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For Information and Handbooks useful to all denominations unless specifically stated. Help with preaching, intercessions, all-age worship, music etc.

Archive - Books reviewed in 2004

Secular Lives, Sacred Hearts - The Role of the Church in a Time of No Religion by Alan Billings In this book, Alan Billings examines the position of the Church in our contemporary secular society. Although religion is on the decline and church attendance is falling off, he sees the nation as “culturally Christian”. He argues that the duty of the parish church is to encourage and nourish this large body of cultural Christians, particularly those who come to the church only for the big occasions of baptism, marriage and funerals. He sees the new role of the Church as being a spiritual resource rather than a sacramental one and that the parish church should be once again the centre and focus of the community by welcoming all Christians, practising or not. Billings’ point of view is interesting and well-argued and will provoke a lot of debate. Review by John Irvine  (14/12/04)

Preach the Word by Denis Lane This is the sixth reprint of an excellent book and although the first edition was in 1979 it is still very relevant today. I hope it is reprinted over and over till the message has got through and there is an end to five minute socio/humanitarian preaching in our churches! It should be on the must read list for all would be ministers of the word and those who have been preaching the same sermons for decades. It is time to change! The book is packed full of information, guidelines to good preaching, ideas and study exercises. Throughout the book there is an emphasis on the importance of bringing knowledge of God to men and that the teaching of God’s word is both a privilege and a responsibility. Review by Hilary Morgan  (07/06/04)

Ministry Among Students - A Pastoral Theology and Handbook for Practice by Simon Robinson This handbook is primarily about Chaplaincy in universities, yet it is so thorough that it manages to cover the dual use of being a reference work and a lively survey of student culture. Throughout the book Robinson is concise, reflective, theological and sensitive to different traditions. He provides outlines of different approaches and litters the text with examples to illustrate the theory. This contributes to a lightness of style that makes the book readable and engaging. Robinson concludes that the work of a Chaplain is priestly, pastoral and prophetic. And on the latter point he exemplifies a talent demonstrated elsewhere in the book for putting into words and describing structures for some of those areas of ministry among students that are subtle and hard to pin down. Every University Chaplain should buy this book. Anyone with an interest in this ministry would find it valuable. Review by Naomi Nixon  (21/08/04)

Hunger for Justice - Hymns and Songs to Change the World Edited Martin John Nicholls This is a collection of 92 hymns and songs, in a variety of styles and from a range of sources, about Christianity in today's world. It covers topics such as justice, freedom, and bringing the Gospel to the poor, but is much more than simply a book of songs for Fair Trade Fortnight or Christian Aid Week. Many popular collections of general worship songs are a bit thin on material which speaks about the practical outworkings of Christianity, and this book will be a very useful complement to them. I found plenty that would suit a traditional organ-led worship environment, and plenty more that would work well in singer guitarist led worship. If you are responsible for selecting music for services, I'd certainly recommend that you explore this book. Review by Martin Brasier  (07/03/04)

Collective Worship - Issues and Opportunities by Richard Cheetham Collective Worship works on two levels. One is as an academic look at the various pieces of legislation that affects worship in school assemblies. The second is as a practical manual on how to run such meetings. It is on the first level that the book works best. It is too academic for many hard pressed teachers to wade through. It also fails to address the corporate embarrassment of Britain’s Judeo-Christian heritage, something which many Muslims, Hindus and Sikhs are astonished by. Even so Collective Worship is a welcome guide to the issue. Review by Phelim McIntyre  (14/12/04)

Liturgies for Daily Life by Dorothy McRae-McMahon “Oh no not another liturgy book please”- was my first reaction when I saw the book BUT- this smallish book is filled with useful ideas for a variety of service and liturgical needs. None of them are perhaps as official as some churches want, but even using parts of the liturgies should enable anyone to produce some really original and thoughtful services and quiet times. The author has written a wide range of books on liturgy and has drawn on her immense resourcefulness to produce an original resource. Especially useful, towards the end of the book are service outlines for funerals and thanksgivings – always a difficult area in which to produce meaningful liturgy: also a range of original prayers which help in all those difficult areas that both clergy and laity alike come across. Review by Ian Gibson  (28/11/04)

Responding to a World in Need - 100 Prayers of Intercession by Nick Fawcett
ISBN: 1-844-17298-8 Price: £17.99	Published: 2004
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Special Children, Special Needs - – Integrating children with disabilities and special needs into your church. Getting a Grip series. by Simon Bass
ISBN: 0-715-14999-7 Price: £5.95	Published: Spring 2003
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From Silence to Sanctuary - A Guide to Understanding, preventing and responding to abuse by Jane Chevous
ISBN: 0-281-05639-0 Price: £12.99	Published: 22 October 2004
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The Parish Survival Guide by Martin Dudley & Virginia Rounding
ISBN: 0-281-05665-X Price: £10.99	Published: 2004
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Liturgical Worship - A Fresh Look , How it Works, Why it Matters by Mark Earey
ISBN: 0-715-12081-6 Price: £9.95	Published: Spring 2003
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When a Child asks to take Communion by Daphne Kirk
ISBN: 1-844-17056-X Price: £4.99	Published: April 2003
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Creating Space For Strangers - Thinking afresh about mission and the Church by David Evans
ISBN: 1-844-74059-5 Price: £7.99	Published: 2004
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Passion For Your name - Resourcing Worship Leaders-Refreshing Worshippers by Tim Hughes
ISBN: 1-842-91175-9 Price: £6.99	Published: 2003
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Creating Uncommon Worship - Transforming the Liturgy of the Eucharist by Richard Giles
ISBN: 1-853-11590-8 Price: £20.00	Published: 2004
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Fund-Raising for Your Church Building - A Simple Guide by Cathedral and Church Buildings Division, Church House
ISBN: 0-715-17601-3 Price: £3.50	Published: 2003
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Bread of Tomorrow - Praying With the World’s Poor Compiled by Janet Morley
ISBN: 0-281-05698-6 Price: £8.99	Published: 20 August 2004
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A Common Worship Year A Miscellany - A Bumper Resource for the Principal Seasons Compiled by Nick Fawcett
ISBN: 1-844-17290-2 Price: £29.99	Published: 2004
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Building Family Friendly Churches by Mike Bossingham
ISBN: 1-858-52254-4 Price: £12.99	Published: 01 September 2004
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Exploring God-talk - Using Language in Religion by Jeff Astley
ISBN: 0-232-52519-6 Price: £9.95	Published: 12 July 2004
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Joyful Noise - Enabling Children to Praise God Through Music A Kaleidoscope Resource
ISBN: 1-904-02439-4 Price: £6.50	Published: August 2003
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Somebody Once Said - An Anthology of Quotations for Preachers and Speakers Compiled by David Self
ISBN: 0-281-05565-3 Price: £8.99	Published: 24 October 2003
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At the Heart of Education - School Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care Edited by James Norman
ISBN: 1-853-90752-9 Price: £19.25	Published: 2004
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Where Two or Three - Help and Advice for Churches with Few or No Children by Margaret Withers
ISBN: 0-715-14028-0 Price: £4.99	Published: 2004
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50 Ready to use Assemblies for Primary and Secondary Schools - Great Ideas series by David Burt
ISBN: 1-842-91114-7	Published: 03 March 2003
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Stages on the Way - Worship Resources for Lent, Holy Week and Easter by Wild Goose Worship Group
ISBN: 1-901-55711-1 Price: £14.99	Published: 1998
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The Second Intercessions Handbook - More Creative Ideas for Public and Private Prayer by John Pritchard
ISBN: 0-281-05649-8 Price: £9.99	Published: 22 November 2004
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Protecting All God’s Children - The Child Protection Policy for the Church of England – 3rd edition House of Bishops
ISBN: 0-715-13867-7 Price: £5.95	Published: Spring 2004
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Re-pitching the Tent - the definitive guide to re-ordering church buildings for worship and mission - Third Edition by Richard Giles
ISBN: 978-1-853-11571-4 Price: £20.00	Published: Spring 2004
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