SPCK Publishing

The writer Graham Greene famously said that there is always one moment in childhood where a door opens and lets the future in. In this course, written by Bishop David Wilbourne, we look at several moments in our faith and lives where a door opens and lets Christ in, catching the sense of expectancy which not only comes at the season of Advent, but throughout the year. In particular, we think about how Christ can surprise us and meet us in four distinct contexts: in family, in ourselves, in prayer and in the end. The four sessions focus on: Session 1: Expecting Christ in family Session 2: Expecting Christ in me Session 3: Expecting Christ in prayer Session 4: Expecting Christ in the end As with previous Advent York Courses, the standard study book is supported by an in-depth interview, covering all 4 sessions, between David Wilbourne and Simon Stanley, available on CD, as a Digital Download or as a transcript in either paperback or eBook. This York Course is available in the following formats Course Book (Paperback 9781909107007) Course Book (eBook 9781909107915) Audio Book of Interview to support Expecting Christ York Course (CD 9781909107908) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781909107892) Transcript of interview to support Expecting Christ York Course (Paperback 9781909107014) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781909107922) Book Pack (9781909107939 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large print (9781909107946)

We are used to singing hymns of praise when we go to church but often we miss the hymns and poems that are there in the New Testament. This course will explore five different Songs of Praise from the New Testament, looking at what they tell us about God and Jesus but also reflecting on what they tell us about us and our faith. The five sessions focus on: Session 1: Gratitude (Ephesians 1.3-14) Session 2: Image of God (Colossians 1.15-20) Session 3: Humility (Philippians 2.5-11) Session 4: New birth (1 Peter 1.3-12) Session 5: Word made flesh (John 1.1-14) The course booklet is accompanied by a lively CD, featuring the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, ‘art nun’, the late Sister Wendy Beckett, the multi-award winning actor, David Suchet CBE, and Editor and Publisher of the Methodist Recorder, Moira Sleight. This York Course is available in the following formats Course Book (Paperback 9781909107069) Course Book (eBook 9781909107854) Audio Book of Interview to support Praise Him York Course (CD 9781909107847) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781909107830) Transcript of interview to support Praise Him York Course (Paperback 9781909107076) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781909107861) Book Pack (9781909107878 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large print (9781909107885)

Mark's Gospel begins with Jesus 'proclaiming the Good news of God'. But, what is this 'good news', and who is it for? Taking Mark 1.14-15 as a starting point, this course raises important questions about change, repentance, and how we can become in ourselves living evidence of the good news. Examples are taken from the rest of Mark's Gospel as well as contemporary and historic Christians. The five sessions focus on: Session 1: The Good News of God Session 2: The time is now Session 3: God is present Session 4: Change your mind Session 5: Live it! The course booklet is accompanied by a lively CD, featuring Anglican priest and Regius Professor Emeritus of Divinity at the University of Oxford, Keith Ward, the journalist and poet, Cathy Galvin, author and former Bishop of Llandaff, David Wilbourne, and former Methodist Vice-President, Rachel Lampard MBE. This York Course is available in the following formats Course Book (Paperback 9781909107236) Course Book (eBook 9781909107793) Audio Book of Interview to support Daring to See God Now York Course (CD 9781909107786) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781909107779) Transcript of interview to support Daring to See God Now York Course (Paperback 9781909107243) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781909107809) Book Pack (9781909107816 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large print (9781909107823)

The season of Advent bends time itself. And for us, time drags or speeds by, depending on our circumstances and stage of life. Our attitude to time gives us clues about our attitude towards God. It's a cliche to say that we live our lives often waiting for life to start, but that's what many people experience, until they realise that they were living their lives all along. Christ, for whom we wait and to whom we will return, is both beyond us and beside us; outside time and bound by human time. Whether you're always in a hurry or have too much time on your hands, this course is for you, as we explore a spiritual life that encourages us to be active in the chronological world, and rooted in Kairos, God's time. The four sessions focus on: Session 1: Go with haste Session 2: How Long O Lord how long? Session 3: Prepare the way of the Lord! Session 4: Kairos and Chronos: is time running out? As with previous Advent York Courses, the standard study book is supported by an in-depth interview, covering all 4 sessions between Lucy Winkett and Simon Stanley, available on CD, as a Digital Download or as a transcript in either paperback or eBook. This York Course is available in the following formats Course Book (Paperback 9781909107175) Course Book (eBook 9781909107663) Audio Book of Interview to support So What Are You Waiting For? York Course (CD 9781909107687) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781909107656) Transcript of interview to support So What Are You Waiting For? York Course (Paperback 9781909107182) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781909107670) Book Pack (9781909107694 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large print (9781909107700)

We're experiencing turbulent times. In the Glimpses of God course, Canon David Winter draws on the Bible as he shows where we can find strength and encouragement as we live through the 21st century. Glimpses of God brings a message of hope. The five session focus on: Session 1: The God who hears our cry Session 2: The Shepherd who guides and guards his people Session 3: The Son who is the Way, the Truth and the Life Session 4: The God who shares our pain Session 5: The God who calms our fears The participants on the course audio are the late British politician, Baroness Shirley Williams, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell, Professor David Wilkinson, Canon Lucy WInkett and Dr David Hope. This York Course is available in the following formats Course Book (Paperback 9780955743788) Course Book (eBook 9781915843159) Audio Book of Interview to support Glimpses of God Course (CD 9781915843142) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781915843135) Transcript of interview to support Glimpses of God York Course (Paperback 9780955743795) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781915843166) Book Pack (9781739182052 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large print (9781739182069)

‘Both vintage and fresh David Wilbourne . . . [His] gift is to enable us to see again the face of Jesus delightfully present with us through our Lent journey.’ GRAHAM USHER, BISHOP OF NORWICH Whatever our church denomination, we all use the same Sunday Gospel from the Revised Common Lectionary. Year A focuses on Matthew, but during the first five Sundays of Lent, four of the Gospels are curiously from John. By basing each of the five sessions in this course on the previous Sunday’s Gospel, David Wilbourne provides a brilliant connection to the preaching and teaching that has just taken place. Serious yet full of life and humour, the course covers: Session 1: Temptation . . . On checking every word that comes out of the mouth of God Session 2: Strangers in the night . . . Nicodemus came to Jesus under cover of darkness: finding God in surprising places Session 3: The winner takes it all ‘You worship what you do not know’: upping our game with worship Session 4: I was blind but now I see ‘A god who can be understood is no god’ Session 5: Them bones, them bones, them dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! Contrasting events in John with parables in the Synoptics The course booklet is accompanied by a lively CD, in which David Wilbourne and guests from various denominational backgrounds, put forward their thoughts on the themes of the course. This York Course is available in the following formats Course Book (Paperback 9781915843012) Course Book (eBook 9781915843029 both ePub and Mobi files provided) Audio Book of Interview to support You Can Be Serious! York Course (CD 9781915843050) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download) 9781915843043 Transcript of interview to support You Can Be Serious! York Course (Paperback 9781915843005) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781915843036 both ePub and Mobi files provided) Book Pack (9781915843067 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large Print (Paperback 9781915843722)

God has given us Christ, the greatest gift of all time. Through the Bible, we discover that he also gives each of us a special gift. Our growing relationship with God involves finding out what our gift is and using it in every circumstance God places us in. For through our special gifts, God blesses others - both inside and outside the Church. This warm-hearted five-session course, which may be used during Lent or at any time of the year, draws on the skills Olivia Amartey learnt as a senior leader in the NHS. This was God's training ground for her. Despite facing numerous crises, Olivia found herself developing flexibility, wisdom and the grace to maintain a sense of fun amid the topsy-turviness of life. Now she invites us to embrace the adventure we are all on with Christ, as we look, in turn, at: The generosity of God; Discovering our gift and responding; Being with Jesus and becoming fruitful; When things go wrong, and ways of staying on track; and It's all good - how God changes everything. The course book is accompanied not only by a CD/audio download but also by a video, filmed on location by Monkeynut in an enchanting Georgian country house. Olivia Amartey is joined in discussing the themes of The Gift of Christ by scriptwriter Paul Kerensa, and author and spiritual director Amy Boucher Pye. COMPLETE LIST OF THE GIFT OF CHRIST PRODUCTS Course book including transcript of video and access to video/audio downloads (paperback 978 1 91584 331 9) Course book including transcript of video and access to video/audio downloads (eBook 978 1 91584 333 3, both ePub and Mobi files provided) Participants' book including transcript of video: pack of 5 (paperback 978 1 91584 332 6) Participants' book including transcript of video (eBook 978 1 91584 334 0, both ePub and Mobi files provided) Audio book of discussion to support THE GIFT OF CHRIST (audio digital download 978 1 91584 335 7) Audio book of discussion to support THE GIFT OF CHRIST (CD 978 1 91584 336 4) Video of discussion to support THE GIFT OF CHRIST (available only via the publisher's website)

It’s 1970,' author David Wilbourne writes, ''Edward Heath becomes PM, Apollo 13 limps back to earth, and Jesus Christ Superstar takes the West End by storm, asking daring questions that gave colour to my former monochrome faith and fired my vocation. Half a century on, its message remains just as relevant, and we explore themes from its iconic lyrics in the 5 sessions of this course.' Session 1. Who is Jesus? 'Jesus Christ, Superstar, do you think you're what they say you are?' Session 2. Miracles: 'Prove to me that you're divine, change my water into wine!' Session 3. The Psalms: 'I only want to say, if there is a way, take this cup away from me , I don't want to taste its poison . . . ' Session 4. The Church: 'I don't know how to love him.' Session 5: Cross purposes: 'Did you mean to die like that, was that a mistake or did you know your messy death would be a record-breaker?' The Superstar course booklet is accompanied by a lively CD, where Canon Simon Stanley grills broadcaster Steve Chalke, author and bishop of Sheffield’s wife Catherine Fox and RC theologian Carmody Grey talk about the themes, with concluding reflections by Stephen Wigley, Chair of the Methodist Church in Wales. This York Course is available in the following formats Course Book (Paperback 9781909107274) Course Book (eBook 9781915843210) Audio Book of Interview to support Superstar York Course (CD 9781915843081) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781915843074) Transcript of interview to support Superstar York Course (Paperback 9781909107281) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781915843227) Book Pack (9781739182038 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large print (9781739182038)

God Has No Favourites is the York Course written for Lent 2022 by Dr Carmody Grey. In this 5 session course Dr Grey explores how each of us is called to discover that God is completely inclusive. He does not apportion his welcome or love according to our prejudices or preferences. God Has No Favourites, because God favours everyone. Every single human being, whatever age, sex, class, race or religion is in God's image. Jesus has identified himself personally with each one of us, God's love and the power of the Holy Spirit is for everyone, no caveats. As with previous Lent York Courses, the standard study book is supported by an in-depth interview, covering all 5 sessions between Dr Carmody Grey and Simon Stanley available on CD, as a Digital Download or as a transcript in either paperback or eBook. This York Course is available in the following formats Course Book (Paperback 9781909107335) Course Book (eBook 9781909107366 both ePub and Mobi files provided) Audio Book of Interview to support God Has No Favourites York Course (CD 9781909107373) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download) Transcript of interview to support God Has No Favourites York Course (Paperback 9781909107342) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781909107359 both ePub and Mobi files provided) Book Pack (9781909107380 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) SESSION 1: The best picture of God God’s favour is not dependent on anything we are or anything we do. His acceptance is unconditional. If we want to know what God ‘looks like’, we simply need to look at one another. SESSION 2: Neither Jew nor Gentile In Christ, God is telling us the most important thing about himself: he leaves no-one out. Being willing to include everybody is the only rule for those who want to be with Jesus. God is love and, in Christ, humanity is one. SESSION 3: Neither male nor female The most profound human difference is that created by our gendered bodies. But even this important difference is superficial compared to the deepest and truest identity of each one of us; through Christ we see that we are all children of God; all heirs to the kingdom of heaven. SESSION 4: Neither slave nor free Our world is grossly, torturously unequal, and before Christ came, no-one expected or looked for anything different. Jesus scandalized those around him by acting as though every human being mattered. We are to follow him to the margins. SESSION 5: What is a Christian? Jesus did not come to found a religion: he came to give people life. When he wanted his followers to understand his identity and purpose, he didn’t give them a theory or explain an idea, he shared a meal with them.

Living in Hope is the York Course written for Advent 2021 by Catherine Fox. In this enlightening and absorbing four-session ecumenical course, Catherine Fox explores living in hope and dying well. As with previous Advent York Courses, the standard study book is supported by an in-depth interview, covering all 4 sessions between Catherine Fox and Simon Stanley, available on CD, as a Digital Download or as a transcript in either paperback or eBook. Session 1: Living well Session 2: Dying well Session 3: Hell-bent on destruction? Session 4: Going to heaven? This York Course is available in the following formats Course Book (Paperback 9781909107298) Course Book (eBook 9781909107588) Audio Book of Interview to support Living in Hope York Course (CD 9781909107434) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781909107571) Transcript of interview to support Living in Hope York Course (Paperback 9781909107304) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781909107595) Book Pack (9781909107411 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large print (9781909107601)

Help young children discover the big story of the Bible from creation to revelation, with this new set of six CDs read by actor, Russell Boulter. This is a children’s audio story Bible that will be enjoyed time and time again - at home, in groups or on the move. This six CD set contains all of the stories from The Big Bible Storybook, the Christian Book Sellers' Convention 'Book of the Year 2008'. Here's what Russell says about The Big Bible Storybook audio book: "At the recording, I got to read the whole Bible in two days, from the perspective of a child. Jesus said that God reveals things to children that he hides from the ‘wise’. I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed reading it."

The resurrection is the Big Story that turned a little Jewish protest movement into a world-transforming religion. And yet by Easter Monday we've almost forgotten about it and are planning our summer holidays. How can we re-capture the explosive power of the resurrection that ricocheted around the world? How can we live in the glow of resurrection and be an Easter people? How can 'there and then' become 'here and now'? That's what the On the Third Day course sets out to explore and discuss. The five sessions focus on: Session 1: Have I got news for you! Session 2: So what? The implications of the resurrection Session 3: ‘Let him Easter in us’: Personal discipleship in the light of the resurrection Session 4: Celebrating and praying Easter Session 5: A risen Church The course booklet of On the Third Day is accompanied by a lively CD, where Canon Simon Stanley grills New Testament scholar and author Tom Wright, writer Paul Vallely, Methodist minister Ruth Gee, and the Church of England’s first woman bishop, Libby Lane. This York Course is available in the following formats Course Book (Paperback 9781909107199) Course Book (eBook 9781915843173) Audio Book of Interview to support On the Third Day York Course (CD 9781915843104) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781915843098) Transcript of interview to support On the Third Day York Course (Paperback 9781909107205) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781915843180) Book Pack (9781739182014 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large print (9781739182021)

In this 5 session course, Brian Davis vividly reminds us that the human race is facing its greatest challenge: global warming, leading to climate change. This, along with the damage we have done, and are still doing to the environment, God’s wonderful creation, means that we all have to make radical changes to our whole way of life. Many of us who care about this issue are sometimes understandably quite pessimistic about the future. That's where faith in God should make a difference. Hope for the future is not the same as being optimistic. Being optimistic suggests always looking on the bright side. A hope based on faith in God should enable us to open our eyes and see what is actually happening to our planet today, and still believe there is much that we can do, individually and together, with God to guide and strengthen us. This York Course is available in the following formats: Course Book (Paperback 9781909107311) Course Book (eBook 9781909107496) Audio Book of Interview to support Caring for Creation York Course (CD 9781909107403) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781909107489) Transcript of interview to support Caring for Creation Course (Paperback 9781909107328) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781909107502) Book Pack (9781909107410 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large print (9781909107427) The five sessions focus on: SESSION 1: The Environment SESSION 2: Global Warming and Climate Change SESSION 3: The Age of Humans – The Anthropocene Era SESSION 4: Coming out of Denial and Facing Crisis SESSION 5: Faith, Hope and Love The course audio features Ruth Valerio, Environmentalist, theologian, social activist, Tearfund Director and author of Saying Yes to Life (SPCK, 2020); Dave Bookless who specializes in biblical theology and biodiversity conservation and is Director of Theology for A Rocha International; Kuki Rokhum, who is on the Leadership Team of Renew our World and involved in the Lausanne Creation Care network; and David Clogh, who launched CreatureKind and DefaultVeg projects, and is concerned with the place of animals in Christian theology and ethics.

For many years, award-winning journalist and author Cole Moreton has been involved in and worked alongside those offering relief and welcome to men, women and children arriving, in desperate straits, near his home on the south coast. Back in 2019, he wrote, 'The men, women and children risking their lives to cross the Channel in small boats are not aliens, invaders, migrants or some other lesser category of human to be dismissed. They are us.' Incarnation is a major theme of this exhilarating course. Mary and Joseph's search for a place to give birth to the son of God, and their terrifying flight to Egypt to escape the murderous intentions of King Herod, have clear echoes in the accounts Cole offers of contemporary journeys. And through his captivating exploration of Leaving Home, Fleeing Home, Carrying Home and Finding Home, we are enabled to reflect on our own need for guidance, sanctuary and comfort in the love of God, who ever walks beside us. For the first time ever, the course book is accompanied not only by a CD/audio download but also by a video, filmed on location by Monkeynut in a beautiful manor house outside Dover. Cole Moreton is joined in discussing the themes of Searching for Home by Bishop of Dover Rose Hudson-Wilkin, activist Bridget Chapman and Grmalem Gonetse Kasa, who came to the UK from Eritrea some years ago. COMPLETE LIST OF SEARCHING FOR HOME PRODUCTS: Course Book including transcript of video and access to online videos and audio downloads (paperback 978173918200 7) Ebook of the Course Book including transcript of video and access to online videos and audio downloads (eBook 9781915843272, both ePub and Mobi files provided) Pack of 5 Participants' Books: including transcript of video (Paperback 9781915843258) Participants' Book: including transcript of video (eBook 9781915843265, both ePub and Mobi files provided) Audio Book: discussion to support Searching for Home (audio digital download 9781915843296) Audio CD: discussion to support Searching for Home (CD 9781915843289)

The ancient poems we call Psalms are over 2000 years old. They were written in very different times from our own when humans could travel at the speed of a camel, not at the speed of sound. But these songs have stood the test of time for they address many of the problems we still face: violence, injustice, anger and bewilderment. Why do the wicked prosper? Where is God when we suffer? In this 5 session course, Bishop Stephen Cottrell, a prolific and popular author, reflects on the psalms in general, and five psalms in particular. He invites us to join him as he does so. This York Course is available in the following formats: Course Book (Paperback 9781909107106) Course Book (eBook 9781909107632 both ePub and Mobi files provided) Audio Book of Interview to support The Psalms York Course (CD 9781909107458) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781909107618) Transcript of interview to support The Psalms York Course (Paperback 9781909107113) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781909107649 both ePub and Mobi files provided) Book Pack (9781909107465 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large print (9781909107625) The five sessions focus on: SESSION 1: Know that the Lord is God (Psalm 100) SESSION 2: Out of the depths have I cried (Psalm 130) SESSION 3: How long, O Lord? (Psalm 13) SESSION 4: You spread a table before me (Psalm 23) SESSION 5: Unless the Lord builds the house (Psalm 127) The participants on the course audio are the Dominican Friar Fr Timothy Radcliffe; the Revd John Bell of the Iona Community; the Bishop of Dover, Rose-Hudson Wilkin and Revd Dr Jane Leach, the Principal of Wesley House Cambridge.

This course on prayer, first of all begs a few preliminary questions, such as, Do we pray? If so, when and how? The four sessions focus on: Session 1: Praying with perseverance Session 2: Praying in the face of unanswered prayer Session 3; Praying for the marginalised Session 4: Prayer and Covenant As with previous Advent York Courses, the standard study book is supported by a relaxed conversation between David Wilkinson and Simon Stanley, available on CD, as a Digital Download or as a transcript in either paperback or eBook. This York Course is available in the following formats Course Book (Paperback 9781909107250) Course Book (eBook 9781909107731 both ePub and Mobi files provided) Audio Book of Interview to support Who Are We Praying To? a York Course (CD 9781909107724) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781909107717) Transcript of interview to support Who Are We Praying To? York Course (Paperback 9781909107267) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781909107748 both ePub and Mobi files provided) Book Pack (9781909107755 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large print (9781909107762)

Witnesses to a single event often give contrasting reports. When the event is God's coming to this world as a child it is not just fascinating, it is highly instructive. It opens our eyes not only to what God is like, but to how life can be lived to the full. This course explores the 'reports' of Luke, John, Mary and Paul. In doing so it engages with the distinctive nature of Christian spirituality and how we can give expression to it in our lives, thus living the light of Christ's coming. As with previous Advent York Courses, the standard study book is supported by an in-depth interview, covering all 4 sessions, between Robert Warren and Simon Stanley, available on CD, as a Digital Download or as a transcript in either paperback or eBook. Session 1: Luke's reporting of the coming of Christ Session 1: John's reflections on the coming of Christ Session 3: Mary's response to the coming of Christ Session 4: Paul rejoices in the coming of Christ This York Course is available in the following formats Course Book (Paperback 9781909107120) Course Book (eBook 9781909107977) Audio Book of Interview to support Living in the Light York Course (CD 9781909107960) Audio Book of Interview (Digital Download 9781909107953) Transcript of interview to support Living in the Light York Course (Paperback 9781909107137) Transcript of interview (eBook 9781909107984) Book Pack (9781909107991 Featuring Paperback Course Book, Audio Book on CD and Paperback Transcript of Interview) Large print (9781739182090)