Book of the Month

Building God’s Own Country: historical essays on religions in New Zealand. John Stenhouse, Jane Thomson eds. 278pp $39.95 Univ. of Otago, NZ.

The essays in this collection show that religious beliefs have had an important historical influence on our society. Settlers in New Zealand did not leave their religious identities, beliefs and values behind.

Religious movements and groups have always played a part in the social and political life of New Zealand, while many ‘religious’ issues have generated considerable discussion both within and outside of the churches.

Other featured books

Earthly Farewell: a funeral planning guide. Hilary Hudson. 123pp $32. Priory Press, NZ.

NZ celebrant and broadcaster Hudson offers practical and sensitive advice for planning a funeral.

This helpful book covers:

•  Advice  on wills and trusts

•  Catholic, Anglican and Congregational ceremonies and inter‑denominational rituals

•  Formats for civil funerals

•  Advice on funerals in difficult circumstances

•  A selection of readings and hymns, and examples of eulogies and life narratives.

Spirit Abroad: a second selection of New Zealand spiritual verse. Paul Morris, Harry Ricketts & Mike Grimshaw eds. 247pp $39.95. Godwit, NZ

The 130 poems in this wide-ranging collection explore our continuing struggle to articulate our identity. Some poets have found the heart of our collective conscious-ness in affluent suburbs, others have located our soul in baches on beaches, in the bush or in the roads to Parihaka and Bastion Point. New Pacific and Asian voices are also now being heard. The poems challenge and celebrate our diversity.

Also available: Spirit in a Strange Land: a selection of New Zealand spiritual verse (2002) $39.95

The Grief Book: strategies for young people. Elizabeth Vercoe, Kerry Abramowski. 208pp $19.95. Black Dog, Aust.

This is a book of practical ideas to help you or somebody you know move through grief and loss. The authors let young people know that even in their darkest hours they are not alone.

The large print, effective design and crisp writing will encourage young people to read this book. But the advice and encouragement offered will work equally well for adults.

Looking after your ageing parents: a family affair. Prue Miller. 188pp $29.95 Allen & Unwin, Aust.

Written with love, respect and a touch of irreverence, Miller shows the insight of someone who’s been there in this practical but entertaining look at what lies ahead for us all.

She covers family relationships, coping with hospital and medical treatments, helping a parent to stay at home, choosing aged care, and the events that surround and follow death.

While it details Australian medical/community services and statistics, NZ readers will easily identify with the good advice in this book.

Biodiversity & Ecology: an interdisciplinary challenge. Denis Edwards, Mark Worthing eds. 160pp $39.95 ATF, Aust.

Our planet faces several significant ecological crises. Loss of biodiversity is occurring in both agricultural and wilderness areas, and these issues affect human life. The contributors to this book (including Celia Dean-Drummond) examine the fascinating interface between biodiversity and theology.

Labyrinths and Prayer Stations. Ian Tarrant, Sally Dakin 28pp $12.95, Grove, UK.

Many churches have experimented with prayer journeys or labyrinths in which a number of prayer stations are visited in sequence.

The authors explore this approach to worship, emphasising the stations and the prayer that goes on at each one. Readers are encouraged to design their own prayer journeys. Includes successful examples to copy or adapt.

Advent reading from Upper Room

Lighted Windows: Advent reflections for a world in waiting. Margaret Silf 160pp $31.95 Upper Room, US.

Join Silf on a 37-day pilgrimage from the first day of Advent through Epiphany. Each daily meditation includes a:

•  a brief scripture passage

•  a thought-provoking commentary

•  guidance through a spiritual exercise, and

•  a closing prayer

This is an invitation to connect the God-story with your story and your circumstances in a way that makes a difference; so that ‘God with us’ becomes ‘God with you.’ For readers who want to make the Advent journey with a group, Lighted Windows contains a five-session, small-group discussion guide within the book.

Setting the Christmas Stage: readings for the Advent season. John Indermark 128pp $29.95

The Christmas story as a pageant, showing how Advent moves the drama forward to the climax of Christmas.

On the Way to Bethlehem: reflections on Christmas for every day in Advent Hilary McDowell. 160pp $31.95

Travel imaginatively to Bethlehem: thrust off unnecessary emotional baggage, smell the hay in the stable and interact with the wise men. Six weeks of meditations.

Manger and Mystery: an Advent adventure. Marilyn Brown Oden 128pp $29.95

Recover the simplicity of the stable, rekindle the sacredness of the Advent season, remember the song of Mary, reclaim and follow the star.

While We Wait: living the questions of Advent. Mary Lou Redding. 136pp $29.95

Group Advent study connecting participants with their own faith questions.

In Stock – 2005 / Year A Annuals and resources

We now have these resources for ministers and pastors in stock:

 ·         Abingdon Preaching Annual 2005, Abindgon, $ 44.95

·         Abingdon Worship Annual 2005: Contemporary and Traditional Resources for Worship Leaders, Abingdon, $ 54.95

·         Augsburg Sermons 3: Gospels, Series A, Augsburg Fortress, $39.95

·         Augsburg sermons for children: Gospels Year A , Augsburg Fortress, $27.95

·         Living Stones: Year A Complete Resource Book by Susan Sayers, Kevin Mayhew, UK, $72.95 Sunday school lesson material for ages 3-14 starting with Advent 2004

·         Lectionary & Calendar 2004-2005. Year A Matthew (Yellow) , Methodist Church of NZ, $3.00

·         Texts for preaching: Year A: a lectionary commentary based on the NRSV, Westminster John Knox, $74.95

·         Minister's Manual: 2005 Edition, Wiley-Jossey-Bass, $49.95

·         Zondervan 2005 Pastor's Annual: An Ideas and Resource Book, Zondervan, $42.95

And we have plenty of these resources for personal devotional reading now in stock:

·         Upper Room Disciplines 2005 now $26.96

·         Light for our Path: now $26.95

·         Words for Today: now $26.95

Click here to view the full list of the Annuals we can offer you and order form on our web site www.epworthbooks.org.nz/featured_books/2005_Year_A.htm

Please email us sales@epworthbooks.org.nz if you would like an Annuals order form posted to you.

Mail order - our speciality

We enjoy locating and supplying books from New Zealand and overseas for our customers. We can provide books on any topic – not just religious titles. Please contact us for a price and time to deliver next time you need any book or music CD.