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How can we live a little more hopefully each day?Fear, terrorism, corruption, fake news¿ it can be easy to become discouraged by the culture around us. Now more than ever, society needs hope in order to survive and flourish. This book takes us beyond comfort zones and easy answers, and towards a deeper understanding and practice of hope. It offers reflections, stories and practical ways for individuals and groups to find hope in their lives through discovering more about God in their midst. Focusing on God¿s intervention in biblical history, God¿s presence in contemporary contexts and God¿s promised hope for the future, Joanne Cox-Darling encourages us to live more confidently, noticing more of the Spirit in our daily lives, and with more compassion and ¿ ultimately ¿ hope in God.¿Joanne Cox-Darling has a gift for storytelling, which she uses with great ability to do the difficult weave between the Bible and the world we inhabit. She does not flinch before the shabby hope-destroying culture all around. But she also does not blink before the audacity of the Bible. Readers will be glad when they pause to participate in her buoyant gifts.¿Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary

Do you find the violence in the Old Testament a problem?Does it get in the way of reading the Bible ¿ and of faith itself?While acknowledging that there are no easy answers, in God of Violence Yesterday, God of Love Today?, Helen Paynter faces the questions head-on and offers a fresh, accessible approach to a significant issue. For all those seeking to engage with the Bible and gain confidence in the God it portrays, she provides tools for reading and interpreting biblical texts, and points to ways of dealing with the overall trajectories of violence.'In lucid prose Helen Paynter argues that violence featured in the biblical canon should not be ignored or denied but acknowledged and faced honestly. While history is played out in a broken and often violent world the author shows how the movement of scripture is toward God¿s creative intention for healing and wholeness. Without providing final answers Paynter offers ways of interpreting even the most violent passages so that we may hear God¿s word for today.' John Meredith, Editor of Word & Worship'A rigorous yet accessible exploration of Old Testament violence ideal for individuals or groups wishing to engage with these troubling texts and the issues they raise. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone interested in the questions it explores. If you are new to the subject, it offers a comprehensive introduction and the reassurance that you are being guided by a capable and safe pair of hands as you begin to engage with challenging and important issues.' Peter King, Diocese of Chichester

The heart of the gospel message is: the only way to live the Christian life is to allow Jesus to live his life in us and through us. This title lets us ponder the teaching of Jesus in "John" chapter 15, the famous vine passage.

When families experience bereavement and loss, it can be hard for the wider church community to know how best to support them. In this book, four experienced authors and practitioners offer intergenerational approaches for engaging with questions of death and life in a safe and supportive setting. The material guides church communities who are dealing with the death of loved ones and other situations of loss in talking together as a church family, in applying the Christian message of the resurrection in challenging situations, and in listening to each other and developing their own insights. The opening chapters offer an easy-to-read overview of issues of death and dying, and why this is such an important topic for churches. Part 2 consists of a series of five short theological reflections, exploring traditional images and the language that Christians have always used when talking about death. The five Messy Church sessions in Part 3 continue these themes, each offering material for a two-hour all-age Messy Church service followed by a meal together.

Books on prayer can so often make us feel challenged but guilty. Not this one! Prayer in the Making is a book for everyone wanting to pray more confidently.

This book, the fruit of prayer, theological reflection and rich human experience, evokes fresh praying and thinking about all the key relationships in our lives, beginning with God.

Tony Horsfall and Debbie Hawker encourage us to develop our resilience and to prepare ourselves for the challenges that life throws at us in an increasingly difficult world.

Wendy Billington asks: what is a Christian view of retirement? Should it be seen as part of an integrated whole and our latter years as part of God's plan?

At Lent, David Walker explores different aspects of human belonging through scripture and story in order to help us recognise the different ways in which we are God's beloved.

The true self finds peace in God's love

There has never been a more important time to find ways of passing on faith. A visionary call to grandparents to take the initiative with courage, wisdom, humour and prayer.

The Visual Christmas Story opens up the Bible for readers and non-readers alike, of all ages and abilities.

84 puzzles ¿ crosswords, anagrams, word searches, mazes, spirals and others ¿ will make you puzzle over the Bible, increase your biblical knowledge and give you hours of fun. Be ready for some surprises on the way!

An unusual and beautiful gift, Postcards of Hope is a collection of watercolours by Ellie Hart, each with a short reflection aimed at helping the reader hear from God.

Learning to be peacemakers

Learning good practice to lead

This inspirational book takes the reader through the 40 days of Lent to the celebration of Easter through the eyes and beliefs of Celtic Christianity. Drawing on primary sources of pastoral letters, monastic rules and the theological teaching of the Celtic church, the author presents a different perspective on the cross of Christ and draws us to see our own life journeys with a new and transforming vision.

Here is an original way of approaching Lent, one that will encourage you to consider your own faith journey in the light of the Easter story. Inspired by Ian McGregor's Radio 4 programme, 'The History of the World in 100 Objects', Gordon Giles spends each week in a different room gleaning spiritual lessons from everyday household objects. As a result, you might discover that finding God in the normal pattern of life ¿ even in the mundane ¿ transforms how you approach each day. Running as a thread through it all are the seven Rs of Lent: regret, repentance, resolution, recognition, reconciliation, renewal and resurrection.

Offers guidance for those preaching the Psalms and using them for group study and worship. This book provides accessible comment and reflection on every one of the 150 Psalms in Scripture.

How can churches become centres for empowering parents to raise God-connected children? How can we transform the lives of parents, carers, grandparents and church communities, and the way generations of children are raised?While it is parents who are on the front line of discipling their children, God has placed us as the church to journey alongside them, nurturing and equipping them and cheering them on.This book will help church leaders and volunteers to grow in the skills needed to make our churches places that empower families. It explores how to help parents over the major obstacles that hinder them from proactively discipling their children, and looks at practical ways to lay the foundations of a church culture where parenting for faith can flourish.

Be inspired by one man's unflinching faith in God. This is the first biography of Brother Ramon. It tells of his life's pilgrimage, his quest for holiness as a Franciscan friar, his inner journey of discovery and transformation, his love of God and his influence on others. The selection from his writings which concludes the book illustrates his spiritual journey. It will be an inspiration to readers to live lives fully for Jesus Christ.

Holy Habits is an initiative to nurture Christian discipleship. It explores Luke's model of church found in Acts 2:42-47, identifies ten habits and encourages the development of a way of life formed by them. These resources, which include an introductory guide, have been developed to help churches explore the habits in a range of contexts and live them out in whole-life, missional discipleship.

Holy Habits is an initiative to nurture Christian discipleship. It explores Luke's model of church found in Acts 2:42-47, identifies ten habits and encourages the development of a way of life formed by them. These resources, which include an introductory guide, have been developed to help churches explore the habits in a range of contexts and live them out in whole-life, missional discipleship.

Holy Habits is an initiative to nurture Christian discipleship. It explores Luke's model of church found in Acts 2:42-47, identifies ten habits and encourages the development of a way of life formed by them. These resources, which include an introductory guide, have been developed to help churches explore the habits in a range of contexts and live them out in whole-life, missional discipleship.

Holy Habits is an initiative to nurture Christian discipleship. It explores Luke's model of church found in Acts 2:42-47, identifies ten habits and encourages the development of a way of life formed by them. These resources, which include an introductory guide, have been developed to help churches explore the habits in a range of contexts and live them out in whole-life, missional discipleship.

Where do we turn when our world is falling apart?It takes courage to hope; to stand in our confusion and grief and still to believe that 'God is not helpless among the ruins'. Guided by Habakkuk and his prophetic landmarks, we are drawn on a reflective journey through the tangled landscape of bewildered faith, through places of wrestling and waiting, and on into the growth space of deepened trust and transformation. As you read, discover for yourself the value and practice of honest prayer, of surrender, of silence and listening, and of irrepressible hoping.

If faith is 'being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see' what does that look like in practice today? In a world that is largely unsure and uncertain, how do we gain our confidence?Faith in the Making recognises the problem and seeks the answer in the list of faithful heroes found in Hebrews 11. This accessible, devotional resource will inspire individuals and groups to live more confidently for God in today's world. Heroic faith is far more attainable than we often think!

Read this book, see the potential and seek to age in the light of your Christian faith.