The Upper Room Disciplines 2018


Book Description

Faithful users appreciate this best-selling devotional guide as an insightful, grounding, and must-read devotional for spending daily time with God. Fifty-three writers from diverse Christian backgrounds invite you to immerse yourself in scripture and apply its truths to your daily life. Each daily reading offers a selected Bible reading drawn from the Revised Common Lectionary a thoughtful reflection on the scripture passage a prayer or suggestion for reflection In addition to a weekly overview of scriptures and questions for small-group or individual reflection, Disciplines contains an appendix of the lectionary readings for 2018 as well as morning, midday, and evening prayers. Writers for 2018 include Junius Dotson (Foreword), Mary Lou Redding, Willie James Jennings, Amy Oden, Jan Richardson, Hannah and Andy Dreitcer, Anne Broyles, Safiyah Fosua, Jim Melchiorre, Max O. Vincent, Pam Hawkins, and Marshall Jenkins.




The Upper Room Disciplines 2021


Book Description

How important is it to have a daily spiritual routine? "When we engage in daily spiritual formation, we deepen our roots . . . and grow our capacity to handle any season of life," Junius Dotson wrote in the 2018 edition of The Upper Room Disciplines. Daily devotional reading helps keep our faith alive. Disciplines invites readers to spend unrushed time with God, reading a lectionary-based scripture passage, reflecting on the author's insights, and thinking about how to apply the truths from the readings to their daily life. This devotional book features 53 authors from diverse backgrounds, including some of the leading Christian thinkers of our time. Among the writers for 2021 are J. Dana Trent, James A. Harnish, Enuma Okoro, Jean-Claude Masuka, George Donigian, Beth A. Richardson, Kenneth H. Carter Jr., D. L. Mayfield, Stephane Brooks, Rachel Hackenberg, Rosalind Hughes, Memory Chikosi, Liz Magill, Charity Kiregyera, Joe Pennel, and Beth Taulman Miller.




Emmaus Ministries Community Manual


Book Description

This resource takes the place of both The Upper Room Handbook on Emmaus and The Upper Room Handbook on Chrysalis. It explains the ins and outs, and the whys and hows of all four Upper Room Emmaus Ministries—The Walk to Emmaus, Chrysalis, Face to Face, and Journey to the Table. The Emmaus Ministries Community Manual provides a comprehensive overview and explanation for the Emmaus movement and all of the ministries, both from theological and technical perspectives. The handbook answers many questions and offers insight into the reasons behind the design of Emmaus Ministries and the accompanying procedures.




This Is My Body


Book Description

Kneeling at the Communion rail, Hannah Shanks trembled as she received the bread and cup. Hours before, she had discovered she was pregnant. She heard the familiar words—"The body of Christ, broken for you; The blood of Christ, shed for you" as if for the first time. She remembered Jesus' words: "This is my body." Shanks realized that these words not only describe Jesus' death but also apply to every birth that has taken place. Suddenly, she felt a closer connection to God. This Is My Body is organized around the framework of Communion, a central act of the Christian faith. Part personal narrative and part reflection on scripture from a woman's point of view, this book is about finding a new relationship to the acts of Christian community through the experiences of a woman's body, including pregnancy and childbirth. Though the book centers on women's experiences, it offers an opportunity for women and men to consider how they too might be freed in the gospel proclamation, "This is my body; This is my blood." The author approaches motherhood with an understanding of its sacred nature and its profound ability to change her identity. She battles church stereotypes attached to mothering and emerges with a deeper understanding of herself and her relationship to the Holy.




A Guide to Prayer for All Who Walk with God


Book Description

This book, the fourth in The Upper Room’s bestselling “Guide to Prayer” series, offers a simple pattern of daily prayer built around weekly themes and organized by the Christian church year. Each week follows this pattern: Affirmation Psalm Psalm Prayer Daily Scripture Readings Silence Daily Reading Reflection (Silent or Written) Prayers Offering of Self to God Blessing The daily readings are drawn from the history of Christian spirituality and feature such writers as Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Avila, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Henri J. M. Nouwen, Sue Monk Kidd, Douglas Steere, Jan Richardson, Trevor Hudson, Wendy M. Wright, and many others. Beautifully bound in a leather-like cover, A Guide to Prayer for All Who Walk with God makes a perfect gift and a reliable companion for anyone seeking to deepen a steady life of prayer.




Rally


Book Description

"This is a prayer book for revolution—a revolution of love and compassion and justice," Shane Claiborne writes in the foreword. The prayers in this collection are meant to be prayed in community. Rally is a prayer book for faith communities searching for words to respond to the injustices around them. It's a prayer book for Christian activists who believe in putting feet to their prayers. The book supplies words for concerned Christians who yearn to lift their voices to God about such issues as racism; the abuse of power and privilege; mistreatment of migrants and refugees; lives tragically lost; our violent society; white supremacy; and people being marginalized because of their gender, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, or economic status. Rally contains prayers for perpetrators, for loving our bodies, for listening to one another, for those who have been wounded by the church. In this resource, readers will find prayers that evoke hope and connection, guidance for sifting through the news and social media headlines, laments about destruction of the earth, and pleas for loving alike though we don't think alike. The beauty of this book lies in the rich variety of voices and experiences of its writers—leaders who work at the intersection of Christianity and social justice and who want to resource those who gather to lament the needs and celebrate the possibilities of a better world. "Lord, stir us up to holy action," cries this powerful book. Rally spurs people to compassionately continue the important work of loving God and neighbor until all of God's people feel safe and seen.




Upper Room Worshipbook


Book Description

Included features in the new Upper Room Worshipbook: - Praise to God-in-three-persons, the Trinity - Biblical vision of Shalom and Sabbath for an emerging Church - Prayer reflecting the full, honest, emotive range of the Psalms - Word-soaked and image-rich texts which are foundational, evocative, and formative - Music which is delightfully varied in origin and style, yet accessible - Songs which pray for aching creation and peoples yet embody the expectancy of healing and restoration - Eucharistic joy in community, expressed in fresh language Use this volume to relate to others who seek a structured way of daily deepening their faith through prayer and mediation. Target: - The UR Academy of Spiritual Formation - Persons who practice daily prayer of the hours - Prayer groups - Churches that stress spiritual formation as a primary means of deepening a life in the spirit




Brave Church


Book Description

In today's deeply divided world where discussions can quickly become heated and uncivil, churches need to learn how to talk about sensitive issues. Our society needs brave churches where people can talk about the real struggles they are experiencing without fear of being dismissed, shamed, or judged. Brave Church helps congregations talk about controversial topics with sensitivity to those who see the world and have experienced life differently from themselves. It guides readers to think through how they can foster conversations about such challenging topics as infertility/miscarriage, mental health, domestic violence, racism, and sexuality. In this 6-week small-group study, pastor Elizabeth Hagan weaves personal and theological reflections with scripture, discussion questions, and real-world examples to move readers from exploration to action. Brave Church includes a Leader's Guide and suggests resources for further reading and action.




The Upper Room Disciplines 2017


Book Description

Many Christians identify daily time spent with God as their most valuable spiritual habit. The short yet thoughtful meditations in The Upper Room Disciplines can help you feel God’s presence and strengthen your faith. Fifty-three writers share insights on scripture and guide you to spend time reflecting on God’s messages for you. Each simple one-page devotion includes a selected Bible reading a meditation on the scripture passage a prayer or suggestion for reflectiony Nourish your spirit, find daily inspiration, and discover the joy of friendship with God with these devotions.




The Lord's Prayer


Book Description

Much more than a formula, the Lord's Prayer teaches us about our relationship with God and with one another. Rediscover Jesus' great gift of the Lord's Prayer phrase by phrase in this 6-week study tailored for individuals with busy lifestyles and for small groups. Short daily readings and reflection questions accompany each week's reading. The Leader's Guide section outlines weekly group meetings and provides Going Deeper activities. Book jacket.