Gratitude and Grace: The Writings of Michael Mayne offers an overview of the five bestselling books by one of the United Kingdom's finest spiritual writers, Michael Mayne, who served as dean of Westminster Abbey from 1986 to 1996. Mayne's primary vocation was that of pastor, not writer, but his deep pastoral wisdom shines through in his books. Though clearly Christian in orientation, Michael Mayne's books were written to appeal to all who are on a quest to integrate spirituality into their daily lives. Gratitude and Grace: The Writings of Michael Mayne is the first book-length treatment of Mayne's writings and will remain the starting point of Mayne studies for years to come. Book jacket.

Boundless Love provides a detailed survey of the scholarship on Luke 15:11-32, the parable of the Prodigal Son--arguably the best loved and most familiar of Jesus' parables. Readers will find key insights regarding the teachings of the parable from leading experts on the Gospels including William Barclay, Kenneth Bailey, Fred Craddock, Luke Timothy Johnson, Henri Nouwen, Pheme Perkins, and N.T. Wright. Part I of this volume offers students of the Bible a firm grasp on the scholarly consensus regarding the parable's historical, literary, and theological contexts, as well as its wide-ranging applicability in today's world. Part II focuses on the exploration of the parable's potential contributions in discussions of reconciliation and draws on the insights of authors such as Annie Dillard, Sam Keen, Desmond Tutu, and Miroslav Volf. Boundless Love is thoroughly accessible and will appeal to both general readers and specialists.

This is the first of a three-volume lectionary resource that weaves together a rich tapestry of quotations, meditations, poems, and prayers by classic and contemporary spiritual writers. Each volume links with the lectionary readings for Sundays and for important festival days such as Christmas, Easter and Pentecost. Anyone who is concerned with preaching on Sunday, or leading study groups or prayer groups during the course of the week, can find here something to feed personal reflection, to stimulate ideas for sermon themes, and to provide stories and poems as well as prayers that in some way relate to the biblical readings for the day concerned.

As Ronald Blythe writes in his Foreword, ‘This keenly argued book confronts today’s fashionable cynicism and despair, and thus has a message for the current moment when the experience of ageing, or the environment, or of those complex skills and emotions which go into the creation of poetry or stories or music, are all distorted or ignored in favour of what is called “reality”, but where the highest thought and achievement are concerned, is not at all real.’Michael Mayne is one of the greatest Anglican priest-writers. His genius was to stir the reader to sit up and see, to notice the world as if for the first time. This Sunrise of Wonder is a collection of letters written over 20 years ago for his two grandchildren, Adam and Anna, that beautifully and memorably expresses Mayne’s vision of life. For him, to be human is to learn to be attentive, to recognise the mystery of people and of things. Learn how to see, he tells us, for to see is the beginning of wonder. He quotes from the poet Alastair Reid: ‘Amazement is the thing. Not love, but the astonishment of loving.’

Radical political thought of the 20th century was dominated by utopia, but the failure of communism in Eastern Europe and its disavowal in China has brought on the need for a new model of utopian thought. This book thus seeks to redefine the concept of utopia and bring it to bear on today's politics. The original essays, contributed by key thinkers such as Gianni Vattimo and Jean-Luc Nancy, highlight the connection between utopian theory and practice. The book reassesses the legacy of utopia and conceptualizes alternatives to the neo-liberal, technocratic regimes prevalent in today's world. It argues that only utopia in its existential sense, grounded in the lived time and space of politics, can distance itself from mainstream ideology and not be at the service of technocratic regimes, while paying attention to the material conditions of human life. Existential Utopia offers a new and exciting interpretation of utopia in contemporary culture and a much-needed intervention into the philosophical and political discussion of utopian thinking that is both accessible to students and comprehensive.

Combining the skills of a leading biblical scholar with the wisdom derived from years of pastoral experience in guiding vocation and ordination training, Richard Burridge invites you to explore four key facets of Christian ministry, viewed in the brilliant light of the four gospels’ portraits of Jesus’ life and work: Teaching Pastoral care Suffering Prayer

The Anglican Communion is the third largest Christian denomination and claims a membership of some 80 million members in about 164 countries. Given that there are only around two hundred countries in the world, this makes the churches of the Anglican Communion the most geographicallywidespread denomination after Roman Catholicism. The 44 essays in this volume embrace a wide range of academic disciplines: theological; historical; demography and geography; and different aspects of culture and ethics. They are united in their discussion of what is effectively a newinter-disciplinary subject which we have termed "Anglican Studies". At the core of this volume is the phenomenon of "Anglicanism" as this is expressed in different places and in a variety of ways across the world.This Handbook covers a far broader set of topics from a wider range of perspectives than has been hitherto attempted in Anglican Studies. At the same time, it doesn't impose a particular theological or historical agenda. The contributions are drawn from across the spectrum of theological views andopinions. It shows that the unsettled nature of the polity is part of its own rich history; and many will see this as a somewhat lustrous tradition. In its comprehensive coverage, this volume is a valuable contribution to Anglican Studies and helps formulate a discipline that might perhaps promotedialogue and discussion across the Anglican world.

Most of us think that theology is what you do if you haven't got a life. At best, we think it needs to be practical to be of any use. But theology is in fact all about life and how we live it as God's people. No matter how theology-phobic you feel, David Hoyle is here to help. Using the familiar pattern of the church year, he explores the core building blocks of Christian theology, and what each one means for how we live. He covers: - God as ruler and judge of all (Advent) - The incarnation (Christmas) - Forgiveness (Ash Wednesday) - Redemption (Good Friday) - Resurrection (Easter Day) - The Holy Spirit (Pentecost) - God as creator (Trinity) - The kingdom of heaven (All Saints) By working through the entire year, readers will explore all the core Christian beliefs found in the Apostle's Creed, making this an ideal guide for anyone wanting to better understand what they say in church.

Parson's Porch Books is excited to announce the publication of the new American edition of Michael Mayne's This Sunrise of Wonder. This Anglican classic will captivate readers with its warm humanity and endearing and pulsating spirituality. Michael Mayne, one of the greatest Anglican priest-writers, was Head of Religious Programmes, BBC Radio; Vicar of Great St. Mary's (the University Church), Cambridge; and Dean of Westminster Abbey. His last book, The Enduring Melody, was published a few days before his death in October 2006. He was also the author of A Year Lost and Found, Learning to Dance, and Pray, Love, Remember.

This carefully edited historical collection has been designed and formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. This study presents the myths, beliefs and customs of the indigenous peoples in North America. This collection is comprised of many bodies of traditional narratives associated with religion from a mythographical perspective. Contents: The Myths of the North American Indians Myths of the Cherokee Myths of the Iroquois A Study of Siouan Cults Outlines of Zuñi Creation Myths The Mountain Chant - A Navajo Ceremony