Book of the Month

Great Prayers of the Old Testament. Walter Brueggemann. 142pp. Westminster John Knox, US. $37.00

Many moving prayers can be found in the Old Testament and throughout Scripture. In this accessible volume world-renowned scholar Walter Brueggemann offers his insight and wisdom on twelve prayers in the Old Testament, listening to the biblical text and explaining how these examples of ancient prayer can make prayer come alive for us today. Among the prayers explored are those by Abraham, Moses, Hannah, David, Solomon, Jonah, Jeremiah, Hezekiah, Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, and Job.

The prayers in this volume express joy and lament and show the depths of human experience and the majestic grace of a loving God who hears everything and takes every prayer to heart.

IBRA 2009 Bible reading notes

Words for Today 2009. Nicola Slee ed. 370pp IBRA, UK. $27.00

A lively, fresh, radical approach to the Bible from writers drawn around the globe and many different traditions. A year’s reading notes in one volume. Challenges readers to action.

Light for Our Path 2009. Kate Hughes ed. 371pp.  IBRA, UK. $27.00

These daily notes introduce you to some of the biblical books as a whole, and cover a variety of themes, that reveal the depth, richness and relevance of the Bible for today’s world. An ideal place to start exploring the Bible. 

Seasonal CDs

Click this link to listen to short samples from these CDs

An Australian Christmas. CD Sydney Philharmonia Motet Choir. ABC, Aust. $25.00

The unique spirit of contemporary southern hemisphere Christmas carols is reflected in the stirring recordings on this CD. Featuring one of Australia’s best choirs, this album is bound to inspire any carol lover to sing along. 37 tracks. A must have in this year’s Christmas stocking.

  Christmas A Cappella II. CD Musica Sacra. Atoll, NZ. $30.00

This beautiful album from one of NZ's leading choirs is a sequel to the very successful Christmas A Cappella I (also available at $30), No 1 in the NZ classical charts in 2001. This 2nd CD has 22 tracks, plus 16pp colour booklet with full texts and translations.

Sing in Exultation! CD. Graduate Choir. Atoll, NZ. $30.00

Christmas music is evocative, uplifting and cheerful. The Graduate Choir, conducted by Terence Maskell, sings some of the most enduring pieces of music for this season. 20 tracks.

Jazz Meets Christmas. CD. Juju Song: piano & quartet. Cool Springs, US. $25.00

Christmas favourites, expertly performed in a cool, smooth jazz style. Includes: Joy to the World, Away in a Manger, The First Noel & Silent Night. 12 tracks.

Advent, Christmas, Epiphany titles

Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany: Liturgies & Prayers for Public Worship. Brian Wren. 213pp Westminster John Knox, US. $59.99.

These creative resources include orders of worship and worship elements such as litanies, calls to worship, thanksgivings, affirmations of faith, hymns and sung responses, all crafted to encourage rhythmic public responses during worship. Based on RCL. Also features Scripture, topic and theme indices, and a searchable PDF copy of the book on CD-ROM.

Going Home Another Way: Daily Readings and Resources for Christmastide. Neil Paynter. 141pp. Wild Goose, UK. $39.99.

Resources for Christmastide to help you hear God’s word through the commercialism of the season, the propaganda of the times; and to glimpse the sacred in the secular. May these Bible readings, reflections and resources from Iona Community members and associates be a friend through the joy and euphoria of Christmas and New Year and in-between times.

Light to the Darkness: Lessons and Carols, Public and Private. Katerina Katsarka Whitley. 140pp.            Morehouse, US. $38.00

A new interpretation of the well-loved Advent tradition of Lessons and Carols, that replaces the Old and New Testament readings with first-person dramatic monologues based on these and other passages of scripture. With a reading for each day of Advent, churches can choose pieces for their services of Lessons and Carols, and individuals can use the book for private devotions. Includes music suggestions.

Purpose of Christmas. Rick Warren. hbk. HarperCollins, US. $21.99.

Warren tells the most wonderful story of all, of God come to earth in the form of a human infant. Through stirring imagery and compelling insights, this book celebrates the significance and promise of this cherished festival.

The Meaning is in the Waiting: The Spirit of Advent. Paula Gooder. 107pp. Canterbury Press, UK. $26.99.

This beautifully written Advent companion invites us to explore the season’s central theme of waiting, something we are not good at in our modern culture. A series of reflections inspired by the Bible considers why we need to wait, what it feels like to wait, what happens when we lose patience or hope, and why God might want us to get better at waiting.

Gathering: 2008-09 Advent, Christmas, Epiphany.  A4 copied sheets, 92pp. United Church of Canada $20 + $1.60 p&p single issue. $55 annual subscription for 3 issues.

Resources for worship planners. Includes service outlines, prayers, plays, music and seasonal ideas. This issue covers 30 Nov 2008 to 22 Feb 2009.

Other Advent, Christmas titles featured previously

(Quantities shown were on our selves on 27 January 2009)

• Candles and Conifers: Resources for All Saints' and Advent. Ruth Burgess. $55.00. Wild Goose, UK. (4 copy/ies)

• Hay and stardust: Resources for Christmas to Candlemas. Ruth Burgess. $55.00. Wild Goose, UK. (4 copy/ies)

• Hear My Cry: A daily prayer book for Advent. Ruth Burgess. $29.99. Wild Goose, UK. (9 copy/ies)

• Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus. Paul Wesley Chilcote. $34.99. SPCK, UK. (3 copy/ies)

• In all Senses: Daily Meditations and Prayers for Advent. John Cox. $24.99. Kevin Mayhew Ltd. UK. (4 copy/ies)

• No Stable Too Small: 15 Christmas Plays churches all Sizes. Lois Anne DeLong. $36.00. CSS Pub'g Co. US. (2 copy/ies)

• Igniting Worship Series: Advent & Christmas. Book & DVD. Dottie Escobedo-Frank. $59.99. Abingdon Press, US. (1 copy/ies)

• Forgiving and Forgetting: A Group Study Course for Advent. Nick Fawcett. $19.99. Kevin Mayhew Ltd. UK. (4 copy/ies)

• Rejoicing in Hope: An Advent Study for Adults. James Harnish. $16.00. Abingdon Press, US. (2 copy/ies)

• Simply Wait: Cultivating Stillness in the Season of Advent. Pamela Hawkins. $24.99. Upper Room Books, US. (4 copy/ies)

• From Holidays to Holy Days: Benedictine Walk Through Advent. Albert Holtz. $29.99. Morehouse, US. (1 copy/ies)

• In My Heart I Carry a Star: Stories for Advent. Derek Maul. $28.99. Upper Room Books, US. (1 copy/ies)

• Expecting the Unexpected: An Advent Devotional Guide. Blair Gilmer Meeks. $25.99. Upper Room Books, US. (3 copy/ies)

• Season of Light and Hope: Prayers and Liturgies for Advent and Christmas. Blair Gilmer Meeks. $26.00. Abingdon Press, US. (3 copy/ies)

• Christmas Stories in Faith and Preaching. John Proctor. $14.99. Grove Book Ltd., UK. (10 copy/ies)

• Child of the light: Walking through Advent & Christmas. Beth Richardson. $29.95. Abingdon Press, US. (7 copy/ies)

• On Tiptoes in Expectation: Prayers for Advent, Christmas Donna Schaper. $16.99. Abingdon Press, US. (2 copy/ies)

• Doing December Differently: An alternative Christmas handbook. Nicola Slee ed.. $54.50. Wild Goose, UK. (1 copy/ies)

• Abingdon's Christmas drama collection: 4 short dramas. Georgianna Summers. $12.99. Abingdon Press, US. (1 copy/ies)

• Christmas By Candlelight: Daily readings and reflections. David Thomson. $16.99. Authentic Media, UK. (2 copy/ies)

• Advent Readings from Iona. Brian Woodcock. $28.50. Wild Goose, UK. (3 copy/ies)

• Worship Feast: Advent & Christmas: Complete Worship Outlines. Jennifer Youngman. $35.00. Abingdon Press, US. (5 copy/ies)

• Advent Calendars. Caltime, UK. $7.50 to $14.50
  Ask us about our range of attractive Advent Calendars featuring nativity scenes.

Christmas Childen’s books – featured previously
(Quantities shown were on our selves on 27 January 2009)

• Animal's Christmas Eve.. $4.50. Golden Books, US. (1 copy/ies)

• Christmas caravan (pbk). Jennifer Beck. $16.99. Scholastic NZ. (2 copy/ies)

• Christmas rhymes and carols. Lois Rock. $12.95. Lion Publishing, UK. (1 copy/ies)

• Christmas Story. Lois Rock. $12.95. Lion Publishing, UK. (1 copy/ies)

• Christmas Story: Usborne Bible Tales. Heather Amery. $9.99. Usborne, UK. (2 copy/ies)

• First Christmas: Bible Story Time. Sophie Piper. $9.99. Lion Publishing, UK. (2 copy/ies)

• Gift of the Magi (UK). O. Henry. $29.99. Walker Books, Aust. (7 copy/ies)

• Home For Christmas. Sally Grindley. $17.99. Frances Lincoln, UK. (5 copy/ies)

• Ituku's Christmas Journey (pbk). Elena Pasquali. $17.99. Lion Publishing, UK. (2 copy/ies)

• Little One, We Knew You'd Come (UK). Sally Lloyd-Jones. $29.99. Frances Lincoln, UK. (2 copy/ies)

• Little Owl and the Star Board Book. Mary Murphy. $14.99. Walker Books UK. (1 copy/ies)

• Little Owl and the Star: a Christmas story. Mary Murphy. $17.99. Walker Books UK. (3 copy/ies)

• Marta & the manger straw: a Christmas tradition from Poland. Virginia Kroll. $24.99. Zonderkidz, US. (1 copy/ies)

• My book of Christmas. Lois Rock. $16.95. Lion Publishing, UK. (1 copy/ies)

• My First Christmas Sticker Book. Sally Ann Wright. $9.99. BRF, UK. (1 copy/ies)

• Nativity Story. Geraldine McCaughrean. $27.99. Lion Publishing, UK. (11 copy/ies)

• Room for a Little One: A Christmas Tale. Martin Waddell. $24.99. Margaret K McElderry. (1 copy/ies)

• Sleepy Jesus (Board Book) UK. Pennie Kidd. $12.99. Lion Publishing, UK. (5 copy/ies)

• Tonight You Are My Baby. Jeannine Norris. $22.99. HarperCollins, UK. (3 copy/ies)

• Two Cans of Corned Beef and a Manulele in a Mango Tree. Sarona Aiono-Isoefa. $14.99. Raupo Books, NZ. (1 copy/ies)

• Wombat divine. Mem Fox. $17.99. Scholastic, US. (2 copy/ies)

Other featured titles

Sighs Too Deep For Words: Prayers and Images from Taupo. John Howell. 28pp. St Paul’s Union Church, NZ. $12.50.

These prayers integrate with the landscape of Lake Taupo and the volcanic plateau, drawing on images of nature and connecting with the creator. John Howell is the minister at St Paul’s Union Church in Taupo and together with photographer Albert Aanensen has produced this beautiful little book.

The Spiritual Landscape of Mark. Bonnie B. Thurston. 84pp. Liturgical Press, US. $29.99.

"Thurston invites us to join her on a journey that begins in the wilderness and ends in a garden. On the way she opens our eyes to the significance of the details in St. Mark's story that we so easily miss—details about where events take place—not just in the wilderness and the garden, but in the house and by the sea, on the mountain and in the city.

For Mark, however, the garden of the resurrection is not, after all, the end of the story, but the setting for an invitation to continue the journey into unknown territory. In this book, spirituality is based on sound scholarship. To read St Mark’s story through Bonnie Thurston’s eyes is, as she herself puts it, to make the Gospel dance."  Morna D Hooker, Lady Margaret’s Professor Emerita, University of Cambridge

Te Kawenata Hou: The New Testament. 739pp. The Bible Society in New Zealand. $16.99

Te Kawenata Hou is a completely reformatted version of the 1952 Maori Bible text. New features include macrons, speech marks, paragraphing, section headings and book introductions. The English text presented here is the Good News Translation.

Raupo Essential Maori Dictionary: Te  Papakupu Taketake a Raupo. Maori-English, English-Maori. Ross Calman & Margaret Sinclair. 148pp. Raupo, NZ $19.95

Introductory dictionary for students of te reo Maori. Large type and a simple format make it easy to use. Words are translated into familiar language and simple grammar. Other useful reference material is also included.

Taniwha, Giants and Supernatural Creatures: Traditional Maori Stories Volume 1. A.W. Reed and Ross Calman. 141pp. Raupo, N.Z.$23.00.

For centuries Maori were isolated from the rest of the Polynesian world and subsequently developed a remarkably rich and unique mythology. These stories are not just entertaining; they are a part of every New Zealander's cultural heritage. This book - volume 1 of a series dedicated to Maori stories - contains traditional stories of taniwha and supernatural guardians, monsters, giants, ogres and ogresses and patupaiarehe or forest fairies.

Earth, Ocean, Sky: Traditional Maori Stories Volume 2. A.W. Reed and Ross Calman. 141pp. Raupo, N.Z.$23.00.

Stories of mountains, rivers and lakes, greenstone, trees and plants, animals and insects; stories from the ocean, of fish, shellfish, whales and dolphins; tales of giant birds , and of the heavens – the sun, moon and stars.

Forthcoming in 2009: Maui, Tawhaki and Other Underworld Journeys and Love and Magic

2009 – Year B: Preaching, Worship and Devotional resources

Click here for an exciting list of new and favourite titles to support your work and personal devotions in the coming year: http://www.epworthbooks.org.nz/featured_books/2009_Year_B.htm

Please allow 4-8 weeks for delivery from the time of your order.

Massive 5^th Anniversary Sale

Choose from over 170 books and CDs, most reduced by 70%, all $10 or less.

Click here for the list http://www.epworthbooks.org.nz/stock/sale.htm

Ordering

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