Explore the profound meaning of Easter beyond personal spirituality. There is no doubt that each of us has a place in the Easter story, but what happened on the cross is not just a story of me and Jesus. It is far deeper and wider than that.
In this Lenten journey, Jo Swinney explores the broader impact of the Easter story on God's relationship with creation. Through Bible readings, reflections and stories from A Rocha's global conservation efforts, discover how the cross transforms not just our own individual connection with Jesus, but also our relationships with each other and our world.
This inspirational book takes the reader through Advent to the celebration of Christmas through the eyes and beliefs of Celtic Christianity. Starting in November and reflecting on Jesus' coming at his birth as well as into our lives by the Holy Spirit and at the world's end, the author offers a unique approach to the season to help you gain a new sense of wonder in the birth of Jesus, the Saviour of the world.
From the Community of Aidan and Hilda, here is a resource to create a daily rhythm of prayer, inspired by historic and contemporary Celtic Christian spirituality and earthed in the activities of everyday living. Celtic Rhythms of Life contains ready-to-use forms of prayer for morning, midday, evening and night, seven days a week. Morning and evening prayer have a choice of four psalms and scripture readings from the Old and New Testaments. Midday and night prayer have short scripture readings printed in the text. Each day also has its own theme, from resurrection on Sundays to the kingdom on Saturdays.
How can all be well in the world in which we live? What does 'All shall be well' mean when all is not well?
Through revelations ten to sixteen of her Revelations of Divine Love, Julian of Norwich returns time and again to the idea that 'all is well'. In her latest book Emma Pennington examines this popular mantra and explores what Julian really means by it, bringing depth and relevance to these words for the reader who lives in an age of pandemic, war and climate crisis which closely echoes Julian's own. Through deep engagement with Julian's visions of salvation Emma encourages the reader to reflect in prayer and devotion on their own personal relationship with God.
In this engaging book, Graeme Goldsworthy reflects with clarity and practical insight on reading and using the Old Testament. By showing us how Jesus is central to the Old Testament's message, he encourages us to reinstate it as essential and transformative to our lives, churches and mission in today's world. The author asks important questions: Where is Jesus in the whole biblical storyline? How does the kingdom of God relate to him? In what way is he central to the divine revelation? This is a must-read for those who wish to transform their biblical understanding.
An all-in-one introduction to Messy Church.
When 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.
The 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.
How can we best approach the season between retiring and becoming dependent? Autumn is a time of gains and losses: fruit being harvested and leaves falling. This book charts the experience of living through both realities, drawn from the author's own life and from the views of interviewees. Informed by historical and contemporary reading, it offers snapshots of later life, taken against a backdrop of ageism in society and church. George Lings reflects on the identity of the 'active elderly', and he considers through a biblical lens the challenges and opportunities that this season brings.
Grandparenting brings new life and joy, and also the opportunity to walk spiritually alongside our grandchildren. In this book, Becky Sedgwick explores how grandparents can actively encourage and equip their grandchildren to meet and know God, offering tools and skills for the journey. Whatever your circumstances, God has positioned you to be a unique voice speaking into your grandchildren's lives, helping to nurture them into the reality of a relationship with the God who loves them.
This is a new edition of a BRF Ministries classic that has, over the years, helped and comforted many people walking the hard road of grieving. Forty readings offer gentle guidance and consolation, from the earliest stage of groping for God's presence to realising the beginnings of new life and hope.
In popular culture there is a perceived conflict between science and faith, yet in many ways scientific understanding can enhance faith. Messy Church Does Science offers Messy Churches the tools to use science to explore aspects of the Christian faith; demonstrate that science and faith are complementary; and enable children and adults alike to appreciate the wonder of creation. Ten sizzling sessions provide inspiration for the Bible-based activities element of Messy Church.
Drawing from his experience of co-leading pilgrimages in Britain and Ireland, Michael Mitton captures the essence of 23 significant pilgrimage sites for anyone from experienced pilgrims to armchair pilgrims.
Each chapter outlines the story of the Celtic saint who founded the site, together with information about the location, a poem inspired by the author's experience of that place, a reflective question, a suggested Bible reading and a photo of the site.
This fully updated second edition of Growing Young Leaders offers practical guidance for all those mentoring 13- to 18-year-olds in a faith context, with a view to nurturing them towards leadership roles. Linked to CPAS Growing Leaders - Youth Edition course, it also works as a stand-alone resource. It defines mentoring, analyses the necessary skills and attributes of a mentor today, encourages good practice, considers safeguarding issues and, above all, considers how to help young people identify their gifts and grow as Christian disciples.
Helping churches to reconnect and value their environment. A creative worship and activity resource for churches to use outside the church building, Outdoor Church functions in any green space and is suitable for churches in urban, suburban and rural contexts. - Four sessions for each season - Four stand-alone service outlines, one for each season - Material based on Bible stories and parables - All-age activities and seasonal prayers - Indoor alternatives for rainy days
The message of the kingdom of God: an ecology of equality and peace, and an economy of justice.
Hope from beyond, sent to the present, is what Advent asks us to reckon with. Hope consists of God's jump leads sent from the future through time and space, wired right into our present pains, panics, and predicaments. How can the light of Christ illuminate this present darkness?
This book engages with two great Christmas hymns: the Magnificat and Benedictus. It is also rooted in poets, prophets and the theology and devotional writing of the black theologian and mentor to Martin Luther King Jr., Howard Thurman. Using the lectio divina approach to passages drawn from Isaiah and Luke, An Advent Manifesto is an invitation to pray and practise that most ancient Advent prayer, 'Come, Lord Jesus, come.'
Messy Church Goes Wild is the movement within Messy Church which aims to encourage Messy Churches to meet God outdoors, love the natural world, experience a sense of awe and wonder there and be more eco-aware in all we do, both inside and out, as gathered and dispersed church, for the good of the planet.
Edited by Messy Church founder Lucy Moore, this unique collection of wisdom and practical materials covers a range of topics from caring for animals and birds through living as an eco-friendly household to greening up your Messy Church activities and running an online session on Jesus in the wilderness.
With chapters by Dave Bookless, Crystal Goetz, Dave Gregory, Graham Hartland, Jane Leadbetter, George Lings, Martyn Payne and Rachel Summers, and case studies from international contributors of all ages.
How to navigate a spiritual journey through these years, leading to deeper faith and a closer walk with God.
Our 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.
Tony 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.
Equipping your Messy team to pray and encourage others to do so, both within and outside the Messy Church context - Communicating prayer as a concept - Praying as a team in advance and on the day - Prayer ideas for the activity time, celebration time, and at home as a family - Ways of praying the Lord's Prayer - Ways to reimagine other traditional prayers - Creating a prayer space - A Messy Quiet Day outline
There has never been a more important time to find meaningful and acceptable ways of passing on faith from one generation to the next. Part of this privilege and responsibility lies with grandparents who live authentic Christian lives. They can be the vital link between the gospel and the faith of a younger generation.
Faithful Grandparents is a visionary call to an older generation to take the initiative with courage and wisdom, humour and prayer.
Holy Habits is an adventure in Christian discipleship. Inspired by Luke's model of church found in Acts 2:42-47, it identifies ten habits and encourages the development of a way of life formed by them. The habits are: Biblical Teaching, Fellowship, Breaking Bread, Sharing Resources, Serving, Eating Together, Gladness and Generosity, Worship, Prayer and Making More Disciples. This Bible study group material has been created to help churches and individuals explore the Holy Habits through prayerful engagement with the Bible and live them out in whole-life, missional discipleship.
The People's Bible Commentary series presents scholarly insights in straightforward terms, aiming to instruct the head but also to warm the heart, and pointing to how the truths received can be applied personally. Sublime and poetic, John's gospel has fascinated theologians and mystics for centuries. It has been described as 'a book in which a child may paddle but an elephant can swim deep'. At the same time, it is still a story - the story of Jesus' words and deeds, his signs and teaching, and how these led to his arrest, death and resurrection. This commentary follows the flow of John's narrative, showing how it is patterned and devised, to help the reader grow in understanding and in faith.