SPCK Publishing

AWARD: CRT Christian Life Book of the Year 2024!

You probably don't need to be told that the demands of modern living are taking their toll on our wellbeing. You likely feel it.

And yet, some of us feel as though we're the only ones who are weary, overwhelmed or anxious so we don't talk about it and try and pretend that it's not happening.

The truth is that we're far from alone; we all have days where life feels too much, and we've all had times when we're desperate to know that brighter days are ahead.

Packed-full of practical tips alongside stories of struggle and strength, Brighter Days is for all of us who want tools to invest in our emotional, mental, physical and spiritual health so we can look forward to a healthier and more hopeful future.

'I have long regarded the NRSV as the gold standard of English Bible translation. . . This edition's care over word choices and language makes it very appropriate for reading aloud and for personal Bible reading or use in Bible study groups.'
Steve Walton, Professor of New Testament, Trinity College, Bristol

Acclaimed by both biblical scholars and general readers as the most reliable English Bible available, the New Revised Standard Version follows in the great tradition of the King James Version in being true to the original meaning of the text while conveying it in a dignified style that speaks powerfully to today's readers.

Now with British spelling, grammar and punctuation, and with over 20,000 updates and enhancements to the text, this is the first comprehensive revision of the NRSV since it was published in 1989.

Features:
British text
Clear readable 9 pt typeface
Double-column layout
Hardback binding
Illustrated silver endpapers featuring 'Presented to:'
Silver ribbon marker
Durable black cover material with silver foiled design
Silver head and tail bands
Removable white bellyband
Printed on paper from sustainable sources

'The new British version of the NRSVue. . . reflects the latest scholarship while being sensitive to cultural changes on issues such as gender, race and disability. It also echoes a more distinctly English tradition which will be welcome to many who are the cultural descendants of those who still treasure the King James Version.'
Angela Tilby, Canon Emeritus of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford

'Thirty years of advances in textual analysis make it more accurate than any other translation, and now its sensitive rendering into elegant and inclusive British English ensures a smoother and more rewarding reading experience for millions of English speakers, both in the UK and around the world. All of which means the NRSVue now stands at the pinnacle of English Bible translations.'
Emma Ineson, Bishop of Kensington, London

'The finest English Bible we have today.'
Richard J. Foster, theologian and writer

He brought the journal within tantalising reach and, with each breath, I inhaled its age like incense, its secrets bitter-sweet and lethal.’

In the fourth book of The Secret Of The Journal series, historian Emma D’Eresby has done everything she can to put the past behind her. Now she has every reason to look forward to a future with Dr. Matthew Lynes and his family in the beautiful state of Maine. But, in making peace with her past, she has to face uncomfortable truths in the present. As a shadow from her undergraduate days in Cambridge threatens her happiness, history catches up with terrifying results.

'Captivating and compelling.' Liz Fenwick, author of The Cornish House

'An ancient secret and an eternal love are intelligently woven through this addictive series.'  Fiona Veitch Smith, author of The Jazz Files.

The story of the World War 2 de-coders of Bletchley Park continues to fascinate.

How did Mair Thomas, a musician brought up in the Welsh valleys, find herself in the rarefied atmosphere of Hut Six, surrounded by hundreds of others, all desperately trying to break the German Enigma Code?

Sworn to secrecy and working in cramped and uncomfortable conditions, Mair discovered her degree in German and Music was just what was needed. Drawn from the public schools and Oxbridge her background was very different to that of most of her colleagues and she didn't immediately fit in. This captivating memoir unpacks her daily life and explores the relationships she built.

My Secret Life in Hut Six provides a fascinating insight into one woman's battle against Nazi Germany vividly capturing an era of danger, strain and day to day difficulties that were brightened occasionally by visits from the top brass, such as Winston Churchill.

It has been foretold:

In the hour of Britain's greatest need, King Arthur will return to rescue his people.

In Portugal, the reprobate King Edward the Ninth has died by his own hand.

In England, the British monarchy teeters on the edge of total destruction.

And in the Scottish Highlands, a mystical emissary named Mr. Embries-better known as "Merlin"-informs a young captain that he is next in line to the throne. For James Arthur Stuart is not the commoner he has always believed himself to be-he is Arthur, the legendary King of Summer, reborn. But the road to England's salvation is dangerous, with powerful enemies waiting in ambush. For Arthur is not the only one who has returned from the mists of legend. And Merlin's magic is not the only sorcery that has survived the centuries.

Mark Oakley reveals George Herbert as a fine companion with whom to examine the journey of the soul.

His poems are 'heart-work and heaven-work', embracing love and closeness, anger and despair, reconciliation and hope.

There is too an appealing and audacious playfulness about Herbert: he seems to take God on, knowing God will win, confident God will not abandon him.

This sense of relationship with God as primarily friendship is one of many intriguing and healing aspects we are invited to consider.

George Herbert is one of the great 17th century poet-priests. His poems embrace every shade of the spiritual life, from love and closeness, to anger and despair, to reconciliation and hope. And his work is always rich with audacious playfulness: he seems to take God on, knowing God will win, as if he's having an argument with a faithful friend he knows is not going to leave. In much of theology and spirituality, God is a critical spectator to human lives, but for Herbert, his sense of relationship with God is primarily of a friendship that can never be broken. These are some of the themes Mark Oakley explores in this outstanding book

'My Sour-Sweet Days contains forty well-chosen poems by George Herbert (widely considered the greatest devotional poet in the English language), each of which is followed by a short but profound reflection by Mark Oakley. The combination is excellent: richly expressive poems and accessible personal meditations. This book powerfully demonstrates how poetry can bring comfort, refreshment and renewed energy to our spiritual lives.'

Professor Helen Wilcox, editor of the critically acclaimed edition of The English Poems of George Herbert (Cambridge University Press, 2007)

'It's extremely unusual to meet anyone who isn't a specialist who has such a subtle feeling for language as Mark Oakley does.'

Sir Andrew Motion, former Poet Laureate

'In another world it is otherwise, but here below to live is to change, and to be perfect is to have changed often.'
From An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (1903)

Canonized by Pope Francis in October 2019, Saint John Henry Newman (1801-90) was one of the most controversial and influential thinkers of his day. He is now recognized as one of the finest prose stylists of modern times, as well as a popular poet and hymn-writer. His spiritual autobiography, Apologia Pro Vita Sua, is a modern classic, and his many theological writings continue to be widely read and highly regarded by Christians of all traditions.

As Eamon Duffy brilliantly demonstrates in this fresh assessment of Newman's life and achievement, other theologians of his time are now largely of historical interest whereas Newman is still very much our contemporary.

'This splendid book... expertly illuminates every aspect of Newman's life [and] work.'
Wall Street Journal

Luke is excited. As the only non-Jewish writer in the New Testament, he can hardly believe that God became a human, not just for Jewish boys like Peter and Paul, but for Gentiles just like him. His excitement about the Gospel is contagious, as he tells us, wide-eyed: All of this happened for you too.

Want to explore Luke, but feel like you don't have the time? Straight to the Heart of Luke is a concise and bite-size approach to Bible study, giving you nuggets of information that you can think about throughout the day.

Bible study for busy people.

Luke was so unlike the other New Testament writers that many of his contemporaries believed he wasn't qualified to write Scripture at all. But to understand the message of his gospel, we need to grasp who he was.

Luke was the only New Testament writer who was not a Jew. The apostle Paul defends him by stating explicitly that his gospel was as much Holy Scripture as the Old Testament.

Luke was an outsider to the Jewish faith that God inspired to compile an account of the life of Jesus in order to show people all around the world that what Jesus said and did him said and did for us all.

The astonishing message of Luke's gospel is that what happened to Jesus happened for you. Phil Moore helps us to understand and see God's wisdom in choosing Luke as a writer. He shows that Luke assures us that this isn't someone else's story: he came for you. We can say yes to Jesus, discovering that he can use you.

And that all this is possible because he made a way for you.

Gives the reader the benefit of many years' experience of putting MAP into practice.

'This is a must-read for anyone using MAP.'
JOHN DUNNETT, DIRECTOR OF STRATEGY AND OPERATIONS AT THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND EVANGELICAL COUNCIL

How to Do Mission Action Planning (SPCK, 2009) was the first book to appear on the MAP process, at a time when it was beginning to have a significant impact. In this fully revised and expanded edition, the authors offer further critical evaluation and theological reflection, by drawing on the experiences of people who have been using the MAP process in different contexts from their own:

Fr Damian Feeney, parish priest and Catholic Missioner of Lichfield diocese
Canon David Banbury, leader of Parish Mission Support, Blackburn diocese
The Rt Revd Dr Alan Smith, Bishop of St Albans
Dr Stephen Hance, Canon Missioner of Southwark diocese
Linda Rayner, the United Reformed Church co-ordinator for Fresh Expressions

‘Erudite, bold and wide-ranging – a book that makes you think about knowledge, wisdom and what the future has in store.’ PETER FRANKOPAN

'A book of remarkable sweep and scope - not just learned, but deeply humane.' TOM HOLLAND

The long human odyssey of self-discovery has reached a crucial stage: everything we do affects everyone and everything else - and we know it. The next hundred years will bring more change than we can easily imagine: more opportunities for more people to achieve the fulfilment of a good life, and more risks that could result in catastrophic harm to the entire planet.

Viewed geopolitically, the main question is whether the world-views of the world’s most important and influential powers – China and America (the one fundamentally Confucian, the other essentially individualist) – can be made to work together constructively.

At the same time, on a deeper level, the even greater question is how the irreversible fact of urbanisation may nurture healthy and mature human individuality, such that the accumulated wisdom of the world’s great cultures becomes mutually transforming and enriching.

This bold and wide-ranging book explores those questions, with all the risks and opportunities they hold for generations still to come.

Interactive and experiential journal introducing prayer practices to teenagers. Space for teenagers to record their own thoughts on the practice and to read what other people have said Ideal confirmation gift Fresh, contemporary design.

This book is based on a blog run by Revd Miranda Threlfall-Holmes and her teenage son, Noah, www.TeenagePrayerExperiment.blogspot.co.uk. Miranda and Noah developed the blog and book as they could find nothing on the market to introduce teenagers to different ways of praying.

Each chapter of the book introduces a prayer practice, e.g using labyrinths, Lego Bible modelling, prayer beads, prayer walking.

It also includes comments by teenagers who have tried it out and plenty of space for the young person to record their own thoughts.

Each experiment is divided into 4 parts:

1. An introduction to the prayer idea being suggested and the context of the tradition
2. The experiment - how to do it and what you need
3. Space for notes on how it went/ what you thought
4. Notes from other teens who have tried out the experiment and their thoughts about it

Packed full of experiments in prayer this is a resource to get stuck into and try for yourself.

"Insightful, honest and very down-to-earth. I so wish there had been a book like this when I was a single dad." Steve Legg, editor, Sorted magazine

This is a book that comes alongside the reader as a travel guide and walks through the journey via a step-by-step approach. 

Walking the Single Parent Journey offers the reader a chance for self-discovery, of coming to terms with the pains and effects of the past in order to boldly face the challenges that lie ahead. The book discusses the everyday struggles and issues that single parents face, whilst offering advice and tips on managing and dealing with them successfully. The author encourages the reader to create systems and put strategies in place to help make life easier, drawing on her own experiences.

When you hear the word 'worship', what first springs to mind?

For many of us we think of singing songs and hymns with fellow believers in a church service or small group. But worship is more than that. Worship is a way of living.

In Worshipping, readers are invited to journey through a series of six studies in David's Psalms, learning from his worship in all of life, from worshipping together to worshipping under pressure, worshipping in failure and in contentment.

With contributions from Mark Greene, Antony Billington, Tracy Cotterell, Joe Warton and Pippa James, this practical workbook will help you see whole-life worship in a new way.

Using personal anecdote, a witty and lively style, and drawing on his considerable theological knowledge, John Goldingay takes us deep into the unfolding story of the Old Testament.

This timely book gives a voice to those living with HIV who are too often ignored or misunderstood by the Church and other religious institutions – including those in positions of care who may have thought they were helping but have ended up doing more harm than good.

The book exposes and challenges attitudes of institutional blindness and abuse and suggests some positive means of remedy, all of which have been formed and tested with the help of clients at the London HIV Chaplaincy.

With its powerful combination of moving personal testimony and honest pastoral reflection, this book will encourage a more informed, sensitive and effective interaction with many who, for whatever reason, feel marginalised by our society and alienated by those who most want to help.

As Rowan Williams says in his foreword, 'This book is a proclaiming of the gospel as well as a call to judgement. It is necessary material for the self-examination and self-awareness of any Christian minister or community, if the Church’s claim to be what it is supposed to be is not to go on being so hollow for so many who need to hear that their agency and dignity are understood and honoured.'

'It has been slowly dawning on me over many years that there is a fundamental problem deep at the heart of Christian faith and practice as I have known them . . . we have all forgotten what the four Gospels are about.'

With that surprising assertion, Tom Wright launches this ground-breaking work in which he helps us to see the gospel story in radically a new light, and to acknowledge that, for many generations, the Church has been avoiding its full impact and holding back from proclaiming its full meaning.

'Classic Wright: clear, accessible, robust, engaging and challenging.'
Paula Gooder in Third Way

'Scholarly, accessible, insightful and provocative.'
Christianity

'Wright argues compellingly that the twin themes of kingdom and cross are inseparably linked. . . This is a much-needed reorientation. The book makes its case for 'rethinking' cogently and deserves widespread attention.'
Theology

God is looking for the kind of person he can use. Thankfully, he isn't put off very easily in his search. When Samson failed, he found Samuel. When Saul failed, he found David. When David failed, he lovingly restored him and used him again. God is still looking for the kind of person he can use. This book will help you become the kind of person he is looking for.

A new series of devotional commentaries enabling people to get to grips with the Bible one bite at a time.

Focusing on key sections, Phil Moore gives a useful introduction to each book of the Bible. There will be 25 volumes in all, each containing approximately 60 readings. The tone is light and the text is full of useful application, making it a great resource for daily devotions. It is backed by substantial scholarship for those who want more. These readings from 1and 2 Samuel provide insights into some of the greatest characters of the Old Testament, notably into the life and motivations of King David.

One morning, Rabbit discovers a birthday parcel addressed to him. Inside is a Bible and on the flyleaf is written 'Read Me'. As he wonders at this odd present a brightly painted gypsy-style caravan hurtles down the road - and narrowly misses him. Rabbit picks up the book and joins the caravan travellers - Hector the horse, Caravan Bear and Whitby (female) the dog.

The Animals' Caravan, has echoes of children's classics such as Wind in the Willows and Alice in Wonderland as Rabbit leaves his home to set out on an unexpected journey - a journey to find friendship and make sense of the world around him. He also finds himself on a journey of faith as he and his new friends wrestle with some of the often difficult concepts in the bible, thereby gaining fresh insights and understanding of God's loving involvement and care for the world.

The travelling life of the caravan and its occupants provide the opportunity for Rabbit to share these tales with other animals they meet and they join Caravan Bear, Whitby and Hector in listening - and learning from - the stories. He is frequently interrupted by questions from his listeners, the kind of questions any child - or adult - might ask.

The real and often humorous events that happen to Rabbit and his friends are mirrored by the stories from the Bible enabling children to realise that the stories have relevance and meaning today.

Contents
1 The Caravan Sets Off 7
2 Adam and Eve Genesis 2-3 18
3 The Two Brothers Genesis 4 32
4 Jonah's Watery Adventure Jonah 42
5 The Babbling Tower Genesis 11 59
6 Noah and the Flood Genesis 6-9 72
7 Joseph and His Brothers Genesis 37 85
8 Crossing the Red Sea Exodus 4-14 100
9 Ruth's New Home Ruth 120

From popular carols to classic pop songs, Carrie and David Grant invite to you reflect with them on what makes Christmas music so special.

As well as Carrie and David's personal insights, this colourful gift book includes fascinating anecdotes about the people who wrote the songs and the amazing artists who've performed them, ensuring their permanent place in the hearts of all who love Christmas and its message of peace and joy to all the world.

This sparkling gift book is for all who love Christmas and the music that comes with it; beautifully produced in hardback format, and decorated throughout in Christmas colours.

Contents
1 Songs from long ago
Including: Ding Dong! Merrily on High, O Come all Ye Faithful and The Holly and the Ivy
2 Best-loved carols
Including: Away in a Manger, In the Bleak Mid Winter and Silent Night
3 Holiday songs
Including: Let it Snow! White Christmas and Winter Wonderland
4 Time to party!
Including: Merry Xmas Everybody, Rocking Around the Christmas Tree and Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer
6 Friends and family
Including: All I Want for Christmas is You, Feliz Navidad and Last Christmas
7 Songs for the world
Including: Do They Know it's Christmas? , Happy Xmas (War is Over) and When a Child is Born

Millions have read his words or heard him speak.

Now here’s a chance to find out more about the man behind the books and speeches.

Be a fly on the wall as two friends – one the former Archbishop of Canterbury, the other ‘one of America's leading voices on religion and culture’ (BBC Radio) – talk about their shared passions and interests.

This is Rowan Williams at his most relaxed and personal. Listen in as he reflects on the vital pursuits that have characterized his life and ministry: among them, friendship, imagination, popular culture, faith and politics, prayer, and the blessings of sacred community.

Rowan Williams has made a unique contribution to the spiritual life of the English-speaking world. This eminently accessible introduction to the man and his thought reveals why.

The second - thoroughly updated and revised - edition of a bestselling textbook that surveys the grand narrative of the Bible, demonstrating how the biblical story forms the foundation of a Christian worldview.

The Drama of Scripture provides an engaging overview of the storyline and theology of the Bible. The authors work their way through the Bible as a drama with six acts - creation, sin, Israel, Jesus, mission and new creation.

Their study provides an introduction to the Bible and a commentary on important passages, while helping the reader relate their story to the Bible story at each point.

Now you can journey through the Bible from your living room chair!

Journey through the Bible is a unique resource that approaches the Bible story by story. In these pages you will discover around 250 of our favourite Bible stories presented with background information in word and picture. 

This storehouse of authentic material includes these features:

• OVER 400 COLOURFUL PAGES OF PHOTOGRAPHS, DRAWINGS, MAPS, AND CHARTS
• MORE THAN 100 DRAWINGS FROM OBJECTS OR MONUMENTS OF BIBLE TIMES
• OVER 200 PHOTOGRAPHS OF BIBLE LANDS TODAY
• PHOTOGRAPHS OF MORE THAN 50 ARCHAEOLOGICAL DISCOVERIES
• SCORES OF RECONSTRUCTIONS AND DIAGRAMS
• DOZENS OF COLOURFUL MAPS.

This easy-to-read, visual exploration of the Bible allows you to follow the narrative from Genesis to Revelation. The stories of Scripture will come alive as you travel through Bible lands and times. You will discover how ancient people really lived – the foods they ate, the homes they lived in, the clothes they wore, the work they performed.

Every library – home, church, and school – will want this complete reference work on its shelves. It will enrich children’s and youth session preparation, Bible storytelling, family devotions, and Bible study. Journey through the Bible is unparalleled as a user-friendly resource.

‘As we contemplate the coming months, not knowing when we can breathe again, it’s worth thinking about how already the foundations have been laid for whatever new opportunities God has for us on the far side of this crisis.’

Rowan Williams offers these words of wisdom and many more in Candles in the Dark. This powerful and timely book brings together the 26 weekly Christian meditations originally posted online from March to September 2020, during lockdown in the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, for the congregation of his local parish church.

Candles in the Dark is a lovely Christian book of comfort for anyone looking for the light in these dark times. Written with warmth and compassion, these meditations offer us hope and encouragement as we continue to endure the most devastating and disturbing world crisis for over a generation. They will leave you spiritually uplifted and with a strengthened faith to guide you through whatever may come.

"It is a real pleasure to find what many readers are always on the lookout for: a new and original writer of a rattling good story told with intelligence and depth." The Tablet

Parson's daughter Mara Johns arrives as a postgraduate student at a great northern cathedral city. Antagonistic to the church and fiercely independent, she repels all friendly overtures and seeks spiritual answers in her theological research. But when her past involvement in an extreme sect resurfaces, she finds her quest won't stay academic. Nor can she hold out against her persistent would-be friends.

Gradually she unbends and laughs with Maddy and May; locks horns with the insufferable 'polecat' - and finds herself torn between the attentions of two suitors. But they are both ordinands, and she's vowed she'll never marry a vicar. When her carefully controlled world falls apart, it is these new friends she must turn to if she wants to survive.

In Christmas the Original Story Margaret Barker explores the nature of the Christmas stories and the nature and use of Old Testament prophecy.

Beginning with John's account, it then goes on to include Luke and Matthew, the apocryphal gospels, and the traditions of the Coptic Church, to throw light upon wise men and their gifts, the character of Herod, Matthew's use of prophecy, the holy family in Egypt.

This book also discusses the stories we get from the Infancy Gospel of Jesus and the development of the Orthodox Christmas icon, as well as the Christmas story and the Mary material in the Koran.

This is an accessible book based on scholarly work.

This book contains 6 of Bob Hartmans immensely popular retellings, selected from The Lion Storyteller Bedtime Book, The Lion Storyteller Book of Animal Tales and The Lion Storyteller Christmas Book.

Arranged under broad themes - the series features stories about animals, Christmas and from the folk tradition - many of the stories also introduce 'citizenship' themes and values through story.

These entertaining short stories work especially well when read aloud and will also appeal to newly confident readers.

The Essential History of Christianity covers both the key historical events and the big picture.

Miranda Threlfall-Holmes helps us to understand what has gone on in the past, and sheds light on our present experiences of churches, religion, spirituality and religious conflict. She also gives important clues about what might happen in the future.

This entertaining and accessible guide makes sense of a fascinating subject, providing a clear overview of the broad sweep of Christian history, and is indispensible for those beginning to study Christianity or the Church.

In the warzone that Nigeria has become, Archbishop Ben Kwashi has survived three assassination attempts.

A brutal assault on his wife, Gloria, drove him to his knees - to forgive and find the strength to press on. Islamist militants have Nigeria in their sights. These are the terrorists who kidnapped hundreds of Christian schoolgirls - who have vowed to turn Africa's most populous nation into a hard-line Islamic state. Their plan is to drive the Christian minority from the north by kidnapping, bombing and attacking churches. Plateau State is on the frontline.

But holding that line against Boko Haram, and standing firm for the Gospel, is Ben Kwashi, the Anglican Archbishop of Jos.

In Jos, churches have been turned into fortresses and Archbishop Ben now conducts more funerals than weddings and baptisms put together. Yet his faith grows ever more vibrant. He has adopted scores of orphans who live in his home, including many who are HIV positive. And the challenge of his message - to live for the Gospel even in the face of terror - has never been so timely.

Mel Starr's latest novel is a thoroughly enjoyable medieval crime mystery. It may be enjoyed as complete in itself, or as part of the Hugh de Singleton series.

When Hugh and Kate's new-born son is taken to the church to be baptized, they are astounded to find that the locked font is completely dry. The possibility of a leak is quickly ruled out, and just as Hugh is beginning to wonder if there may be a sinister explanation for the stolen holy water, Fr Robert is found lying motionless by the rood screen in a pool of blood...

Meanwhile, parliament has passed a poll tax, stipulating everyone above the age of 14 is to be taxed equally. Folk are soon scrambling to find the money to pay and, inevitably, unscrupulous elements in society see an opportunity to feed off people's desperation and make some cash... But what connection can there possibly between this and events at Bampton?

This book teaches the basics of the Christian faith, looking first at what Jesus himself taught, and then at what his apostles had to say. It is for anyone who wants to follow Jesus, but is not sure or would like to be reminded of the way.

In short clear steps, Dr Peter Walker takes us through the basics of enjoying Jesus' forgiveness, welcoming his Spirit and feeding on his scriptures; then explores the principles of worshipping with his people, following his teaching and trusting him with our future.

This classic of the field has been revised and is accompanied by access to an online PDF workbook and video content.

Finding Mr Goldman tells of the epic battle of good and evil played out in the life and sudden death of a wicked man.
Had he known the hour of his death, the wealthy Harry Goldman might have arranged his day differently. Instead he finds himself plunged into a nightmare in which his life of violence and ruthless greed is laid bare before him.
Accompanied by a disreputable looking but likeable tramp, who bears a striking resemblance to Jesus, Goldman sets out on a quest to save his soul. But confronted by the shattering reality of hell, he realises all is lost. It is only then that he discovers the redeeming love of God . . .

Now in its third volume, Reverend Malcolm Duncan’s hugely popular #Niteblessings invites you again to encounter God at the close of each day.

Each of these blessings offers an opportunity to lay down the burdens of the day and meaningfully engage with the Holy Spirit. Simply written, yet profound, moving and insightful, this book will renew and strengthen you for your daily walk with God.

"It's easier to build strong children than repair broken men and women. This book provides an incredible opportunity for parents and guardians to start important conversations early on." – Guvna B, rapper, author and broadcaster

"Books like this are essential, the more children are comfortable talking about race the less barriers there will be between us." - Naomi and Natalie from Everydayracism

Do you want to raise anti-racist children? Do you long to learn but are too scared of saying or doing the wrong thing?

Then Talking to Children about Race is for you.

But before we start talking to our children, we must start chatting honestly with one another.

Broadcaster Loretta Andrews and the educator Ruth Hill had been friends for years before the shocking death of George Floyd made it impossible not to dig deeper into the topic of race and how to explain racism to their children.

Drawing on the very real conversations that ensued, this book invites you into the dialogue to better equip you to bring up anti-racist children.

With warmth and approachability, the authors provide a history of race and explore white privilege, unconscious bias and systematic racism. They offer practical tips, ideas and activities to help you to educate, empower and raise anti-racist children today.

"Loretta and Ruth have given us a treasure: a non-judgemental, open-hearted manual on ways to tackle the subject of race with our little ones." - Sarah Clarke (Disastersofathirtysomething)

"What I love the most is that you are part of change – a lasting change tribe. Ruth and Loretta have not only used their platform but their honest voices in sharing their experiences and research to be the conversation opener for children and families on anti-racism." - Dina Maktabi, Founded of Kensington Mums www.kensingtonmums.co.uk

"This is an incredibly helpful and well-written guide that I will go back to time and time again throughout raising my son!" – Emma Borquaye, author and founder of Girl Got Faith

"I really wanted to skim through this book, picking out little nuggets of wisdom, but paragraph after paragraph, chapter after chapter, I was engrossed!!" - Nana-Adwoa Mbeutcha, Co-Founder of Black Mums Upfront

Ancient authors and readers did not work with manuscripts the way we work with printed texts. It is thus all too easy to fall into anachronistic assumptions about how the Gospels were written. Writing the Gospels challenges such assumptions in the light of recent work on ancient media studies and suggests more appropriate models for the composition of the New Testament Gospels.

The main argument is that memory would have been central to the process of composition. The Evangelists almost certainly relied on their memory of the Hebrew Scriptures (and Israelite tradition in general) for their use of them. They will also have been both informed and constrained by the social memory of the primitive Church. It is argued here that they will most likely have relied on their memory of their written sources, or at least, that it is a better working assumption that they did so than that they necessarily worked with their written sources open in front of them. So, for example, Matthew may well have been used to performing Mark from memory and would have had no need to consult a copy if he used Mark as the basis of his own work.

While other aspects of ancient composition are addressed, the main concerns of this study are first to establish the centrality of memory in ancient composition and secondly to explore the implications of assuming that the Evangelists worked mainly from memory, as many of their contemporaries did.

Tom Wright has completed a tremendous task: to provide comprehensive guides to all the books of the New Testament, and to furnish them with his own fresh translation of the entire text.

Making use of his true scholar's understanding, yet writing in an approachable and anecdotal style, Wright captures the urgency and excitement of Matthew's Gospel in a way few writers have.

Each short passage is followed by a highly readable commentary with helpful background information. A glossary is included at the back of the book. The series is suitable for group study, personal study, or daily devotions.

Intimate Jesus is the first book to open up key questions about Jesus' experience of human sexuality and His attitude towards it in himself and others for a general audience.

Andrew Angel examines all the relevant sayings and actions of Jesus and others in the Gospels, and explores their first-century cultural context in order to better understand the historical Jesus as a fully rounded human being.

Intimate Jesus also explores the relationship between sexuality and spirituality, based in scripture, Andy Angel takes this complex subject and communicates it clearly in a way that can be understood by those without a theology degree but with an interest in theology.

'My favourite thing about this book is the different perspectives on one main thing... Worship! Reading it provided much clarity on a word that is often misunderstood.'

Guvna B, Rapper, Author & Broadcaster

What does it mean to be a worshipper? Together, Tim Hughes and Nick Drake explore who, where, why and how Christians worship, what happens when we do and where the future of worship may take us.

With contributions from Graham Kendrick, Lou Fellingham, Kees Kraayenoord, Dr Helen Morris and many more, this book offers a fresh reminder that worship isn't just music and the songs we sing, it is so much more.

The Spring Harvest 2021 theme book, Why Worship? will help you reconnect to the purpose and meaning of worship, so that you can grow closer to God individually and as a church community and get the most out of worship.

Contributors
Tim Hughes, Nick Drake, Dr John Andrews, Dr Helen Morris, Graham Kendrick, Lou Fellingham, Lyn Weston, Kees Kraayenoord, Noel Robinson, Doug Williams, Dr Darell Johnson.

'Ruth Valerio's book is perfect for individuals and groups to think, reflect, pray and be challenged together.' JUSTIN WELBY, from the Foreword

'An arresting and thought-provoking book, brilliantly conceived . . . by turns beautiful and sobering, encouraging and challenging.' PETE WILCOX, BISHOP OF SHEFFIELD

Saying Yes to Life (originally published as the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book 2020) lifts our focus from natural, everyday concerns to issues that are having an impact on millions of lives around the world. As people made in the image of God, we are entrusted to look after what he has created: to share in God's joy and ingenuity in making a difference for good. Ruth Valerio imaginatively draws on the Days of Creation (Genesis 1) as she relates themes of light, water, land, the seasons, other creatures, humankind, Sabbath rest and resurrection hope to matters of environmental, ethical and social concern.

Foundational to Saying Yes to Life is what it means to be human and, in particular, to be a follower of Jesus. Voices from around the world are heard throughout, and each chapter ends with discussion questions and a prayer to aid action and contemplation.

This striking 400-page Bible, written for five- to seven-year-olds, introduces young readers to approximately fifty Bible stories, each around eight pages in length, designed to be engaging and age-appropriate.

Arranged in chronological order and with Scripture references throughout, this instant favourite is brought to life by artist Jo Parry, illustrator of the Candle Read and Play series.

Perfect for graduates of the Candle Bible for Toddlers.

A Bible story book with 52 stories, illustrated with a mix of Bible characters and modern characters, and presented in a white padded cover with a presentation page.

Mikki Butterley's charming soft art style makes this Bible a delight. Makes a wonderful companion to Blessings for Little Girls, Prayers for Little Girls, Our Father, and The Lord's my Shepherd.

This book offers practical insights and proven strategies for fostering a flourishing church community by transforming churches through effective family and kids ministry leadership.

Changing Lives covers everything you need to know about working with children and families - the why to, the how to, the when to and the where to.

Mark Griffiths examines the history, theology and practice of children's ministry and shares the wisdom he has gained from many years' experience of leading hundreds of groups, assemblies and youth services. In practical chapters, backed with sample resources, he shows how to communicate with children in the brave new postmodern world of church, school and community.

This one stop resource covers everything from the vision for children's work to matters such as record keeping, home visits, timetables, child protection legislation and templates for lessons.

Gaby and her husband Sean and their four children live in a flat across from Grenfell Tower, and Sean (a Church of England minister) was the first clergy person on the scene. This book stems from personal experience of the impact of the fire. It features the testimony of and commentary on the community that experienced it, and the amazing stories of hope that followed in its wake.

Grenfell Hope will help readers understand what it was like living in North Kensington before and after the fire. It will help engage the reader with poverty issues, to examine attitudes to the poor and to consider how even small gestures in everyday life can change local communities.

In the desperate situation of the fire, God was at work in people’s hearts bringing hope in tiny gestures that mounted up to something enormous. Hope that couldn’t be ignored or even contained. Hope sprang out all over the country.

EVER THOUGHT LIFE ISN'T TURNING OUT QUITE AS YOU EXPECTED?

Growing up, Katharine Welby-Roberts imagined that being an adult was one big party. But depression, anxiety and crippling self-doubt led her to alienate herself from others. To replay events and encounters as nightmares. Occasionally, to be unable to leave the house.

Aware of the cacophony of voices in her head, Katharine invites us to join her as she journeys to the depths of her soul. Here, with instinctive honesty and humour, she confronts the parts of her story that hinder her most.

As she charts a course that offers ways of coping with everyday issues, we are encouraged to embrace our own self-worth. To recognize the value of our existence. To let ourselves be loved. Exactly as we are.

With each chapter drawing on personal experience and featuring an original illustration, the topics include:

- taking responsibility (the need to accept failure)

- your crap/my crap (the boundaries between caring and taking on others' worries and stresses)

- what sort of special? (what it means to be unique in a sea of unique people)

- comparisons (the destructiveness of comparing ourselves to other people)

- affirmation (the healthy and unhealthy need)

- inner conflict (believing we can do anything/nothing at all)

- numbers (the power of social media)

- never chosen (finding our value in who we are in each situation, not in the people around us)

- major crisis in a minor moment (keeping things in proportion)

- regret (spending less time evaluating ourselves and more time just being ourselves)

Candid but powerfully reassuring, the book reminds us that we are each made - fearfully and wonderfully - in the image of God, our true source of confidence, comfort and joy.

'Brilliantly honest, often funny and wonderfully readable'
Martin Saunders, Youthscape

'Wholly authentic in the face of suffering and struggle'
Will van der Hart, The Mind and Soul Foundation

The whole of life can be found in the psalms. It can also be found in our cities.

Psalms for the City is a beautifully illustrated book of poetry that offers comfort, inspiration and encouragement for the heart and soul, as John-Paul Flintoff puts into vibrant, captivating and sometimes heart-wrenching words the pockets of peace he has found in the midst of the non-stop noise and colourful chaos of the city.

Inspired by the psalms - some of the oldest and most soul-stirring poetry in the world - Flintoff's fluid style and technical skills take us on a private tour of our most-loved urban landscapes and reveal the spiritual nourishment in some of its most famous sights. In countless churches and sacred spaces, he shows us locations to lament; he teaches us to discover joy in crowded marketplaces; and shares how he found hope searching the horizon atop Hampstead Heath.

With his own hand-drawn illustrations to accompany the poems, Psalms for the City is a book that poetry lovers will treasure and is perfect for fans of Charlie Mackesy. Presented in a beautiful hardback format, it will also make a wonderful gift for friends and family, and for those who love the diversity of city life.

Open and honest, these are modern day psalms that chart John-Paul's discovery that the extraordinary places welcomed the ordinary, and that when we're looking closely, the ordinary places can become extraordinary.

Psalms for the City is an invitation to take your imagination on a pilgrimage across the city, experiencing the full depths of what it means to be human today.

What happens internally when we listen to another human being in need? This is a question that arose from the pastoral experience of a team in a hospice. This book by Bob Whorton offers an 'imaginative' listening to the author's pastoral experience.

Reflective Caring will introduce you to the innovative method of "soul reflection" - a technique aimed at transforming people's lives. "Soul reflection" can be defined as an objective inference of our inner reactions. If we apply this principle, we can become a more fulfilled, wholesome version of ourselves.

Mark's gospel reveals the exhilarating highs and lows of what it would have felt like to be one of the twelve disciples of Jesus.

Mark listened to Peter as he preached the story of Jesus throughout the Roman Empire, then he wrote it down. Mark wants the reader to experience what it was like for Peter and his friends when Jesus called them to leave their old lives behind and step into His story.

Mark 1:1 to 7:23 is set in Galilee and it recounts the early days after Peter was invited to play a part in the Messiah's story. Mark 7:24 to 9:29 is set amongst the pagans and it chronicles Peter's growing realisation that what is happening in Israel is the world's story. Mark 9:30 to 10:52 takes place on the road to Jerusalem and charts Peter's growing awareness that it is going to be a costly story. Mark 11 to 15 records the week leading up to Jesus' death and marvels at the fact that this is a surprising story. Mark 16 is the grand finale of the gospel, describing Peter's mixture of fear and delight as he finds Jesus' tomb empty and realises that he has been called to continue an unfinished story.

Straight to the Heart of Mark is one of a series of devotional commentaries which allows people to get to grips with each book of the Bible one bite at a time. Each book contains 60 punchy and relevant chapters, crammed with fascinating and accessible scholarship.

The stories of Thomas the Tank Engine and his friends have delighted generations of children and adults, but what do we know of the man who created them?

A devoted pastor and family man, the Reverend W Awdry first started telling the stories in order to amuse his own children, with no idea that the characters would lead to a global phenomenon that now, seventy years after their first appearance, shows no signs of waning.

In this fascinating and warm biography, prolific author Brian Sibley brings to life one of the most eminent children's writers of the twentieth century, tracing his story from his Edwardian childhood through his time at University and into World War 2. A convinced pacifist, Awdry was thrown out of one curacy and denied another, because of his beliefs. Never afraid to fight for what he thought was right, he argued with his publishers and his illustrators, demanding the best for his favourite creations - the trains and their friends.

'An extraordinary, authentic example of discipleship, and the honouring and validation of the radiant "broken jewels" on society's margins.' Stewart Henderson, poet, broadcaster and lyricist

Zac’s Place is a church in Swansea. It is a small chaotic community of Jesus followers where some of the most fragile of life’s walking wounded try to work out their faith. It’s also the spiritual home for the local chapter of God’s Squad motorcycle club.

Zac’s Place, founded in 1998, is led by Sean Stillman, whose front-line ministry has cost him dearly and has included physical beatings. In Zac’s Place, chaos and disorder sit alongside community and grace in an environment resembling an AA meeting mixed with a casualty department.

This is Sean’s personal story of a transformed faith amid the broken, the church community that formed from it and the European-wide growth of an unlikely bunch of biker missionaries. God’s Biker asks the questions, ‘What if it’s not about perfection? What if it’s about beauty in broken places?’

Let Tom Wright help you make sense of the changes in social, economic and political culture that challenge Christians today. In a debate where even the language can be confusing (neo-gnosticism, neo-imperialism and postmodernity - and even faith terms like Trinitarian) Tom Wright helps ordinary Christians understand and respond to searching questions about key aspects of faith in our 21st century culture.

Trying to make the gospel heard and understood in the modern world, he helps you to reconsider key aspects of the biblical story that reveal unexpected connections between ancient and contemporary world-views.

The outcome of Tom’s criticism of common secular assumptions and their attempt to control the story of creation, power and truth - past and present, is a call for Christians to give fresh voice to God's truth in today's intellectual, social, economic and political arenas on a global and local community level.

Tom Wright is the widely respected former bishop of Durham and current Research Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at St Andrews University. His many influential and readable examinations of applying faith to the world today include Simply Jesus, Simply Christian and How God Became King. Tom is also the editor of the 'For Everyone' New Testament guides and commentary series.

This book will become an essential guide for anyone looking to understand how they can make it known that the gospel is not only still relevant, but vital to the future of the modern world.

This book celebrates a God who does not let the grass grow under our feet, who can still provide plenty of challenges in life and open new doors into unexpected projects and ventures - even when the starting point is an unexpected bereavement.

Going beyond simply addressing bereavement, this book walks the reader through the first steps of travelling through life alone. It is both anecdotal and reflective. In part it focuses on some of the author's various travels as a vehicle for personal discovery, and with this there is a wider range of reflections on different aspects of learning to flourish on one's own.

Jo writes: "This book draws on my journal writings and my reflections and is themed around the things that I have learned in the last few years of learning to 'travel solo', and my experiences of doing quite a lot of travelling both at home and abroad. So I have found the metaphor of 'journeying' to be a useful peg on which to hang this 'story', and it is anecdotal with theological reflections.

Various new doors and opportunities have opened up to me, and by sharing them I hope that other people in similar situations will be encouraged to recognise, appreciate and grasp the opportunities that are on offer in their lives. It is an assertion that God does not abandon us, but remains as active in our lives as we allow him to be."

Popular author Margaret Silf introduces you to the seven traditional 'sacred spaces' - reflect on practises and scripture.

There are many books that explore actual, physical, sacred space and pilgrimage sites. This is a different kind of book. It introduces seven traditional 'sacred spaces' but then leads readers into a deeper reflection on what such 'sacred space' means in our own lives and experience.

The various sacred spaces explored are: the Celtic Cross; the infinite knot; hilltops; wells and springs; causeways and bridges; thresholds and burial grounds; and boundaries.

In each chapter, the author introduces a 'sacred space' as the main theme and then illustrates this by associating it with a particular stage of life and a particular sacramental experience. The ideas are then brought together by means of a scripture story.

Everyone agrees that Bob Dexter, the prominent Evangelical clergyman, has a great deal of personal charisma. Those who know him realise that he also has an unshakable faith in his own righteousness, and a real talent for rubbing people up the wrong way.

It is no surprise, therefore, that someone should want to kill him. In fact, when the Reverend Dexter moves to a small Norfolk parish, traditionally Anglo-Catholic, and begins remoulding it in his own image, his distraught parishioners are not the only ones with good reason to want to remove him. And there are secrets in his seemingly tranquil family life that Dexter does not even begin to suspect – until the fateful and eventful day of his death.

Solicitor David Middleton-Brown and his artist-friend Lucy Kingsley step in to investigate. Their search for the truth culminates at the annual National Pilgrimage to Walsingham, where Anglo-Catholic pomp clashes with heated Evangelical protest, and feelings run perilously high. Too late, perhaps, David realises the danger: will he be in time to prevent a second murder?

Making the Most of Your Child's Baptism is a short full colour guide for parents bringing their child for baptism in the Church of England. In this baptism guide you'll find a full explanation of the baptism service, its meaning and symbolism.

Making the Most of Your Child's Baptism is ideal for anglican churches to gift to parents who ask for their children to be baptised. It follows the Common Worship Baptism service and is full colour throughout, making it attractive for parents and godparents as they prepare for their child's baptism.

Aimed at those not familiar with church, Making the Most of Your Child's Baptism is structured around the service itself and includes questions to think about and follow up activities for parents, godparents and children.

Drawing on a lifetime of Christian pilgrimage, David Adam reflects on biblical encounters with the divine and offers profound insights - on grief and glory, emptiness and fulfilment; repentance and forgiveness; loving and being loved - that will transform the way we live, and the way we relate to God, here and now.

For example, God's question to Adam, 'Where are you?' is relevant to us all; Abraham's long journey of hearing and obeying (and learning the art of having no agenda) is ours too; Jacob's great discovery - that heaven is found on earth and earth is raised to heaven - helps us become aware that we often already possess what we think we're searching for; Moses' desert experiences of grief and glory encourage us that we journey forward to the Promised Land, while Elijah's powerlessness reminds us that God often calls us out of darkness and weakness, for we may need stillness to hear him.

Written by a best-selling author - and distinguished spiritual director - with a proven track record. Inspires in us - through Bible passages, story, poetry and meditation - a sense of awe for the journey we are on and the courage to live life in abundance.

The understanding that God is 'as pervasive and perceptible as the atmosphere in which we are bathed' (Teilhard de Chardin) comes through in all David's writing, and his confidence and delight in the nearness of God is surely one of the reasons his books are so popular.

Growing up on his father’s farm, young Noah loves and cares for the animals, little knowing that one day when he was much older, God would choose him to save his family and animals of every kind from a catastrophic flood. 

Noah, along with his family, with faithfulness and determination take on God’s plan – an ambitious project to build an ark, gather the animals, and prepare for the challenge of surviving the flood. As the first drops of rain fall, the trusting family crew and animal passengers settle into life on board. 

How will their days pass with the monotony of the incessant rain, and then the long, long wait as the waters recede? 

This is an epic story of great trust, supportive teamwork, and uplifting faithfulness.

The team behind the popular Would You Like to Know? series has added a new title, offering answers to some of the biggest and most important questions a child can ask.

It begins with a simple introduction to God, and continues to cover questions such as Who is God?, What does God Look Like? What does God do? and ends with a reminder that 'We can be safe in his love forever. God is for always.

And he never changes!' The book includes a presentation page and it makes a fantastic little gift or award.

'The Bible is way more honest than most churches about the actual levels of pain and confusion in life. That's why we need this book. It's going to provoke ten thousand honest conversations, helping to bring healing, hope and understanding to many who currently suffer in silence.' Pete Greig, Founder of 24-7 Prayer and leader of Emmaus Rd Church, Guildford

IT'S OK NOT TO BE OK

Honesty Over Silence seeks to open up conversations around topics that many find difficult, such as trusting God when life is painful, dealing with anxiety and depression, learning to look after ourselves, developing our character, and living with thankful hearts even in tough seasons.

It examines our strength in letting go of our need to be in control, as well as looking at how we can stop comparing ourselves to others, and instead live authentically and honestly as we grow into the people God has created us to be.

'The power of this book is in its piercing honesty and vulnerability. It gives a voice to those issues that we as Christians sometimes want silenced: what happens when darkness falls? Where is God in mental illness? Can I ever be enough? Through Patrick's stories of his own life and those of others, he powerfully reminds us that a life of faith is smattered with, but not shattered by, dark places. This is an amazing book which will bless, encourage and comfort many.' Tim and Rachel Hughes, Lead Pastors at Gas Street Church, Birmingham

At the height of the Lebanese civil war in the 1980s over 100 foreign civilians were taken hostage by Islamic Jihad. As the Archbishop of Canterbury's special envoy, Terry Waite conducted several successful missions to negotiate the release of numerous hostages. But in January 1987, while on one of his many visits to Beirut, he was captured himself.

Imprisoned for nearly five years, four of them in solitary confinement, he was chained, beaten, frequently blindfolded, and subjected to a mock execution. In this moving sequence of poems and reflections Terry Waite recalls the highs and lows of his life, both during that ordeal and throughout the happier years of humanitarian work that have followed.

They give us a glimpse into the depths of faith, hope and love that sustained him through that intense time of suffering. They also take us into memories of his later life, reminding us of the joy and contentment to be found in meaningful work, and in the humanity we share each day with those around us.

Out of the Silence not only offers a rare insight into one man's experience in the throes of a bitter conflict of the past; it also bears witness to the enduring power of forgiveness, truth and reconciliation in the face of adverse forces at work in the world today.

Written for general readers of all religious backgrounds, Reason and Wonder introduces some of the most fruitful discussions now taking place between leading thinkers in science and theology.

As Professor Priest writes in his Preface: ‘In this integrated approach, the notion of science as a monolithic concept is shattered. Instead, the sciences and humanities represent a rainbow tapestry, linked by a common search for understanding, using reason and imagination.’

This fascinating book includes accounts of key points of convergence in areas such as astrophysics, biology, mathematics, neuroscience and psychology, and ends with a stimulating set of questions for group discussion or personal reflection.

Contents:

Eric Priest - Towards the Integration of Science and Religion
Keith Ward - God, Science and the New Atheism
Eleonore Stump - Natural Law, Reductionism and the Creator
David Wilkinson - The Origin and End of the Universe – a Challenge for Christianity?
Jennifer Wiseman - Universe of Wonder, Universe of Life
Kenneth Miller - Evolution, Faith and Science
Michael Murray and Jeff Schloss - Evil in Evolution
Pauline Rudd - Is there More to Life than Genes?
David Myers - Psychological Science Meets Christian Faith
John Wyatt - Being a Person? - Towards an Integration of Neuroscientific and Christian Perspectives
John Swinton - From Projection to Connection: Conversations between Science, Spirituality and Health
Mark Harris - Do the Miracles of Jesus Contradict Science?
Tom Wright - Can a Scientist Trust the New Testament?

Questions for discussion or reflection

Is it possible to be a Christian and a feminist?

The hot topic of feminism has been well documented and debated in mainstream media and yet, as Christians we come to the conversation from a slightly different vantage point. For starters, we have the benefit of a personal relationship with our creator plus the ultimate handbook in the Bible to work out what is right and just when it comes to equality. So why do many Christians feel the Bible presents a barrier rather than a boost when it comes to championing equality between the sexes?

Lauren Windle draws upon her years as a journalist to weave together a wide range of voices on a subject that society has been wrestling with but, in the Church, few are brave enough to probe too deeply for fear of what they might find. This book isn't here to tell you what to think. The views it presents are intended to inform, not form, your opinion on key topics, including: defining feminism, the lessons we teach boys, female preachers, a woman's place in the household, beauty standards and #ChurchToo.

Notes On Feminism features contributions from several high-profile women:

• Writer and model Katie Piper on true beauty
• Olympian Abigail Irozuru on women's bodies
• Comedian Cassandra Maria on why people think women aren't funny
• Author Tiffany Bluhm on why people don't believe women
• Journalist Delphine Chui on why she isn't a feminist.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER - 'A meditation on sense-making when there's no sense to be made, on letting go when we can't hold on, and on being unafraid even when we're terrified.' LUCY KALANITHI

'Belongs on the shelf alongside other terrific books about this difficult subject, like Paul Kalanithi's When Breath Becomes Air and Atul Gawande's Being Mortal.' BILL GATES

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY REAL SIMPLE

London-born Kate Bowler, a thirty-five year-old professor at the school of divinity at Duke, had finally had a baby with her childhood sweetheart when she began to feel jabbing pains in her stomach. She lost thirty pounds, guzzled antacid, and visited doctors for three months before she was finally diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer.

As Kate navigates the aftermath of her diagnosis, she pulls the reader into her life and her history – affectionately filled with a colourful retinue of friends, mega-church preachers, parents, and doctors – and shares her irreverent, laser-sharp reflections on faith, friendship, love, and death. She wonders why suffering makes her feel like a loser and explores the burden of positivity. Trying to relish the time she still has with her son and husband, she realizes she must cure her habit of ‘skipping to the end’ and planning the next move. An historian of the American Prosperity Gospel (the creed of the megachurches that promises believers a cure for tragedy, if they just want it badly enough) Kate finds that she craves these same 'outrageous certainties'. Why is it so hard to surrender when she knows there are no spiritual guarantees?

In Everything Happens for Reason we encounter one of the talented, courageous few who - like Paul Kalanithi - can articulate the grief we feel as we contemplate our own mortality.