Prayer and prayer books Books

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Jesus Prayer has been with us since the earliest years of Christianity. With its many variations, from “Lord Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner" to the single word “Jesus” it has been a fount of prayer and a way of being attentive to God for the monks, nuns, clergy and lay people of the Eastern Church for centuries. Today, the Jesus Prayer is practiced all over the world in every Christian tradition. Simple in form, but powerful in its potential to develop and transform the heart, it becomes a way of life for those who practice it. This short, simple guide is ideal for all who are new to this ancient spiritual practice and all who are learning to make it part of their daily practice of prayer.

Read more less

Book SynopsisJim Cotter has a rare gift with words that enables him to write prayers that engage the heart and imagination as well as the mind. Here the ancient and beautiful language of night prayer is infused with fresh and striking imagery about God. Simple prayers, Psalm paraphrases and short readings for reflection open us to the mystery of God – a mystery to which we are more open at night, or when we are facing our own dark places. At night we face many things that are kept at bay by the day’s distractions. Praying the Dark Hours is a combination of two bestselling titles: Prayer at Night and Waymarks. This new edition offers structured prayer for each night of the week, based on the traditional pattern of Compline, woven together with scriptures and a short reflective reading for each day of the year and further selections for the Christian seasons.Trade Review'Surely the best-known of all his writings ... the book has become a classic.' -- Sister Avis Mary SLG'I found it easy to dip into and draw from on when I led a day-long pilgrimage to North Wales recently, a time when it is useful to have already-created material to draw upon. I shall be returning to it often.' -- John Holden

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is an inspirational and practical guide for all who help to lead the intercessions in regular worship or to offer prayers in public worship on specific occasions. It aims to empower and equip lay people and clergy alike to offer heartfelt, informed, thoughtful and appropriate prayers on behalf of the people of God for God’s world. Crafting Prayers for Public Worship: • considers what public prayer is and offers practical guidelines for avoiding common pitfalls. • explores prayer as an integral part of worship and the kinds of speech we need (and don’t need) to address God. • reflects on the basic structures and shape of the prayers we create, staying rooted in scripture, the answers we can expect with confidence, becoming part of the answer ouselves, and other practicalities • offers a wide range of templates and examples.Trade Review"Samuel Wells steers the reader skilfully between the rocks of over-formality on the one hand and florid moralistic exposition on the other...There is much useful material here." -- Laura Hillman

Read more less

Book SynopsisTo go on pilgrimage is not simply to travel to a holy place, but it is to recognize that each day of our lives God calls us to draw nearer to him. This prayer book provides essential sustenance for pilgrimages of both kinds; whether our journey is physical or of the spirit, it will enable an to discover and celebrate Christ's presence with us at every step of the way. The Celtic vision of Christ present in all creation shapes each outline for daily prayer that is provided. The earth, the sky, trees, rivers, flowers, insects and all created things become stopping places for thanksgiving, reflection and refreshment as do the emotions that we experience along the way. From the uncertainties of setting out to the ecstasy of arriving, joys and trials alike point us to Christ and serve to bring us closer to our journey's end.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWalsingham is a place saturated with prayer, where pilgrims since the Middle Ages have remembered the mystery of God becoming man through the consent of a woman and where they have been invited to say their personal Yes to God as Mary did at the Annunciation. This delightful, illustrated prayer book and devotional companion will take you round all the special places in Walsingham. It can also be used in your own home, enabling you to make a spiritual journey to England's Nazareth whenever you wish. Prayers are provided for each of the significant sites and their familiar stories are retold. There are also prayers for a wide range of personal and devotional needs to enable you to draw closer to God who walks with us along every stage of life's journey.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTo look at our lives afresh and to find beauty in what has always seemed so ordinary, or hope in what has seemed lifeless and dead, is to experience true ecstasy. Teresa of Avila, a practical and down-to-earth spiritual guide, takes us on an exciting journey of discovery and shows us that heaven is literally on our doorstep.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis beautiful collection of meditative prayers offers a profoundly valuable resource for clergy and congregation, for worship preparation and the liturgy. Will help all who read them to engage in worship with a greater sense of expectation.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPrayer Mountain is a practical handbook to the mountain ranges of the spiritual life. It takes us on a climbing tour of ten Biblical mountains and, with the companionship of those who have climbed them before, encourages us in our own ascent towards the presence of God.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSeventy intercessory prayers for worship, and one hundred twenty meditations that are ideal for either reading aloud or for quiet reflection. Themes include: our world with its beauty and mystery; our relationships; work and recreation; our joys, sorrows, and concerns; our worship; our beliefs and questions; and special occasions that mark the passage of the year and of our lives. This is the Second Edition under the same title.The First Edition had 60 meditations. This one has 120.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis prayer book follows the rhythms and seasons of the natural and Christian year as it is observed on Holy Island. More contemplative than the very earthy spirituality of Iona, each day of the week has a special theme: Sunday - resurrection and renewal; Monday - creation; Tuesday - incarnation and peace; Wednesday - the Holy Spirit in mission and healing; Thursday - community and unity; Friday - with broken people at the Cross; and Saturday - leisure (morning) and the Saints (night).

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Jesus Prayer Rosary will be welcomed by the growing number of people who are discovering that praying with beads can be a spiritually enriching and therapeutic experience. It will further enrich the spirituality of the many Christians who have found meditative repetition of the ancient Jesus Prayer to be a valuable devotional aid. This unique book brings together these two popular approaches to prayer and worship. It offers a Jesus-centred way of praying with beads. Ideal for complete beginners, it includes basic instruction on how to pray the rosary, using the Jesus Prayer. It comprises four sets of meditations which focus on the infancy narratives in Matthew and Luke, scenes from the ministry of Jesus, his passion and death. These include readings from the various Gospel writers. Finally, we are given insight into our experience of him as the Risen One who gradually transforms our lives. Each meditation concludes with a prayer mostly taken from the liturgy, and biblical canticles are provided as centrepiece prayers. A complete resource for praying privately or in groups, this will open up the riches of Eastern and Catholic spirituality for all.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Benedictine monk and writer, Laurence Freeman, took over the mantle of John Main after his death in 1982 and continues the work that he began, teaching Christians from all traditions the simplest way of prayer - meditation. It is simple in that it requires no words, yet encountering God without the safety barrier of our own thoughts and ideas is to open ourselves to total transformation. This collection of talks on Christian meditation is full of practical advice and great spiritual insights in equal measure. It shows how discovering the presence of Christ within through meditative prayer can give shape and purpose to everything we do and are: our actions, emotions, fears, longings, failings and dreams. As John Main taught, the point of this kind of prayer is to allow God's presence to become not just a reality, but the reality of our lives.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA Daily Prayer resource.

Read more less

Book SynopsisToday, the boundary between holidays and pilgrimages is blurred. So how can we make a journey in the spirit of a pilgrimage, whether it be following an old pilgrim trail, or walking the streets where we live, or simply travelling within ourselves? This volume aims to help by providing material for a week's journey in prayer. Celtic in flavour, it offers poems, Bible readings, psalms, hymns and prayers for a seven day pilgrimage of the heart. It is bilingual, with each page provided in both English and Welsh.

Read more less