Being Here

Being Here

Author Pádraig Ó Tuama
Publisher Eerdmans £17.99
Format hbk
ISBN 9780802883476

At the core of this book are 31 days’ worth of reflective material with some additional essays. Each session has the same opening prayer and a short literary extract balanced by verses from a Gospel. The reader is then invited to keep silence before using the collect of the day that reflects on the readings. Finally, there is a repeated closing prayer. This latter might work better in the evening. Read the introduction to this book to loosen your mind and to receive permission to interact with the texts in the way that is right for you. Read the short essay on the structure of a collect. Then plunge in. This book would be a stimulating choice for someone wanting to take a month’s holiday from saying Morning or Evening Prayer while continuing to keep a regular time of prayer and reflection. It might be helpful for someone starting out on daily meditation. The range of literary texts was intriguing and, having used the book for a month, I found myself pondering on the material throughout the day.

Reviewed by RONA ORME

Spirituality

 

The Everyday God

The Everyday God

Author Jonathan Arnold
Publisher BRF £9.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781800392106

This book is a treasure chest of ideas and inspiration based on the experiences of the author – director of the Social Justice Network for the Diocese of Canterbury. He is also a musician who takes Augustine’s words ‘God is music’ as the thread connecting the rich variety of themes and real-life stories to the gospel narrative. Chapters are based on the traditional seven works of mercy: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, housing the homeless, welcoming strangers, visiting the sick and the imprisoned; burying the dead. There is an additional chapter on caring for creation. All include material for individual reflection as well as group discussion with suggestions for further reading and resources. There are first-hand accounts of changed lives from prisoners, asylum seekers and others on the margins of society. The honesty of those whose lives have been transformed is an inspiration and a challenge. This is a book to dip into: it will not fail to interest both on a personal level as an aid to meditation and as a catalyst for change in the community.

Reviewed by LAURA HILLMAN

Pastoral theology

 

Restoring the Story

Restoring the Story

Author Anne van Gend
Publisher SCM £19.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9780334066194

It is a surprise and a pleasure to read a book on doctrine that is both readable and entertaining, yet also profound and challenging. The author provides a journey through most but not all the various ‘theories’ of atonement, often illustrating spiritual nuances with references to fantasy fiction (Narnia, Harry Potter among others). The result is an original theology of atonement with special emphasis on four themes. The traditional ‘sacrificial’ element to cleanse our sins, and the ‘Christus Victor’ model are both analysed in depth and found helpful. More originality comes from the treatment of ‘covenantal’ atonement and ‘Theosis’ (participation in God), where I personally learned much. Each theme is expertly analysed with exegesis from Old and New Testament texts, and ‘good news’ is proclaimed to encourage and enlighten the reader. Penal substitution is mentioned briefly, but the author concludes that narratives involving the propitiation of an angry God should be ‘gently put to one side’ and notes that the reality of Jesus’ atoning work does not rely on theological agreement among Christians. I recommend this worthy and interesting book.

Reviewed by MALCOLM DAWSON

Atonement

 

Go … Make Disciples

Go … Make Disciples

Author John Marsh
Publisher Sacristy £14.99
Format pbk (new edition)
ISBN 9781789593433

The great commission of the Church to go out and make disciples is often compromised by internal church fights or just a lack of commitment. As Marsh shows, discipleship is at the heart of the church’s call. It was originally published in an era that saw some great writings on the issue such as David Watson’s Discipleship (to my mind, the greatest book on the topic). For Marsh, Christians need to engage in the mission to show the Father’s love as their motivation, to talk about salvation, and the healing purposes of God. He stresses this cannot be accomplished without the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, giving us servant hearts. He approaches this via biblical stories and teachings. Although there are some anecdotes to illustrate this, I would have liked more to see how discipleship is lived out. Nonetheless, this is a stimulating book which could be rewardingly used to inform a sermon series on this topic.

Reviewed by CAVAN WOOD

Mission and evangelism

 

The Book of Days

The Book of Days

Author Francesca Kay
Publisher Swift Press £16.99
Format hbk
ISBN 9781800753495

This beautifully written novel serves as a history of the Tudor Reformation spanning the critical years of 1546 and 1547, the death of Henry VIII and the new regime of Edward VI, which introduced stern Protestant legislation to eliminate popish idolatry. The setting is a west country village where the dying squire, symbolising perhaps the demise of Catholic England, has commissioned a chantry chapel and a marble family tomb. The enterprise is doomed, for the villagers, stirred by an itinerant preacher, are beginning to forsake the old ways. The aged priest, Sir Joselin, and the new chantry priest, William, faithful traditional Catholics, yet also pastoral servants exemplifying the love of God, become victims as the Bishop’s commissioners enter the village, intent on destruction of idols, glass and relics. Francesca Kay’s novel provides a superb, erudite portrait of Tudor religious life, especially from the Catholic perspective. It is an absorbing and truly helpful historical picture – an entertaining alternative to the academic descriptions we find in the textbooks of Eamon Duffy (e.g. The Stripping of the Altars). Highly recommended.

Reviewed by KATE BURTON

Novel

 

Image Bearers

Image Bearers

Author Rachel Atkinson & Michael Lloyd
Publisher Hodder & Stoughton £18.99
Format pbk, 2023
ISBN 9781529318661

Subtitled ‘Restoring our identity and living out our calling’, the book was inspired by the life of the late Ruth Miller, a Christian counsellor skilled in restoring and developing the relationship between her clients and God. This may seem harsh, but to me the first part of the book, written by Michael Lloyd, seemed to be trying to make people feel guilty. It was not a dialogue, but rather a lecture on how sinful and broken we all are. Although challenging, it was too prescriptive for the questioners among us, although it did make me think. The second and subsequent parts, written by Rachel Atkinson, came as a breath of fresh air. There are outstandingly helpful chapters on recovering from childhood with a mother and/or a father who had not been kind, loving parents, people who were probably very mixed up themselves, and may eventually be forgiven. The chapter on dying well, including contributions from Ruth Miller, deals with fear and trust in God during terminal illness. This would be very helpful to any Christian or carer facing this eventuality.

Reviewed by VERONICA BRIGHT

Pastoral

 

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