- SPCK Classics

by Tom Wright

Here in this new repackaged title from 2008, Tom Wright approaches the most famous prayer as understood in its historical context. The emphasis of this is in six of the prayer's key phrases pertaining to: the Father, Kingdom, Daily Bread, Forgiveness, Deliverance, and Power & Glory. Wright seeks to create for the reader the Jewish mindset of Jesus' day and how this prayer would be understood by them. Another major theme of this book is that the Lord's Prayer is not merely a prayer to be prayed, but an outline of how a disciple of Christ is to live out a life in obedience.
This is truly a book to meditate and linger with, especially in how we should live out the words of this ancient prayer. I agree with much of Wright's views on this matter, as Christians need to be more committed to the poor and the suffering. This book is a prophetic reminder that we need to be not only praying for such a fulfilment of God's will on earth, but that we are also the very instruments that God will use to build the Kingdom itself. A small masterpiece. Phrase by phrase this is supreme crafting and scholarly faithfulness! All that I wished for was for more length and depth of the pursuit of godly wisdom.

Review by Johnny Douglas (19/04/12)

Paperback
Price: £8.99
Publisher: SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge)
Published: April 2012
ISBN: 978-0-281-06801-2

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Lectio Divina – The Sacred Art

- Transforming Words and Images Into Heart-Centred Prayer

by Christine Valters Paintner

This is a clear and useful guide to the practice of Lectio Divina or sacred reading, in which scripture is read slowly and prayerfully, with the heart. It is written for those who, like the author, live the normal life of the world but also want to draw within it the rhythms of the monastery. This particular book is unusual in that it seeks to extend Lectio to include other religious traditions and texts, and indeed secular and nature spirituality. This is the current fashion and will appeal to many readers, but is also an area where care is needed, and I would encourage anyone exploring Lectio to seek a fellowship context and not be as individual in their practice as this book alone might lead them to be.

Review by David Thomson (08/03/12)

Paperback
Price: £10.99
Publisher: SPCK (Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge)
Published: January 2012
ISBN: 978-0-281-06711-4

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The Everyday Use of the Lord’s Prayer

by Neil Jefferyes

First edition 2005
Now with a very attractive cover, this book dedicated to The Everyday Use of the Lord’s Prayer is for all Christians and is ideal for those just coming to the Christian faith particularly when used with the Lord’s Prayer beads now available. I have come across the use of beads (other than the better known rosary) before and can vouch for their help as an aid to concentration.
The book opens with passages from the prayer explained very fully, Chapter 5 looks at how we can use the prayer by saying a phrase and developing that thought more fully.
There follows thirty-one days of ‘Praise’ prayers based on Bible passages and the words of a Praise hymn for each day. I confess to ‘singing’ the hymns to myself as I read, they were nearly all familiar to me, but the point is that their words are especially prayerful and thought provoking in this context.
Then using the final phrases of the Lord’s Prayer, seven days of Prayer, penitence and Final praise with blank pages for your own words.
This is a book to be used, and used daily. An excellent resource I can highly recommend. Purchases can be made from the link below

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Review by Mary Bartholomew (20/02/12)

Paperback
Price: £6.00
Publisher: Highview Books
Published: 2010
ISBN: 978-0-954-45624-5

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Prayers for Parishes

by Rupert Bristow

Books of prayers have fascinated me for some years. On my shelves are – inevitably perhaps – Frank Colquhoun’s Parish Prayers and New Parish Prayers, but also the much older A Chain of Prayer Across the Ages compiled by Selina F Fox during the First World War. Rupert Bristow’s latest contribution to this tradition – Prayers for Parishes – should prove equally long lasting for it is comprehensive in its scope and flexible in its use.
Divided into five sections there are a wealth of prayer resources here covering The Church, The world and the community, Health and pastoral, Beginnings and Endings and Festivals, seasons and saints. There is also advice on prayer and prayer resources and a useful section on ‘arrow prayers’.
Stylistically this collection of prayers is closest in construction to ‘collect’ prayers rather than the traditional Eucharistic format of prayer and response. Yet – as the author states in his introduction – his purpose is to challenge the pray-er to reflect on these words and use them in part or in whole or be stimulated to find more appropriate words of their own. This is a resource to be explored and adapted.
Many hard-pressed ministers though will dip in and use these prayers off the shelf; and I intend to do precisely that at this evening’s PCC meeting!

Review by David Ford (14/02/12)

Paperback
Price: £14.99
Publisher: Kevin Mayhew Publishers
Published: 2011
ISBN: 978-1-848-67338-0

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Last Thing At Night

- Prayers and Readings for the End of the Day

Compiled by Rima Devereaux

One of the phrases most often heard by the parish priest and spiritual counsellor is: ‘I’d love to pray but I don’t know how or where to start’
This book is another wonderful tool to put into the hands of such a seeker. Based loosely on the evening office of Compline, Rima Devereaux gives us a simple form of night prayer over a 6-week cycle – a psalm, a gospel reading and a reading “from the Church’s tradition” – Gerard W Hughes, St Teresa of Avila, St John of the Cross, Thomas Keating and St Therese of Lisieux are among the authors from whose writings pearls are drawn, each one illuminating the darkness of the world with the Light of Christ – Devereaux’s aim.
Night Prayer begins and ends each day with a very simple introduction and concluding prayers which give a continuum and flowing unity to the daily changing readings.
Devereaux encourages us to use silence and to take time to ponder each phrase until it speaks to us and to ‘sit loose’ on her structure, merely using it as a springboard for communing with God. Her inspiration comes from the occasion in John’s Gospel when two of John the Baptist’s disciples follow Jesus and ask him where he lives; this ends with their staying the night with him. She invites us to use the prayers for last thing at night as our personal invitation to spend the night with Jesus.
I love the concept, love the selection of readings – especially those from the history of the Church – love the book and recommend it without hesitation both for those seeking a pathway into prayer and also for clergy to lend/give to such people.

Review by Nick Horton (03/01/12)

Paperback
Price: £9.99
Publisher: DLT (Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd)
Published: October 2011
ISBN: 978-0-232-52884-8

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A Call to Spiritual Reformation

- Priorities from Paul and His Prayers

by D.A.Carson

This newly-formatted reprint of an old classic is, as ever, a pleasure to read. If you are looking for an in-depth study on prayer rooted in Scripture, this is a good place to start. Carson treats eight of Paul’s prayers, each in separate chapters, interspersed with other chapters on topics such as praying for others, excuses for not praying and prayers to a God who is sovereign.
I particularly like the fact that Carson includes the full text of the prayer at the start of the chapter, thus avoiding the need to hold open the relevant Bible page at the same time as holding his book open to the right page. The questions for review and reflection which close each chapter are also a good touch: they encourage deliberate thought by the reader on what has been read.
However, the greatest strength of this book has to be that the majority of these chapters are rooted in actual Scriptural examples of prayer. Too often the prayers which we may hear from other believers and which we may pray ourselves are not founded in Biblical priorities or steeped in Biblical ways of thinking. Yet Carson offers us the remedy: an apprenticeship in prayer with the Apostle Paul. If you have never spent long in the prayers of Paul, then buy this book and let Carson teach you of these riches.

Review by Chloe Lynch (03/01/12)

Paperback
Price: £12.99
Publisher: IVP(Inter Varsity Press)
Published: 2011
ISBN: 978-1-844-74552-4

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PrayerWalk - Becoming a Woman of Prayer, Strength & Discipline by Janet Holm McHenry
ISBN: 978-1-578-56376-0 Price: £8.99	Published: June 2011
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Sanctuary of the Soul - A Journey Into Meditative Prayer by Richard Foster
ISBN: 978-1-444-70257-6 Price: £12.99	Published: 2011
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The Chaplet of the Holy Spirit by Francis Eghomie
ISBN: 978-0-854-39801-0 Price: £3.95	Published: 2011
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The Daily Prayer Rosary - With Daily and Seasonal Readings from Common Worship Compiled by Clay Roundtree
ISBN: 978-1-848-25088-8 Price: £12.99	Published: July 2011
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Prayers for all Occasions by Ian Black
ISBN: 978-0-281-06367-3 Price: £9.99	Published: April 2011
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Amish Prayers by Beverly Lewis
ISBN: 978-0-764-20882-9 Price: £6.99	Published: 2011
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Prayer by Michael Mayne
ISBN: 978-0-232-52862-6 Price: £9.99	Published: July 2011
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God's Passion - Praying with Mark by Terry Hinks
ISBN: 978-0-232-52838-1 Price: £8.99	Published: July 2011
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Praying Through - Finding Wholeness and Healing in the Prayers of David by John Kitchen
ISBN: 978-0-875-08978-2 Price: £8.50	Published: June 2007
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The Art of Biblical Prayer by J.W.Rogerson
ISBN: 978-0-281-06450-2 Price: £9.99	Published: June 2011
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Naming and Blessing - A Book of Name Prayers by Andrew Tawn
ISBN: 978-0-285-63892-1 Price: £15.00	Published: 10 October 2010
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Praying With the Earth - A Prayer Book for Peace by John Philip Newell
ISBN: 978-1-848-25049-9 Price: £10.99	Published: 10 May 2011
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Prayer - Steps to a Deeper Relationship by Henry French
ISBN: 978-1-841-01861-4 Price: £6.99	Published: January 2011
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Adventures in Daily Prayer - Experiencing the Power of God's Love by Bert Ghezzi
ISBN: 978-1-587-43267-5 Price: £12.99	Published: November 2010
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