the sibling rivalry of Cain and Abel in Genesis, to the embrace of convert Paul by Ananias in the Acts of the Apostles. To serve the nature of a Lent book, study of the events of Holy Week are placed last. This section contains a day-by-day meditation on the forgiveness established by the cross, 'the living cross', so named to emphasise the dynamic that flows by the Spirit through repentance and faith. This title is picked up in Bishop Chartres' foreword, quoting the Common Worship psalm prayer for Psalm 136: 'seeing the shadow of the life-giving cross in the turbulence of our time for his sake who died for all'.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e There are some graphic stories of forgiveness, or lack of it, from outside of the Bible including a salute to \u003cem\u003eThe Forgiveness Project\u003c\/em\u003e and its founder Marina Cantacuzimo who rightly says, 'Christians have no monopoly on forgiveness'. The author provides a good variety of leads like this into her Bible reflections, which are broken down into six groups, each concluded by imaginative spiritual exercises for individual or group use e.g. wiping a slate clean or using a palm cross as a meditative sword: 'Pray for nations... suffering from war... think of ways you've held a sword out against others... through piercing words or a sulking stare'.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The author mentions the value of the penitential psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143) and produces an excellent reflection on Psalm 32, drawing out three definitions of forgiveness. In addressing practical means of living in forgiveness, there is no mention of the value of one-to-one sacramental confession, though there is mention of the sacrament of communion among the spiritual exercises suggested.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eThe Living Cross\u003c\/em\u003e is a wake-up call on forgiveness suited to Lent, which should enrich its readers and deepen their reliance on the mercy that thrills through Scripture and should thrill more through Christian allegiance.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eCanon John Twisleton, Rector of St Giles, Horsted Keynes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePopular author Amy Boucher Pye will take you through the Bible this Lend, revealing God's forgiving heart and His burning desire that we should forgive one another. Take time to be still and reflect on the living power of the cross of Christ as you explore the freeing life-changing nature of forgiveness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEmbrace the Middle East, Spring 2017\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaking the theme of forgiveness through the Bible, and culminating in the ultimate act of forgiveness at Easter, Amy's easy-to-read style helps us connect with biblical characters and with modern-day issues on our journey through Lent. With just over two pages to read each day, including a bible reading prayer this will help us to focus on the one who said 'Father, forgive'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTogether magazine January - February 2017\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2019-01-18T15:22:18+00:00","created_at":"2019-01-18T15:22:20+00:00","vendor":"Amy Boucher Pye","type":"Paperback","tags":["Lent","Nov-16"],"price":899,"price_min":899,"price_max":899,"available":true,"price_varies":false,"compare_at_price":null,"compare_at_price_min":0,"compare_at_price_max":0,"compare_at_price_varies":false,"variants":[{"id":21769440329828,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857465122","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":7436725846116,"product_id":2439777583204,"position":1,"created_at":"2019-01-18T15:22:20+00:00","updated_at":"2019-02-01T17:45:53+00:00","alt":null,"width":427,"height":650,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465122-l.jpg?v=1549043153","variant_ids":[21769440329828]},"available":true,"name":"The Living Cross: Exploring God's gift of forgiveness and new life - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":899,"weight":230,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857465122","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":3238877855883,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.657,"height":650,"width":427,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465122-l.jpg?v=1549043153"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[]}],"images":["\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465122-l.jpg?v=1549043153"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465122-l.jpg?v=1549043153","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":3238877855883,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.657,"height":650,"width":427,"src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465122-l.jpg?v=1549043153"},"aspect_ratio":0.657,"height":650,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857465122-l.jpg?v=1549043153","width":427}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eExplore the freeing, life-changing nature of forgiveness...\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs we move from Ash Wednesday to Easter Day, daily reflections and prayers help us to experience the living power of the cross of Christ through biblical and modern-day stories of wrongdoing and forgiveness. Our journey through Lent will deepen our response to God's love and, as we allow the Holy Spirit to do his work, we will see spiritual transformation in our lives today.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is quite the best of all the Lent books I've ever read. I just loved the way Amy takes us through the Bible, revealing God's forgiving heart and His burning desire that we should forgive one another.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Jennifer Rees Larcombe \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFew topics are more central to the Christian life - and life in general - than forgiveness. In this Lenten guide, Amy Boucher Pye traces the forgiveness theme through the length and breadth of scripture, finding it in both expected and surprising places. Combining deep insight and practical exercises, The Living Cross will help you live free from offences both committed and suffered.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Sheridan Voysey, Resurrection Year \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA fresh approach to a timeless necessity to remain healthy as a child of God. A book that helps you to bring forgiveness home to your heart and life.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Russ Parker, Forgiveness is Healing \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eReading this book was, for me, as if Amy had taken a highlighter pen to the Bible and skilfully brought colour and clarification to so many passages where forgiveness and hope are found. Every page is like another journey into the grace of God. Also, the prayers and creative responses are so helpful for both individuals and small groups - this really is a wonderful resource for the Lent season and beyond. Cathy Madavan, Digging for Diamonds Amy has a distinct knack of distilling great thought and insight into just a few words. Her study of the excerpts of both the Old and New Testaments will help any reader reflect on the concept of forgiveness in an age where this can be a struggle. Amy will lead you on a journey of discovery, where you will be led to the cross of Jesus Christ. You will be confronted by God's great generosity, where you find your true identity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e The Rt Revd Rob Wickham, the Bishop of Edmonton \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Lenten journey you won't want to miss. From the Fall to the Cross and beyond, Amy Boucher Pye walks us down the centuries to meet the One she calls the \"Father of outstretched arms.\" With captivating writing and inspiring biblical insight, we are reassured from the stories of fallen heroes, fallible leaders and plain ordinary sinners that God's lavish forgiveness is available to each one of us. The more I read the more excited I became, and the more thankful I am for God's \"scandalous grace and love poured out.\" Simply superb. I can't wait to read it again!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Catherine Campbell, Chasing the Dawn \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book pleasantly surprised me. While it is essentially a book of daily reflections for Lent it is also a sensitive probing of the painful experiences people face and how the love of God through Christ can transform situations. The writer explores the depth and breadth of pain and hurt in life for many if not all. She crafts ancient Biblical stories with contemporary experience and draws insightful spiritual lessons and principles. While each day's reflection is brief there is depth in her understanding. The activities and questions mean this is a helpful resource for groups and individuals as well as hard pressed clergy or worship leaders looking for new ways to walk familiar paths. This could be a good resource for a discipleship course - Lent or not. It carefully exposes the human condition of brokenness before God and also presents the way forward in Christ by the Spirit.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Dianne Tidball, The Message of Women\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAmy Boucher Pye is a writer, speaker and editor, and the author of Finding Myself in Britain: Our Search for Faith, Home \u0026amp; True Identity (Authentic Media, 2015). She runs the Woman Alive book club and enjoys writing Bible reading notes for Day by Day with God and Our Daily Bread, among others. She blogs at amyboucherpye.com.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size: 15px; text-align: left;\"\u003eHas it ever grated when you've been overlooked? Or when a close friend has betrayed you? Or when you struggle to guide unwilling children to the best course of life? If you have - and these are instances from this helpful book - you will appreciate Amy Boucher Pye's engagement with biblical guidance on living out forgiveness. In this Lent book, we are invited to shake the complacency which may have crept into our view of forgiveness, which is God's gift to be sought and lived as a recipe for effective Christian witness, as well as a good life. The book draws on the life experience and biblical knowledge of Amy Boucher Pye, who is styled as a 'writer, speaker and editor' and is a contributor to the Bible Reading Fellowship study notes.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e This study chooses six weeks' worth of daily Bible passages for Lent reading, linked to forgiveness. They range across the Testaments from the sibling rivalry of Cain and Abel in Genesis, to the embrace of convert Paul by Ananias in the Acts of the Apostles. To serve the nature of a Lent book, study of the events of Holy Week are placed last. This section contains a day-by-day meditation on the forgiveness established by the cross, 'the living cross', so named to emphasise the dynamic that flows by the Spirit through repentance and faith. This title is picked up in Bishop Chartres' foreword, quoting the Common Worship psalm prayer for Psalm 136: 'seeing the shadow of the life-giving cross in the turbulence of our time for his sake who died for all'.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e There are some graphic stories of forgiveness, or lack of it, from outside of the Bible including a salute to \u003cem\u003eThe Forgiveness Project\u003c\/em\u003e and its founder Marina Cantacuzimo who rightly says, 'Christians have no monopoly on forgiveness'. The author provides a good variety of leads like this into her Bible reflections, which are broken down into six groups, each concluded by imaginative spiritual exercises for individual or group use e.g. wiping a slate clean or using a palm cross as a meditative sword: 'Pray for nations... suffering from war... think of ways you've held a sword out against others... through piercing words or a sulking stare'.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The author mentions the value of the penitential psalms (6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143) and produces an excellent reflection on Psalm 32, drawing out three definitions of forgiveness. In addressing practical means of living in forgiveness, there is no mention of the value of one-to-one sacramental confession, though there is mention of the sacrament of communion among the spiritual exercises suggested.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eThe Living Cross\u003c\/em\u003e is a wake-up call on forgiveness suited to Lent, which should enrich its readers and deepen their reliance on the mercy that thrills through Scripture and should thrill more through Christian allegiance.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eCanon John Twisleton, Rector of St Giles, Horsted Keynes\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePopular author Amy Boucher Pye will take you through the Bible this Lend, revealing God's forgiving heart and His burning desire that we should forgive one another. Take time to be still and reflect on the living power of the cross of Christ as you explore the freeing life-changing nature of forgiveness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEmbrace the Middle East, Spring 2017\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTaking the theme of forgiveness through the Bible, and culminating in the ultimate act of forgiveness at Easter, Amy's easy-to-read style helps us connect with biblical characters and with modern-day issues on our journey through Lent. With just over two pages to read each day, including a bible reading prayer this will help us to focus on the one who said 'Father, forgive'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTogether magazine January - February 2017\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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The Living Cross: Exploring God's gift of forgiveness and new life
£8.99
Explore the freeing, life-changing nature of forgiveness... As we move from Ash Wednesday to Easter Day, daily reflections and prayers...