Camden Theological Library
Whats New : October 2019
| View Online |
New books for October 2019 Camden Theological Library has added a number of new books to our collection during the month of August. These books are now available for loan and are currently on display in the Library, near the circulation desk. Several of these books are highlighted below. A full listing of all new items can be viewed here. Discipleship by Nick Moore The Letter to the Hebrews has a whiff of Marmite about it, including as it does both warm encouragements and stern warnings – and is therefore often neglected in churches. This engaging study explores the shape and themes of the letter, including the image of desert wanderings and tabernacle, Jesus as High Priest and the readers as a priestly people. It will give the reader a fresh enthusiasm for this important New Testatment text. by Scot McKnight The Jesus Creed is Scot McKnight’s bestselling book, a remarkable summary of what biblical Christianity is at its core: Loving God and Loving Others. It fosters a practical understanding, appreciation of and application of Christian formation in grace and love toward God and Neighbour. by John L. Bell & Graham Maule Singing a new song is not an optional extra, but a faithful response to a divine command. This command is the opening phrase of Psalms 96 and 98. And, St John the Divine says, this is what the saints in heaven are doing all the time.But, on earth, things are not so easy. Sometimes it’s because the latest new song in the old hymnbook is two centuries old. Or the congregation has been told by some sadist that it ‘doesn’t sing well’. Or sometimes the organist can only play what s/he hears on the radio. Or the guitarist can do anything, as long as it’s only three major chords. However, even in such dire straits, the divine command has to be obeyed.So what if we kept familiar tunes – hymn tunes or folk tunes – and set words to them in 21st-century idioms? What if we gave some ancient psalms a makeover, replaced threadbare wedding and funeral songs or dealt with the things that people actually talk about when they’re not in church? And what if most of the suggested tunes were so well known that – even if musicians took the huff – people could still sing the verses on their own?What if you looked under the covers of this book and began to upset the quiet of the place in which you are presently standing by beginning to hum?This book amounts to a modest proposal from the Wild Goose Resource Group on how to make the most of minimal congregational song resources in an accessible and resilient way. by Christian Wiman A poet and a man of strong Christian faith meditates on life, death and being an artist after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and describes how he dealt with the creeping doubts and the increasing pain. 40,000 first printing. by Kate Bowler “A divinity professor and young mother with a Stage IV cancer diagnosis explores the pain and joy of living without certainty. Thirty-five-year-old Kate Bowler was a professor at the school of divinity at Duke, and had finally had a baby with her childhood sweetheart after years of trying, when she began to feel jabbing pains in her stomach. She lost thirty pounds, chugged antacid, and visited doctors for three months before she was finally diagnosed with Stage IV colon cancer. As she navigates the aftermath of her diagnosis, Kate pulls the reader deeply into her life, which is populated with a colorful, often hilarious collection of friends, pastors, parents, and doctors, and shares her laser-sharp reflections on faith, friendship, love, and death. She wonders why suffering makes her feel like a loser and explores the burden of positivity. Trying to relish the time she still has with her son and husband, she realizes she must change her habit of skipping to the end and planning the next move. A historian of the “American prosperity gospel”–the creed of the mega-churches that promises believers a cure for tragedy, if they just want it badly enough–Bowler finds that, in the wake of her diagnosis, she craves these same “outrageous certainties.” She wants to know why it’s so hard to surrender control over that which you have no control. She contends with the terrifying fact that, even for her husband and child, she is not the lynchpin of existence, and that even without her, life will go on. On the page, Kate Bowler is warm, witty, and ruthless, and, like Paul Kalanithi, one of the talented, courageous few who can articulate the grief she feels as she contemplates her own mortality” by Gerhard Lohfink Gerhard Lohfink breaks open its strange phrases like “hallowed be thy name,” its off-putting language like “Father” and “kingdom,” and its apparently harsh demands like forgive us as we have forgiven those who hurt us–all to shed light on Jesus’ original words and their meaning. By probing what the prayer meant for Jesus and his first disciples in their world Lohfink calls us to allow the Our Father to break open our own minds and hearts to its infinite invitation and challenge for our time and for all ages. by Meredith Gould In Desperately Seeking Spirituality, sacred spelunker and sociologist Meredith Gould, combines practical wisdom with lived experience to explain why and when traditional practices don’t work for today’s seeker and then how to choose ones that will. In short, easy-to-read chapters and with characteristic wit, Gould provides counsel for reframing perception to discover the sacred in everyday life. This guide is for self-identified seekers who have tried some, many, or even all the classic spiritual practices and then, given up on them when they stop working. In Desperately Seeking Spirituality, Gould invites readers to embrace a broader definition of practice that shifts focus from doing to being. by Angela D. Schaffner Revealed: What the Bible Can Teach You About Yourself presents a unique look at a familiar cast of biblical characters through the eyes of a psychologist. While weaving in her personal story of healing, Schaffner uses her professional background to expertly highlight themes of seeking simplicity, finding purpose, and navigating painful and emotional experiences. Comprised of compelling, relatable stories, Revealed makes the Bible come alive to readers in a personal and meaningful way. Through an in-depth look at the hearts of well-known biblical characters, Schaffner explores ways readers can relate to these cherished stories in their own spiritual lives, acknowledging that everyone shares the common experiences of being pulled toward external measures such as wealth, achievement, and affirmation from others. The author challenges readers to face the reality of their hearts and begin an inward journey of renewal, listening for God’s voice in unlikely places–and through unlikely people. Readers will see themselves more clearly through the lens of scripture and ultimately experience deeper self-awareness and spiritual growth. by Amy-Jill Levine Examines Jesus’ most popular parables and looks at how they have been misinterpreted and misunderstood, seeking to make them more relevant to today’s readers. by C. Christopher Smith In today’s highly charged social and political environment, we often don’t know how to talk well with others–especially with people whose backgrounds differ from our own. C. Christopher Smith shows how church communities can be training hubs where we learn to talk with and listen to one another with kindness and compassion. The book explores how churches can initiate and sustain conversation, offers advice for working through seasons of conflict, suggests spiritual practices and dispositions that can foster conversation, and features stories from several congregations that are learning to practice conversation. by Richard Rohr Drawing on history, theology and psychology, a globally recognized ecumenical teacher paints a new portrait of Jesus Christ, dispelling preconceived notions of culture, nationalism and even Christianity and providing readers with a broad and science-friendly spiritual perspective. by Sally Dakin Christian spirituality is about the human response to the God who reveals himself in many and various ways. And examining how we respond in prayer can help us to understand, reframe and perhaps reinvigorate our very relationship with God. This illuminating guide aims to get prayer out into the open, offering practical steps to help Christians examine their practice and belief in order to grow in connection to God, to one another and to the hungry, thirsty world around us. Mission by Joanna Collicutt, Lucy Moore, Martyn Payne and Victoria Slater When families experience bereavement and loss, it can be hard for the wider church community to know how best to support them. In this book, four experienced authors and practitioners offer intergenerational approaches for engaging with questions of death and life in a safe and supportive setting. The material guides church communities who are dealing with the death of loved ones and other situations of loss in talking together as a church family, in applying the Christian message of the resurrection in challenging situations, and in listening to each other and developing their own insights. The opening chapters offer an easy-to-read overview of issues of death and dying, and why this is such an important topic for churches. Part 2 consists of a series of five short theological reflections, exploring traditional images and the language that Christians have always used when talking about death. The five Messy Church sessions in Part 3 continue these themes, each offering material for a two-hour all-age Messy Church service followed by a meal together. by Lee Roorda Schott Messy, raw, and real aren’t the words most of us use when we say what’s good about our churches. But what if they were? Author Lee Schott found out, serving a beautiful church inside the Iowa women’s prison. A lifelong church person, she discovered more church, and greater faithfulness, in this most unlikely setting, with room for people the church has often overlooked. She shares the lessons she has learned there, with the hope that church leaders outside of prison might be inspired, equipped, and encouraged to loosen the fetters that keep our churches so closed off. We’ll explore church characterised by honest relationship, protection of the vulnerable, radical welcome, and healthy boundaries. Practical application for the local church context and discussion questions for group study are included throughout. by Christopher C. Walker Chris Walker explores the message of Jesus looking for the metanarratives that will guide Christians as they seek to be faithful in the midst of a pluralistic, multi-faith environment. With his usual, faithful and perceptive scholarship, Walker focusses on what are the irrevocable truths that form the undeniable foundation of the Christian faith for this age. by Olu Brown 4D Impact takes a critical/inspirational look at four aspects of 21st century church ministry: Culture, Hospitality, Worship, and Technology . by Leah D Schade Preaching in the Purple Zone is a resource for helping the church understand the challenges facing parish pastors, while encouraging and equipping preachers to address the vital justice issues of our time. by John Frederick The topic of the Internet is vastly underrepresented in the current literature on the intersection of technology and theology. Studies on Internet theology are certainly viewed as a topic of “special interest,” relevant—it might be thought—only to eccentric academics and tech geeks. Yet, this book contends that there is no topic more pertinent to our daily walk as contemporary followers of Jesus Christ than the theological implications of the Internet. The twelve essays of this volume, though standalone pieces, also work in conjunction to investigate the themes of community and character formation in the digital realm. A host of interrelated sub-themes are represented in the book, including the application of patristic theology to contemporary Internet praxis, a demonology of the Internet, virtue ethics in cyberspace, and studies that consider the implications of Internet technology on aesthetics, personhood, and the self. Together, the chapters work toward a collaborative, constructive, cruciform theology of the Internet. The Internet is more than a supplementary component to our personal lives; rather, it is a medium of vital connection for the digital communion of the saints through the HTML of cruciform love. The church of us vs. them : freedom from a faith that feeds on making enemies by David E. Fitch We are living in angry times. No matter where we go, what we watch, or how we communicate, our culture is rife with conflict. Unfortunately, Christians appear to be caught up in the same animosity as the culture at large. We are perceived as angry, judgemental, and defensive, fighting among ourselves in various media while the world looks on. How have we failed to be a people of reconciliation and renewal in the face of such tumult? Claiming that the church has lost itself in the grip of an antagonistic culture, David Fitch takes a close look at what drives the vitriol in our congregations. He traces the enemy-making patterns in church history and diagnoses the divisiveness that marks the contemporary evangelical church. Fitch shows a way for the church to be true to itself, unwinding the antagonisms of our day and making space for Christ’s reconciling presence in our day-to-day lives. He offers new patterns and practices that move the church beyond making enemies to being the presence of Christ in the world, helping us free ourselves from a faith that feeds on division. by Karina Kreminski Do we have a positive theology of the city so that an urban spirituality can emerge from this place? We have for too long focused on quick fixes, pop up churches, and strategic solutions which have left us malnourished and emaciated, yet bloated from our over-consumption of these unsatisfying approaches. Spiritual formation is something that we need to pay closer attention to today. How do we live this kind of holy life in the city? by Anna Brooker, Andrew Dunlop In contexts marked by deprivation and decline, how can dioceses or deaneries turn around the prevailing narrative that churches do not grow? This case study examines how a creative reimagining of church organization, local collaboration and vision has led to regrowth and missional vigour in formerly worn out and isolated congregations. It argues that a mixed-economy approach to ministry can nurture diverse and healthy ecosystems, as traditional forms of church are pruned and revitalized, and new expressions take root and grow Leadership by Mary Scifres The Abingdon Worship Annual is lectionary-based and follows the calendar year (January – December). It offers fresh worship planning resources for all who plan and implement weekly worship. Worship leaders “need to offer prayers, prepare an order of worship, select music, and even prepare a sermon. Into that weekly task, we offer this resource to strengthen your ability to lead creatively and prepare consistently.” Liturgies and prayers are also included for New Year’s Day, Ascension Day, All Saints Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Eve. Using a theme based on the lectionary readings from the Common English Bible, each week’s offering of prayers and litanies follows a basic pattern of Christian worship:Invitation and Gathering Proclamation and Response Thanksgiving and Communion Sending ForthThe Abingdon Worship Annual is a must-have source book offering countless opportunities for planning meaningful and insightful worship. by Alastair Mckay There is a prevailing culture of ‘niceness’ within churches which can lead to conflict avoidance, suppression and denial. Consequently, ministers and church leaders often struggle to handle tensions, difference and competing demands within their congregations. Drawing on practical theology, conflict theory, family systems theory and experience, Bridgebuilding will help church ministers and church members find more fruitful ways of engaging with tensions and conflicts in the life of the Church. It offers numerous practical tools for transforming conflict into opportunities for personal and corporate growth. by R. Robert Creech Experienced pastor and seminary teacher R. Robert Creech helps pastoral leaders increase their effectiveness by applying family systems theory to congregational life and ministry. Creech introduces readers to the basic concepts of Bowen Family Systems Theory, applies family theory to the work of ministry in church settings, and connects systems thinking to the everyday aspects of congregational ministry, such as preaching, pastoral care, leadership, spiritual formation, and interpreting biblical texts. Each chapter contains discussion questions, and there are five helpful appendixes with supplemental information about Bowen theory. by Tanya Linn Bennett The Abingdon Preaching Annual 2020 is a source of inspiration and edification for pastors – who so rarely are on the receiving end of preaching. by Justin A. Irving This book brings the best of leadership theory and research together with biblical reflection and examples of leadership in action to offer a practical guide to Christian leaders. Combining expertise in leadership studies and biblical studies, Justin Irving and Mark Strauss explore how leadership models have moved from autocratic and paternalistic leader-centred models toward an increased focus on followers. The authors show how contemporary theories such as transformational leadership, authentic leadership, and servant leadership take an important step toward prioritising and empowering followers who work with leaders to accomplish organisational goals. Irving and Strauss organise their book around “nine empowering practices,” making it accessible to students, church leaders, and business leaders. Integrating solid research in leadership studies with biblical and theological reflection on the leadership ideas that are most compatible with Christian faith, this book is an important resource for all Christian students of leadership. by Steven Morris Following the departure of a vicar, it can be difficult for churches to adapt to the new climate of change, opportunity and challenge. Interim ministry may provide an answer. This thoughtful booklet examines the emerging pattern of a temporary, fixed-term minister who steps in to guide a congregation through vacancy. Far from merely holding the fort, effective interim ministry can invigorate a parish, preparing it to hit the ground running when a new incumbent starts. by Matthew Caminer While the term ‘clergy spouse’ might carry overtones of the traditional vicar’s wife, diverse gender roles and career options mean that there is no longer a single blueprint for being married to clergy. In this fluid context, it is vital for clergy spouses to be grounded in the authentic truth of who they are. This practical guide offers tools to explore and embrace core identity, and to examine day-to-day reality of what it is to be a clergy spouse. It unpacks the choices that are open and outlines the conversations to have as a couple to enable flourishing and safeguard well-being. by Joel B. Green Designed to empower preachers as they lead congregations to connect their lives to Scripture, Connections features a broad set of interpretive tools that provide commentary and worship aids on the Revised Common Lectionary. This nine-volume series offers creative commentary on each reading in the three-year lectionary cycle by viewing that reading through the lens of its connections to the rest of Scripture and then seeing the reading through the lenses of culture, film, fiction, ethics, and other aspects of contemporary life. Commentaries on the Psalms make connections to the other readings and to the congregation’s experience of worship. Other by Joanna Macy Deepening global crises surround us. We are beset by climate change, fracking, tar sands extraction, GMOs, and mass extinctions of species, to say nothing of nuclear weapons proliferation and Fukushima, the worst nuclear disaster in history. Many of us fall prey to despair even as we feel called to respond to these threats to life on our planet. Authors Joanna Macy and Molly Brown address the anguish experienced by those who would confront the harsh realities of our time. In this fully updated edition of Coming Back to Life , they show how grief, anger, and fear are healthy responses to threats to life, and when honoured can free us from paralysis or panic, through the revolutionary practice of the Work that Reconnects. New chapters address working within the corporate world, and engaging communities of colour as well as youth in the Work. The Work that Reconnects has spread around the world, inspiring hundreds of thousands to work toward a life-sustaining human culture. Coming Back to Life introduces the Work’s theoretical foundations, illuminating the angst of our era with extraordinary insight. Pointing the way forward out of apathy, it offers personal counsel as well as easy-to-use methods for group work that profoundly affect peoples’ outlook and ability to act in the world. by Loretta Graziano Breuning Anxiety is natural. Calm is learned. If you didn’t learn yesterday, you can learn today. It’s not easy, of course. Once your natural alarm system is triggered, it’s hard to find the off switch. Indeed, you don’t have an off switch until you build one. Tame Your Anxiety shows you how. Readers learn about the brain chemicals that make us feel threatened and the chemicals that make us feel safe. You’ll see how your brain turns on these chemicals with neural pathways built from past experience, and, most important, you discover your power to build new pathways, to enjoy more happy chemicals, and reduce threat chemicals. This book does not tell you to imagine yourself on a tropical beach. That’s the last thing you want when you feel like a lion is chasing you. Instead, you will learn to ask your inner mammal what it wants and how you can get it. Each time you step toward meeting a survival need, you build the neural pathways that expect your needs to be met. You don’t have to wait for a perfect world to feel good. You can feel good right now. The exercises in this book help you build a self-soothing circuit in steps so small that anyone can do it. Once you learn how it’s done, and how it can help ease your anxiety, you will learn how to handle situations in which you feel threatened or anxious. Understanding the underlying mechanisms will help you stop them before they get ahead of you. by Adrian Brown Science and religious faith are often pitted against one another, with science offering a ‘true’ and universal way of describing the world, and Christian faith relegated to the margins of personal experience. This engaging study, born out of long experience and careful reflection, demonstrates the more positive relationship between the two, in which they both share key aspects of method and use of language, and offer complementary and inter-dependent explanations of the world we live in and experience. Anyone who is a part of the Uniting Church in Australia or a student at United Theological College is eligible to join the library and access our resources for free. If you are not yet a member and would like to join, please contact us on 02 8838 8940 or library@nswact.uca.org.au. Camden Theological Library Centre for Ministry 16 Masons Drive North Parramata NSW 2151 61 2 8838 8940 https://nsw.ctl.stacksdiscovery.org/ |
제공 = Camden Theological Library
크리스천라이프 편집부