Holy Habits Eating Together Pack
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Holy Habits Eating Together Pack
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Get all three of the Holy Habits Fellowship titles and save 25%
| Title | Holy Habits Eating Together Pack |
| Author | Holy Habits |
| ISBN | |
| Description | Get all three of the Holy Habits Fellowship titles and save 25% Pack includes: 1 x Holy Habits Church Handbook: Eating Together |
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Get all three of the Holy Habits Fellowship titles and save 25%
Pack includes:
1 x Holy Habits Church Handbook: Eating Together
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{"id":2439767392356,"title":"10-Minute Assemblies for 4-11s: 50 ready-to-use assemblies exploring values from a Christian perspective","handle":"10-minute-assemblies-for-4-11s-50-ready-to-use-assemblies-exploring-values-from-a-christian-perspective","description":"\u003cp\u003eWhat do you do when you're asked to lead an assembly with a moment's notice? Don't panic! Pick up your copy of 10-Minute Assemblies for 4-11s and all shall be well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis collection of 50 straightforward assemblies is a must have for teachers or church visitors leading collective worship. Each assembly includes 10 minutes of material including a reflection, an optional Bible passage and a prayer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrganised by theme - easy to find the perfect assembly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEnough material for a full school year - plenty of ideas for you to use.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes Christian and other calendar events - perfect for any occasion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOrder now and let assembly anxiety fade away!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRebecca Parkinson lives in Lancashire with her husband and two children. Since graduating from Nottingham University she has worked as a teacher, teacher adviser for science, university lecturer and course tutor. At present Rebecca teaches part-time in a primary school while pursuing her career in writing. She is the author of over 20 books. Rebecca is part of the leadership team at her local Free Methodist Church where, along with her husband, she runs the youth and children's work, and has also been involved in projects working with teachers in local schools and youth clubs in other counties. In her spare time she enjoys sport, especially badminton and kayaking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHampshire County RE Resource Centre - July 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a paperback book which contains ten minute assemblies, ready to deliver at short notice for teachers. The author has been a teacher, advisor and lecturer and the book contains 50 very easy to read assemblies on a wide range of topics, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eValues and PHSE themes, such as celebrations, being special, friendship, kindness, responsibility, rights and healthy eating\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChristian calendar events, such as Christmas, Lent, Easter and Pentecost\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSaints days and special events, such as Education Sunday, Harvest, Remembrance Day and World Book day.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is very easy to use and would be a good addition to the RE lead and\/or Collective Worship lead's library of resources. It uses everyday items that are fairly easy to collect up before the assembly and often involves the children or staff in the presentation. There are optional Bible passages that you can add to the message of the story, making the assemblies useful for all types of primary schools. Many of the assemblies use a large variety of visual aids (such as decorations, drinks, toys and scales) which are linked to the theme of the assembly and which act as a stimulus for the children's imagination. Each assembly ends with a prayer, which may not be appropriate for some schools, but this could be adapted to suit each school's particular needs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times - 10 June 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIN SPITE of every attempt to refine it, or even get rid of it entirely, the requirement for a daily act of collective worship in schools will be around for some years yet. But the deluge of things needing a head teacher's attention often means that preparing a morning assembly falls to the bottom of the list.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the same head teacher may well now be responsible for more than one school, you can imagine that dredging up something useful to say on a wet Monday morning in November may just be the final straw.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThank heavens, then, for \u003cem\u003e10-minute assemblies for 4-11s\u003c\/em\u003e by Rebecca Parkinson (Barnabas for Schools; GBP9.99). There are 50 of them - I reckon that's about 20p each.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author occasionally gets a bit carried away, and her suggestions for props goes into overdrive. You know the kind of thing: a kettle, a mug, a tea bag, a bottle of milk (so far so good: a quick raid of the staff room will do the trick). It's when she adds a large toy car, a bottle of lemonade, and 'a selection of foods' that the project is doomed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut, for the most part, the book has some brilliant 'off-the-shelf' assemblies, which need the minimum of preparation. I've owned it for less than a month and I've used three of them already. If Parkinson adds a companion volume for 11- 16- year-olds, she'll earn a fortune.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDennis Richards\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethodist Recorder - 1 April 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHERE'S a book that I wish had been around when I was enduring school assemblies a long, long time ago. In \u003cem\u003e10-Minute Assemblies for 4-11s\u003c\/em\u003e (Barnabas in Schools, GBP9.99), Rebecca Parkinson provides 50 assemblies that teachers and school visitors can 'confidently deliver' while exploring values from a Christian perspective. These include general themes such as 'Being special', 'Choices we make', 'Seeing the good' and 'Standing up for ourself', as well as those focused on Christian calendar events, national days and other special occasions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrama\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWithin the 10 minutes there are ideas for drama, a sketch or visual aid, setting the scene for a Bible exploration and a 'Pause for thought'. I can see it working well in a voluntary-aided church school, but a multifaith one might be a bit more challenging. In her introduction, however, the author says the inclusion of an 'optional Bible section' makes these assemblies suitable for use in any school. And also in church, I would say, for any preacher or worship leader who wants to make their all-age worship truly all age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Singleton\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSTAR News Diocese of Peterborough May 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a straightforward book that provides 50 ready-to-use assemblies for both church and non-church schools. Some of the themes are based around values and some on church festivals and some on occasions such as World Book Day or Remembrance. Each assembly includes a visual stimulus, an explanation of the theme, a 'what the Bible says' element (that could be omitted) and a simple prayer. The assemblies are simple to lead but you will need to prepare the visual material in advance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRona Orme\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReligious Education Subject Leaders' Newsletter, Peterborough Diocese - Spring 2017\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'10 - Minute Assemblies for 4 - 11s' is written by Rebecca Parkinson. Rebecca has worked as a teacher, teacher adviser for science, university lecturer and course tutor. At present Rebecca teaches part-time in a primary school while pursuing her career in writing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe assemblies outlined are designed to capture pupils' imagination and provide a short but relevant message, exploring values from a Christian perspective.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOrganised by general themes, Christian calendar events, national days and other annual events, each assembly provides ten minutes of material including a short drama, sketch or visual aid (which requires minimum preparation) to explore the theme. This is then followed up with reflection on a Biblical passage, a pause for thought and a closing prayer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLesley Pollard, RE and Collective Worship Adviser - Diocese of Peterborough\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e","published_at":"2026-02-23T16:07:41+00:00","created_at":"2019-01-18T15:21:40+00:00","vendor":"Rebecca Parkinson","type":"Paperback","tags":["Collective worship","For schools","KCLC","Mar-16","RE"],"price":1299,"price_min":1299,"price_max":1299,"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":23715397697636,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857464606","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":7436660834404,"product_id":2439767392356,"position":1,"created_at":"2019-01-18T15:21:40+00:00","updated_at":"2019-02-01T17:46:01+00:00","alt":null,"width":430,"height":650,"src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464606-l.jpg?v=1549043161","variant_ids":[23715397697636]},"available":false,"name":"10-Minute Assemblies for 4-11s: 50 ready-to-use assemblies exploring values from a Christian perspective - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":1299,"weight":285,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857464606","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":3238877102219,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.662,"height":650,"width":430,"src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464606-l.jpg?v=1549043161"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[],"quantity_rule":{"min":1,"max":null,"increment":1}}],"images":["\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464606-l.jpg?v=1549043161"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464606-l.jpg?v=1549043161","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":3238877102219,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.662,"height":650,"width":430,"src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464606-l.jpg?v=1549043161"},"aspect_ratio":0.662,"height":650,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857464606-l.jpg?v=1549043161","width":430}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eWhat do you do when you're asked to lead an assembly with a moment's notice? Don't panic! Pick up your copy of 10-Minute Assemblies for 4-11s and all shall be well.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis collection of 50 straightforward assemblies is a must have for teachers or church visitors leading collective worship. Each assembly includes 10 minutes of material including a reflection, an optional Bible passage and a prayer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOrganised by theme - easy to find the perfect assembly.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEnough material for a full school year - plenty of ideas for you to use.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes Christian and other calendar events - perfect for any occasion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOrder now and let assembly anxiety fade away!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRebecca Parkinson lives in Lancashire with her husband and two children. Since graduating from Nottingham University she has worked as a teacher, teacher adviser for science, university lecturer and course tutor. At present Rebecca teaches part-time in a primary school while pursuing her career in writing. She is the author of over 20 books. Rebecca is part of the leadership team at her local Free Methodist Church where, along with her husband, she runs the youth and children's work, and has also been involved in projects working with teachers in local schools and youth clubs in other counties. In her spare time she enjoys sport, especially badminton and kayaking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHampshire County RE Resource Centre - July 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a paperback book which contains ten minute assemblies, ready to deliver at short notice for teachers. The author has been a teacher, advisor and lecturer and the book contains 50 very easy to read assemblies on a wide range of topics, including:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eValues and PHSE themes, such as celebrations, being special, friendship, kindness, responsibility, rights and healthy eating\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChristian calendar events, such as Christmas, Lent, Easter and Pentecost\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSaints days and special events, such as Education Sunday, Harvest, Remembrance Day and World Book day.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is very easy to use and would be a good addition to the RE lead and\/or Collective Worship lead's library of resources. It uses everyday items that are fairly easy to collect up before the assembly and often involves the children or staff in the presentation. There are optional Bible passages that you can add to the message of the story, making the assemblies useful for all types of primary schools. Many of the assemblies use a large variety of visual aids (such as decorations, drinks, toys and scales) which are linked to the theme of the assembly and which act as a stimulus for the children's imagination. Each assembly ends with a prayer, which may not be appropriate for some schools, but this could be adapted to suit each school's particular needs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChurch Times - 10 June 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIN SPITE of every attempt to refine it, or even get rid of it entirely, the requirement for a daily act of collective worship in schools will be around for some years yet. But the deluge of things needing a head teacher's attention often means that preparing a morning assembly falls to the bottom of the list.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs the same head teacher may well now be responsible for more than one school, you can imagine that dredging up something useful to say on a wet Monday morning in November may just be the final straw.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThank heavens, then, for \u003cem\u003e10-minute assemblies for 4-11s\u003c\/em\u003e by Rebecca Parkinson (Barnabas for Schools; GBP9.99). There are 50 of them - I reckon that's about 20p each.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author occasionally gets a bit carried away, and her suggestions for props goes into overdrive. You know the kind of thing: a kettle, a mug, a tea bag, a bottle of milk (so far so good: a quick raid of the staff room will do the trick). It's when she adds a large toy car, a bottle of lemonade, and 'a selection of foods' that the project is doomed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut, for the most part, the book has some brilliant 'off-the-shelf' assemblies, which need the minimum of preparation. I've owned it for less than a month and I've used three of them already. If Parkinson adds a companion volume for 11- 16- year-olds, she'll earn a fortune.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDennis Richards\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMethodist Recorder - 1 April 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHERE'S a book that I wish had been around when I was enduring school assemblies a long, long time ago. In \u003cem\u003e10-Minute Assemblies for 4-11s\u003c\/em\u003e (Barnabas in Schools, GBP9.99), Rebecca Parkinson provides 50 assemblies that teachers and school visitors can 'confidently deliver' while exploring values from a Christian perspective. These include general themes such as 'Being special', 'Choices we make', 'Seeing the good' and 'Standing up for ourself', as well as those focused on Christian calendar events, national days and other special occasions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrama\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWithin the 10 minutes there are ideas for drama, a sketch or visual aid, setting the scene for a Bible exploration and a 'Pause for thought'. I can see it working well in a voluntary-aided church school, but a multifaith one might be a bit more challenging. In her introduction, however, the author says the inclusion of an 'optional Bible section' makes these assemblies suitable for use in any school. And also in church, I would say, for any preacher or worship leader who wants to make their all-age worship truly all age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Singleton\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSTAR News Diocese of Peterborough May 2016\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a straightforward book that provides 50 ready-to-use assemblies for both church and non-church schools. Some of the themes are based around values and some on church festivals and some on occasions such as World Book Day or Remembrance. Each assembly includes a visual stimulus, an explanation of the theme, a 'what the Bible says' element (that could be omitted) and a simple prayer. The assemblies are simple to lead but you will need to prepare the visual material in advance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRona Orme\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReligious Education Subject Leaders' Newsletter, Peterborough Diocese - Spring 2017\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'10 - Minute Assemblies for 4 - 11s' is written by Rebecca Parkinson. Rebecca has worked as a teacher, teacher adviser for science, university lecturer and course tutor. At present Rebecca teaches part-time in a primary school while pursuing her career in writing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe assemblies outlined are designed to capture pupils' imagination and provide a short but relevant message, exploring values from a Christian perspective.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOrganised by general themes, Christian calendar events, national days and other annual events, each assembly provides ten minutes of material including a short drama, sketch or visual aid (which requires minimum preparation) to explore the theme. This is then followed up with reflection on a Biblical passage, a pause for thought and a closing prayer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLesley Pollard, RE and Collective Worship Adviser - Diocese of Peterborough\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e"}
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10-Minute Assemblies for 4-11s: 50 ready-to-use assemblies exploring values from a Christian perspective
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{"id":2439760117860,"title":"36 Ready-to-Read Assemblies for Collective Worship: Taking your school through the Bible story in a year","handle":"36-ready-to-read-assemblies-for-collective-worship-taking-your-school-through-the-bible-story-in-a-year","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis resource aims to introduce, explain and explore the Christian faith, providing familiarity with the Bible story and context for widely used references in popular culture such as David and Goliath, the great flood or the good Samaritan.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIt covers 36 key Bible passages in a year, each accompanied by a readable, ready-prepared thought for the day, including interactive questions, a prayer and a song suggestion. Each assembly offers a choice of traditional and contemporary versions of the Bible and of classic and modern Christian prayers to suit the school's preference.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eHelen Lings is a theologian by education and a teacher by profession, most recently as head of Religious Studies and lay chaplain at an independent preparatory school. She has also written for Scripture Union's teaching resources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\nHelen knows what she's talking about. A hugely experienced teacher and theologian, she has created an accessible, easy to use resource for hard-pressed assembly leaders. Over the year your children will hear the Christian story unfolded, and they will grow spiritually and culturally. I am delighted to commend this work and I hope it will be widely used. Rt Revd Paul Bayes, Bishop of Liverpool\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\nHelen Lings is a theologian by education (B.A. Hons Theology and Master of Theology, Nottingham University) and a teacher by profession, with 40 years' experience in the public and independent sectors, her last post being as head of RS and lay chaplain at an independent, boarding preparatory school. She is a clergy wife with many years' experience in and around the C of E parish system, leading Junior Church and other children's activities. She has also written for Scripture Union's teaching resources.\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n","published_at":"2026-02-23T16:08:36+00:00","created_at":"2019-01-18T15:21:14+00:00","vendor":"Helen Lings","type":"Paperback","tags":["Collective worship","For schools","Jul-15","KCLC"],"price":999,"price_min":999,"price_max":999,"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":21769192144996,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857463753","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":7436611944548,"product_id":2439760117860,"position":1,"created_at":"2019-01-18T15:21:14+00:00","updated_at":"2019-02-01T17:46:06+00:00","alt":null,"width":791,"height":1123,"src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857463753-l.jpg?v=1549043166","variant_ids":[21769192144996]},"available":false,"name":"36 Ready-to-Read Assemblies for Collective Worship: Taking your school through the Bible story in a year - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":999,"weight":308,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857463753","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":3238876676235,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.704,"height":1123,"width":791,"src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857463753-l.jpg?v=1549043166"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[],"quantity_rule":{"min":1,"max":null,"increment":1}}],"images":["\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857463753-l.jpg?v=1549043166"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857463753-l.jpg?v=1549043166","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":3238876676235,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.704,"height":1123,"width":791,"src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857463753-l.jpg?v=1549043166"},"aspect_ratio":0.704,"height":1123,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857463753-l.jpg?v=1549043166","width":791}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eThis resource aims to introduce, explain and explore the Christian faith, providing familiarity with the Bible story and context for widely used references in popular culture such as David and Goliath, the great flood or the good Samaritan.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eIt covers 36 key Bible passages in a year, each accompanied by a readable, ready-prepared thought for the day, including interactive questions, a prayer and a song suggestion. Each assembly offers a choice of traditional and contemporary versions of the Bible and of classic and modern Christian prayers to suit the school's preference.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003eHelen Lings is a theologian by education and a teacher by profession, most recently as head of Religious Studies and lay chaplain at an independent preparatory school. She has also written for Scripture Union's teaching resources.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\nHelen knows what she's talking about. A hugely experienced teacher and theologian, she has created an accessible, easy to use resource for hard-pressed assembly leaders. Over the year your children will hear the Christian story unfolded, and they will grow spiritually and culturally. I am delighted to commend this work and I hope it will be widely used. Rt Revd Paul Bayes, Bishop of Liverpool\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\nHelen Lings is a theologian by education (B.A. Hons Theology and Master of Theology, Nottingham University) and a teacher by profession, with 40 years' experience in the public and independent sectors, her last post being as head of RS and lay chaplain at an independent, boarding preparatory school. She is a clergy wife with many years' experience in and around the C of E parish system, leading Junior Church and other children's activities. She has also written for Scripture Union's teaching resources.\n\u003ch5\u003eMedia reviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n"}
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36 Ready-to-Read Assemblies for Collective Worship: Taking your school through the Bible story in a year
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Out of Stock
{"id":2439826473060,"title":"80 Reflective Prayer Ideas: A creative resource for church and group use","handle":"80-reflective-prayer-ideas-a-creative-resource-for-church-and-group-use","description":"\u003cp\u003ePrayer remains a vital part of Christian discipleship. Following the success of the author's 80 Creative Prayer Ideas, this ready-to-use resource book contains 80 further ideas on setting up reflective and creative prayer stations or responses. Claire Daniel shows us how to pray with our whole being - our senses as well as our voice, our hearts as much as our minds. Tried and tested, these ideas will enhance the praying of small groups, churches and individuals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClaire Daniels' book not only offers us a wide variety of ways to engage with God, but opens up experiences that ignite our senses and help us step right into an enhanced understanding of God and of our journey with him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Rachel Turner, Parenting for Faith Pioneer \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a book that is so needed in our word filled world!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Jane Holloway, World Prayer Centre, Birmingham\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-right: 15px; float: left;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/ClaireDaniel2_480x480.jpg?v=1676493596\" width=\"103\" height=\"99\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClaire Daniel is author of 80 Creative Prayer Ideas and Prayer Journey into Parenthood. She is passionate about encouraging others to use creative prayer methods and speaks at conferences and leads workshops on the subject of prayer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGodVenture blog: review by Victoria Beech, February 2019\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGreat for: people organising prayer in any group setting, including those wanting to inspire family prayers at home\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBest bit: Loads of simple, creative ideas for reflective prayer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWorst bit: No pictures\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe instructions for the prayer activities are simple and easy to follow, and most activities need minimal resources, which is fab. If you're a church leader or childrens' worker or anyone who plans times of prayer for a group of people, the ideas in this book are simple and easy to do and, with a little preparation, you could create take-home versions to inspire family prayer at home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI didn't feel the activities were age-limited, which is great, as it means they could be used in a toddler group or an all-age service, giving everyone a way of connecting with God in a creative way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe prayer ideas are grouped together so you could use a different one each week or create a variety of prayer stations with a similar theme. I particularly like that many of them use nature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt first, I was disappointed the strapline didn't mention families, but the activities are all written for those organising prayer times for a group, and it's hard to make the text work for people doing things in a family and a group (I've tried!). If I was planning to make take-home packs, I'd be tempted to shorten the instruction text, maybe picking one or two of the suggestions for reflection to make it quicker to read and get on to actually praying. I find families tend to have less time to read instructions, and things which are 'good to go' are best.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs I said above, it's a shame there's no pictures, especially as the author says she's used lots of the activities herself. It would be fab to have a colour photo of each activity, but that would be a pricey book I guess.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Victoria Beech in her blog GodVenture\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e_____________________________________________\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2026-02-23T16:07:02+00:00","created_at":"2019-01-18T15:25:31+00:00","vendor":"Claire Daniel","type":"Paperback","tags":["For churches","Group reading","Jan-19","KCLC","Kindle","Prayer"],"price":999,"price_min":999,"price_max":999,"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":21770194681956,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857466730","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":72465234887036,"product_id":2439826473060,"position":1,"created_at":"2024-12-13T13:45:49+00:00","updated_at":"2024-12-13T13:46:14+00:00","alt":null,"width":1748,"height":2480,"src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/80reflectiveprayerideas.jpg?v=1734097574","variant_ids":[21770194681956]},"available":false,"name":"80 Reflective Prayer Ideas: A creative resource for church and group use - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":999,"weight":254,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857466730","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":63561193095548,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.705,"height":2480,"width":1748,"src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/80reflectiveprayerideas.jpg?v=1734097574"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[],"quantity_rule":{"min":1,"max":null,"increment":1}}],"images":["\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/80reflectiveprayerideas.jpg?v=1734097574","\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/39_b2af6d5e-eb1e-4fba-abc9-55ca39cea0a8.png?v=1734097574"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/80reflectiveprayerideas.jpg?v=1734097574","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":63561193095548,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.705,"height":2480,"width":1748,"src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/80reflectiveprayerideas.jpg?v=1734097574"},"aspect_ratio":0.705,"height":2480,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/80reflectiveprayerideas.jpg?v=1734097574","width":1748},{"alt":null,"id":63560966046076,"position":2,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"width":1303,"src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/39_b2af6d5e-eb1e-4fba-abc9-55ca39cea0a8.png?v=1734097574"},"aspect_ratio":0.652,"height":2000,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/files\/39_b2af6d5e-eb1e-4fba-abc9-55ca39cea0a8.png?v=1734097574","width":1303}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003ePrayer remains a vital part of Christian discipleship. Following the success of the author's 80 Creative Prayer Ideas, this ready-to-use resource book contains 80 further ideas on setting up reflective and creative prayer stations or responses. Claire Daniel shows us how to pray with our whole being - our senses as well as our voice, our hearts as much as our minds. Tried and tested, these ideas will enhance the praying of small groups, churches and individuals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClaire Daniels' book not only offers us a wide variety of ways to engage with God, but opens up experiences that ignite our senses and help us step right into an enhanced understanding of God and of our journey with him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Rachel Turner, Parenting for Faith Pioneer \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a book that is so needed in our word filled world!\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e Jane Holloway, World Prayer Centre, Birmingham\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-right: 15px; float: left;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/ClaireDaniel2_480x480.jpg?v=1676493596\" width=\"103\" height=\"99\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eClaire Daniel is author of 80 Creative Prayer Ideas and Prayer Journey into Parenthood. She is passionate about encouraging others to use creative prayer methods and speaks at conferences and leads workshops on the subject of prayer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGodVenture blog: review by Victoria Beech, February 2019\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGreat for: people organising prayer in any group setting, including those wanting to inspire family prayers at home\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBest bit: Loads of simple, creative ideas for reflective prayer\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWorst bit: No pictures\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe instructions for the prayer activities are simple and easy to follow, and most activities need minimal resources, which is fab. If you're a church leader or childrens' worker or anyone who plans times of prayer for a group of people, the ideas in this book are simple and easy to do and, with a little preparation, you could create take-home versions to inspire family prayer at home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI didn't feel the activities were age-limited, which is great, as it means they could be used in a toddler group or an all-age service, giving everyone a way of connecting with God in a creative way.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe prayer ideas are grouped together so you could use a different one each week or create a variety of prayer stations with a similar theme. I particularly like that many of them use nature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAt first, I was disappointed the strapline didn't mention families, but the activities are all written for those organising prayer times for a group, and it's hard to make the text work for people doing things in a family and a group (I've tried!). If I was planning to make take-home packs, I'd be tempted to shorten the instruction text, maybe picking one or two of the suggestions for reflection to make it quicker to read and get on to actually praying. I find families tend to have less time to read instructions, and things which are 'good to go' are best.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs I said above, it's a shame there's no pictures, especially as the author says she's used lots of the activities herself. It would be fab to have a colour photo of each activity, but that would be a pricey book I guess.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Victoria Beech in her blog GodVenture\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e_____________________________________________\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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80 Reflective Prayer Ideas: A creative resource for church and group use
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Prayer remains a vital part of Christian discipleship. Following the success of the author's 80 Creative Prayer Ideas, this ready-to-use...
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{"id":4853212348555,"title":"A Better Song to Sing: Finding life again through the invitations of Jesus","handle":"a-better-song-to-sing-finding-life-again-through-the-invitations-of-jesus","description":"\u003cp\u003eMany sincere followers of Jesus are secretly disappointed, dissatisfied and quietly desperate for more than they are currently experiencing. That more is found as we respond to the invitations of Jesus, which hold out to us the hope of dynamic change, of a truly vibrant, transformed life – a better song to sing. Each chapter explores one specific invitation, drawing out its possible implications for our lives, and suggests a spiritual practice or reflection to help us ground that invitation in our present-day reality.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAbout the author\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-right: 15px; float: left;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/MagsinFergusFalls_480x480.jpg?v=1676493905\" width=\"142\" height=\"189\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMags was a missionary in Asia for over 20 years before returning to the UK and joining the faculty at Redcliffe College where she lectured on Spiritual Formation and on Soul Care. A retreat leader and spiritual director, she is passionate about helping others nurture their relationship with God in life-giving, life-sustaining ways.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer critically acclaimed first book is \u003cem\u003eGod among the Ruins\u003c\/em\u003e (BRF, 2018).\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRead Mags' Lockdown blog \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/blogs\/collections\/mags-duggan-author-of-the-best-selling-god-among-the-ruins-and-the-soon-to-be-published-a-better-song-to-sing-muses-on-what-shes-achieved-during-lockdown\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTony Horsfall\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePersonal transformation is at the heart of discipleship yet so many experience only superficial change. Here is a book to take you deeper in the journey to wholeness and Christlikeness and blow away your spiritual blues.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMags Duggan first helps us to understand the call of Jesus to experience the abundant life he offers. Then she asks us to look inwards, gently inviting us to face up to the issues preventing us from real change. Finally, with much grace, and sharing examples from her own life, she gives us practical tools by which we can find freedom, healing and release.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a small book but it packs a big punch. \u003cem\u003eA Better Song to Sing\u003c\/em\u003e will strike the right note for many who long to find greater fulfilment in their walk with God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry Spring 2021. Review by Howard Rowe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is not about hymns or worship songs. It is a book for those of us who know, deep down, that there must be more to life as a disciple than we are experiencing right now. Mags Duggan has clearly been there herself, and writes about searching for ‘a better song to sing’ in life through the invitations of Jesus – life in all its fullness, release from the grave, water for the thirsty, fulfilment of our deep desires, trusting and being at home with him. I was especially moved by the last chapter, where the author writes of Jesus inviting me to be at home with him – a place of heartfelt welcome and ease where I may sit down with him, love and be loved. Mags Duggan writes with grace. The theology is winning, thoughtful and intelligent, not academic. There are personal stories of success and failure, and ideas to try. We need more books like this. I recommend it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Howard Rowe\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIrish Methodist Newsletter. Review by Stephen Skuce\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘I have listened to many sincere followers of Jesus as they’ve shared with me how worn out, bored, disappointed and frustrated they feel about the life they are living – and how ashamed and guilty they are for feeling this way’. We do not always experience life in all its fullness, and Mags Duggan writes to such as us to offer us counsel and pointers in how to follow the nudging of the Holy Spirit that there is indeed much more than many of us are experiencing. ‘Our lives can be full of good and helpful things, our time may be spent well and productively, and yet we can feel like our hearts, our souls, the very core of who we are, are sometimes achingly empty’.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuggan offers us four spiritual practices that can assist our journeys. She points us to prayers for release, to praying with and through the gospels, to stopping, and circle or Caim prayers that many of us will be familiar with as part of our Celtic Christian heritage. As I read this book I was reminded of Andrew Roberts’ \u003cem\u003eHoly Habits.\u003c\/em\u003e There are a number of such resources that remind us of the practices or habits that support and enhance our faith. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eA Better Song to Sing\u003c\/em\u003e Duggan is helping us think specifically about when we have somehow lost the joy of our faith. It's far from a superficial ‘quick fix’ manual, but a text that is challenging as it causes us to look within, and find God’s strength to better emerge out. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer comments on ‘stopping’ particularly resonated with me and are based on Mark 6:31-32 where Jesus and the disciples head away to be alone, to find a still point in their day. I have cultivated a daily still point. Part of my fairly minimal contribution to the smooth running of the Skuce household is doing the dishes. There is a dishwasher, but it just sits and stares with reproach at me. I don’t care. When I do the dishes I switch off. I do a simple action that has a start, middle and end. I’ll do it again in the near future, but those particular few dishes are completed. I need to do the dishes on my own but that is likely part of my many personality issues. In the simple task I find stillness, and I know I need to find stillness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike a lot of recent BRF books, \u003cem\u003eA Better Song to Sing\u003c\/em\u003e is a fairly quick read, is straightforward but has depth. This is well worth reading for more than just encouragement in our faith, but pointers to what actually nourishes us. In the struggles of life that the pandemic has brought, our wellbeing has come a bit more to the fore. This is just the sort of book to help our faith better help our whole being.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Revd Dr Stephen Skuce, District Superintendent, North Western District\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCatherine Young, \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDirector, Global Language and Development Services\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e International Language Services \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSIL\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe opening pages of this book recount a memorable scene from \u003cem\u003e'Educating Rita\u003c\/em\u003e' when Rita’s mother sobs 'There must be better songs to sing than this,' and my heart lurched because that has, on numerous occasions, been the cry of my heart – there must be more to life than what feels mundane and pedestrian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI follow the living God and I crave 'life in all its fullness'. Mags Duggan's book spoke to my heart, my soul and will, I trust, enable me to confidently, enthusiastically, willing and without fear put my trust in the One who has invited me to step to the edge and fly. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe invitations of Jesus, spread through the New Testament, encourage me to draw close to Him and grow in trust of the One who loves me and remind me that I am precious to Him. He yearns for me to respond. Why do I hesitate, I wonder? Each chapter of this book examines a different Biblical invitation and, in a wonderfully accessible style, challenges me to wholeness and new vibrancy in my walk with Christ.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMags’ writing – beautifully rich with metaphor - integrates rigorous theological reflection, reflections from her own extensive cross-cultural experience and references to popular culture which emphasises the holistic nature of the call to wholeness. I particularly appreciated the spiritual exercises that are included at the end of each chapter. They caused me to take each chapter and reflect – to consume each chapter carefully in small bites rather than guzzle the complete book hungrily in a few short sittings. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe image of the desert in Chapter 3 was particularly meaningful to me: the unproductive expanse that needs to be watered in order to yield the harvest that was intended. I feel thirsty, I know I am thirsty but I need to intentionally and deliberately drink to experience the 'hydrated soul' through which life and energy can flow to bring refreshment to the parched spirit of others. The final chapter brings the message of the book to a resounding crescendo underscoring that there is risk in commitment – but also joy, hope and freedom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Catherine Young\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2020-10-15T16:17:00+01:00","created_at":"2020-05-01T16:20:59+01:00","vendor":"Mags Duggan","type":"Paperback","tags":["For individuals","Jul-20","KCLC","Pastoral care","Prayer","Spirituality","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":33574600376459,"title":"Default Title","option1":"Default Title","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9780857468765","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":null,"available":true,"name":"A Better Song to Sing: Finding life again through the invitations of Jesus","public_title":null,"options":["Default Title"],"price":899,"weight":600,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9780857468765","requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[],"quantity_rule":{"min":1,"max":null,"increment":1}}],"images":["\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857468765.jpg?v=1588346461"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857468765.jpg?v=1588346461","options":["Title"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":7669477474443,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857468765.jpg?v=1588346461"},"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9780857468765.jpg?v=1588346461","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eMany sincere followers of Jesus are secretly disappointed, dissatisfied and quietly desperate for more than they are currently experiencing. That more is found as we respond to the invitations of Jesus, which hold out to us the hope of dynamic change, of a truly vibrant, transformed life – a better song to sing. Each chapter explores one specific invitation, drawing out its possible implications for our lives, and suggests a spiritual practice or reflection to help us ground that invitation in our present-day reality.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAbout the author\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-right: 15px; float: left;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/MagsinFergusFalls_480x480.jpg?v=1676493905\" width=\"142\" height=\"189\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMags was a missionary in Asia for over 20 years before returning to the UK and joining the faculty at Redcliffe College where she lectured on Spiritual Formation and on Soul Care. A retreat leader and spiritual director, she is passionate about helping others nurture their relationship with God in life-giving, life-sustaining ways.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer critically acclaimed first book is \u003cem\u003eGod among the Ruins\u003c\/em\u003e (BRF, 2018).\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eRead Mags' Lockdown blog \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.brfonline.org.uk\/blogs\/collections\/mags-duggan-author-of-the-best-selling-god-among-the-ruins-and-the-soon-to-be-published-a-better-song-to-sing-muses-on-what-shes-achieved-during-lockdown\"\u003ehere\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eEndorsements\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTony Horsfall\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePersonal transformation is at the heart of discipleship yet so many experience only superficial change. Here is a book to take you deeper in the journey to wholeness and Christlikeness and blow away your spiritual blues.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMags Duggan first helps us to understand the call of Jesus to experience the abundant life he offers. Then she asks us to look inwards, gently inviting us to face up to the issues preventing us from real change. Finally, with much grace, and sharing examples from her own life, she gives us practical tools by which we can find freedom, healing and release.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a small book but it packs a big punch. \u003cem\u003eA Better Song to Sing\u003c\/em\u003e will strike the right note for many who long to find greater fulfilment in their walk with God.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTransforming Ministry Spring 2021. Review by Howard Rowe\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is not about hymns or worship songs. It is a book for those of us who know, deep down, that there must be more to life as a disciple than we are experiencing right now. Mags Duggan has clearly been there herself, and writes about searching for ‘a better song to sing’ in life through the invitations of Jesus – life in all its fullness, release from the grave, water for the thirsty, fulfilment of our deep desires, trusting and being at home with him. I was especially moved by the last chapter, where the author writes of Jesus inviting me to be at home with him – a place of heartfelt welcome and ease where I may sit down with him, love and be loved. Mags Duggan writes with grace. The theology is winning, thoughtful and intelligent, not academic. There are personal stories of success and failure, and ideas to try. We need more books like this. I recommend it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReview by Howard Rowe\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIrish Methodist Newsletter. Review by Stephen Skuce\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e‘I have listened to many sincere followers of Jesus as they’ve shared with me how worn out, bored, disappointed and frustrated they feel about the life they are living – and how ashamed and guilty they are for feeling this way’. We do not always experience life in all its fullness, and Mags Duggan writes to such as us to offer us counsel and pointers in how to follow the nudging of the Holy Spirit that there is indeed much more than many of us are experiencing. ‘Our lives can be full of good and helpful things, our time may be spent well and productively, and yet we can feel like our hearts, our souls, the very core of who we are, are sometimes achingly empty’.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDuggan offers us four spiritual practices that can assist our journeys. She points us to prayers for release, to praying with and through the gospels, to stopping, and circle or Caim prayers that many of us will be familiar with as part of our Celtic Christian heritage. As I read this book I was reminded of Andrew Roberts’ \u003cem\u003eHoly Habits.\u003c\/em\u003e There are a number of such resources that remind us of the practices or habits that support and enhance our faith. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eA Better Song to Sing\u003c\/em\u003e Duggan is helping us think specifically about when we have somehow lost the joy of our faith. It's far from a superficial ‘quick fix’ manual, but a text that is challenging as it causes us to look within, and find God’s strength to better emerge out. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHer comments on ‘stopping’ particularly resonated with me and are based on Mark 6:31-32 where Jesus and the disciples head away to be alone, to find a still point in their day. I have cultivated a daily still point. Part of my fairly minimal contribution to the smooth running of the Skuce household is doing the dishes. There is a dishwasher, but it just sits and stares with reproach at me. I don’t care. When I do the dishes I switch off. I do a simple action that has a start, middle and end. I’ll do it again in the near future, but those particular few dishes are completed. I need to do the dishes on my own but that is likely part of my many personality issues. In the simple task I find stillness, and I know I need to find stillness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLike a lot of recent BRF books, \u003cem\u003eA Better Song to Sing\u003c\/em\u003e is a fairly quick read, is straightforward but has depth. This is well worth reading for more than just encouragement in our faith, but pointers to what actually nourishes us. In the struggles of life that the pandemic has brought, our wellbeing has come a bit more to the fore. This is just the sort of book to help our faith better help our whole being.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Revd Dr Stephen Skuce, District Superintendent, North Western District\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCatherine Young, \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDirector, Global Language and Development Services\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e International Language Services \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSIL\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe opening pages of this book recount a memorable scene from \u003cem\u003e'Educating Rita\u003c\/em\u003e' when Rita’s mother sobs 'There must be better songs to sing than this,' and my heart lurched because that has, on numerous occasions, been the cry of my heart – there must be more to life than what feels mundane and pedestrian.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI follow the living God and I crave 'life in all its fullness'. Mags Duggan's book spoke to my heart, my soul and will, I trust, enable me to confidently, enthusiastically, willing and without fear put my trust in the One who has invited me to step to the edge and fly. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe invitations of Jesus, spread through the New Testament, encourage me to draw close to Him and grow in trust of the One who loves me and remind me that I am precious to Him. He yearns for me to respond. Why do I hesitate, I wonder? Each chapter of this book examines a different Biblical invitation and, in a wonderfully accessible style, challenges me to wholeness and new vibrancy in my walk with Christ.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMags’ writing – beautifully rich with metaphor - integrates rigorous theological reflection, reflections from her own extensive cross-cultural experience and references to popular culture which emphasises the holistic nature of the call to wholeness. I particularly appreciated the spiritual exercises that are included at the end of each chapter. They caused me to take each chapter and reflect – to consume each chapter carefully in small bites rather than guzzle the complete book hungrily in a few short sittings. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe image of the desert in Chapter 3 was particularly meaningful to me: the unproductive expanse that needs to be watered in order to yield the harvest that was intended. I feel thirsty, I know I am thirsty but I need to intentionally and deliberately drink to experience the 'hydrated soul' through which life and energy can flow to bring refreshment to the parched spirit of others. The final chapter brings the message of the book to a resounding crescendo underscoring that there is risk in commitment – but also joy, hope and freedom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Catherine Young\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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{"id":5785543147672,"title":"A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues","handle":"a-christian-guide-to-environmental-issues","description":"\u003cp\u003eEnvironmental sustainability is a major issue for us all. In this extensively updated edition, Martin and Margot Hodson consider eight of the key current environmental problems, giving the biblical basis for looking after the environment and helping to integrate environmental thinking into the reader’s understanding of Christian faith. This accessible guide includes ethical reflections, Bible studies focusing on a different biblical doctrine for each chapter, and eco-tips to enable practical response. Among the issues covered are climate change, food, biodiversity, and population, together with the relationship between environmental problems and issues relating to world development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-right: 15px; float: left;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/MartinandMargotHodsonlatestApril2021_480x480.jpg?v=1676493999\" width=\"186\" height=\"149\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRev. Margot Hodson\u003c\/strong\u003e is Theology and Education Director for the John Ray Initiative (JRI), an organisation connecting Environment, Science, and Christianity. She is also a Vicar in the Oxford Diocese. The Hodsons have published widely together on Christianity and the environment, and have several books including A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues (BRF, second edition).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDr. Martin Hodson\u003c\/strong\u003e is a plant scientist and environmental biologist and has over 100 publications mostly in international science journals. He teaches at both of the universities in Oxford and is the Principal Tutor for the distance learning course, Christian Rural and Environmental Studies (CRES).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003ePraise for A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMartin and Margot Hodson’s deep commitment to the critical issues that their timely book addresses shines through each chapter.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePeter Harris, Founder of A Rocha\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book looks straight in the eye of the most serious set of environmental challenges humanity faces. Drawing together in accessible ways scientific evidence, biblical reflection and practical ideas, it will provoke you to better think, act and pray for the renewal of creation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews \u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScience and Christian Belief. Review by Robert Sluka\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSluka R. 2022 Review of \"Hodson \u0026amp; Hodson - A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues 2nd Edn, BRF\", Science \u0026amp; Christian Belief vol.34(2):145-146. Review reprinted with kind permission.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI first read Martin and Margot’s books while in a youth hostel in Tasmania. Not exactly or even close to being a youth at the time, their writing helped to shape my thoughts on how to integrate Christian faith and conservation. The strength of their work is a deep theological reflection rooted both in practice and academic rigour combined with a commitment to and skill at summarizing and communicating the latest peer-review science and conservation policy. This is the second edition of A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues, which they have fully updated and revised to respond hopefully to our current conservation crises.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany Christians are more environmentally aware and active in recent times. There are now over 4000 Eco churches in the UK, for example. Yet if you were to ask the average person in the pew about the environment, they would likely struggle to articulate how their faith is relevant to it. Margot and Martin argue that the environment is central to the Christian faith, not peripheral to it. This book also provides a helpful correction to the overwhelming focus, when there is one, of the Christian community on one environmental issue – climate change. Martin and Margot show clearly that there are many threats that while often augmented by climate change, are not currently addressed by most agencies, churches, or individuals and which would not be reduced could we solve our climate issues immediately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an excellent resource for those who want to better understand both the science and the theology surrounding environmental issues. The book could be approached as a relatively quick read to gain insight into major environmental topics such as biodiversity, climate change, water, energy, soil, and food. Each chapter starts with helpful stories to contextualise and put a personal flavour to the issues from Spain or Portugal where much of this book was written during a sabbatical, giving a common thread throughout. The science is detailed up with more study, but clear and concise enough for a lay person to understand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Biblical reflection follows which provides insights into key passages that apply to the topic. I will also use this as a resource book when called upon to speak on or address topics covered in the book. A focused bibliography of key creation care books is given in the back. Key websites are listed with summaries, indexes of topics and bible verses increase its utility. A short bible study allows the reader to reflect and develop their own thoughts – with bible study leader’s notes for small groups.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdditionally, Martin and Margot produced a series of videos that accompany this book as a series of 10 study sessions or easily cut down to fit a Lent course:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thebigchurchread.co.uk\/a-christian-guide-to-environmental-%20issues-2\/\"\u003ehttps:\/\/thebigchurchread.co.uk\/a-christian-guide-to-environmental- issues-2\/\u003c\/a\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe chapter on soil serves as a good example of the value and diversity of this book – not the least that there are so few creation care books that even address soil as an issue. The chapter starts with a personal story from Martin reflecting on his teaching on soils in Oxford. This proceeds to a helpful discourse of what soil is, then adds a global perspective on threats such as erosion, compaction and pollution. An outside perspective is written by a colleague along with another personal story from Martin’s and Margot’s sabbatical in Spain. Margot then provides a reflection on the biblical themes of exile and return and of course, the parable of the sower and the soils. A Rocha UK head of Conservation, Andy Lester, comments on their Partner in Action Programme and Margot and Martin reflect on their experience at one of these partners, Hilfield Friary, showing how the topic of soil is being addressed on the ground with respect to creation care.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach chapter has an eco-tip for the reader to implement – this one focused on gardening and soil as you would expect. A bible study with discussion questions takes readers to Isaiah and Luke and then helpful references are given to pursue deeper knowledge of soils. This chapter caused me to think about the soil in my own garden here in Florida and specifically, how the way I treat it impacts the ecology of this area and my own spiritual life as I interact with it through gardening activities. Each chapter is likewise diverse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is necessarily a summary and thus can’t go into a deep treatment of each topic. The bouncing around of different voices, locations, and switching between faith and science topics might not be palatable for some. The format is set up so that a small group could use it for discussion with or without the accompanying videos. It is a useful resource for church leaders who want to speak on these issues.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e This is an important book to continue the hopeful conversation of how we can love God and neighbour (including our non-human neighbours) through caring for God’s world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRobert Sluka leads A Rocha’s Marine Conservation Programme, working to glorify God through caring for the 71% of the planet that is ocean (www. arocha.org\/marine).\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIrish Methodist Newsletter. Review by Stephen Skuce\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e A standing item on our church council agendas is environmental matters. We know it's part of our Christian responsibility, as individuals and as churches, to care for the environment. We know we are stewards and custodians, not the owners. And we know that in most cases we aren’t doing much more than recycling and trying our best. It's unlikely to happen, but if Greta Thunberg or David Attenborough were to sit in on our council meeting, I doubt if they would be impressed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo, to avoid the avoid the wrath of David and Greta, Martin and Margot Hodson have revised and updated this book to help us better recognise areas of concern and ways in which we can be part of the answer. Ten chapters cover areas such as soil, water, energy, biodiversity, climate change and food, and each chapter concludes with a short Bible study. Therefore, this is an ideal book to use in a home group or church Bible study to help us think through these issues as Christians. And to make it even easier there are supplementary notes at the back for those leading the Bible study, as well as good end notes to each chapter to source the material and point to ways to think even deeper on the issues.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen we think about water we know that we aren’t short of the stuff in Ireland, but are at increasing risk of getting too much rain in concentrated bursts while other parts of the world are experiencing longer periods of drought. Fires in California and Australia bring this home to us, as does the burning tundra above the artic circle. I’m writing this in April and Slieve Donard ‘is on fire’. Rather than a moralising tone, the authors share up to date thinking alongside practical Christian responses around the world and bring us hope that we can be part of the renewing of creation. We have a problem but it's also our opportunity to act, and our World Development and Relief colleagues are in partnership with many groups to assist us such as Dabane Water Workshops in Zimbabwe. This is part but not all of our response. ‘The images of water in the Bible remind us of our dependence on the earth and how deeply we are bound together. We understand our place in creation as one of awesome responsibility to lead wisely. One day, that role will be fulfilled. When we lead a redeemed creation as a redeemed people of God’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is an ideal study guide into the issues, helps us wrestle with Scripture and the key issue of our generation. The Hodsons have also published this year \u003cem\u003eGreen Reflections: Biblical Inspiration for Sustainable Living. \u003c\/em\u003eWe are late to recognise our requirement to act. This text will help us and others not be too late, God willing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Revd Dr Stephen Skuce, District Superintendent, the North Western District\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Kate Lemon, One25\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe environment and climate change has been one of the central debates for many years. Many of us are seeking hope for the future and joining those who are trying to reduce waste, act more responsibly towards the environments and show they care for the living world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 2nd edition combined practical theology with the latest science. it is a useful resource for church leaders and group leaders ( e.g. Sunday schools) it covers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBiodiversity\u003cbr\u003eClimate change\u003cbr\u003eHuman population and consumption\u003cbr\u003eWater\/ food\u003cbr\u003eSoil\u003cbr\u003eEnergy \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach chapter offers a bible study section at the end and often an eco-tip as well as biblical reflection.\u003c\/p\u003e","published_at":"2020-09-17T15:46:40+01:00","created_at":"2020-09-17T15:46:39+01:00","vendor":"Martin Hodson and Margot Hodson","type":"Paperback","tags":["Apr-21","Caring for creation","Environmental issues","Group reading","KCLC","Mission"],"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":43664534601919,"title":"Paperback","option1":"Paperback","option2":null,"option3":null,"sku":"9781800390058","requires_shipping":true,"taxable":false,"featured_image":{"id":23477197832383,"product_id":5785543147672,"position":1,"created_at":"2021-01-19T18:14:31+00:00","updated_at":"2021-04-28T12:09:37+01:00","alt":null,"width":1000,"height":1524,"src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390058.jpg?v=1619608177","variant_ids":[43664534601919]},"available":true,"name":"A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues - Paperback","public_title":"Paperback","options":["Paperback"],"price":999,"weight":190,"compare_at_price":null,"inventory_management":"shopify","barcode":"9781800390058","featured_media":{"alt":null,"id":15646869389503,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390058.jpg?v=1619608177"}},"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_allocations":[],"quantity_rule":{"min":1,"max":null,"increment":1}}],"images":["\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390058.jpg?v=1619608177"],"featured_image":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390058.jpg?v=1619608177","options":["Format"],"media":[{"alt":null,"id":15646869389503,"position":1,"preview_image":{"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"width":1000,"src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390058.jpg?v=1619608177"},"aspect_ratio":0.656,"height":1524,"media_type":"image","src":"\/\/www.brfresources.org.uk\/cdn\/shop\/products\/9781800390058.jpg?v=1619608177","width":1000}],"requires_selling_plan":false,"selling_plan_groups":[],"content":"\u003cp\u003eEnvironmental sustainability is a major issue for us all. In this extensively updated edition, Martin and Margot Hodson consider eight of the key current environmental problems, giving the biblical basis for looking after the environment and helping to integrate environmental thinking into the reader’s understanding of Christian faith. This accessible guide includes ethical reflections, Bible studies focusing on a different biblical doctrine for each chapter, and eco-tips to enable practical response. Among the issues covered are climate change, food, biodiversity, and population, together with the relationship between environmental problems and issues relating to world development.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eAuthor info\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"text-align: left;\"\u003e\u003cimg style=\"margin-right: 15px; float: left;\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0148\/6107\/4532\/files\/MartinandMargotHodsonlatestApril2021_480x480.jpg?v=1676493999\" width=\"186\" height=\"149\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRev. Margot Hodson\u003c\/strong\u003e is Theology and Education Director for the John Ray Initiative (JRI), an organisation connecting Environment, Science, and Christianity. She is also a Vicar in the Oxford Diocese. The Hodsons have published widely together on Christianity and the environment, and have several books including A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues (BRF, second edition).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDr. Martin Hodson\u003c\/strong\u003e is a plant scientist and environmental biologist and has over 100 publications mostly in international science journals. He teaches at both of the universities in Oxford and is the Principal Tutor for the distance learning course, Christian Rural and Environmental Studies (CRES).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003ePraise for A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMartin and Margot Hodson’s deep commitment to the critical issues that their timely book addresses shines through each chapter.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePeter Harris, Founder of A Rocha\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book looks straight in the eye of the most serious set of environmental challenges humanity faces. Drawing together in accessible ways scientific evidence, biblical reflection and practical ideas, it will provoke you to better think, act and pray for the renewal of creation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRt Revd Graham Usher, Bishop of Norwich\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003e\u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003ch5\u003eReviews \u003c\/h5\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eScience and Christian Belief. Review by Robert Sluka\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSluka R. 2022 Review of \"Hodson \u0026amp; Hodson - A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues 2nd Edn, BRF\", Science \u0026amp; Christian Belief vol.34(2):145-146. Review reprinted with kind permission.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI first read Martin and Margot’s books while in a youth hostel in Tasmania. Not exactly or even close to being a youth at the time, their writing helped to shape my thoughts on how to integrate Christian faith and conservation. The strength of their work is a deep theological reflection rooted both in practice and academic rigour combined with a commitment to and skill at summarizing and communicating the latest peer-review science and conservation policy. This is the second edition of A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues, which they have fully updated and revised to respond hopefully to our current conservation crises.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMany Christians are more environmentally aware and active in recent times. There are now over 4000 Eco churches in the UK, for example. Yet if you were to ask the average person in the pew about the environment, they would likely struggle to articulate how their faith is relevant to it. Margot and Martin argue that the environment is central to the Christian faith, not peripheral to it. This book also provides a helpful correction to the overwhelming focus, when there is one, of the Christian community on one environmental issue – climate change. Martin and Margot show clearly that there are many threats that while often augmented by climate change, are not currently addressed by most agencies, churches, or individuals and which would not be reduced could we solve our climate issues immediately.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an excellent resource for those who want to better understand both the science and the theology surrounding environmental issues. The book could be approached as a relatively quick read to gain insight into major environmental topics such as biodiversity, climate change, water, energy, soil, and food. Each chapter starts with helpful stories to contextualise and put a personal flavour to the issues from Spain or Portugal where much of this book was written during a sabbatical, giving a common thread throughout. The science is detailed up with more study, but clear and concise enough for a lay person to understand.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Biblical reflection follows which provides insights into key passages that apply to the topic. I will also use this as a resource book when called upon to speak on or address topics covered in the book. A focused bibliography of key creation care books is given in the back. Key websites are listed with summaries, indexes of topics and bible verses increase its utility. A short bible study allows the reader to reflect and develop their own thoughts – with bible study leader’s notes for small groups.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAdditionally, Martin and Margot produced a series of videos that accompany this book as a series of 10 study sessions or easily cut down to fit a Lent course:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e(\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/thebigchurchread.co.uk\/a-christian-guide-to-environmental-%20issues-2\/\"\u003ehttps:\/\/thebigchurchread.co.uk\/a-christian-guide-to-environmental- issues-2\/\u003c\/a\u003e).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe chapter on soil serves as a good example of the value and diversity of this book – not the least that there are so few creation care books that even address soil as an issue. The chapter starts with a personal story from Martin reflecting on his teaching on soils in Oxford. This proceeds to a helpful discourse of what soil is, then adds a global perspective on threats such as erosion, compaction and pollution. An outside perspective is written by a colleague along with another personal story from Martin’s and Margot’s sabbatical in Spain. Margot then provides a reflection on the biblical themes of exile and return and of course, the parable of the sower and the soils. A Rocha UK head of Conservation, Andy Lester, comments on their Partner in Action Programme and Margot and Martin reflect on their experience at one of these partners, Hilfield Friary, showing how the topic of soil is being addressed on the ground with respect to creation care.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach chapter has an eco-tip for the reader to implement – this one focused on gardening and soil as you would expect. A bible study with discussion questions takes readers to Isaiah and Luke and then helpful references are given to pursue deeper knowledge of soils. This chapter caused me to think about the soil in my own garden here in Florida and specifically, how the way I treat it impacts the ecology of this area and my own spiritual life as I interact with it through gardening activities. Each chapter is likewise diverse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is necessarily a summary and thus can’t go into a deep treatment of each topic. The bouncing around of different voices, locations, and switching between faith and science topics might not be palatable for some. The format is set up so that a small group could use it for discussion with or without the accompanying videos. It is a useful resource for church leaders who want to speak on these issues.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e This is an important book to continue the hopeful conversation of how we can love God and neighbour (including our non-human neighbours) through caring for God’s world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRobert Sluka leads A Rocha’s Marine Conservation Programme, working to glorify God through caring for the 71% of the planet that is ocean (www. arocha.org\/marine).\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIrish Methodist Newsletter. Review by Stephen Skuce\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e A standing item on our church council agendas is environmental matters. We know it's part of our Christian responsibility, as individuals and as churches, to care for the environment. We know we are stewards and custodians, not the owners. And we know that in most cases we aren’t doing much more than recycling and trying our best. It's unlikely to happen, but if Greta Thunberg or David Attenborough were to sit in on our council meeting, I doubt if they would be impressed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSo, to avoid the avoid the wrath of David and Greta, Martin and Margot Hodson have revised and updated this book to help us better recognise areas of concern and ways in which we can be part of the answer. Ten chapters cover areas such as soil, water, energy, biodiversity, climate change and food, and each chapter concludes with a short Bible study. Therefore, this is an ideal book to use in a home group or church Bible study to help us think through these issues as Christians. And to make it even easier there are supplementary notes at the back for those leading the Bible study, as well as good end notes to each chapter to source the material and point to ways to think even deeper on the issues.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen we think about water we know that we aren’t short of the stuff in Ireland, but are at increasing risk of getting too much rain in concentrated bursts while other parts of the world are experiencing longer periods of drought. Fires in California and Australia bring this home to us, as does the burning tundra above the artic circle. I’m writing this in April and Slieve Donard ‘is on fire’. Rather than a moralising tone, the authors share up to date thinking alongside practical Christian responses around the world and bring us hope that we can be part of the renewing of creation. We have a problem but it's also our opportunity to act, and our World Development and Relief colleagues are in partnership with many groups to assist us such as Dabane Water Workshops in Zimbabwe. This is part but not all of our response. ‘The images of water in the Bible remind us of our dependence on the earth and how deeply we are bound together. We understand our place in creation as one of awesome responsibility to lead wisely. One day, that role will be fulfilled. When we lead a redeemed creation as a redeemed people of God’.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is an ideal study guide into the issues, helps us wrestle with Scripture and the key issue of our generation. The Hodsons have also published this year \u003cem\u003eGreen Reflections: Biblical Inspiration for Sustainable Living. \u003c\/em\u003eWe are late to recognise our requirement to act. This text will help us and others not be too late, God willing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eReviewed by Revd Dr Stephen Skuce, District Superintendent, the North Western District\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview by Kate Lemon, One25\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe environment and climate change has been one of the central debates for many years. Many of us are seeking hope for the future and joining those who are trying to reduce waste, act more responsibly towards the environments and show they care for the living world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 2nd edition combined practical theology with the latest science. it is a useful resource for church leaders and group leaders ( e.g. Sunday schools) it covers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBiodiversity\u003cbr\u003eClimate change\u003cbr\u003eHuman population and consumption\u003cbr\u003eWater\/ food\u003cbr\u003eSoil\u003cbr\u003eEnergy \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEach chapter offers a bible study section at the end and often an eco-tip as well as biblical reflection.\u003c\/p\u003e"}
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A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues
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Environmental sustainability is a major issue for us all. In this extensively updated edition, Martin and Margot Hodson consider eight...