spck publishing united kingdom london (295 results)

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The ancient people of Israel and contemporary Western society share a preoccupation with the idea of leadership. In this perceptive and engaging book, David Runcorn reveals just how deeply one world can speak to the other. The story of 1 and 2 Samuel opens with a woman weeping. But grief is often the precursor of change, and the answering of Hannah's prayer is revealed in her song as a prophetic sign of God's ways in all the world. As the author then helps us reflect on various revealing episodes, time and again, he enables us to trace the true presence of God in the words, actions or faithful endurance of people on the edge of the 'main' script. And, he suggests, it is in the kind of honest, disciplined attentiveness they display, that the greatest hope for leadership will be found today. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Some Daily Prayers for Church of England People - the product of decades of parish ministry - hits the spot in many crucial areas. Laid out in a way that makes a daily pattern of prayer possible and sustainable, it has a wealth of common-sense teaching about faith and the practice of it, and an imaginative and catholic selection of material. Over 100,000 copies sold since first publication, and a perfect confirmation present. 'I cannot recommend this book too highly. It could be used as a gift to any kind of enquirer and searcher with complete confidence.' Andrew Hawes, Warden, Edenham Retreat House 'A publishing phenomenon [that has] occupied the Church Times best-seller lists for many weeks.' Church Times. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Good. - For anyone wanting a way through the minefield of dating without compromising faith - Want to keep your integrity by finding a way of dating that is simple and sincere? - With practical advice, this book will give you a route to the adventure of romance 'It's Complicated' Matters of the heart always seem to be. But dating in the church? It can be even worse. Relationships can be difficult to define, intentions hard to discern. But with singles making up a third of the total church congregation in the UK, there is a real need to demystify the dating process and return to dating in its simplest form. Rediscover how to date. In this brand new handbook, couples psychologist and dating course leader Aukelien van Abbema offers guidance on how to understand yourself and your own dating patterns, how to rely on your network of friends, and how to bring God into the whole process. Filled with wisdom, stories and practical advice, this book is a freeing reassessment of the dating scene. Begin a whole new romantic adventure filled with hope, joy and a lot of laughter. Go on, dare to date. The book has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact. Some minor wear to the spine.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. 'Practical, honest, life-giving, fun, relatable, encouraging, full of truth, real talk, real stories and real gals. Big fan of the activities too!' Elle Limebear, singer - songwriter Join Emma Borquaye, Letitia Wright, Naomi Scott, Griff, Guvna B, Cheryl Fagan and many more in discovering that a faith-filled life doesn't have to be boring or full of rules. Instead, it is something that can change your life completely in the best way. In Discovering You, a beautiful devotional book designed for teen girls, founder Emma Borquaye and the Girl Got Faith team explore how faith can not only fit in with but enhance your life and your interests. Whether beauty, fashion, or lifestyle, God cares about it just as much as you do, because He cares about you! Packed full of Bible passages, prayer prompts, imagery and ideas, as well as inspiring interviews and more, this book is the perfect guide for teenage girls and young adults wanting to make the most of their life and their faith. Discovering You invites you to explore who you think you are, who God says you are and all he has in store for you as you discover the fearless woman of God you were born to be. Readers are raving about Discovering You: 'This book is a beautiful accompaniment for any girl seeking to live an empowered life with Jesus at the centre.' Rachel Gardner, Director of National Work Youthscape 'I believe that this book will be a welcome breath of fresh air for young women around the world who are on a journey to understand who they are.' Lily-Jo, Founder of The Lily-Jo Project 'What I love about this book and the author Emma is that Emma is so passionate about us knowing who we are in God. When we know who we are in God, we are limitless.' Michelle Williams, music artist and mental health advocate. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. 'A superb book on failure . . . humorous, realistic and absolutely not judgemental.' JUSTIN WELBY In 2019, Emma Ineson wrote about ambition and what it means for Christians to be successful. And then there was a global pandemic . . . Suddenly failure began to feel very much more familiar than success. But what is failure? What did Jesus think of it? What did he say about sin, mistakes and generally mucking things up? At the start of this wonderfully humorous and encouraging book - which will end at the cross - it's suggested that our tendency to lump all kinds of failure together could be a bit unhelpful. A more nuanced understanding of what sort of failure we're dealing with might just allow us to make friends with it and respond more appropriately. This idea leads us 'Towards an (Imperfect) Theology of Failure', based on key Christian thinking, and Emma poses the question of whether sin is an individual or corporate thing. Looking at the church, we consider, what is God's purpose for it? And in the light of key concerns such as safeguarding and racial justice, how might we re-examine concepts of success and recognize and measure failure? As the book draws to an end, we are reminded of our calling to live life to the full, to take risks despite our fears. We are bound sometimes to fail! Yet gazing at Jesus - who looked like the greatest failure of all - we may discern in the heartache, vulnerability and humility of failure, the glory of the cross. Failure was the 2023 Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book and Big Church Read for Lent. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Almost before I had begun this wonderful book, I was hooked STEPHEN COTTRELL Robyn Wrigley-Carr has produced a masterpiece of insight and wisdom CLARION JOURNAL Nourishment for the soul on every page AYLA LEPINE, CHURCH TIMES Wrigley-Carr illustrates how Underhill wonderfully unites reflection and prayer DANA GREENE Beloved spiritual writer Evelyn Underhill believed that God does not just come to us at special times, but is always coming to us. But how do we recognise his coming and make ourselves open to it? In Music of Eternity, the Archbishop of Yorks Advent Book 2021, Robyn Wrigley-Carr shares a series of meditations exploring the nature Gods comings. Skilfully weaving together Underhills writings with the psalms and short prayers, she shows how, as Christians, we can embrace Gods coming and be transformed by them in order to better love others. Full of rich warmth and encouragement, these Christian meditations will help you make the most of the Advent season and more able to connect with God at all times. Set out in four parts to take you through Advent and with questions for reflection, the Archbishop of Yorks Advent book can be used as a study for individuals or small groups to prepare for Christmas. Music of Eternity will help you find space to deepen your relationship with God, and to understand what Evelyn Underhill called the many-sided truth of Gods perpetual coming to His creatures. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The Sleepy Shepherd is so dozy he completely misses the visit of the angels . . . and the chance to greet the Christ-child in Bethlehem. But one crucial night, years later, he makes an important decision - to be a real shepherd to a man whose friends have all fallen asleep . . . The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Conversations matter. Yet, recently, good conversations about faith have been increasingly squeezed out of the public sphere. Seeking to reopen the debate, Justin Brierley began to invite atheists and sceptics on to Premier Christian Radio to air arguments for and against the Christian faith. But how has ten years of discussion with atheists affected the presenter's faith? Reflecting on conversations with Richard Dawkins, Derren Brown and many more, Justin explains why he still finds Christianity the most compelling explanation for life, the universe and everything. And why, regardless of belief or background, we should all welcome the conversation. 'Beautifully written, brilliantly argued, Justin's book will thrill Christians and challenge atheists.' R. T. Kendall, author and pastor 'Justin has that happy knack of being able to get people of diametrically opposed opinions debating the big issues.' John Lennox, Professor of Mathematics, University of Oxford. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Hope is not the product of opinion or argument . . . There has to be something else an impetus to act, a vision, something that fires our imagination. At a time when many feel defeated by the worlds problems, Vincent Nichols reminds us why we need to hold on to hope and how we can offer genuine hope to those who need it most. With questions for reflection at the end of each chapter, this stirring book will encourage people of all faith backgrounds to come together and work towards a better future for all. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. 'Letting Go' holds a central place within the pastoral literature for carers of the dying or bereaved. Since publication of the first edition, research and new multi-professional approaches to care require more than ever that those in ministry develop a good grasp of current understanding and models of grief, while retaining their own identity as the 'holy person' within a secular setting. As well as outlining the latest research and current thinking about grief and bereavement, this new edition covers specific developments such as the role of the hospice, advance directives, near death experiences, multi-cultural issues, palliative care, post-trauma stress and alternative funerals. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. A beginner's guide to the "Myers-Briggs Type Indicator", showing how your personality type and temperament affects all aspects of your life and relationships with others. The MBTI could help readers discover why they think and behave in certain ways, and why other people respond to you as they do. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Features chapters on: Aston Villa, Barnsley, Birmingham City, Bolton Wanderers, Everton, Fulham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Queen's Park Rangers, Southampton, Swindon and Town Tottenham Hotspur. How much do you really know about the origin of your club? Would you like to read about it in fascinating detail? Few people are aware that, of the 41 clubs that have played in the FA Premier League since its inception in the 1992-3 season, 12 can trace their origin directly to a church. However, many of these 12 famous football clubs know little about their origins or founders. John Motson, the 'voice of football', writes in the Foreword: This book sets the record straight. Drawing on original materials from a variety of sources, peter Lupson has been able to bring these pioneers to life and to transport us back to the time in which they lived. Their remarkable contribution to our great national game is at last given the recognition it deserves. We have good reason to thank God for them.'. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. 'I'm spiritual but not religious.' It's a phrase that's often used to explain why, although they don't go to church, people still feel that life must have some kind of transcendent meaning. But what does this 'spirituality' consist of? In Spiritual and Religious Tom Wright argues that, whether people realize it or not, they are often simply reverting to forms of ancient paganism that are very similar to those that confronted the earliest Christians. With his characteristic verve and incisiveness, Wright traces the parallels between the worldviews of the first and twenty-first centuries, and shows how a better understanding of God as Trinity can breathe fresh life into our understanding and preaching of the gospel today. He concludes this prophetic book with a call to contemporary Christians to make a clear choice: 'Are we to compromise with paganism, to assimilate, to water down the distinctives of Christian faith in order to make it more palatable? Are we to retreat into dualism, into a private 'spiritual' religion which will assure us of an other-worldly salvation but which will leave the powers of the present world unchallenged. . . ? Or are we to worship the God who is Father, Son and Spirit, and to find in that worship a renewed courage, a renewed sense of direction, and a renewed hope for the future?'. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Mindfulness is an increasingly popular practice, but what benefits does it have to offer Christians? In Mindfulness and Christian Spirituality, Tim Stead draws connections between mindfulness approaches and exercises and the Christian spiritual traditions of contemplation and reflection. By bringing these practices together, he shows us how mindfulness can help us to transform the way we manage stress so that we can open up more completely to the promised 'life in all its fullness'. This is a thoughtful and practical book that will give you a more complete understanding of mindfulness practices and how they relate to Christian spirituality, and will help you to deepen your faith by making more space for God in a mindful way. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. A guide to liturgy and worship in the Church of England within the framework of 'Common Worship', which combines theory, theology and history with a strong sense of the realities of parish life and pastoral practice. It explores the way in which liturgy can reflect the life of the church and the wider world, and the new opportunities for churches at a local level to own and shape the liturgy they use. This book is essential reading for anyone involved in worship in the Church of England, and who wants the worship of their church to be the best they can offer, based on clear liturgical principles. It is also practical and detailed - Michael Perham covers clothing and colours, children's role in worship, the cycle of the Christian year, the timing of services, the use of church space and other elements that go to make up the feel of an individual church. The book has its roots in two of Michael Perham's earlier works, 'Liturgy Pastoral and Parochial' and 'Lively Sacrifice', though much of the material is quite new, and fills its role as key texts for anyone interested in the liturgy of the Church of England. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Rowan Williams explores the essentials of Paul's thought for complete beginners - as well as for those who've read Paul's letters many times before and want to see them in a fresh light. Written at a highly accessible level, this book would make a perfect gift for anyone thinking about confirmation, while also appealing to people who are curious as to why Paul has had such a profound influence on Christian history and belief. Questions for reflection or group discussion are provided for each chapter. The book also features a reading guide that includes a reflection and prayer for each of the seven weeks of Lent. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Spirituality Workbook is many things: a book of riches and surprises; a guidebook for explorers who want their spiritual life to go deeper; an invaluable aid for those seeking to travel faithfully in a strange land; and it is itself a journey through the many facets of Christian spirituality. In five sections, David Runcorn suggests an integrated vision for Christian spirituality. 'Then and now' looks at roots, historical and ancient spiritual ways, and the rules of living for diverse communities and their modern relevance. 'Life together' considers the essential role of community in spirituality, while 'Becoming who I am' explores the relationship between spirituality, humanity, identity and the stages of our life journey. 'When you pray . . . examines some of the ways we pray and our understanding of prayer. The final section, 'In the midst of life', is about Christian spirituality lived in the real and sometimes messy world. The author provides numerous inspiring and engaging examples, exercises to bring the text alive and to help us apply spiritual techniques, and suggestions for further reading. All these make this a book to live by as well as one to pray and learn with. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Sometimes Christians assume that people 'out there' are eager to listen to what the Church has to offer. But why should those we try to evangelize want to hear the gospel? Surely people will only be intrigued by Christian life and community when they see something provocative or attractive. Then they will want to know what's going on."The Provocative Church" offers a liberating understanding of evangelism as a corporate activity, in which all the gifts needed to enact the life of the Kingdom - to stir people into asking, 'What does this mean?' - are spread throughout the whole Church. It encourages the development of a theology of conversion that sees beyond 'becoming a Christian' to bring each individual life increasingly under the rule of God. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. In this rousing book, David Adam celebrates the lives and interweaving stories of Aidan, Bede and Cuthbert. Recalling, in a personal introduction, his ordination to the pastoral ministry in Durham Cathedral (the burial place of Bede and Cuthbert) and his thirteen years as Vicar of the Holy Island of Lindisfarne (where Aidan lived), the author communicates clearly his appreciation of these three great saints. They have much to teach us, he believes, about vision about expanding our spiritual awareness and deepening our love for God. St Aidan was Irish by birth and was a monk at Iona long before being selected as the first Bishop of Lindisfarne in 635. In time became pastor to all of Northumbria. St Bede the Venerable was born in 673 near Sunderland, and was a monk at Jarrow on the Tyne. He is revered for his scholarly output of commentaries on the Scriptures and his famous Ecclesiastical History of the English People, which is such an important source of our knowledge of the development of Christianity in Britain St Cuthbert, when he was sixteen, received a vision of the soul of St Aidan being carried to heaven by angels. This vision may have convinced him to enter holy orders at Melrose where he became Prior. Later, having lived for some time as a hermit on the island of Farne, he was later reluctantly persuaded to became Bishop of Lindisfarne in 685. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Good. Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit, Jacob and the stairway to heaven, Joseph and his brothers, Samson and Delilah, David and Goliath, Jonah and the whale, the miracles and teachings of Jesus, St Paul's vision on the road to Damascus, St John's vision of the new Jerusalem: the Bible is full of dramatic stories that have made it the world's bestselling book, and yet few people ever get around to reading it from cover to cover. Now, with The One Hour Bible, readers of all ages can discover its riches and gain a birds-eye view of the entire sweep of the Bible's epic story - in just sixty minutes. The book has been read but remains in clean condition. All pages are intact and the cover is intact. Some minor wear to the spine.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Steele writes with an infectious understanding of her subject' MARK OAKLEY, CHURCH TIMES How can we convey the love of God to our neighbours in a post-Christian world that has largely forgotten the gospel of Jesus Christ? In Living His Story, the Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book 2021, Hannah Steele uncovers liberating and practical ways of sharing the gospel story afresh. With warmth and encouragement, she shows us how we can live Jesus' story in our own lives simply by being the people God made us and allowing people to be drawn to him through our natural gifts. Living His Story is a Lent devotional that will change the way you think about evangelism, show how ideally suited it is for the world we live in and fill you with confidence in sharing God's love with the people around you. Set out in six sessions to take you through Lent, each chapter of the 2021 Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent book can be used as a single study for individuals or small groups to prepare for Easter. It will help you find space to see evangelism from a new practical perspective. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. The nine criteria the Church of England uses to discern potential vocations to the priesthood are explored, and linked with personal qualities that are necessary for new, but also existing, leaders in a church and culture which has changed much over the last 50 years. The nine criteria are: Vocation Ministry in the Church of England Faith Personality Spirituality Relationships Mission and Evangelism Leadership and Collaboration Quality of Mind. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. This is a collection of new prayers in the Celtic tradition from David Adam accompanied by landscape photographs by Robert Cooper. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. In The First Christmas, two of today's top Jesus scholars, Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan, show how history has biased our reading of the nativity story as it appears in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The First Christmas explores the beginning of the life of Christ, peeling away the sentimentalism that has build up over two thousand years around this most well known of all stories to reveal the truth of what the Gospels actually say. Borg and Crossan help us to see this familiar narrative afresh by answering the question 'What do these stories mean' from the perspective of both the first and the twenty-first centuries. They successfully show that the Christmas story, read in its original context, is far richer and more challenging than people imagine. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Our notion of calling or vocation has become very narrow, and is often taken only to mean the calling to be an ordained minister. I want to rescue the idea from all those assumptions because I believe that God calls every human being to some particular self-giving task at each stage of their life'. Francis Dewar. Written for all lay people, including those considering ordination, this new edition, which takes into account changes since the ordination of women to the priesthood, is itself a call for everyone to discover their unique journey. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Praying Like A Woman is the expression of one woman's journey through life and faith, yet its themes of struggle, suffering, and joy, are universal. It is both intensely personal, and also appealing and relevant to all women. 'My hope is that whoever picks up this book may be encouraged - to pray as and who they are, towards who they may yet become.' Nicola Slee. The collection contains prayers, poems, songs, psalms, canticles, litanies, laments and creeds, as well as personal reflections. The areas covered include traditional areas for prayer, but also diverge into more specific themes, particularly relevant for women - such as the body and health. Praying Like A Woman is ideal for women who want to explore and develop their faith. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. Examines some of the issues involved in the pastoral care and visitation of sick people who are being cared for within the context of orthodox medicine. As well as providing guidance on working with both individuals and institutions, the book examines the psychology of sickness. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. '[Cottrells] love of the work of the artist Stanley Spencer (1891-1959) has relentlessly deepened over 20 years, and he expresses it here with a spiritual breathlessness that is infectious and transformative.' MARK OAKLEY, CHURCH TIMES In this devotional book, Stephen Cottrell reflects on five paintings from Stanley Spencer's Christ in the Wilderness series. These paintings give us startling insight into Jesus' own vocation and self-understanding of his ministry. They show his great love for the earth, for the whole created order and for all creatures within it. For Christians, the wilderness is a place of discovery. By dwelling in the wilderness of these beautiful and provocative paintings, Stephen Cottrell encourages us to refine our own discipleship and learn again what it means to follow Christ. This book is excellent reading for Lent but can be enjoyed at any time of year. It includes full-colour illustrations, making it a lovely gift book. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. 'Cottrell has a gift for inhabiting the most diverse perspectives . . . All are rendered in glorious physical language, a strange but apt mix of Scripture and modern idiom. The result is revelatory.' The Tablet Walking Backwards to Christmas gives you a new and grown-up perspective on the Nativity story you first encountered in school and church Nativity plays. Stephen Cottrell gets you back into the real meaning of the childhood story simply by telling it backwards; from where you are now, to where you need to be to really understand its truth and deeper purpose. On the whole, this familiar version is more concerned with light than darkness. The backwards approach taken here allows the movement to be in the opposite direction, enabling us to get under the skin of a complex narrative. We begin by seeing through the eyes of Anna, the prophetess; followed by Rachel, who weeps for her children; King Herod; Casper, a wise men; David, a shepherd; Martha, the (so-named) innkeeper's wife; Joseph; Elizabeth; Mary; Isaiah and, finally, Moses. Each imaginative reflection is prefaced by a Bible reading and followed by a prayer. Each imaginative and solidly biblical reflection is prefaced by the relevant Bible reading and followed by a thoughtfully crafted, devotional prayer. If you want an Advent and Christmas devotional that will help to change and mature your understanding of the Nativity story, then Walking Backwards to Christmas is probably the way. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.

Paperback. Condition: Very Good. World-renowned scientist Richard Dawkins writes in The God Delusion: 'If this book works as I intend, religious readers who open it will be atheists when they put it down'. The volume has received wide coverage, fuelled much passionate debate and caused not a little confusion. Alister McGrath is ideally placed to evaluate Dawkins' ideas. Once an atheist himself, he gained a doctorate in molecular biophysics before going on to become a leading Christian theologian. He wonders how two people, who have reflected at length on substantially the same world, could possibly have come to such different conclusions about God. McGrath subjects Dawkins' critique of faith to rigorous scrutiny. His exhilarating, meticulously argued response deals with questions such as: Is faith intellectual nonsense? Are science and religion locked in a battle to the death? Can the roots of Christianity be explained away scientifically? Is Christianity simply a force for evil? This book will be warmly received by those looking for a reliable assessment of The God Delusion and the many questions it raises - including, above all, the relevance of faith and the quest for meaning. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged.