Follow the Star: Calm and Bright

Author Sammi Tooze
Publisher CHP £0.99*
Format pbk
ISBN 978178404904

The Church of England’s theme booklet for Christmas 2024 has been written by Sammi Tooze, the Discipleship Adviser for the Diocese of York. It follows the usual pattern: over the twelve days of Christmas, we are presented each day with a Bible reading, a reflection, a short challenge and a prayer. The key words are ‘calm’ and ‘bright’, and the reflections help us to recognise these as the textures of the season. God in the form of a vulnerable baby humbly enters our world on a calm and peaceful night, to the witness of poor shepherds; but the news of his birth must be greeted with joy and brightness. The readings include the traditional birth narratives, but also some original choices such as Luke 10:38-42 – the story of Mary and Martha – and verses of cosmic significance from Ps 139. Sammi Tooze has produced an attractive booklet designed to be given to those attending Carol services, Christingles and Crib services. The calm message and the bright joy of the incarnation is here for all to read. Let us hope and pray that many families and friends do indeed ‘Follow the Star.’

Reviewed by Kate Burton

*Multiple copies are available at £8.50 for 10 or £37.50 for 50; a large print version is £2.00.

Sacred Space:
Advent and Christmas 2024

Author The Irish Jesuits
Publisher Messenger €7.95
Format pbk
ISBN 9781788127011

Sacred Space:
The Companion

Author The Irish Jesuits
Publisher Messenger €14.95
Format hbk
ISBN 9781788126816

These two attractive books, from the Irish Jesuits, promote Ignatian spirituality through the practice of daily prayer. The Advent-Christmas material is designed as a spiritual anchor and reassures us of the certainty of faith in a time threatened by widespread global conflict. It includes detailed resources for an Advent retreat. The Companion book, in hardback, is a more substantial resource for the liturgical year from Advent through to Easter and includes further guidance for retreats and many more prayers in the Ignatian tradition. Although written primarily for Catholic congregations, many Anglicans may find these little volumes inspiring and helpful.

Reviewed by Kate Burton

Reflections for Daily Prayer: Advent 2024 to Eve of Advent 2025

Author Justine Allain Chapman et al
Publisher CHP £17.99 (also available as an App, £12.99)
Format pbk
ISBN 9781781404577

Advent approaches, and a new volume of Reflections for Daily Prayer heralds the start of the liturgical year. I find the annual publication of this volume comforting and encouraging, for it provides a wise and illuminating reflection for each weekday of the year, designed to accompany our office of Morning Prayer. Several thoughts came to mind as I perused this new edition.

First, I was struck by the wealth and depth of talent within the Church of England. I did not notice a single reflection which was dull or unoriginal; every page seemed to have a fresh, challenging insight from a wise bishop, a learned archdeacon or a distinguished author. I won’t name them all, but you can find their names on the Church House Publishing website. It is enough to say they are all distinguished Christians, who write with authority and sensitivity.

Secondly, we should thank God for the richness of scripture and the way it accompanies us through each year. This book enables us to spend the dark days of Advent with Revelation and the Thessalonian letters; Epiphany with Amos, Lent and Passiontide with the Gospel of John. We have Ephesians for the Easter season, and a variety of books for the long season of Trinity. These daily reflections cover great tranches of the Bible and help to embed the readings into our minds and our souls.

Morning Prayer should not be an occasional option for ministers. It is a refreshment and a daily renewal. As the book jacket emphasises, these reflections will enrich your daily prayer and provide spiritual food for the day. It may even give you new ideas for your sermons!

So, well done, Church of England – you are still capable of excellence and disseminating wisdom. And thank you, Church House Publishing, for making this helpful and accessible guide available to us. It is now available as an app as well as a paperback and represents good value for money. I calculated that each daily reflection costs under 6p or around 4p if you buy the app – not too much for a daily blessing!

Reviewed by Elizabeth Stephenson

The Canterbury Preacher’s
Companion 2025

Author Catherine Williams (ed.)
Publisher Canterbury Press £19.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781786225559

This book has become an annual institution under the wise and careful editorship of Rev Catherine Williams, who leads the Daily Prayer podcasts and is therefore the melodious public ‘voice’ of the Church of England. It covers the lectionary for year C (the year of Luke),  beginning in Advent 2024. There are two sermons for each Sunday of the Church year – for the principal (Eucharist) service and for the second service (usually Evensong). There are third options for special Sundays such as Mothering Sunday or Remembrance, including some ‘all-age’ material. The final part of the book comprises sermons for saints’ days or festivals, generally on weekdays. In other words, this is a comprehensive compendium of resources for the ecclesiastical year. The quality of the material is strong throughout, as you would expect from such renowned preachers and writers as Kate Bruce, Isabelle Hamley, Rachel Mann and Liz Shercliff – but all the authors make sound and entertaining contributions.

The editor rightly emphasises that these sermons are designed to fire the imagination. They really should not be copied and read out verbatim, for a sermon should always be unique in time and place and congregation – an intersection with the divine. But readers may discover here the germ of an idea, or a stunning interpretation, which can inspire first the preacher, and then the congregation.

There is a wonderful introduction to the book from Rev Lucy Winkett, Rector of St James’s, Piccadilly, who provides some memorable, thought-provoking phrases. I particularly liked: ‘Within contemporary British society, preaching a sermon is frankly quite weird.’ This reminds us of course that the world has moved on in the last thirty years or so and that most communication simply represents shallow sound bites. Nonetheless, as Winkett reminds us, preaching is surely a privilege and should not be taken for granted. So, ‘stay close to the edge, stay close to the truth and keep looking for fresh perspectives…remain attentive to the Spirit.’ This highly recommended book will certainly help you do that.

Reviewed by Elizabeth Stephenson