The Big Church Read Magazine Sept 21

Sept 2021

The whole Church reading the same book at the same time

An enhanced reading experience Read individually, with your small group or whole church Join the author as they lead you through the book

READ

WATCH

DISCUSS

What is the Big Church Read?

The Big Church Read is a way for the whole Church to read the same book at the same time.

Whether that be the whole country joining in one of our 3 National events every year or in your city, town, village, church, small group or on your own.

Each Big Church Read (and there are now nearly 30 of them) has a unique video to go with each chapter of the book recorded by the author so that you can journey through the book with them. Once released all the Big Church Reads are available on the website for ever.

It is great for church leaders because: • All the work has been done for you • It is free!

• It can be done at your own pace: weekly, fortnightly or whatever works for you • You can start when you want We are getting great feedback from church leaders about the impact of doing a Big Church Read. It is drawing people together, helping people grow through reading and reaching people who do not normally join in anything.

The story so far ...

An interview with Steve Barnett. The creator of the Big Church Read.

Where did the idea come from?

Well, around 12 years ago I read in the paper about The Big Thames Valley Read where everyone living in the Thames Valley was encouraged to read Two Men in a Boat over the same 2-week period. The idea was to get people talking to people they would not normally talk to.

It was a eureka moment as I thought that could really work in churches.

What happened next?

We started to encourage church leaders to choose a book they would like their church to read and then run a Big Church Read in their church.

How did it develop into its current format?

During the first lockdown, I was chatting with Andy Lyon of Hodder Faith about what we could do to encourage people to read. We decided to try a National BCR and came up with the idea of creating a video for each chapter so that you read the book with the author. We thought if we could get John Mark Comer or Pete Grieg to do one we would go for it. They both said yes!

How would you describe what a BCR is to someone who has not heard of it before?

A BCR is a brand new concept and sits somewhere between a book club and a course. My dream is that churches would use the books to get their whole church to read the same book at the same time. Then something magical happens as people feel they are part of something everyone is doing!

What if your whole church is not doing the BCR? That is one of the great things about the BCR concept. It is very flexible and can easily be used by one person reading the book, to a small group right up to every Christian in the country at the same time!

Katia Adams, author of Equal

Andy Lyon of Hodder Faith (left) & Steve Barnett (right)

Imagine every Christian in the UK joining together as one.

That is our dream for The National Big Church Read!

Three times a year we are trying to get as many people as possible to read the same book at the same time.

Please get your church, denomination to have a go!

village,

town,

Maybe you could • Get your church involved • Get your small group involved • Get all the Christians in your area to join in

city,

or

The next National Big Church Reads are: • Nov 21‚ Unleashed by Gavin & Anne Calver • Jan 22, The Bible by Andrew Ollerton • May 22 How to Hear God by Pete Greig

Gavin Calver is CEO of the Evangelical Alliance and an ordained evangelist, regular public speaker and author.

Anne Calver is a Baptist minister, speaker and author.

Find out more

Unleashed is the 5th National Big Church Read. Videos released 5th Novemeber 2021.

Join Gavin & Anne Calver as they lead us through Unleashed, presented over 5 sessions with accompanying videos and questions for reflection and discussion.

The early church spread with remarkable speed, impelled

by JOY, URGENCY, profound COMPASSION and the dayto-day experience of working in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Despite opposition at all levels, the first Christians expressed their love and wonder in acts of KINDNESS, WORSHIP and their eagerness to share the GOOD NEWS of the risen Jesus.

Gavin and Anne Calver explore what this extraordinary historical account means for

believers today, including: The Holy Spirit in the life of the Church; taking risks; living together in the power of the Spirit; works and wonders; hearing from God; responding to the call of God; miracles then and now.

As we continue to emerge from the pandemic many churches are reevaluating their priorities and practices. Unleashed is an ideal book to help us explore what the Lord may be calling his Church to in these unprecedented times.

RRP £9.99

Our Price £7.99

Dr Andrew Ollerton is a theologian, pastor and popular communicator who makes complex ideas simple and relevant.

The Bible the 6th National Big Church Read. Videos released January 2022 Join Andrew Ollerton as he explores the storyline of Scripture, connecting six major biblical events with six definitive human needs: meaning, freedom, peace, community, love and for an ultimate home.

In short, digestible chapters, Andrew reveals how the Bible story makes sense of our human story.

Underpinned by a depth of scholarship, the book is non-technical in style, making it accessible for the widest possible readership – including Christians and seekers interested in the Bible. The book will also provide a model for Bible communicators and church leaders wishing to engage more deeply with the relevance of the Bible in our cultural moment.

Discover for yourself a limitless source of guidance and hope in the face of so much uncertainty.

Find out more

How to Hear God is the 7th National Big Church videos released May 2022 After the success of the Big Church Read through How to Pray we are delighted to partner with Pete Greig again to bring you the 7th National Big Church Read through How to Hear God: a simple guide for normal people.

Pete Greig is back to bring wisdom and guidance to one of the most pressing and perplexing aspects of universal Christian experience: How to Hear God. Exploring the story of Christ’s playful, poignant conversation on the road to Emmaus, Pete draws deeply from the insights of a wide range of

Christian traditions. He weaves together the evangelical emphasis upon hearing God in the Bible, and the charismatic commitment to hearing God in the prophetic, with the contemplative understanding of God’s‚ still, small voice’ within.

Nothing could possibly matter more than learning to discern the authentic voice of God, but few things in life are more susceptible to delusion, deception and downright abuse. When life falls apart and we need God’s comfort; in moments of cultural turmoil when we need God’s clarity;

facing formidable decisions when we need God’s guidance; desiring a deeper faith when we need God to say something, anything, to turn the monologue we call prayer into a genuine conversation.

Find out more

Pete Greig is a bestselling author, pastor, and instigator of the 24-7 Prayer movement. He is also the Senior Pastor of Emmaus Rd, Guildford, an ambassador for the NGO Tearfund, and teaches at St Mellitus Theological College in London.

Patrick Regan OBE is the CEO of Kintsugi Hope, and the founder and president of urban youthwork charity XLP.

Find out more

Bouncing Forwards by Patrick Regan Available Now You’ll bounce back How many of us have heard these well-meaning words when faced with mental or physical health challenges, trauma or the loss of dreams? And yet, life’s battles can leave us scarred and changed. Why would we want to go back when what we’ve been through has taught us so much? It’s time to bounce forwards instead.

In Bouncing Forwards Patrick draws on his own journey of making peace with his ongoing anxiety, to look honestly and vulnerably at the temptation to wait for the day when all will be well whilst missing out on what’s happening in the here and now. Exploring resilience, acceptance and emotional agility, Patrick shows how we can find meaning in some of life’s toughest moments and the hope to journey on.

RRP £8.99

Our Price £7.99

Join Patrick Regan as he leads us through Bouncing Forwards over 10 sessions with accompanying videos and questions for reflection and discussion.

How to Pray by Pete Greig Available Now This is your chance to join Pete Greig as he walks you through his book How to Pray over six sessions.

Everyone prays. But no one finds it easy. We all need a little help. Pete Greig has been teaching on prayer – and leading a non-stop prayer movement – for twenty years. Now, for the first time, he puts his life’s work into a response to the question everybody ultimately asks: how do I pray?

From one of today’s most visionary communicators, for those who’ve been praying for years as well as those who want to pray but don’t know where to begin, How to Pray is the simple, life-changing guide you’ve been waiting for.

RRP £13.99

Our Price £8.99

This down-to-earth introduction to life’s greatest adventure will guide you deeper in your relationship with God, helping you to become more centred and still, clearer in discerning God’s voice, more able to make sense of your disappointments and more expectant for miraculous breakthroughs too. It’s full of honest, hard-won wisdom interspersed with real-life stories – some humorous, others moving – to equip and inspire your prayer life.

Journeying through the Lord’s Prayer, Pete unpacks nine essential aspects of prayer: stillness, adoration, petition, intercession, perseverance, contemplation, listening, confession and spiritual authority.

Find out more

“Having many members of my church reading the same book & discussing in groups has been a brilliant thing!”

Singing in Babylon by Jeff Lucas Available Now

Join Jeff Lucas as he leads us through this exceptionally timely book which explores what it looks like to live with second choices – events and circumstances that we would not choose, some trivial, some tragic.

Through 12 sessions Jeff Lucas looks at Daniel, a man whose life was filled with second choices, but he did more than just survive; he stayed faithful to God and thrived. So what is there to learn from his story in Scripture? Jeff challenges readers to ask, “How can we, like Daniel, be faithful in the ‘Babylon’ of second choices?”

With Jeff‘s classic style of down-to-earth inspirational teaching, Singing in Babylon explores how the reader, like Daniel, can find purpose and meaning in life’s second choices.

“I thought the book was brilliant and just what we need in my church at the moment. I have given all PCC members a copy.”

Jeff is a regular speaker at many conferences and churches worldwide. He is a bestselling author of 32 books.

Find out more

RRP £11.99

Our Price £8.99

The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

By John Mark Comer Available Now

Who are you becoming?

That was the question nagging pastor and author John Mark Comer. By outward metrics, everything appeared successful.

But inwardly, things weren’t pretty. So he turned to a trusted mentor for guidance and heard these words: “Ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. Hurry is the great enemy of the spiritual life.”

It wasn’t the response he expected, but it continues to be the answer he needs. Too often we treat the symptoms of toxicity in our modern world instead of trying to pinpoint the cause. A growing number of voices are pointing at hurry, or busyness as a root of much evil. Within the pages of this book, you’ll find a compelling emotional and spiritual case against hurry and in favour of a slower, simpler way of life.

Atius ma cusa cumende nitate re excepel itibus aut

John Mark Comer is the founding pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, the director and teacher of Practicing the Way, and the bestselling author of five books.

Find out more

RRP £9.99

Our Price £7.99

How do we join as a Church or small group?

Taking part is easy. We give you everything you need.

Sign up to the mailing list for the Big Church Read that you’re interested in

Sign up to the mailing list for the Big Church Read you are doing and we’ll send regular updates, including when new video content will be going live, the reading plan and discussion questions.

Encourage people to get involved

Use your church social media, notices and emails to invite your church and the wider community to get involved. You can download the introductory video to post onto your social media or to play in your church service.

Make sure each person taking part has a copy of the book

If members of your congregation are buying their own copies then you can send them directly to our website, or if you’re buying in bulk on behalf of your church, contact us for the very best price (steve@thebigchurchread.co.uk). Alternatively if you have a local Christian bookshop we would encourage you to support them and buy your books there.

Read the chapters

Depending on the Big Church Read you are doing, some books will have one video per chapter; others will span two or three chapters. We’ll provide reading plans so you know what your supposed to be reading and when.

Watch the videos and have a good discussion

It might be that you decide to meet in person if you can now do that safely, or you might prefer to meet online. Either way, choose a time, tell your group and get together to watch the video and discuss what you’ve read & watched. If you’ve got a large group, you may wish to split into smaller groups to give more people the chance to contribute. We’ve put together a set of discussion questions for each session (which will be emailed to you or you can download them directly from the website), which will help kickstart your conversations. It’s amazing what insights other people have and the different perspectives they bring. It’s why the shared experience of reading can be so enriching.

The Facts and the Feedback 91%

100%

34%

Of people said they are planning on doing another Big Church Read

Of people who said they don’t normally finish a book said they read the entire book through the Big Church Read

Of people said they don’t normally read Christian books

151

25

Videos available to watch

Books now available as Big Church Reads

3,219

92%

The Big Church Read has been used in 3,219 different villages, towns and cities

Of people read a traditional printed book

TOTAL TIME WATCHED 183 days, 9 hours, 50 minutes, 17 seconds

“It was a great discussion starter for our housegroup – thank you” “It was reviewed by our group very positively and has greatly encouraged us in our own ways” “A very enjoyable experience” “I did it as an individual and loved the end of chapter questions, it offered me lots of opportunity to reflect” “Loved the book and my prayer triplet found so much excellent material to discuss from each chapter” ”A friend and I joined up on Messenger and spent almost two hours a week” “We have shared lots of things we didn’t know about each other’s testimony. All has been very encouraging!”

“This book has comforted me enormously. Thank you.”

“I really felt I was doing it collectively” “I really enjoyed taking part in this. The book was excellent and I read it twice.”

A Mind of Their Own by Katharine Hill Journey with Katharine Hill as she leads us through A Mind of Their Own. Presented over 7 sessions with accompanying videos and questions for reflection and discussion.

Our children need to learn how to navigate the complex world of the 21st century ­– one full of both opportunity and challenge, potential and risk.

RRP £12.99

Our Price £9.99

In A Mind of Their Own, Katharine Hill discusses the important ways in which parents can nurture their children’s resilience and emotional wellbeing. Honest and practical, with tried-and-tested strategies, it covers key areas including body confidence, dealing with failure and disappointment, school and exam stress, social media, bullying and handling strong emotions.

Katharine Hill LLB JP is UK Director at Care for the Family. She speaks and writes on family matters and is the author of several books.

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Slow Down, Show Up & Pray by Ruth Rice After suffering her own mental health crisis, Ruth Rice set up the Renew Wellbeing charity, which helps churches open safe spaces to help all attend to their mental and emotional health.

Ruth will lead us through her book which is packed full of personal stories, reflective resources and practical guidance. Her book will enable you to maintain your own wellbeing and encourage churches to provide Renew spaces that help local communities journey alongside each other to renew wellbeing.

RRP £9.99

Our Price £8.99 Ruth has a background in teaching and Baptist church Ministry and is passionate about seeing churches turn themselves and their great habits of welcome, care and prayer inside out to reduce isolation and increase wellbeing in every community.

Find out more

www.thebigchurchread.co.uk

God’s Treasured Possession by Terry Virgo Journey with Terry Virgo for 30 days as you follow in the footsteps of Moses! Each short chapter can be read devotionally and the videos from Terry give you additional Biblical insight, pastoral wisdom and encouragement to live out your faith.

Terry Virgo looks at Moses as a key character in the unfolding narrative of God’s Kingdom. A foundational leader of God’s people in the Old Testament, he’s held up throughout the New Testament as a man of God, in spite of his flaws. Yet Moses didn’t always believe what God said about him.

Do you know how God sees you?

RRP £9.99

Our Price £7.99 Terry Virgo is the founder of Newfrontiers.

A well-known Bible teacher, Terry speaks at conferences internationally and has written several books

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A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues

by Martin & Margot Hodson Join Martin & Margot Hodson as they lead us through A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues, presented over 10 sessions with accompanying videos and questions for reflection and discussion.

As you read through A Christian Guide to Environmental Issues Martin and Margot Hodson will consider the key current environmental problems, giving the biblical basis for looking after the environment and helping to integrate environmental thinking into the reader’s understanding of Christian faith.

Dr Martin J. Hodson is a plant scientist and environmental biologist, and operations director for The John Ray Initiative (JRI). Revd Margot R. Hodson is JRI’s director of theology and education and a vicar in Oxfordshire. She is on the boards of A Rocha UK and Grove Ethics Editorial Group.

RRP £9.99

Our Price £8.99

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Music of Eternity: The Archbishop of York’s Advent Book 2021

by Robyn Wrigley Carr. Videos released 28th November This advent join Robyn Wrigley-Carr as she leads us through Music of Eternity, presented over 4 sessions with accompanying videos and questions for reflection and discussion, Robyn Wrigley-Carr will lead us through Music of Eternity as she skilfully weaves together Underhill’s writings with the psalms and short prayers.

Full of rich warmth and encouragement, these Christian meditations will help you make the most of the Advent season and more able to connect with God at all times.

Find out more

Robyn Wrigley-Carr is Associate Professor in theology and spirituality at Alphacrucis College, Australia. As well as being an academic, Robyn is a spiritual director and retreat leader.

RRP £10.99

Our Price £8.99

Hark! The Biography of Christmas by Paul Kerensa In this delightful sleigh ride through Christmas history, Paul Kerensa answers the festive questions you never thought to ask. . . Did Cromwell help shape the mince pie? Was St Nicholas the first to use an automatic door? And did King Herod really have a wife called Doris? Whether you mull on wine or enjoy the biggest turkey, the biggest tree or the biggest credit card bill, unwrap your story through our twelve dates of Christmas past. From Roman revelry to singing Bing, via Santa, Scrooge and a snoozing saviour, this timeless tale is perfect trivia fodder for the Christmas dinner table. Join Paul Kerensa through 6 sessions as you journey through Hark!

Paul Kerensa is a comedy writer and stand-up comedian. He wrote, and briefly appeared in, the television series Miranda. He was a cowriter on the television series Not Going Out. He appeared regularly on the segment Pause for Thought, during The Chris Evans Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2.

RRP £7.99

Our Price £6.99

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Comfort in the Darkness Rachel Turner Join Rachel Turner as she shares nine Bible stories with us, accompanied by videos and discussion questions for the whole family.

Sleep, dreams and the night can be mysterious and sometimes troubling.

Children can be afraid of the dark, have nightmares and night terrors, sleepwalk, or have insomnia. How do we deal with their concerns and fears and help them to draw close to God at night.

Rachel Turner’s retellings of night-themed Bible stories, exploring God’s character and promises, will enable parents to help children grow in peace, confidence and understanding of who God is.

Rachel Turner has been a full-time children’s and families worker and the National Children’s Work Coordinator for New Wine, and continues to consult, speak at conferences and run training days for parents, children and youth workers around the UK and Europe. She is the author of the Parenting Children for a Life of Faith series.

RRP £7.99

Our Price £6.99

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Why Worship? by Tim Hughes & Nick Drake Join us for this shared experience as Tim Hughes & Nick Drake lead us through 12 session exploring the chapters of Why Worship?

What does it mean to be a worshipper? Together, Tim Hughes and Nick Drake explore who, where, why and how Christians worship, what happens when we do and where the future of worship may take us.

With contributions from Graham Kendrick, Lou Fellingham, Kees Kraayenoord, Dr Helen Morris and many more, this book offers a fresh reminder that worship isn’t just music and the songs we sing, it is so much more.

RRP £9.99

Tim Hughes is a worship leader, singer, songwriter, and Anglican priest at Gas Street Church Birmingham.

Nick Drake is director of Worship for Everyone, and an Associate Pastor at St Luke‘s Gas Street Birmingham. And teaches on worship at Worship Central Academy and St Mellitus College.

Our Price £8.99

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7 Ways to Pray by Amy Boucher Pye Join Amy Boucher Pye as she leads us through 7 Ways to Pray.

Presented over 7 sessions with accompanying videos and questions for reflection and discussion.

Amy will lead us through her Seven ways to pray and help us to explore how by looking to ancient prayer practices of Christianity, we can find fresh ways to relate to God today. Discovering these tried-and-tested tools will not only strengthen our relationship with him but will bring us joy, contentment, growth and transformation.

RRP £10.99

Our Price £8.99

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This is a book for anyone who has ever wondered how to pray or is looking for ways to revitalise their prayer lives. It will give you an understanding of some of the oldest prayer practices of Christianity, and equip you with the tools you need to renew and refresh your relationship with God. Amy Boucher Pye is an author, speaker, retreat leader and spiritual director. She runs the Woman Alive book club and writes for publications such as globally recognized Our Daily Bread and Day by Day with God. She has an MA in Christian spirituality and enjoys leading retreats.

Grace-Filled Marriage by Claire & Steve Musters In Grace-Filled Marriage Claire & Steve Musters help us to engage with the reality that marriage is a beautiful expression of love, yet it can also sometimes cause us pain. We need God’s help and grace to navigate this most precious of relationships well.

Join Claire & Steve for the Big Church Read through Grace-Filled Marriage as they honestly share their own story of rebuilding a marriage after loneliness, betrayal and separation as well as telling the stories of other couples who have faced specific challenges such as infertility, physical and mental ill-health.

Whether you want to lay good foundations in your marriage or feel you are struggling and need help, the Big Church Read through Grace-Filled Marriage will encourage you that God has a new portion of grace and mercy for you each day.

Claire Musters is a writer, speaker and author of several books. She leads the worship team and women‘s ministry at her local church, where Steve Musters leads the eldership team. Together they are passionate about seeing people fulfil their potential in Christ.

RRP £9.99

Our Price £8.99

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Equal by Katia Adams Join Katia Adams as she leads us through Equal. Presented over 10 sessions with accompanying videos and questions for reflection and discussion, Katia will help us to explore the often heated debate over what the Bible Says about women, men, and authority. Can women and men both lead, or are they designed for different roles?

Katia argues that the Church has, too often, misrepresented the heart of Jesus to release and empower both women and men. With sensitivity to both sides of the argument, Katia draws on the wisdom of Scripture, theology and the Holy Spirit. Blending them with her own personal experiences, she asserts that both women and men are equally called to serve and lead in the Church and in the world and that, by restricting the roles of women, we are missing God’s design for the Church and for the gospel’s impact on the earth.

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RRP £11.99

Our Price £9.99

Born in the Middle East, Katia Adams is a co-director of Frequentsee, a ministry aimed at resourcing and mentoring Churches and Church leaders around the world. In addition to teaching on theological courses and at church conferences and leadership events internationally, she is also a medical doctor, wife to Julian Adams, and mother to two busy children.

A Call to Act

by Martin Charlesworth and Natalie Williams Join authors Martin Charlesworth and Natalie Williams as they lead us through their inspiring, challenging and practical book A Call to Act. Equip yourself and your church with practical ways to enable your day to day lifestyle to reflect the Biblical calling to live justly and to care for those most in need. A Call to Act provides practical advice and solutions, and insight to understand what the Bible teaches about those most in need in our society (and around the world), and how the Church can help.

Martin Charlesworth lives in Shrewsbury with his wife Jane and has three grown-up daughters. Prior to leading Jubilee+, Martin led Barnabas Community Church. Natalie Williams used to work as a journalist in London and is now the Communications Coordinator for Jubilee+, as well as overseeing communications and social action for King’s Church, Hastings.

RRP £11.99

Our Price £9.99

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How do I join as an individual?

Taking part is easy. We give you everything you need.

Sign up to the mailing list for the Big Church Read that you’re interested in

Sign up to the mailing list for the Big Church Read you are doing and we’ll send you all that you need to take part, including when the videos are released and the reading plan and questions for reflection.

Get yourself a copy of the book

All the Big Church Read books are available to purchase on our website, often at fantastic prices. Alternatively if you have a local Christian bookshop we would encourage you to support them and buy your books there.

Read the chapters

Depending on the Big Church Read you are doing, some books will have one video per chapter; others will span two or three chapters. We’ll provide reading plans so you know what your supposed to be reading and when.

Watch the videos, read the questions for reflection

Once you’ve read the portion of the book, watch the corresponding video. Each session has questions for reflection and discussion (which will be emailed to you or you can download them directly from the website). Take time to pray and reflect on what you have read and watched.

Chew over the material in your mind and listen to what God might be saying to you.

www.thebigchurchread.co.uk

Comfortable Words by Bishop Steven Croft ‘Comfort, O comfort my people, says your God…’ Through six sessions, Steven Croft examines what these ‘comfortable words’ have to say to us. Each reflection begins from a passage of scripture taken from Isaiah 40–55: the song of an unnamed prophet who sings at the end of the exile to call God’s people home. The prophet sings of love and forgiveness, of new hope and strength in God, to rekindle courage in the hearts of God’s people. The prophet sings of a new kind of leadership, based on humility and gentleness. The prophet sings to tell us not to be afraid even in the face of death. These are comfortable words the whole world needs to hear afresh in this season.

RRP £7.99

The Rt Revd Dr Steven Croft is the Bishop of Oxford. He has a passion for mission and evangelism and for finding creative ways of sharing the gospel, and is the co-author of the Emmaus and Pilgrim courses, both of which seek to help people engage with the Christian faith.

Our Price £6.99

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The Contemporay Woman by Michele Guinness Join Michele for 6 weeks as she leads us through The Contemporary Woman. At a time when the status of women is still being debated and challenged, how can women play a leading role in society, the workplace and the church?

In this all-embracing, honest reflection on womanhood Michele uses her own upbringing in the Jewish community to re-examine the views and counterviews on the role of women throughout the Christian tradition and culture, drawing inspiration from scripture, history and personal experience.

RRP £14.99

Michele Guinness was brought up in a practising Jewish family, and is married to a retired Church of England minister.

She is a writer, regular broadcaster and speaker. Michele has worked in the UK media for many years. She retired to concentrate on writing and speaking and regularly contributes to local radio, and a number of magazines.

Our Price £9.99

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And Yet by Rachael Newham Join Rachel Newham as she leads us through And Yet, presented over 6 sessions with accompanying videos and questions for reflection and discussion.

In the depths of depression and plagued with suicidal thoughts, Rachael never thought she’d find herself writing a book on joy. And yet, if her journey with mental health illness has taught her anything it is that true, deep, lasting joy can only be experienced when we allow ourselves to enter into lament and be honest about our pain before God.

RRP £10.99

Our Price £8.99

With forty reflections split over six sections And Yet is the perfect daily Lent devotional for 2022, but its undated readings can be used for periods of prayerful reflection throughout the year. This is a beautiful Christian book on lament ideal for anyone looking to better understand how the tradition of lament and joy work together, and how they can make them a part of their everyday spiritual formation.

Rachael Newham is Mental Health Friendly Church Project Coordinator at Kintsugi Hope. She writes and speaks nationally about mental health and faith and is a regular columnist for Premier Youth and Children‘s Work magazine.

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Living His Story by Hannah Steele In Living His Story, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 2021, Hannah Steele uncovers liberating and practical ways of sharing the gospel story afresh. With warmth and encouragement, she shows us how we can live Jesus’ story in our own lives simply by being the people God made us and allowing people to be drawn to him through our natural gifts.

Join Hannah Steele as she leads us through Living His Story, the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book for 2021 in 6 sessions.

RRP £9.99

Our Price £8.99

The Revd Dr Hannah Steele is Director of St Mellitus College, London. Alongside her academic work, Hannah has spent time engaged in mission and evangelism among students in central London as a staff worker with UCCF.

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The Discipline of Intimacy by Charlie Cleverly Join Charlie Cleverly as he leads us through The Discipline of Intimacy.

Presented over twelve chapters with accompanying videos and questions for reflection and discussion, readers will be introduced to practical and biblically rooted ways to experience the intimacy with God they have longed for and will have the tools to cultivate a life that is characterised by this closeness.

The Discipline of Intimacy is for anyone seeking help to develop their relationship with God, particularly where once-passionate hearts may have lost their spark. Charlie Cleverly points to the activities of Christians around the globe and presents evidence that the Holy Spirit is pouring out a spirit of prayer in the world, and yet few Christians have anything but a vague idea of the power of prayer; fewer still have any experience of that power.

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RRP £11.99

Our Price £9.99

Charlie Cleverly, along with his wife Anita, until recently lead St Aldates Church in Oxford, one of the most influential Churches in the UK. A regular speaker at Christian festivals and author of several bestselling books, Charlie is seen as a spiritual mentor to many leaders in the Church.

The Gospel According to a Sitcom Writer

by James Cary In this sparklingly witty book, BBC sitcom writer James Cary gives us a new and liberating way of looking at the gospel as he entertainingly relates it to a modern context. Cheerfully playing around with the text, he takes the Bible seriously but allows us to laugh at our own petty vanities and foibles – and be enlightened in the process.

Join James for 7 weeks as he leads us through The Gospel According to a Sitcom Writer. Sign up below to receive the reading plan, discussion questions and links to the videos.

James Cary is a writer of situation comedy for BBC TV (eg. Miranda, Bluestone 42) and Radio (Think the Unthinkable, Hut 33) and is also a member of the House of Laity of the General Synod for the Church of England for the Diocese of Bath & Wells, he has a degree in Theology from the University of Durham.

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RRP £10.99

Our Price £8.99

Deep Calls to Deep by Tony Horsfall The book of Psalms offers honest insights into the reality of life with God, reflecting every human emotion and situation. Through looking at some of the psalms written ‘from the depths’, we can understand more fully the way in which God is at work to shape our characters and form the life of Christ within us during difficult times.

RRP £8.99

Our Price £7.99

Join Tony Horsfall as he offers reflections drawn from selected psalms to guide us as we begin to make sense of our own history with God, and also points us to how we can get to know God better here and now, preparing us for whatever may lie ahead. Deep Calls to Deep speaks to those who are ‘passing through the valley’. It will also be helpful to anyone who desires a deeper walk with God, as well as those who accompany others on their Christian journey as mentors, soul friends or spiritual directors.

Tony Horsfall’s writing reflects his own spiritual journey and his passion to see those in Christian ministry develop and nurture their inner life so that they can be fruitful and effective for God, and sustain themselves over the long haul of ministry.

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All Things New by Pete Hughes Starting in Genesis and working through the scriptures, All Things New will take you on a journey into the very heart of God and His relentless passion to redeem lives, heal the nations, rewire the culture, and bring renewal to all of creation.

As we immerse ourselves in the greatest story ever told we find our ultimate sense of belonging, our purpose in the present and our hope for the future. We become actors in this unfolding drama, pushing forward God’s purposes for the world and joining his mission to make all things new.

RRP £11.99

Our Price £9.99

To accompany each of the 21 chapters is an inspirational video from Pete Hughes as he leads you through the book.

Pete Hughes, along with his wife Bee, leads Kings Cross Church (KXC), a new church in central London reaching people in their 20s and 30s.

A regular speaker at festivals and conferences across the UK and beyond.

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The Big Church Read has been used in 3,219 different villages, towns and

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www.thebigchurchread.co.uk

Contact us: steve@thebigchurchread.co.uk