Last Words: approaches to death in NZ’s cultures & faiths. Compiled by Margot Schwass.198pp. Bridget Williams and Funeral Directors Assn, NZ. $29.95

This book discusses ways of acknowledging death in 48 different cultures and religions in New Zealand.

It will be particularly valuable for those who work with death and dying, and is also intended for the New Zealand public.

Fresh, polished New Zealand worship music in a range of styles. 13 contemporary songs for use in church or for personal enjoyment.

Clergy, Retirement, and Wholeness: looking forward to the Third Age. Gwen Wagstrom Halaas. 126pp. Alban Inst. US. $49.95

Retiring well requires planning and effort. Family doctor Halaas offers guidance for ministers and carers to develop and maintain the six dimensions of wellness: physical, emotional, intellectual, social, vocational, and spiritual. Inspirational and encouraging.

Also by Halaas: Right Road: life choices for clergy $32.95.

 

In Heavenly Love Abiding: memoirs of a missionary wife. Patricia Booth. 217pp Sarah Bennett Books, NZ. $34.95.

Born into a Feilding Methodist family, Cath Gifford’s life changed dramatically when she left for India in 1935 to marry Baptist missionary Paddy Eade. A fascinating story of the challenges and adventures of missionary life and of commitment and faith rewarded. (Pat Booth is the treasurer for Wellington’s Downtown Community Ministry.)

Mark for Everyone. Tom Wright. 243pp. Westminster John Knox, US (2001). $31.95.

Wright’s eye-opening comments on the Gospel and what it might mean for us are combined, passage by passage, with his fresh and inviting translation of the Bible text. Making use of his true scholar’s understanding, yet writing in an approachable and anecdotal style, Wright captures the urgency and excitement of Mark’s Gospel in a way few writers have.

Second Intercessions Handbook: more creative ideas for public and private prayer. John Pritchard. 158pp. SPCK, UK. $34.95.

New material for individuals and groups involved in leading prayers in public worship. Pritchard covers mainstream worship, festivals and special events, informal worship for small groups, intercessions with children and young people, as well as personal prayer.

Minister's Manual 2006. James Cox ed. 488pp Hbk. Jossey-Bass, US. $44.95.

A comprehensive resource for preaching and worship, filled with completely new material for 2006. This non-denominational guide has sermons, prayers, insights, and inspiration for all — from pastors and lay leaders to Sunday school teachers and choir directors.

The large format makes it easy to use.

Upper Room Disciplines 2006: a book of daily devotions. 384pp. Upper Room, US. $21.95.

Discover God's hope and purpose for your life. If you need support establishing a daily practice of Bible study and prayer, you'll find valuable help in this classic annual series of daily Bible readings selected from the Revised Common Lectionary.

Also from Upper Room: Journeying Through the Days 2006: a calendar & journal for personal reflection. $29.95.

Prayers to Share Year B: responsive prayers for each Sunday of the Church year. David Sparks. 192pp. Wood Lake, Can. $43.25.

Based on readings from the Revised Common Lectionary, these prayers in inclusive, contemporary language can be used in worship and other church group settings. Includes thematic and scriptural indices.

Testament: the Bible Odyssey. Philip Law. 688pp Continuum, UK. $29.95.

Testament is a highly readable abridgement of the whole Bible, which enables readers to grasp the entire sweep of the Old Testament story as though reading a novel. It also includes all the sayings of Jesus, along with the most powerful and memorable episodes from the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles.

Chasing the leaves: thoughts for the day. Eddie Askew. 56pp many colour paintings. Leprosy Mission, UK. $19.95

Askew invites us all to take a fresh look at the world around us, to see the beauty and to appreciate God’s hand at work. His stories, drawings and watercolour paintings will make you smile, wonder or simply stop and think.

The Bible in Western Culture: the student's guide. Dee Dyas & Esther Hughes. 258pp, Routledge, UK. $36.95

With no prior Biblical knowledge required, this book offers a framework of understanding for those studying Western literature, art, historical events or for those just wanting to improve their general knowledge.

Easy to use and follow, it is the essential guide for those wishing to find out more about the Bible and its impact on the world around us.

and many more.