Missio Dei in a Digital Age
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This Assembly of Believers
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Revolutionary
Revolutionary
Author Tom Holland (ed.)
Publisher SPCK £15.99
Format hbk
ISBN 9780281083336
This searching examination of ‘Who Jesus was?’ and ‘Why does he still matter?’ has ten contributors, including Holland. Some were new to me: Joan Taylor, Amy-Jill Levine, Tarif Khalidi who gives an Islamic perspective on Jesus, and Nick Spencer. More familiar were Robin Gill, Terry Eagleton, Julian Baggini and Rowan Williams. There are marvellous things to ponder in these essays, sustaining food for everyone. Passionately argued, they unsettled and at times disrupted my preconceptions. Holland’s challenge was enthusiastically accepted, in a book inviting debate. Big claims are made. ‘Jesus is the single most important figure in Western, arguably world, history’ (Spencer). From a nobody from Nazareth, Jesus becomes ‘the biggest somebody in the world’ (Taylor). The conclusion overwhelmingly is: yes, Jesus was revolutionary – for Gill in an ethical way; for Levine through the power of his stories, which illustrate the kingdom of God. The exception is Baggini who doubts Jesus’ very existence and yet finds him a genius of ambiguity in word and deed. Thanks to SPCK and to Holland for this visionary book.
Reviewed by JEREMY HARVEY
Theological essays
Love@Work
Love@Work
Author Ian Randall, Phil Jump & John Weaver
Publisher DLT £14.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781913657017
I would not normally have picked this book up, but I am glad I have read it. Subtitled ‘100 years of the Industrial Christian Fellowship’ it is much more than a history of an organisation and its precursors. The chapters tell of the forerunners of the Fellowship, the Navvy Mission Society and the Christian Social Union and their merger in 1920 to form a body with both missional and academic remits. The book follows the development of the Fellowship through its policies, missions, and individuals, most famously Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy. Each chapter is followed by a reflection which asks pointed questions of how the Fellowship responded to changing conditions in society and employment and what lessons we can learn from those experiences. The authors are all involved with the Fellowship and are seeking its future pathway. Perhaps the later chapters are less helpful than the earlier ones as they occasionally lapse into lists of activities and personnel changes. In these days of Monday to Saturday faith the book shows ways in which mission can be conducted in workplaces.
Reviewed by DAVID HEADING
Work; Outreach
Seven Days to Freedom
Seven Days to Freedom
Author John Dudley Davies
Publisher DLT £14.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9780232534856
Rarely is a book of a spiritual nature funny. This one made me laugh out loud in several places. For example, after quoting from material produced at the Walsingham Shrine which makes the point that all things are connected ‘even pilgrimage’, the author goes on to say that also connected are ‘scampi, aunts, trigonometry, eisteddfodau, Wing Commanders, urine, scalpels, semiquavers, USBs, magpies etc.’ That gives a flavour of the witty writing. Essentially, this is a series of sermons using the biblical creation stories, with a strong emphasis on the seventh day as a climax that brings all things together. This skilfully thought-provoking work relates the biblical text to present-day issues: coronavirus, the attempts by migrants to cross from Calais to Britain, and Archbishop Welby’s promotion of credit unions, amongst other issues. I cannot help feeling that this might make the book become dated rather quickly, because such questions will not necessarily assume great historical importance viewed retrospectively. Perhaps that does not matter to an author who is aged nearly 94. In the here and now, I loved this book.
Reviewed by ALAN WAKELY
Sermons; Creation
Ploughshares and First Fruits
Ploughshares and First Fruits
Author Chris Thorpe
Publisher Canterbury Press £16.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781786222909
This book is a treasure chest of valuable resources for use throughout the church’s year and it intertwines with the farming calendar. Written for rural parishes and using the author’s own tried and tested rural ministry experience, it offers fresh insights into welcoming and fresh worship. It is mission focussed and recommends inviting local groups and clubs to be involved – riders, farmers, walkers and wildlife groups. Two services per month are described in detail with suggested music, worship songs, intercessions, readings, reflections, conversations, prayers and symbolic actions such as drama, craft, gifts or shared food. As the seasons change so do the themes and much careful planning has gone into these resources. Written primarily for use in the country parish (or group of parishes) it has much to offer city parishes, particularly as we are encouraged to explore our own gardens and parks. We have become more aware of the need to treasure and preserve our resources and are now more connected with the natural world around us. The time is right for this beautiful book.
Reviewed by SUE PIPER
Worship; Environment
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