Biblical lessons from a lifelong bird-watcher
John Stott
Candle Books (1999) £8.99 ISBN 1859852726

John Stott combines his passion for birds and his talent for biblical teaching to produce a book that would make a delightful gift. Liberally illustrated with his own colour photos of birds from every continent, these ‘essays in orni-theology' address several themes including faith, repentance, self esteem, joy, freedom and love. The basis for this is found in the command of Jesus to, ‘Behold the birds of the air!' translated by Stott as ‘watch birds!' I particularly like the chapter on joy, which likens birdsong to the desire of Christians to sing praise to God. The concluding chapter carries an important caveat - that we need to be aware of Jeremiah's warning of a possible return to pre-creation chaos, darkness and devastation and resolve to "protect and preserve our unique, God-given environment, and enjoy its ‘bio-diversity', not least its fascinating birds."

Alison Judd

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Claire Disbrey
BRF (2004) £7.99. ISBN 1841011843

This is a book written by a Christian, for Christians, about the other major world religions. It allows the members of these faiths to speak for themselves so that we are able to appreciate what we have in common and what keeps us apart. In this way the author hopes that we will be in a better position to speak to those of other faiths about Christianity. Relating to other faith communities is good for social harmony, part of our Christian mission and a privilege.

Compiled by Christian Aid
Church Publishing House (2004) £5.99 ISBN 0715140213

This is a little gem of a book, which, as its title suggests, is small enough to fit into a pocket or handbag. It is a collection of prayers from many different countries and traditions and a source of inspiration for those working for justice and reconciliation around the world - to be used at any time or place.

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Photographs 1985-2005
by Mark Howard
Base 25 Editions, 4 Knollys Road, London SW16 2JZ, Tel. 020 8769 9281; Email: sales@base25.com ISBN 0954978900

Mark Howard has worked as a designer and photographer for over twenty years, in which time he has travelled extensively both privately and on commission. This book brings together a selection of images from that period. Magnet readers will be familiar with a number of these since we are privileged to have in Mark, a designer who shares our values and many of his photographs have appeared in our issues. In the forward to the book he points out that in his encounters with people all over the world he has learned that there is a commonality between us all, despite our circumstances. He also speaks of the resourcefulness, resilience and dignity that inspire over one billion people born into poverty. The pictures reflect both these aspects.

This book would make an excellent gift. To obtain a signed copy, please send a cheque/PO for £15.00 plus £1.95 p&p made payable to ‘Twenty-Five Educational', to Base 25 Editions (address above) or buy on line at www.amazon.co.uk

Gay and Lesbian Clergy on Holiness and Life Together.
Jeffrey Heskins
SCM Press (2005) £14.99 ISBN 0334040035

The Church has problems when it comes to sex and sexuality. There is only one subject more difficult than gay sex and that is gay sex among the clergy. Jeffrey Heskins has spent a lot of time interviewing both gay and lesbian ministers in the Anglican Church. He himself is ‘straight' but he shows a lot of insight into the difficulties faced by those in ministry who are not. He makes a very strong plea for listening to gay people, indicating that the church is good at talking about the subject but less good at listening to the people concerned. The chapters follow the wording of the marriage service and show just how difficult it is for gay and lesbian clergy to remain at ease within the established Church. Although written from an Anglican perspective this is a book which might be helpful reading for every minister and those church members who have difficulty with the whole subject of faith and sexuality.

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Peter Hobbs
Faber and Faber (2005) £10.99 ISBN 0571217184

This first novel is unusual. It is in the form of the private journal of a young blacksmith and Methodist lay preacher in the late 19th century and written in a very unsophisticated, ungrammatical style. For this reason it is not always an easy read, but it does give an insight into the tremendous faith and undoubted struggles of early Methodist preachers who had to work very hard to earn a living as well as fulfilling their calling. It is a moving love story between the leading character Charles Wenmouth and Harr, a very sick young woman he visits whose death puts his faith to the test. Peter Hobbs has the ability to paint pictures in words which bring to life both the beauty of the 19th century landscape of the south west of England and the harsh realities of life at that time.

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Opening up to a limitless faith
Ann Robertson
Morehouse Publishing (2005) £7.99 ISBN 0819221783

The author begins from her own experiences of God and then describes how each of us builds our own "God-box". This is our own way of understanding God which is filled with bits of scripture, wisdom from here and there and our experience of God at work in our lives. But to say that our experience of God is the only valid one is to put a lid on the box and create an idol. This book is about examining our God-boxes and bursting them wide open. It starts with the ministry of Jesus, who blew the lid off everybody's God-box by constantly challenging his followers with the unexpected. Other chapters examine the God-boxes we create with scripture, worship and political and social agencies. This is a very honest, thought- provoking book which challenges readers to recognise other people's experiences of God and calls us to a spiritual balance in a world marked by extremism.

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McCrimmons
(see below for ordering details and prices)

PowerPoint^TM Presentations: A set of three CD-ROMs depicting stories and themes from scripture. The Advent and Christmas Story (vol.1); The Lent and Easter Story (vol.2); and The Old Testament (vol.4) are all beautifully illustrated by the Benedictine Sisters of Turvey Abbey; Themes from the Lent and Easter Season (vol.3) is illustrated by Sr Mary Stephen CRSS while The Power of the Spirit (vol.5) is illustrated by Sr Sheila Gosney RJM.

Prayer Poster Set: A set of ten full-colour laminated posters by Sr Mary Stephen CRSS, the images from which are currently being used on the Pray without Ceasing web-site. They are soon be included on Volume 6 of the Spirit of Light series.

These visual resources for study, prayer and meditation will be a very valuable asset to individuals, churches or teachers with PowerpointTM facilities.

Order from: McCrimmons 10-12 High St., Great Wakering, Essex SS3 OEQ Email: sales@mcrimmons.com; tel: 01702 218956. CD-ROMs Vol 1: ref SPLV1. Vol.2: ref SPLV2. Vol.3: ref SPLV3. Vol.4: ref SPLV4. £24.95 plus £4.37 vat (each). Prayer Posters: ref PP10. Set of 10 posters £29.95 plus £5.24 vat. Individual posters £4.95 plus 87p vat. (minimum order 4)

The Family Friendly Churches Trust
c/o Rev Dr Mike Bossingham, Wesley Manse, Town Street, Upwell, Wisbech PE14 9AD
01945 772456 Mail@FamilyFriendlyChurches.org.uk www.familyfriendlychurches.org.uk
Price £22 (including postage); Can be ordered through the website or by post.

This CD-ROM contains the words of over 300 popular public domain hymns in Powerpoint format which will be a useful tool for churches with this facility. The photographic backgrounds have been carefully chosen to enhance the meaning of the words and not distract from them. Where the words vary in different denominations the trust has created alternative versions of the hymn so that Methodist, Anglican or United Reformed hymnbooks can be used in tandem with the Digital Hymnbook. My only reservation about this hymn-book is that all the hymns are very traditional. However, it is early days and I understand that, following an on-line vote on the favourite hymns of young people, another CD-ROM will be produced in the near future.

Sister Dorothy Hincksman Farrar (1899-1987) and the evolution of women's ministry in Methodism.

The Wesley Historical Society Annual Lecture delivered in Teignmouth Methodist Church on Monday 27 June 2005 by Dr John A Hargreaves B.A. M.A FRHistS

Order from: Church in the Market Place Publications c/o Rev. Robert Davies, 93 Lockerbie Close, Cennanon Brow, Warrington WA2 0LT. Available from above address at £5 per copy + 75p p&p. Cheques to be made payable to Church in the Market Place Publications. ISBN 1899 147 500

Dorothy H Farrar has been described as a woman of remarkable intellect and profound spirituality who possessed gifts as a pastor, preacher and teacher - qualities which made her one of the outstanding women Methodist leaders of the twentieth century. This study explores the formative influences that shaped her life and ministry and reassesses her contribution to the evolution of women's ministry in British Methodism. An inspiring preacher, she became the first woman to preach at the Methodist Central Hall, Westminster; the second woman to be elected to the office of Vice-President of Conference and the sole woman Methodist representative in the conversations for Anglican Methodist Re-union from 1956 to 1963. We owe a lot to this formidable woman.

A resource for reflection, worship and personal prayer
Pat Marsh
Inspire (2005) £5.99 ISBN 1 85852 2978

In her latest collection of poems, writer and retreat leader Pat Marsh explores the Easter story from the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to the empty tomb and beyond. She puts us into the shoes of those who witnessed the unfolding drama, in a style which allows us to get right to the heart of the matter. She uses words which are direct, uncomplicated, very descriptive and moving. This book is an excellent resource for Holy Week and beyond.

Daily Bible Readings with Christian Aid
Peter Graystone
Canterbury Press (2005) £14.99 ISBN 1853115967

The daily Bible readings and reflections in this collection were originally published day by day on Christian Aid's website - they have been reworked and updated to form a complete year's programme of readings, but they can be begun at any time of the year. They reflect the fact that Christian Aid's work among the world's poorest people is rooted in the teachings of the Bible. For each day there is a reading, something to think about, something practical to do and a prayer. All royalties from the sale of the book go to Christian Aid.

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70 Celebrity Recipes for a Fairer World
Compiled by Vicky Bhogal
Simon & Schuster UK (2005) £9.99 ISBN 07432 7598 5

Produced in conjunction with Oxfam and the Fairtrade Foundation
This book can be purchased from Oxfam shops and has been produced in support of the Make Poverty History campaign. It encourages the use of fairly-traded goods and, as George Alagiah says in his introduction, the recipes are about "culinary indulgence without the guilt trip". The recipes are from a wide range of celebrities, many of whom are connected with the food industry and they range from ‘lite bites' to ‘posh nosh'. The section I particularly like is ‘Chocoholics Corner'! The proceeds from the sale of this book go to projects to promote long-term food security, sustainable agriculture and the development of Fair Trade around the globe.

Practical and Liturgical resources for Lent and Holy Week
Ruth Burgess and Chris Polhill
Wild Goose Publications (2005) £12.99 ISBN 1901557871

There is a wealth of material in this book for use during the Lent and Easter season, both for group worship or for personal reflection: a Lent discipline for those who care about the environment, liturgies, stories, stations of the cross sermons, monologues and songs, with some all-age resources. Writers include Iona Community members, associates and friends. Enough material to last for a few years to come and of the quality we have come to expect from Wild Goose Publications.

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Brian Ogden
The Leprosy Mission (2005) Book £3.50 Puppet £6.50. Special offer book and puppet together £8.99 ISBN 0902731572
TLM Trading Ltd., 9 Holkham Road, Peterborough PE2 6TE Tel. 0845 166 2253

When Jo-Jo is sent a splendid elephant puppet called Jaya, she soon realises that her new present is special. At bedtime Jaya starts to talk to her and so begins a whole series of ele-fantastic bedtime tales. Jo-Jo's aunt and uncle visit her school to help the children learn about Jaya's homeland, India and all kinds of wonderful things happen as a consequence. This is an ideal book for parents to read to children or for young readers to read by themselves. They will learn how they can make a difference. To accompany the book, Jaya the puppet has been hand-made in a special workshop in Tamil Nadu, South India. All the women who work there have had an illness that has left them with some kind of disability, but they have all managed to learn a new skill such as puppet-making to support their families.

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New monasticism and the ancient art of breathing
Andy Freeman and Pete Greig
24-7 TITLES (2007) £6.99 ISBN 9781842913307

This is the continuing story of the 24-7 prayer movement and the effect of prayer on many of our city centres and beyond. Called the Boiler Houses, the community prayer rooms are a refuge for many who find a place of safety to express their relationship with God in surprisingly creative ways. They are inspired as they wait on God. The authors compare the progress over a few years with their discoveries about the saints and founders of the monasteries and see similarities in the pilgrim life lived at the feet of Jesus, being of service to all those who cross the threshold. There are astounding stories as they rely on God to show them where to be and how to be. In London there is a prayer room on the site of John Wesley’s first chapel. This is an extremely readable and inspiring book with suggestions of how to allow God to lead us onward in the 21st century. It is based on the community’s Rule, to be true to Christ, to be kind to others and to take the gospel to the nations.

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A Christmas Companion
Andrew Barr
Lion (2003) £9.99 ISBN 0745951260
Following on from the popularity of the previous BBC Songs of Praise tie-in books is this Christmas companion. Andrew Barr draws on bible passages, poems, prayers, hymns and inspirational stories from Songs of Praise. Accompanied by full colour photographs the text follows the journey from Advent, through Christmas and on to Epiphany. The book could be used for daily reflection during Advent and would make an inspiring and attractive gift for Christmas.
Christine Hickox

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Science and Religion in the Fullness of Life
Stephen Jay Gould
Vintage (2002) £7.99 ISBN 0099284529

Gould has written brilliant essays on many aspects of science, especially his own fields of geology, zoology and evolution. In this book he sheds light on a dilemma that has plagued people since the Reformation - can science and religion be reconciled to one another? Instead of having to choose between them, he convincingly proposes the ‘golden resolution' that accords dignity and distinction to both. In doing this he delves into the history of science, with stories of figures such as Galileo and Darwin, and concludes that science defines the natural world and religion our moral world. Even in this contentious field he manages to retain a humorous edge that keeps the book both engaging and entertaining. It's a ‘good read'!
Christine Hickox

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Compiled by Su Box and Felicity Henderson
Illustrations by Jan Barger
Lion (2004) £4.99 ISBN 0745948030

This is a re-issue of a collection of poems and prayers about the way we treat people, wildlife and the countryside around us. It includes contributions from people of different ages and cultures, including writers such as JRR Tolkien and Archbishop Desmond Tutu, their thoughts, concerns and dreams for the future of our world. A very useful resource book for teachers, worship leaders and for private meditation.

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A ten-session course exploring Christian discipleship and membership in the Methodist Church
Brenda Woods
Methodist Publishing House (2004) £16.95 ISBN 1858522404 Normal 0 MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";}

This is an attractive and easy-to-use programme for group study, which is intended for those who want to deepen their faith and think further about Christian commitment. The author, a Methodist minister, who leads local and national retreats, is a member of the ‘Spirituality and Methodism' group. The course is flexible and interactive and includes a leader's booklet and handouts that can be copied.

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