Books
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John Of The Cross And Teresa Of Avila
$41.95Add to cartHalf a millennium after they lived and wrote, Teresa and John continue to inspire and confound readers: How can the turn inward to solitude and quiet also bring a person closer to creation? Howell’s shows how, for Teresa and John, the dynamic life of the Trinitarian God unites the mind within and the world outside.
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Transforming Self And Community
$26.95Add to cartBoth spiritual direction and pastoral counseling tend to be partially responsive to client needs and expectations. Many of the theories underlying the practice of spiritual direction and pastoral counseling are based more on psychology than spirituality. They minimize or exclude character and moral concerns and may even unintentionally foster individualism and spiritual narcissism. Transforming Self and Community offers an approach to spiritual direction and pastoral counseling that is holistic, that integrates spiritual and moral constructs with the psychological and emphasizes all aspects of transformation, including social transformation.
The integrative approach in Transforming Self and Community provides psychological, spiritual, and moral perspectives for understanding and assisting individuals with their spiritual journey of development. It describes and illustrates clinically useful guidelines for the practice of spiritual direction and pastoral counseling. It includes case studies as well as figures, tables, and charts that highlight and summarize main text points.
Transforming Self and Community is primarily for professionals who practice, teach, or are learning how to do spiritual direction or pastoral counseling. Nevertheless, spiritual seekers, clients, or prospective clients of spiritual direction or pastoral counseling will also find this book enlightening.
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Medieval Writings On Female Spirituality
$18.00Add to cartBiographies, poetic compositions, works that are mystical, prophetic, visionary, or meditative: the selections here reflect the developments in medieval piety, particularly in the link between female spirituality and the body. Included are the dramatic visionary writings of Hildegard of Bingen; letters and poems by Hadewijch expressing passionate love for God; and Marguerite Porete’s allegorical poem “The Mirror of Simple Souls,” a dialogue between Love and Soul that was condemned as heretical. Also included are biographies written by male ecclesiastics of women such as Christine the Astonishing, whose extraordinary behavior included being resurrected at her own funeral; revelations received by Bridget of Sweden, the first woman to found a religious order; and excerpts from The Book of Margery Kempe, in which Margery imagines herself as a servant caring for the Virgin Mary in her childhood.
This volume, edited by Elizabeth Spearing, who also prepared some of the translations, features a rich introduction to the lives and religious experiences of its subjects, as well as full explanatory notes.
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Leaving North Haven
$16.95Add to cartLike its predecessor, Good News from Haven, Leaving North Haven is a collection of related stories following one year in the life of the wise and understanding pastor of a small Presbyterian Church, Rev. David Battles. The books are set in the fictional town of North Haven, Minnesota. North Haven is a place that has seen better days and Battles is torn by his love for the rhythms and folkways of the tiny village and his longing for a more glamorous assignment. Fans of Good News from North Haven will be pleased to encounter many of the same characters in the sequel, though the two can be read independently. In Leaving North Haven, Lindvall’s storytelling is keener than ever, weaving emotion and compassion with gentle humor.
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Preaching To The Hungers Of The Heart
$24.95Add to cartPreaching to the Hungers of the Heart is about words, most particularly it is a book about the Word, the living Word of God, found in the Scriptures, and embodied once and for all in the person of Jesus, the Word made flesh.
In Preaching to the Hungers of the Heart Fr. James Wallace offers a nuanced consideration of the homily as nourishment. He focuses on three common liturgical contexts: feasts of the Lord, feasts of Mary and the saints, and the sacramental rites. He relates the preaching that occurs within each area to one of the heart’s basic hungers: for wholeness (the great feasts of the Lord), for guidance (feasts of Mary and the saints), and for meaning (various rites). He also addresses the spirituality of the preacher as it is worked out in the process of preparation.For preachers and students in schools of ministry who are preparing to preach Preaching to the Hungers of the Heart will serve as a useful tool to help satisfy the hunger to preach the Gospel. It includes homilies that provide excellent starting points for preachers looking for ideas.
Chapter one considers the image of feeding God’s people with the Word of God. Chapter two, considering the innermost hunger of the human person, looks to the preaching that takes place on the great feasts of the Lord and how such preaching can nourish the hunger for wholeness. Chapter three returns to the hunger for meaning already mentioned and extends to the other sacramental celebrations the homily’s capacity to meet this hunger, including those addressed by the various sacramental celebrations of the Church such as baptisms, wedding, funerals, rites of reconciliation, and anointing of the sick. Chapters four and five present the homily as responding to the hunger to belong. The final chapter considers one other hunger of the heart, unique to the preacher, referred to by John Paul II as a “hunger to preach the gospel” (Pastores Dabo Vobis, no. 28).
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Revised Common Lectionary Prayers (Revised)
$29.00Add to cartWhy not give your input to this ongoing task force which writes prayers that will accompany the readings of the widely used Revised Common Lectionary? While drawing heavily on the rich liturgical traditions of the past, these prayers speak in a contemporary language. Good for worship committees.
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Eucharistic Devotion : Renewing A Timeless Tradition
$9.99Add to cartIn the not-too-distant past, visits to the Blessed Sacrament and participation in Forty Hours Devotion were almost extinct practices. Yet today devotion to the Eucharist has regained its popularity as a pathway to a deep and intimate union with the Lord. A new generation of believers is longing for the richness of this tradition and the blessings attendant upon it.
Eucharistic Devotion reintroduces today’s Catholics to this time-honored spiritual tradition. Beginning with a history of Eucharistic devotion and its development, especially in times of stress and trouble, this book presents the Eucharist as the center and summit of the Christian life. A discussion of the meaning of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist and an explanation of how the Church has always fostered Eucharistic devotion adds a new perspective to those who may be unfamiliar with the long tradition of this practice. Next, the primary elements of the Eucharistic Memorial are presented and explained, and finally the third section gives prayers and formats for private visits to the Blessed Sacrament.
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Seeing With Our Souls
$16.95Add to cartAs part of her ongoing quest to break open monastic wisdom for the modern world, Sr. Joan Chittister’s latest book addresses the question: What qualities of the soul must be cultivated by each of us if we are to become a positive presence in a changing world? Rooted in the ancient tradition of lectio divina – sacred reading that connects Scripture with the pursuit of personal transformation – Seeing with Our Souls highlights a key Bible passage for each of twelve key qualities of soul and offers brief reflections that speak to the core of one’s spiritual practice. Each reflection asks us to identify the political, spiritual, economic, and cultural choices we make and to assess our aspirations for the future. Seeing with Our Souls is ideal spiritual reading for busy people interested in gleaning scriptural and monastic wisdom for everyday life.
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Upon This Rock
$24.95Add to cartA Vatican-censured former priest, tells the history of the papacy from the point of view of the women, radicals, and marginalized who have been betrayed by conservative historians. This survey of key popes documents the evolution of the papacy from its beginning to all its monarchical trappings in our own day.
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Power Of The Powerless
$19.95Add to cartChristopher De Vinck’s moving account of his life with his brother made a deep impression on the hearts and minds of Americans. Due to a tragedy at birth, Oliver de Vinck was born severely handicapped-blind, mute, crippled, helpless. Despite the doctors’ bleak prognosis, his loving parents took him home, where they and their children cared for him. He lived for thirty-three years.
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Understanding Student Affairs At Catholic Colleges And Universities
$29.95Add to cartIn response to the growing concern over nurturing Catholic identity at Catholic colleges and universities and an outcome of the Lilly-funded Institute for Student Affairs at Catholic Colleges and Universities (ISACC), this book is the first of its kind to focus not only on student affairs in Catholic higher education but on lay men and women who received training at secular institutions. An essential book for administrators, staff, and faculty at Catholic institutions of higher learning.
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Let Me Know Myself
$19.95Add to cartSoon after his conversion Augustine prayed “O God, let me know myself; let me know you.” He was convinced that the eventual discovery of God began with a discovery of one’s self. In “Let Me Know Myself . . .”, Donald Burt, O.S.A., offers reflections on what Augustine said about the nature of the “self,” obstacles standing in the way of discovery, and some of what one can learn about oneself from experience and faith.
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Singing In The Reign
$15.95Add to cartYou’ve known the Psalms as individual pearls – but have you ever experienced them as a 150-piece necklace? Michael Barber recovers the narrative unity of the Psalms, showing how this celebrated book of the Bible brings us from suffering and pleading to triumph and praise.
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Sacraments In Scripture (Student/Study Guide)
$10.95Add to cartSacraments in Scripture: Salvation History Made Present is a Bible study on the seven sacraments, prefigured in the Old Testament and instituted by Jesus Christ in the New.
Following the teaching of the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism of the Catholic Church on Sacred Scripture, Tim Gray delves into the biblical origin for each of these masterpieces of God’s love. In this Scripture study, Tim Gray guides readers through the Gospels, showing Christ’s deliberate acts to inaugurate these sacred signs as the foundation of the New Covenant. With review questions at the end of each chapter, this study is ideal for both group and individual study, and is perfect for learning how to answer contemporary objections to the sacraments
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John Main : Essential Writings
$22.00Add to cart1. Prologue
2. Holy Mystery
3. Being With God
4. Letting Go
5. Embracing The World
6. 100 Saying On Prayer
7. Conclusion
186 PagesAdditional Info
John Main (1926-1982), an English Benedictine monk, pioneered the practice of Christian meditation. His genius was to recover a way into the contemplative experience for ordinary people within the Christian tradition. Through books and retreats he promoted the practice of meditation as a way for modern people to develop a deeper spiritual life. Hailed by Bede Griffiths as the “most important spiritual guide in the church today,” his work inspired the foundation of the World Community for Christian Meditation and a network of hundreds of meditation groups around the world. -
Finding Heaven : Stories Of Going Home
$16.95Add to cartIn this personal autobiography, author Christopher de Vinck shares his belief that there is indeed a heaven and that we can find evidence of it in the ordinary experiences of our lives. Prompted by his son’s desire for proof of heaven, de Vinck collected thirty lighthearted stories that reveal the presence of heaven in the everyday.
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Ambrose Of Milans Method Of Mystagogical Preaching
$34.95Add to cartMystagogy, or sustained reflection on baptism and the Eucharist, is the method of postbaptismal catechesis used in the R.C.I.A. In Ambrose of Milan’s Method of Mystagogical Preaching, Craig Satterlee provides a method of mystagogical preaching for today’s Church by looking at the sermons of Ambrose of Milan. Confronted by a culture that increasingly cannot be counted on to reinforce the Christian faith or participate in the formation of Christians, the Church today questions the nature of the connection between Word and Sacrament, and liturgy and mission. In addressing these same questions, the catechumenate of the early Church took seriously that they lived in a culture at odds with the faith, particularly the period of mystagogy which is characterized by sermons that probe the rites of initiation. Their biblical importance for Christian life, continues to hold great potential for the Church today. However, it remains largely undefined. By asking such questions as, what did Ambrose do and how did Ambrose do it? Satterlee explains that the best way to learn to preach mystagogically is by using a fourth-century mystagogue as our guide. In chapter one Satterlee establishes the need for mystagogy. Chapter two lays out the historical context of Ambrose and his church. Chapters three through eight are a series of six historical studies on Ambrose and his church that correspond to the components of a homiletic method. Chapter nine proposes a method of mystagogy for the contemporary church based on Ambrose’s preaching. A brief biography of Saint Ambrose, history of the church of Milan, and a look at patristic exegesis are also included.
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Privilege Of Love
$29.95Add to cartUnique in the Church, the Camaldolese life is ordered to a three-fold good: solitude, community, and witness. Men and women as hermits live by a monastic rule, committed to both solitude and community life. The discipline of solitude combined with the second good, the rigors of community living are intended to widen the heart in service of the third good: bearing witness to the abundance of God’s love as the self, others, and every living creature are brought into fuller communion in the one Love.
The essays in The Privilege of Love convey the richness and the depth of the Camaldolese Benedictine spirit. Their diversity of expression is itself a manifestation of the magnitude of God’s bonding Love. This bonding is the Spirit’s own gift, weaving together the many voices found in these pages-voices of women and men, of monk, hermit, and layperson. The voices speak of historical roots, of the riches found in solitude and the grit of community life, of the psychological strength required in any pursuit of God, of the vulnerability of the human heart which is the home for wisdom’s Word, and of the privilege of being in love with Love itself.
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Life In Christ
$29.95Add to cartIn Life in Christ Raniero Cantalamessa, preacher to the papal household, presents a project of re-evangelization and spiritual renewal based on St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans. It is therefore neither an exegetical commentary nor a theological treatise, but goes straight to the heart of what animated the Apostle when he wrote this letter. His aim was not to give the Christians of Rome-and the Christians of later generations-a difficult text on which to exercise their critical wisdom but rather to impart a spiritual gift to them so that they would be strengthened and mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
At the beginning of the third millennium a new phenomenon is spreading through the Christian Churches which can only be the work of the Holy Spirit. Up to now Christians of different denominations have proclaimed Jesus Christ mainly in competition and rivalry with one another, thus compromising our testimony in the eyes of the world. Why should we not grasp this unique occasion to start proclaiming together with brotherly love our common belief in Christ, which is far more important than what still separates us? Pope John Paul II has espoused this project and has expressed the wish that all Christians take this opportunity “for fruitful cooperation in the many areas which unite us; these are unquestionably more numerous than those which divide us.”
Life in Christ is a contribution to the realization of this project. Father Cantalamessa has made the most of the insights and riches present in each one of the three main Christian traditions: Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant, avoiding those points not commonly shared by all believers in Christ, or at least by the majority of them. The Letter to the Romans lends itself to this aim because it deals with the basics of the Christian faith, leaving all the rest aside. It is the ideal basis for that “Common Witness” which is becoming more and more central to ecumenical dialogue. This is, therefore, a first and “partial” attempt to present a spirituality and a proclamation corresponding to the new grace of understanding and unity given to the Christians in the second half of this century.
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Women And Christianity V2
$28.00Add to cartThe second volume in a major historical trilogy that documents the lives and contributions of Christian women from the beginning of Christianity to the present.
In this volume Mary Malone explores the fascinating period of the medieval world, from 1000 to 1500. She brings to life women who were mystics and doctors of the church together with those who suffered persecution for pushing boundaries that would one day become mainstream. From Hildegarde of Bingen to Catherine of Siena, from Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine to Marguerite Porete, she gives us history that inspires and values that endure. -
Edith Stein : Essential Writings
$22.00Add to cart1. In And For The Life Of The World
2. Letting God’s Plan Guide Us
3. Searching For Deep Truth
4. Woman And Women
5. Freedom At The Cross
158 PagesAdditional Info
Edith Stein (1891-1942), who was recently canonized, was one of the most intriguing Catholics of the twentieth century. A Jewish convert, an eminent philosopher, educator, and advocate for women, she became a Discalced Carmelite nun, Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She was arrested by the Nazis and died in Auschwitz in 1942. This volume highlights the extraordinary features of her spirituality – a vision that integrated her philosophical training, her affinity for Carmelite mysticism, and her personal identification with the way of the Cross. Edith Stein provides a wonderful introduction to an extraordinary mind. -
Priesthood And Society (Revised)
$23.00Add to cart“This text on the nature of priesthood draws equally on scripture, tradition and the complexities of modern life to explore the ways that priests become “”walking sacraments””, acting and living out the truth they represent. Focusing on the spiritual disciplines that nurture priestly life, the wisdom of shared ministry and the value of increased lay involvement, the book presents a vision of the Christian ministry that is more concerned with serving the whole of society than in maintaining church attendence.”
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God Knows Marriage Isnt Always Easy
$14.95Add to cartAbout God Knows Marriage Isn’t Always Easy… Is there a secret to a good marriage? Lanny Law and Maureen Rogers Law don’t propose any hidden formula for success. Rather, they retrace the steps of a loving relationship that all couples pledge to at the time of their wedding and remind husbands and wives of twelve essential ways to improve their relationship. Way 1, for example, is simply “Meet and Do Things Together.” When many marriages reach a flat pitch, it is often only because wife and husband have not arranged a given amount of time to be together. The Laws propose putting work and personal interest schedules behind in order to give first priority to simply being together–whether for a walk around the neighborhood, a trip for yogurt, or a weekend getaway. The other ways are equally simple but profound:
Way 2 Accept the Similarities and Differences in Each Other
Way 3 Strive to Understand Each Other
Way 4 Choose to Feel Each Other’s Emotions
Way 5 Mindfully Nurture Your Love
Way 6 Make Your Relationship Priority Number One
Way 7 Delight One Another with Touch
Way 8 Consciously Balance Togetherness and Uniqueness
Way 9 Help One Another
Way 10 Resolve Conflicts Before They Get Worse
Way 11 Readily Forgive and Reconcile If Possible
Way 12 Share Each Other’s Joys and SorrowsThese twelve ways are all necessary elements for having a better marriage. Having a healthy marriage is one of life’s greatest blessings. In a thriving marriage, wife and husband are energized and can withstand just about any circumstances they face. These twelve ways will help you face and prosper through the challenges of marriage.
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Every Pilgrims Guide To Assisi
$20.99Add to cartAssisi, Greccio and neighbouring places associated with St Francis and St Clare are among the world’s most popular pilgrim destinations. This pocket guide is the perfect travelling companion for all visitors to this beautiful region of Italy. Written by an experienced tour leader, it includes a blend of historical and practical tourist information, illustrations, maps and street plans, to enable visitors to make the most of their stay. Festivals associated with Francis, especially the blessing of the Christmas crib, are celebrated with great gusto and this book explains what special treats visitors can experience at different times of the year.
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Copious Hosting
$51.95Add to cartPUBContinuum)A major new work in a relatively unexplored area of inquiry. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 was a landmark piece of legislation, but churches are still wrestling with the theological and practical implications of empowering those with physical and mental difficulties. Solid advice. 176 pages, softcover.
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Shadows To Sunrise
$19.95Add to cartAre you looking for fresh, vibrant material for Holy Week worship? Do you want your congregation to experience the unforgettable drama of Jesus’ suffering, so that they more fully appreciate the celebration and joy of Easter? If so, then you’ll want this anthology that provides several innovative choices for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter sunrise worship. Copying privileges are included for all six segments.
Beyond The Shadows combines communion with gradually extinguished candlelight to create a moving Maundy Thursday tenebrae experience. As each part of the Passion story unfolds, more candles are snuffed out, and the service concludes in total darkness. By reminding us that the Light of the World came to us, yet was engulfed in total darkness as his life slipped away, Beyond The Shadows focuses worshipers’ attention on the coming resurrection, and how that brightness contrasts with the darkness of the crucifixion.
When The Son’s Light Failed is a poignant Good Friday dramatization that imagines the presence at the crucifixion of many women whose lives were profoundly affected by Jesus. The women all share their stories with each other as they witness our Lord’s ultimate sacrifice. It’s a moving portrayal which reminds us that Jesus’ ministry touched the lives of everyone.
The tenebrae service Choices At The Cross explores some of the choices faced by those involved in the events of Christ’s Passion — ones of far greater magnitude than what we often face on a daily basis. Choices At The Cross emphasizes that the most important decision we ultimately face is our response to the question posed by Pilate: “What shall I do, then, with Jesus, who is called Christ?”
Based on John’s account of Christ’s passion, Good Friday Readings, Meditations, And Prayers is a series of seven brief contemplations and prayers that can form the basis for a remarkably effective Good Friday service or be used for personal devotional reading during Lent. Filled with vivid imagery, the meditations make the scriptures come alive while relating them to contemporary life.
Good Friday: I Was There is a stark, gripping Good Friday worship experience which confronts us with the powers of darkness and destruction which were responsible for Christ’s crucifixion. Brief monologues from seven shadowy personae (Doubt, Sorrow, Fear, Shame, Agony, Hate, and Death) dramatically recall how our Lord suffered as he took the sins of humanity upon himself.
Designed as a co
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At The Cross With Jesus
$12.95Add to cartBy combining a compelling sermon series with an insightful group of monologues, At The Cross With Jesus offers flexible, effective resources that will keep the cross central in your congregation’s minds and hearts during Lent. Practical for use in any church, large or small, the material in At The Cross With Jesus is perfect for midweek worship or Holy Week services, and could also be used for a Bible study.
The five moving messages in The Symbols Of The Cross examine Jesus’ final days by focusing on powerful images from the Passion story. Each homily relates these events to our everyday lives by exploring a specific symbol and the human characteristic it exemplifies. There are also directions for creating a searing memory of these symbols by placing visual representations of each image on a wooden cross.
Symbols included are:
* The Palms (a symbol of our fickleness)
* The Money Bag (a symbol of our greed)
* The Towel (a symbol of servanthood)
* The Crown of Thorns (a symbol of mockery)
* The Nails of the Cross (a symbol of suffering)In Five Who Knew Jesus, five persons who were intimately acquainted with Jesus describe their personal relationships with him. Through hearing the perspective of those who played critical roles in Jesus’ life, we are encouraged to look more closely at our own relationships with Christ during the introspective season of Lent. The monologues may be performed in readers’ theater format, but are even more effective if memorized. Few props are required, and costumes are a nice touch but not essential.
Characters represented are:
* John — a hot-tempered man who becomes the disciple of love
* Mary, the mother of Jesus — a woman who suffers a mother’s pain while humbly accepting God’s will
* Peter — an arrogant man who becomes a humble disciple
* Judas — the disciple who failed because he thought he knew best
* Mary Magdalene — a woman of the world who strives to love herself as Jesus loved her -
Jesus Lonely Road
$7.95Add to cartBased on scripture passages from the Gospel of Mark, Jesus’ Lonely Road includes two devotional guides for personal meditation and prayers during Lent. The first section covers Ash Wednesday through Passion Sunday, focusing on Jesus’ journey to Jerusalem and his increasing isolation from the disciples as well as his growing conflict with Jewish leaders. The second section, for Holy Week, follows Jesus each day as he walked the Road to the Cross.
These devotional resources are perfect for distribution to church members as part of your Lenten activities — use them in combination with Bankhead’s other Lenten titles for a complete interrelated seasonal program.
Also by Robert C. Bankhead:
* A Trail Of Tears: Bible Study For Lent
* Come In And Worship: Liturgies And Sermons For Holy Week -
Shepherd And His Sheep
$12.95Add to cartOne of the most striking representations of Jesus in the scriptures is that of a shepherd. Based on John 10’s statement that He is the Good Shepherd, this series of eight lessons teaches youngsters of Jesus’ unfailing love and care (even to the point of death on the cross). Like all of her previous collections, each children’s message is accompanied by a two-sided activity page — one side that’s a coloring page for younger children, and the other with numerous puzzles and activities to reinforce the lesson’s theme for older children. Bland has a well-earned reputation for biblical faithfulness, creativity, and practicality. Busy pastors and teachers have found her ready-to-use materials just what they need for their children’s time — we know you’ll love her latest release!
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Trail Of Tears (Student/Study Guide)
$8.95Add to cartDrawing on texts from all three Synoptic Gospels, this series of seven lessons traces the events of Jesus’ final journey into Jerusalem and toward crucifixion. Through the study of parallel passages from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, readers will discover both common elements and disparate viewpoints in the passion narratives.
Drawing on texts from all three Synoptic Gospels, this series of seven lessons traces the events of Jesus’ final journey into Jerusalem and toward crucifixion. Through the study of parallel passages from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, readers will discover both common elements and disparate viewpoints in the passion narratives.Each study includes a listing of texts and themes, plus a preparation guide for class members and discussion suggestions for group leaders. These practical resources will be useful not only for pastors, but for anyone who plans educational opportunities for adults during Lent. Use them in combination with Bankhead’s other Lenten titles for a complete interrelated program focusing on the journey to the cross.
Also by Robert C. Bankhead:
* Jesus’ Lonely Road: Devotional Guides for Lent and Holy Week
* Come In And Worship: Liturgies and Sermons for Holy Week -
Lenten Discipline
$12.95Add to cartAn acclaimed Luther scholar revisits the wisdom of Martin Luther’s Small Catechism in this complete Lenten program. Based on the six sections of the catechism, A Lenten Discipline provides instructive homily/meditations and worship services for each week in Lent, including Maundy Thursday. An initial chapter examining the Word of God as Law and Gospel sets the tone for the series and can be used as the basis of an Ash Wednesday sermon. Subsequent weeks explore the basic teachings of the faith on the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Baptism, Confession, and Holy Communion.
Though perfectly suited for congregational use during Lent, this series has a multitude of other applications. In addition to catechism or confirmation instruction, it’s also excellent for a sermon series, as a theological resource, or for classrooms, workshops, and retreats. But whatever the setting, these informative homily/lectures and worship experiences will give users new insight into Luther’s genius.
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Life On The Edge Of Faith
$12.95Add to cartFive characters bear witness to a world-changing event that forces them right to the edge of faith in this series of midweek worship services for Lent, which also includes services for Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, and Good Friday. Each service contains a brief sermon, and the five midweek services also feature monologues from the perspective of someone who was present at our Lord’s Passion (a sleeping disciple, the high priest, a maid, a soldier, and a city resident). The bewilderment experienced by these characters will help worshipers find a voice for the confusion that we all feel from time to time.
Life On The Edge Of Faith is a complete package of thematically-related worship resources for the busy pastor looking for midweek programming. The monologues can be read by parishioners, and it’s a great opportunity to have your young people participate in worship activities.
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Empty Spaces Empty Places
$7.95Add to cartWhile we often try to fill the empty spaces in our lives with family, work, and material things, a lingering sense of emptiness and dissatisfaction seems to remain. The connections between biblical characters and these empty spaces in our lives are the focus of three dramatic sketches. By revisiting the stories of Jesus’ birth, death, and resurrection through interviews with the innkeeper’s wife, the centurion, and Mary Magdalene, Empty Spaces, Empty Places shows us the lives Jesus touched then (and continues to touch today). The centurion who witnessed the crucifixion tells how he became convinced that Jesus was the Son of God in the monologue Filling In The Empty Spaces: The Soldier. And the Apostle Paul’s life and Christian witness is depicted in Filling In The Empty Spaces: Saint Paul. Each presentation confronts audiences with the same question: “What do you fill your empty spaces with?”
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Returning Home
$12.95Add to cartGod’s never-ending pursuit of all prodigals, whether they’re far from home or nearby, is the theme of this complete package of preaching and worship resources. The timeless story of the Prodigal Son is examined through first-person portrayals of its characters: the prodigal, the elder son, the father, the mother, and a servant. The five monologues are perfect for use in midweek services — and with companion sermons for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday plus seven orders of worship, Returning Home provides everything busy pastors need for a total Lenten program. The material is also excellent for a sermon series, small group discussion, or personal devotional reading.
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Affirming The Ash Heap
$12.95Add to cartThese seven sermons will penetrate the hearts and souls of every listener…because each one of us has been touched by the tragic side of life. Like Job, everyone sitting in a church pew has at one time or another screamed for a reason why, or even wondered (like Jesus), “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”. Including sermons for five Sundays in Lent, along with Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday, Kirby’s meditations will help worshippers understand the process of coming to grips with these difficult questions
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And The Sea Lay Down
$11.95Add to cartHere are all the pastoral resources you need for a complete and integrated Lenten season of preaching and worship — Ash Wednesday through Easter, including Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.
Included for each Sunday or worship service are:
* Call to worship
* Suggested processional hymn
* Children’s message
* Prayers
* Scripture passages
* Sermon
* Suggested hymn
* Pastoral prayer
* Affirmation of faith
* Suggested closing hymnWard’s first book for CSS, Asking For Wonder: Resources For Creative Worship And Preaching, has become a favorite resource for thousands of busy pastors.
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Bad And The Good
$10.95Add to cartThis activity-oriented series of children’s sermons deals with word opposites. The lessons are based on the example found in Jesus’ teachings that the bad is followed by the good, through trust and obedience in God.
This series of children’s messages help young people understand the suffering and death of Jesus in a positive way. Throughout the series the children are asked to participate with word opposites. The lessons are planned so that each child may take back to the pew an activity sheet. One side is a coloring page for younger children. The other side has word puzzles and games for older children.
The usefulness of this series will become evident:
They require little preparation
The coloring pages will appeal to the younger children
The activity page will keep older children interested
The series can be used for worship services, Sunday school, or other times -
Psalms Were Made For Lent
$12.95Add to cartThe Psalms have long been recognized as a rich resource for individual spiritual enrichment and for magnificent corporate liturgical expression in the life of the church.
The Psalms Were Made For Lent provides a collection of six sermons which translate some of the deep themes inherent in the Psalms into meaningful language for the average person sitting in the congregation.
The book includes:
Six sermons based on the Psalms
Liturgical responses with each sermon (Call to Worship, Call to Confession, Prayer of Confession, Declaration of Pardon)
Three hymns based on the Psalms, which can be sung to well-known hymn tunesAltogether this resource invites the congregation to experience the Psalms in a new and meaningful way.
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Dissident Daughters
$40.00Add to cartWith its focus on narratives, its attention to contextual and material realities, and its collection of women-identified liturgies in global context, Dissident Daughters claims prominence within the growing literature on women’s ways of worship. This book not only introduces liturgical texts, but also focuses on the communities that create and celebrate these liturgies. Dissident Daughters gives voice to women activitsts who show how their communities came into being; how social, cultural, and political realities shaped them and their liturgies; and how they envision their lives in and as communities of faith. In drawing the different narratives together, Dissident Daughters displays the expanse fo the worldwide expression of women’s rites and the formation of each by distinctly different contexts of struggle and hope.
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Here And Now
$19.95Add to cartOne thought flows into another to create a mosaic of shimmering impressions in this contemplative offering from a great Christian writer. Nouwen discusses living in the present, joy, prayer, the spiritual life, relationships, family, and other topics with his signature clarity and insight.
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Watch And Pray
$12.95Add to cartWatch And Pray was written for use by untrained actors. There are no character roles and the dialogue can be divided among as many people as are available to participate.
The seven dramatic mediations begin with Ash Wednesday, followed with the five mid-week readings and conclude with a Maundy Thursday presentation.
Themes are:
Self-knowledge
Repentance
Growth
Patience
Discipline
Courage
