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Twelve Joys of Christmas

Dec 6, 2025 | 2025 - Advent - Free, Book Reviews

Twelve Joys of Christmas

Author Nicholas Papadopulos
Publisher Church House Publishing £0.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781781405413

The attractiveness of this little book – designed I think to be given away at carol services and Christingles – is the way it merges the Christian message with the joys of traditional family celebrations over the festive season.  It will appeal to children, parents and the older generations who perhaps long for the nostalgia of how Christmas used to be – that is, ‘low-tech’ fun.  It is significant that neither television nor computer games feature within the twelve joys.  Instead, the themes include a lot of different foods, going to the pantomime, brisk walks, crackers and the nostalgic smell of falling pine needles.  The only ‘joy’ that I found slightly dubious, and I recognise my personal prejudice, was the ‘Christmas jumper’ – not for me, please!  But each of the joys is adeptly linked to a short biblical theme and this produces a short reflection linked to an incarnational message.  Let us hope and pray that these ideas make an impact and that many who ponder their message will find their faith strengthened or significantly renewed as we approach a new year.  This book is written by the Dean of Salisbury, who has done an excellent job in presenting a series of serious religious messages within a joyful set of family celebrations.  It could just be the way to draw people back to church life in 2026.

Reviewed by ELIZABETH STEPHENSON 

Advent, Nativity

 

Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Dec 6, 2025 | 2025 - Advent - Free, Book Reviews

Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Author Olivia Warburton
Publisher BRF 6.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781800394308

I suspect that most people who choose this little book will already be doing a lot of reducing, reusing and recycling.  They may be encouraged by being able to tick many of the 111 suggestions.  They may also be already convinced that creation care is a Christian imperative.  As well the practical tips the book summarises the Christian position in the introduction and pauses several times with supporting scriptures.  I was intrigued by the couple of references to seeking out alternative voices, and going beyond aligned opinions; that is surely a subject that deserves wide consideration across many issues.  The book is aimed at families and would be useful to teachers.

Reviewed by ROSIE MEDHURST

Advent, Nativity

 

The Exiled Church

Oct 17, 2025 | 2025 - Winter - Free, Book Reviews

The Exiled Church

Author Martyn Percy
Publisher Canterbury £18.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781786226273

There may be a collective noun for those of us who collect nativity sets. I suspect there are quite a few of us. But the individual noun for Richard Littledale, whose collection you will find in this book, is inspiration. The author has chosen 25 of his sets, enabling us to spend Advent engaging afresh with the birth of Jesus. He describes each pictured set, reflects on it, and links it with a reading and a prayer. We have 25 new ways of entering familiar territory; and the author didn’t use all his sets! What a variety! There is a nativity set to hang on a Christmas tree: do you mix the sacred and the secular? There is a set made from pencil rubbers: telling of Jesus who came to erase the world’s mistakes. There are sets from many cultures, all in rich diversity answering Jesus’ question ‘Who do you say that I am?’ And there is the budgerigar in a Peruvian set, as welcome in the stable as are absolutely all of us. Even though books are primarily verbal, this book encourages us to go beyond words: to look and to play as we enter the story with wonder and worship. So, definitely buy the book, but also make or buy a nativity set for yourself that you can handle as you re-enter Bethlehem this year.

Reviewed by MALCOLM DAWSON

Christianity and secular culture

 

Kingdom Buildings

Oct 17, 2025 | 2025 - Winter - Free, Book Reviews

Kingdom Buildings

Author Kenneth Padley
Publisher Canterbury £20
Format pbk
ISBN 9781786226235

This book will be warmly welcomed by ministry teams, including churchwardens, for it brilliantly fills a crucial gap in Christian life – between practical problems of our built heritage and the commission we have received to promote mission. Too often these are seen as separate issues, but they are both vital components of God’s kingdom. A cold, crumbling, damp building will not attract worshippers – it will deter them. As the author notes, ‘if Christians are in the eternity business, then churches that stand still will move backwards’. Having set out his theology, the author fills the book with practical church management, retaining always the need to see improvements as ‘building the kingdom’. I commend especially his chapter on relatively small projects that make a difference. He does not neglect the creative use of churchyards and the crucial importance of carbon reduction, reminding us of the fifth mark of mission. There is a useful chapter on making church halls attractive, enabling the promotion of mission through community-based actions. This is a valuable handbook to help transform Christian outreach through our buildings.

Reviewed by LEONARD RICKARD

Buildings for mission

 

Can We Imagine a Future Together?

Oct 17, 2025 | 2025 - Winter - Free, Book Reviews

Can We Imagine a Future Together?

Author Martyn Snow
Publisher CHP £4.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781781405130

Bishop Martyn introduces his book by offering thoughts about the programme ‘Couples Therapy’ and counselling generally. Applying this method to LLF and the CofE, each party is encouraged to speak about differences and hurt as well as being open to hearing the other party. Then we may hope to see the questions of LLF differently, using a prayerful process of discerning ‘what is pleasing to the Lord’ – how each of us can reflect love to each other in the same way that God loves all of us in our diversity. There are questions for reflection and discussion: ‘What cultures have shaped you over the course of your life?’ ‘How have you managed to journey beyond confrontation?’ ‘How have you learnt to recognise the gifts received by other cultures?’ ‘How might we offer gifts to those with whom we disagree?’ ‘Are we prepared to be vulnerable when listening to/receiving gifts of another?’ The book concludes with ‘A love letter to the church’ showing Rublev’s Trinity icon, with a space for each of us to join, in all our diversity, in love of God and each other.

Reviewed by SUE PIPER

Living in Love and Faith (LLF)

 

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