- A Gift for all the Family

by Ally Barrett

Brilliant! Accessible! Practical! Superb section on prayer and post-baptism in general! I wish it had been available when I was in a parish! Need I say more?
The words of the service are explained as to meaning and symbolism: e.g. ‘Sanctify this water’ We ask God to make the water ‘holy’ – that is, special enough for something as important as baptism.
There are points to ponder and/or ideas for activities at home on virtually every page: e.g. ‘God calls us out of darkness into his marvellous light.’ Find a map of your local area. Now trace each street or location with your finger….as you do so think about where the darkness is in those places…perhaps a spot where you know people are suffering.
This book enables both the parents and family and the Church to make the most of baptism – and that’s no easy task!
Ally Barrett has done the church a great favour. In the words of the subtitle A gift for all the family: that includes the Christian family.
A recommendation? Just look at the first words of this review.

10 pack £44.99 ISBN 978-0-281-06648-3

Review by Nick Horton (31/01/12)

Paperback
Price: £4.99
Publisher: SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge)
Published: 10 October 2011
ISBN: 978-0-281-06461-8

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Being God’s People

- The Confirmation and Discipleship Handbook

by Robin Greenwood and Sue Hart

This book is wonderful.
First, it links confirmation with discipleship. Confirmation is a beginning yet often, I suspect, the service of confirmation itself feels like an ending. This course ensures that need never be the same again. It offers continuity and depth for all in the church community whilst also providing everything needed for a confirmation course.
Secondly, it is structured around the Eucharist with each of ten sessions mirroring a particular stage of the rite. As the authors write, 'We’re not offering here a commentary on the Eucharist itself but discovering in the shape of the Eucharist celebration the entire meaning of Christian discipleship and mission.This approach is just about unique amongst discipleship courses, which often appear to presume a low-church readership.
Thirdly, it is theologically grounded in scripture and assumes an inclusive, generous, diverse and engaged approach to faith. In other words, this is not a formulaic or doctrinaire approach to Christian teaching but one based on enquiry and reciprocal learning. Leaders are there to lead but also to learn.
Each chapter or session of Being God’s People consists of two halves, one written by each of the two authors. The first covers the session content and the second deals with the practicalities of the session with plenty of ideas for how to handle the content. This approach works really well but is by no means ‘off the shelf’. So there’s a lot of preparation work involved for the leaders – at least for the first time the course is run – and this could be problematic in communities with limited leadership resources. The upside of this is that the material is easily adapted to different communities, which is excellent.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book and hope it will be widely used.
All the book’s appendices are available on the excellent web site

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Review by David Ford (31/10/11)

Paperback
Price: £8.99
Publisher: SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge)
Published: July 2011
ISBN: 978-0-281-06361-1

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Moving Images Changing Lives

- Exploring the Christian Life with Young people Through Film

by Sarah Brush and Paul Greig

I have a great fondness for the medium of film and these days a strange addiction to the wonder of Youtube, with it's collection of short clips and other things, and I rather think I am anything but alone in these likes. Indeed that is why this confirmation resource is so good, because it keys into this medium and really uses it to demonstrate and communicate the structures and foundations of our faith and our active call to discipleship in a way that makes it seem living and vibrant and easily digestible to the visual media generations.
The book is laid out in a fun way, but the import of the material in it is not lessened by this, instead it provides really strong and detailed material and insights for those doing the catechesis lessons, there are also some excellent action sheets for those taking lessons, and I certainly think this would be one confirmation class I wouldn't try to get out of.
If you want something new, fun, sure and easy to do then this is definitely going to be one for you, you can just do it as it is in the book and have a great confirmation study, or you can add your own slant to it by using the clips you think would work best and still have a great confirmation class.

Review by Melanie Carroll (05/10/11)

A4 Paperback
Price: £19.99
Publisher: Church House Publishing (CHP) part of Hymns Ancient & Modern
Published: Spring 2011
ISBN: 978-0-715-14207-3

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Your Godchild

- How to be a Catholic Godparent

by Bairbre Cahill

This A4 28 page book is typical of the Redemptorist charism of explaining what being a Catholic means in a way that is informative, supportive and does not dumb down our Faith and practices.
The potential Catholic Godparent finds out what is expected, and is encouraged to take this opportunity to develop their own relationship with God. We are taken through the Sacrament of Baptism step by step; we hear from parents, Godparents and the Godchildren about their feelings. There are suitable prayers, web links and suggestions as to how Godparents can help their Godchildren as they grow up.
The Godparent is not an honorary or social appointment. We clergy have probably become too lax ourselves when Godparents are mentioned; this booklet will give us all who are involved in a baby's Baptism, the confidence to restore this ministry within the Church.

Review by J.Nicholas Latham (19/01/11)

Stapled A4 Pbk.
Price: £3.75
Publisher: Redemptorist Publications
Published: 10 October 2009
ISBN: 978-0-852-31364-0

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My First Holy Communion

Written and compiled by Sophie Piper, illustrated by Angelo Ruta

Now children from many denominations are being considered for their first communion at a young age, a first communion book is not just for Roman Catholics. This is a gift book that is sure to be used. It has a presentation page and a marker ribbon and is a book of prayers compiled from many sources and some written especially for this book. These are not babyish prayers but they are child friendly, in fact they say exactly what we need to say, all of us, particularly the prayers asking for forgiveness, I thought these were some of the best I have read. Highly recommended.

Review by Mary Bartholomew (22/07/10)

Hardback
Price: £8.99
Publisher: Lion
Published: April 2010
ISBN: 978-0-745-94955-0

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Baby’s Tiny Bible and Prayers

by Sarah Toulmin, illustrated by Kristina Stephenson

Baby Bible and Baby Prayers were originally published separately in 2006 and 2007. Ideal to welcome new baby or as a Christening gift. Publisher.

Lion are very good at producing quality gift books and although they have done the children’s bible and prayer book sets before this is a nice addition to the range.
It is compact in size but the print is still nice and clear. The illustrations are bright and fun without being too cartoon like as some young children’s books tend to be.
Some of the bible stories are a little bit on the short side but overall they are good and my two year old son enjoyed listening to them. I particularly like the prayer book as it is separated into prayers for different occasions and times of the day.
At £7.99 it is good value for money and would make an excellent gift.

Review by David Rose (30/10/09)

Boxed set
Price: £7.99
Publisher: Lion
Published: 23 October 2009
ISBN: 978-0-745-96205-4

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On My First Holy Communion by Angela M.Burrin illustrated by Maria Christina Lo Cascio
ISBN: 978-0-852-31356-5 Price: £5.99	Published: 2008
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My First Communion by Angela Burrin with Sue Doggett
ISBN: 978-1-841-01687-0 Price: £6.99	Published: 2009
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Your Confirmation - A Journey of Questions and Answers Revised edition edited by Jane Williams
ISBN: 978-0-852-31322-0 Price: £3.50	Published: 06 June 2006
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Confirmation Book for Adults by Sharon Swain
ISBN: 978-0-281-05955-3 Price: £8.99	Published: January 2008
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How to be a Great Godparent - Your Guide to Fulfilling a Wonderful Role by Susan Hardwick
ISBN: 978-1-844-17152-1 Price: £5.99	Published: Summer 2007
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On Your First Holy Communion Selected by Andrew Moore
ISBN: 978-1-844-17710-3 Price: £5.99	Published: Summer 2007
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The Confirmation Experience - A Prayer Book for Young People 11 to 18 by Susan Sayers
ISBN: 1-844-17610-X Price: £4.99	Published: 2006
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My Baptism Book by Sophie Piper, illustrated by Dubravka Kolanovic
ISBN: 0-745-94964-9 Price: £7.99	Published: Summer 2006
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My Baptism Book - A Child’s Guide to Baptism by Dianna Murrie
ISBN: 0-715-14076-0 Price: £6.99	Published: 17 February 2006
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See, Here is Water - A Case for Believers Baptism by Mark Anderson
ISBN: 1-904-59210-4 Price: £4.00	Published: 2004
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Being Confirmed by Nick Aiken
ISBN: 0-281-05631-5 Price: £6.99	Published: 01 February 2004
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How to be a Great Godparent - Your Guide to Fulfilling a Wonderful Role by Susan Hardwick
ISBN: 1-844-17152-3 Price: £1.99	Published: Spring 2004
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Being Baptised - The Handbook to Believers Baptism by Stephen Gaukroger
ISBN: 1-859-99768-6 Price: £4.99	Published: Spring 2003
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The Gifts of Baptism - An essential guide for parents, sponsors and leaders by Margaret Withers
ISBN: 1-841-01208-4 Price: £4.99	Published: 16 May 2003
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