ORBooks Fall/Winter 2018-19

DEEPLY ROOTED RESOURCES FROM THE UPPER ROOM

Fall & Winter 2018–2019

WHAT’S NEW FROM THE UPPER ROOM? Contents

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NEW SMALL-GROUP release

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SMALL-GROUP resources

8

ADVENT resources

13

DEVOTIONAL resources

16

PRAYER resources

24

OLDER ADULT resources

30

LENTEN resources

34

HENRI NOUWEN resources

35

COMPANIONS IN CHRIST resources

36

SPIRITUAL CLASSICS

38

SPIRITUAL GIFTS resources

40

INSPIRATIONAL resources

46 CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILY resources 49

AUDIOBOOKS

52

SHORT READS

55

HOW TO ORDER from The Upper Room

THANK YOU for your support. Your purchases and donations help sustain our ministry.

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The Upper Room® is a global ministry dedicated to supporting the spiritual life of Christians seeking to know and experience God more fully. We are dedicated to supporting your spiritual formation—to help you cultivate spiritual practices for Christlike living.

How can we help? By connecting you with theologically sound, historically grounded content and experiences that will help teach, guide, and support your spiritual practices. This catalog offers a comprehensive look at our resources that encourage and strengthen your spiritual growth. Come explore the possibilities with us.

Blessings, THE UPPER ROOM STAFF Each day The Upper Room shares new stories and other features that will help you find deep, meaningful time with God. Join us today at UpperRoom.org.

Find your

PERSONAL CONNECTION

to The Upper Room

MAGAZINES & BOOKS The Upper Room daily devotional guide El Aposento Alto devozine Pockets Upper Room Books

PROGRAMS Chrysalis Discovery Face to Face Journey to the Table The Academy for Spiritual Formation Walk to Emmaus

EXPERIENCES The Upper Room Chapel The Upper Room Museum The Upper Room Bookstore The Living Prayer Center eLearning

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NEW SMALL-GROUP STUDY

LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION Conversations with Jesus Matthew Croasmun We often think of Jesus as someone with all the answers. But over and over in scripture, he asks questions, seeking to engage with people and being genuinely interested in their responses. Matthew Croasmun challenges readers to consider this book as an experiment—an opportunity to see whether God is real.

He invites us to enter into conversation with Jesus by answering the questions Jesus asks in scripture.

The goal is not to come up with what we think are the right answers but to respond honestly to Jesus’ questions.

Each chapter of this 6-week study contains 5 readings. Each reading follows this format: • A Bible passage with a question Jesus asks in bold type • A short reflection designed to help you engage with Jesus’ question as he asked it in the Gospels and as he asks it of you now • Space to continue the conversation with Jesus

Is this book for you?

“ If this whole encountering God thing sounds crazy, consider this an experiment. Consider this book an opportunity to see whether God is real. Try it out and see whether Jesus meets you in these questions he asks.” —Matthew Croasmun PAPERBACK $9.99 978-0-8358-1799-8

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eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1801-8

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1800-1

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CHURCHWIDE STUDY

WHICH WAY, LORD? Exploring Your Life’s Purpose in the Journeys of Paul Rob Fuquay As Christians, we hunger to know and live out God’s purposes for our lives.

This 6-week study will help you understand God’s desire for your life by unpacking your experiences alongside those of the apostle Paul.

Discover how to discern and follow God’s leading, explore ways God can use you and your life experiences, respond to God’s signals, endure hardships and doubts, and persevere with hope and faith. Rediscover the truths that you are wonderfully made, created for purpose, and equipped to live a life of significance. Join others in a study that will help you find your purpose.

THE BOOK INCLUDES: • Exploration of biblical stories about the life and missionary journeys of Paul • Learning to discern and follow God's will • Servant Spotlights—stories from Christians who discerned and lived out God’s purpose for them THE DVD INCLUDES: • 6 sessions filmed in Turkey, Israel, and Greece. Fuquay explains the significance of various locations in Paul’s missionary journeys.

• Age-level guides for children, youth, and adults.

PAPERBACK $9.99 ENLARGED PRINT $9.99 978-0-8358-1702-8 978-0-8358-1703-5

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1705-9 978-0-8358-1704-2

DVD $39.99 978-0-8358-1706-6 eCOURSE $22.00 eLearning.UpperRoom.org

For more information on this study, visit WhichWayLord.UpperRoomBooks.com

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CHURCHWIDE STUDY

TAKE THE FLAG Following God’s Signals in the Race of Your Life Rob Fuquay A 7-week study that uses the flags from auto racing as a way to discuss different aspects of our life of faith. This series helps you understand God’s signals through the fast-paced world of auto racing.

PAPERBACK $9.99 978-0-8358-1578-9

eBOOK $7.99 978-0-8358-1580-2

ENLARGED PRINT $9.99 978-0-8358-1582-6

DVD $39.99 978-0-8358-1581-9

KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1579-6

eCOURSE $22.00 eLearning.UpperRoom.org

For more information on this study, visit TaketheFlag.UpperRoomBooks.com

THE GOD WE CAN KNOW Exploring the “I Am” Sayings of Jesus Rob Fuquay Take a closer look at the “I Am” sayings of Jesus in the Gospel of John in this easy-to-use 7-week churchwide study. Find an answer to the most essential question in the Christian faith: “Who do you say that I am?”

PAPERBACK $9.99 978-0-8358-1338-9

eBOOK $7.99 978-0-8358-1340-2

ENLARGED PRINT $9.99 978-0-8358-1555-0

DVD $39.99 978-0-8358-1362-4

KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1339-6

eCOURSE $19.00 eLearning.UpperRoom.org

For more information on this study, visit TheGodWeCanKnow.UpperRoomBooks.com

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NEW ADVENT RESOURCES THE LIVING NATIVITY Preparing for Christmas with Saint Francis Larry J. Peacock Who came up with the idea of using nativity scenes to celebrate Christmas? You may be surprised to learn that Francis of Assisi, the well-known 13th-century saint, is credited with creating the first live nativity scene.

The Living Nativity introduces readers to Saint Francis and his joyous reenactment of the birth of Jesus, while exploring how nativity sets, Advent wreaths, candles, carols, Christmas cards, and other traditions help prepare our hearts for the God “who bends low to enter our world and our lives.” Daily prayer poems invite you to deepen your spiritual journey, and the book provides a guided pattern for you or your small group to share reflections and experience activities that open their hearts to the Christ child.

The Living Nativity provides a prayer, a meditation, and reflection questions for each day of Advent. The Leader’s Guide includes suggestions for worship, discussion questions focused on the readings, and guidance for a mini-retreat based on a weekly theme.

PAPERBACK $12.99 978-0-8358-1790-5

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1792-9 978-0-8358-1791-2

Sing a Song O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie; above thy deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by.

Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.

Words: Phillips Brooks, circa 1868

What Advent traditions do you observe?

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If you don’t have an Advent tradition, what tradition would you like to adopt this year?

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BLUE CHRISTMAS Devotions of Light in a Season of Darkness Todd Outcalt The Advent and Christmas season is often associated with joy, love, generosity, and unity. But for many people, this time of year magnifies loneliness, anxiety, grief, and despair. While others are enjoying celebrations with their friends and families, those who are hurting often feel more alone than ever.

“Not all Christmases are white; some are blue,” Todd Outcalt writes. Blue Christmas is a devotional book for the 4 weeks of Advent plus Christmas Day. Each devotion includes a scripture selection, meditation, prayer, and suggested Advent action. The book also features additional prayers, a “Blue Christmas” worship service, and reflection questions.

In these honest devotions, readers will find their fears and realities named and brought into the light of God’s love. Outcalt invites us to sit with our experiences, acknowledge our losses, and remember Jesus’ promise: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

Blue Christmas reminds us that all our Christmases, even the darkest ones, can be filled with honesty and hope if we are willing to bring our deepest fears to God. PAPERBACK $9.99 978-0-8358-1787-5

eBOOK $7.99 978-0-8358-1789-9

KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1788-2

To experience your own Blue Christmas prayer service, visit BlueChristmas.UpperRoom.org Name some people you want to memorialize in your prayers this holiday season. _____________________________________________________

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Visio divina invites the viewer into “divine seeing.” Visio divina shares roots with the ancient practice of lectio divina. (Lectio divina calls for a slow, careful interaction with scripture through meditation and prayer, allowing a word or phrase to rise in one’s consciousness, a holy word to be savored and examined.) Similarly, visio divina invites one to encounter the divine through images.

As you gaze upon this image slowly, consider the following questions: • What emotions does this image evoke in you?

• What does the image stir up and bring forth in you?

• Does this image lead you into an attitude of prayer? If so, let these prayers take form in you.

Write them down if you desire.

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ADVENT resources PAUSES FOR ADVENT Words of Wonder Trevor Hudson Taking time to pause for a few minutes each day can help us maintain balance in our lives, especially during Advent and Christmas. In this simple yet not simplistic book, Trevor Hudson focuses on one biblical word of wonder for each day of Advent. His insightful reflections on the word for each day invite individuals and groups to a deeper understanding of Advent.

Hudson also briefly explores the lives and thoughts of four significant characters in the Christmas story, encouraging us to immerse ourselves in the dramatic story. He offers a simple daily practice that helps us become involved in the Advent drama. Hudson’s minimalist approach and conversational writing lead us to discover how we can open our hearts and lives more generously to God. PAPERBACK $8.99 978-0-8358-1710-3

eBOOK $4.99 KINDLE $4.99 978-0-8358-1712-7 978-0-8358-1711-0

SPANISH $8.99 978-0-8358-1870-4

eBOOK $4.99 KINDLE $4.99 978-0-8358-1872-8 978-0-8358-1871-1

IN DAYS TO COME From Advent to Epiphany George Hovaness Donigian Deepen your sense of awe and wonder by lingering in the seasons of Advent and Christmas. In Days to Come takes us from Advent through the 12 days of Christmas and on to Epiphany. It offers reflections on Bible passages, church history, John Wesley, modern prophets, hymn writers, and composers. Not your typical Advent study, In Days to Come contains guidance for individuals and small groups looking for a colorful, practical, and flexible resource for the season.

PAPERBACK $12.99 978-0-8358-1713-4

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1715-8 978-0-8358-1714-1

SIMPLY WAIT Cultivating Stillness in the Season of Advent Pamela C. Hawkins WHILE SUPPLES LAST What if it really wasn’t that hard to find more peace, more quiet, more room in your heart for the Christ child to be born? Pam Hawkins will guide you—calmly and simply—through the busy season of Advent, and you’ll come out of the four weeks more centered, rested, and spiritually renewed. “The idea for this book arose from my own experience of contemplative prayer, prayer that finds its home, not in busy doing or speaking, but in becoming, in being,” writes Hawkins.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-9917-8

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eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1757-8

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1756-1

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WHY THIS JUBILEE? Advent Reflections on Songs of the Season James C. Howell 4-week study • Includes Leader’s Guide Music is a powerful and unforgettable way to celebrate the joy of Advent and Christmas. In these 24 reflections on well-known carols and Christmas songs, James Howell ponders the meaning of certain phrases from these songs and relates them to our daily lives. Join him in this rich remembrance for the season.

PAPERBACK $12.99 978-0-8358-1495-9

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1496-6 978-0-8358-1527-7

Advent and Epiphany

Advent (the four Sundays before Christmas) is the season of the church year when we prepare our hearts for Christ’s coming. Epiphany (Jan. 6) is when we celebrate the Magi’s visit to the Christ child. To learn more, see Advent 101 and Epiphany 101 at: https://www.upperroom.org/resources/category/seasonal-resources.

MANDALAS, CANDLES, AND PRAYER A Simply Centered Advent Sharon Seyfarth Garner Slow down, simplify, and add a splash of color to your Advent. The spiritual practices of coloring mandalas (circular designs), lighting candles, and praying regularly can help us stay focused on God during this busy time of year. Based on the four candles of the Advent wreath, this coloring book weaves together the popular practice of coloring with four simple methods of contemplative prayer. Discover how to create a visual prayer journal by praying as you color.

PAPERBACK $9.99 978-0-8358-1722-6

Color the mandala as you think about this verse: “For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; . . . and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

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ADVENT resources BEHOLD! Cultivating Attentiveness in the Season of Advent Pamela C. Hawkins 4-week study • Includes Leader’s Guide Through her beautiful and gentle writing, Hawkins beckons you to be still and pay close attention to the Advent story with new eyes, ears, hearts, and possibilities. In Behold! she invites you to focus on a single word and prayer method each week of Advent. Weekly themes: Expectancy, Preparation, Faith, and Promise.

PAPERBACK $13.99 978-0-8358-1062-3

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1166-8 978-0-8358-1073-9

THE UNCLUTTERED HEART Making Room for God During Advent and Christmas Beth A. Richardson 4-week study • Includes Study Guide Sweep out the corners of your heart, clean up the clutter, and make room for God. The Uncluttered Heart offers daily readings for Advent through Epiphany. Each day provides a quotation, scripture passage, reflection, prayer, and a message to carry in your heart throughout the day.

PAPERBACK $12.99 978-0-8358-9994-9

eBOOK $7.99 KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1307-5 978-0-8358-1306-8

TASTE AND SEE Experiencing the Stories of Advent and Christmas Jan Johnson 4-week study • Includes Leader’s Guide Experience Advent in a new way through this small-group study built around the imaginative reading of scripture, an approach introduced

by St. Ignatius. The title Taste and See hints at how you are invited to experience the stories of the season with your senses. Drawing on that experience of scripture, you will then consider how these stories speak to your own life.

PAPERBACK $11.99 978-0-8358-1354-9

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eBOOK $7.99 KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1356-3 978-0-8358-1355-6

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DEVOTIONAL resources THE UPPER ROOM DISCIPLINES 2019 A Book of Daily Devotions Are you looking for simple, easy-to-follow devotions? Find inspiration for your walk with Christ with the insightful daily reflections in Disciplines. Fifty-three writers from diverse Christian backgrounds invite you to immerse yourself in scripture and apply its truths to your daily life.

PAPERBACK $14.99 978-0-8358-1742-4

ENLARGED PRINT $17.99 978-0-8358-1743-1

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1745-5

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1744-8

URDisciplines.UpperRoomBooks.com

A wild man in the wilderness probably does not come to mind for most of us when we think of preparing for Christmas. In the midst of hanging twinkling lights and carefully wrapping gifts, a camel-hairclad impassioned prophetic preacher eating locusts and honey in the desert does not quite fit. Yet this Advent story offers us John the Baptist, whom our scriptures label as one who is “prepar[ing] the way of the Lord.” . . .

This Advent time of reflection and anticipation is a chance to ask ourselves, Are we ready to hear the voices proclaiming the reign of God, even when those voices might feel strange, shocking, or wild? Are we open to hearing from those outside our boundaries of what is comfortable?

—From the reading for the Second Sunday of Advent, Disciplines 2019

A DISCIPLE’S JOURNAL 2019 A Guide for Daily Prayer, Bible Reading, and Discipleship Steven W. Manskar This carefully designed and deeply Wesleyan journal provides a pattern of daily prayer and scripture reading for disciples who want to grow in holiness of heart and life.

PAPERBACK $15.00 978-0-88177-909-7

For more devotionals, visit PathsofStudy.UpperRoomBooks.com/Devotional

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DEVOTIONAL resources RHYTHMS OF GROWTH 365 Meditations to Nurture the Soul Linda Douty Uses the seasons of the year to illustrate natural trends in our spiritual lives. Brings together the everyday and the holy and applies biblical truths to our daily lives.

PAPERBACK $14.99 978-0-8358-1351-8

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1353-2 978-0-8358-1352-5

QUIET SPACES Prayer Interludes for Women Patricia Wilson Quiet spaces are all around you! Capture those 5-minute breaks and use them to touch the hand of God. Also available in Spanish.

PAPERBACK $13.99 978-0-8358-0969-6

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1562-8 978-0-8358-1561-1

MyQuietSpaces.org

ROOM AT MY TABLE Preparing Heart and Home for Christian Hospitality Evelyn Bence Includes 52 delightful devotions that provide encouragement and camaraderie. Bence gently encourages you to reach out and offer hospitality.

PAPERBACK $12.99 978-0-8358-1359-4

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eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1361-7 978-0-8358-1360-0

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DEVELOPING SPIRITUAL PRACTICE “The wind of God is always blowing, but we must hoist our sails.”

—Douglas Steere

by Stephen Bryant, Publisher of The Upper Room

O

pening to the Spirit is the key to the spiritual life. But remaining open requires spiritual discipline, especially in those parts of our lives where we tend to be closed to God and need change. Spiritual practices (spiritual disciplines or means of grace) are like sails. We hoist our sails with intent to live under the sway of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, rather than under the sway of other forces competing for influence.

A discipline of regular prayer, for example, is for me a way to reserve an available space for God at the center of my being which will otherwise fill up with the voices of any number of all-consuming concerns.

Regular prayer provides discipline for even the possibility of a listening heart attuned to the voice of the risen Christ.

Spiritual practice helps individuals and churches grow eyes to see and ears to hear (Matthew 13:16).

Prayer, searching the scripture, and service are means of entering into and sharing the heart, mind, and work of Christ. A balanced spiritual practice helps us get in step with the transforming rhythm of Jesus’ life with God: work and worship, engagement and rest, service and Sabbath, contemplation and action.

“ Spiritual practices are those attitudes or activities that open a person to the experience of the presence of God. The ones that first come to mind are prayers, meditation, reading the Bible, and attending church. In recent years many Christians have been adding to the list so that we now think of a walk in the woods, sitting in a sunny window with a cup of tea, or even knitting as spiritual practices. Anything that allows us to be still or to focus our attention on the Holy One can be a spiritual practice.”

—Jeanette Stokes, The Upper Room Disciplines Read Mark 6:30-32 “ The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.”

Mark shows us here how Jesus invited the disciples to participate in the rhythm of action, reflection, and prayer that shaped his life with God. Where is there rhythm in your spiritual life? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What differences does it make? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ SOURCE: Tending the Soul of the Congregation: Spiritual Exercises for Church Leaders © 2018 by The Upper Room Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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PRAYER resources THE GUIDE TO PRAYER SERIES Rueben P. Job and Norman Shawchuck This classic series of devotional and prayer books include thematically arranged material for each week of the year, as well as themes and an outline for monthly personal retreats. Each guide has a simple structure of daily worship, rich spiritual writings, lectionary scriptures, and poignant prayers.

Daily arrangement for all includes: Invocation (or an Affirmation), Psalm, Daily Scripture Reading, Readings for Reflection, Prayers, Reflection, Hymn, and Benediction. The Deluxe Gift edition features a leatherette cover, a ribbon bookmark, and gold-edged pages.

FOR MINISTERS AND OTHER SERVANTS First in the classic series. Uses the Common Lectionary, deviating from the ecumenical lectionary themes only when the authors felt other themes might be more helpful. Includes excerpts from writers such as Carlo Carretto, Simone Weil, C. S. Lewis, Henri Nouwen, Richard Foster, and Mother Teresa.

PAPERBACK $19.99 978-0-8358-0559-9

FOR ALL GOD’S PEOPLE Second in the series. Uses the Common Lectionary. Includes excerpts from such writers as Thomas Merton, Henri Nouwen, Carlo Carretto, Evelyn Underhill, Albert Schweitzer, Eugene Peterson, Esther de Waal, and Thérèse of Lisieux.

PAPERBACK $19.99 978-0-8358-0710-4

FOR ALL WHO SEEK GOD Third in the series. Uses the Revised Common Lectionary. Daily arrangement also incorporates: Petition, God’s Promise, and My Response. Includes excerpts from writers such as Frederick Buechner, Mother Teresa, Howard Thurman, C. S. Lewis, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and John Wesley.

DELUXE GIFT EDITION $19.99 978-0-8358-0999-3

FOR ALL WHO WALK WITH GOD Fourth in the series. Uses the Revised Common Lectionary for Sunday; however, it offers different daily scripture readings. Daily arrangement also incorporates: Affirmation, Silence, Offering of Self to God, Blessing. Includes excerpts from writers such as Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Avila, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Henri Nouwen, Sue Monk Kidd, Parker J. Palmer, Douglas Steere, Jan L. Richardson, Trevor Hudson, and Flora Slosson Wuellner.

PAPERBACK $19.99 978-0-8358-1328-0

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eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1228-3 978-0-8358-1227-6

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HOW TO PRAY E. Stanley Jones with Tom Albin Renowned evangelist E. Stanley Jones brings his timeless advice on prayer to a new generation. This updated-language edition addresses what prayer is, the time and place for prayer, steps of prayer, and more.

PAPERBACK $12.99 978-0-8358-1378-5

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1380-8

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1379-2

AUDIOBOOK $12.99 978-0-8358-1782-0 Pray this prayer of E. Stanley Jones from How to Pray: Gracious Christ, teach me to pray. If I fall down in this area, I fall down everywhere. . . . Give me the mind to pray, the love to pray, the will to pray. Let prayer be the aroma of every act, the atmosphere of every thought, my native air. In your name. Amen.

LORD, TEACH US TO PRAY A Study of Personal Prayer Margie Burger Prayer is a relationship with God that grows and matures over time.

This study combines scriptural teaching and personal testimony that will help you overcome obstacles to intimacy with God. PAPERBACK $10.00 978-0-88177-570-9

A POCKET GUIDE TO PRAYER Deluxe Edition Steve Harper This classic book contains a wealth of information, such as helps for praying up to 5 times a day, over 100 prayers, hymn texts, and psalms.

PAPERBACK $9.99 978-0-8358-1185-9

eBOOK $7.99 978-0-8358-1206-1

KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1052-4

The essence of prayer is relationship. As in any human relationship, communication involves both speaking and listening. [E. Stanley] Jones emphasizes the importance of listening to God in our times of prayer.

As Christians we believe that God created men and women in the divine image for relationship with the divine and to care for creation. . . . This ongoing relationship is possible because we gained more in Christ than we lost in Adam. The gift of the Holy Spirit enables all Christians to restore the relationship with God that we were created to enjoy.

— Tom Albin, pages 41–42 of How to Pray by E. Stanley Jones. Copyright © 2015 by the E. Stanley Jones Foundation. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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PRAYER resources PRAYING WITH MANDALAS A Colorful, Contemplative Practice Sharon Seyfarth Garner This is more than a coloring book. It is also a prayer journal that includes 10 pages of 4 blank mandala designs (40 total) to use with 4 methods of prayer.

PAPERBACK $9.99 978-0-8358-1634-2

eCourse $19.00 eLearning.UpperRoom.org

PrayingWithMandalas.UpperRoomBooks.com

BEADS OF HEALING Prayer, Trauma, and Spiritual Wholeness Kristen E. Vincent Healing from trauma begins with telling your story. Vincent shares her personal story and models how to name feelings like grief, shame, fear, and anger. She offers practical ways to use prayer beads, stay focused, and sense God’s presence.

PAPERBACK $13.99 978-0-8358-1635-9

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1637-3

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1636-6

A BEAD AND A PRAYER A Beginner’s Guide to Protestant Prayer Beads Kristen E. Vincent Do you struggle with prayer? Using prayer beads can help you connect to God and stay focused as you pray. Designed for people with no experience in using prayer beads, this book offers instructions and prayers.

PAPERBACK $11.99 978-0-8358-1217-7

eBOOK $7.99 KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1219-1 978-0-8358-1218-4

eCourse $19.00 eLearning.UpperRoom.org

ANOTHER BEAD, ANOTHER PRAYER Devotions to Use with Protestant Prayer Beads Kristen E. Vincent & Max O. Vincent Yes, it’s really okay for Protestants to pray with prayer beads. Pray from your heart with 28 devotions designed to use with beads during prayer.

PAPERBACK $11.99 978-0-8358-1372-3

eBOOK $7.99 KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1374-7 978-0-8358-1373-0

PrayerBeads.UpperRoomBooks.org

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To become a Prayer Center volunteer or to submit a prayer request, visit Prayer-center.UpperRoom.org

Finding Your Own Rhythm for Prayer

by Kristen E. Vincent and Max O. Vincent

When should I pray? How often and how long? Should I pray out loud or not? What should I say?

These are some of the questions people often raise when we teach workshops on prayer. To be honest, they are questions we ourselves have struggled with at times. Behind these questions is the idea that there is one right way to pray. We worry we may not be doing it right.

We have found some assurance in studying the history of Christian spirituality. There, we’ve seen multiple cycles and rhythms of prayer offered over the centuries. Some leaders have supported a practice of praying three times a day—morning, midday, and evening—based on passages like Psalm 55:17 and Daniel’s practice of praying three times a day.

Others thought a practice of morning and evening prayer was the foundation of a life of prayer. Benedict, in his monastic rule, set out a schedule of seven hours each day when prayers should be offered, based on Psalm 119:164. This led to the liturgy of the “divine hours” or “daily office,” which many Christians pray today.

To read the rest of this article, go to Books.UpperRoom.org/2015/01/22/finding-rhythm-prayer Kristen Vincent is the author of three books on Protestant prayer beads: A Bead and a Prayer; Another Bead, Another Prayer; and Beads of Healing.

Max Vincent is the author of Because of This I Rejoice: Reading Philippians During Lent (due to release in October 2018) and the coauthor of Another Bead, Another Prayer.

Do you have a special place for prayer?

What sorts of prayer aids do you use to help set a prayerful atmosphere? ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

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PRAYER resources CHRIST BESIDE ME, CHRIST WITHIN ME Celtic Blessings Beth A. Richardson Recognize God’s presence in every moment. Offers prayers and blessings to help you express gratitude, celebrate special occasions, and cope with struggles.

PAPERBACK $9.99 978-0-8358-1523-9

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1524-6 978-0-8358-1533-8

AUDIOBOOK $14.99 978-0-8358-1726-4

PRAYING IN THE MESSINESS OF LIFE 7 Ways to Renew Your Relationship with God Linda Douty How can you squeeze more time for prayer into an already busy life?

This book offers ideas for weaving prayer into your life as it is.

PAPERBACK $11.99 978-0-8358-1041-8

eBOOK $7.99 KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1155-2 978-0-8358-1051-7

A WIDOW’S PRAYER Finding God’s Grace for the Days Ahead Nell Noonan The death of a spouse is one of life’s worst losses. Sixty devotions offer widows comfort and hope for coping with their loss.

PAPERBACK $13.99 ENLARGED PRINT $13.99 978-0-8358-1506-2 978-0-8358-1596-3 eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1507-9 978-0-8358-1535-2

TALKING IN THE DARK Praying When Life Doesn’t Make Sense Steve Harper If you are frustrated in your prayer life, wondering if prayer is worth the effort, this book is for you.

PAPERBACK $14.99 978-0-8358-9922-2

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eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1242-9 978-0-8358- 1241-2

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EVERY STEP A PRAYER Walking as Spiritual Practice Thomas R. Hawkins Did you know that walking can be good for the soul? Hawkins lifts up walking as a spiritual practice that helps us find our way to God. Each chapter includes reflection questions and suggestions for prayerful walking.

PAPERBACK $12.99 978-0-8358-1521-5

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1522-2

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1532-1

EveryStepAPrayer.UpperRoomBooks.org

What inspired you to write a book on walking as a spiritual practice?

Walking has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I love to walk in the woods, on city streets, in parks, or anywhere there is (and sometimes where there is not) a path. Walking has always renewed me emotionally and physically.

When I have a problem to solve or a decision to make, I can do my best thinking when I go for a long walk. Walking is not just a physical practice for me but also has a big effect on my emotional and spiritual life. It has evolved into a personal spiritual practice.

Since I do not always meditate well by sitting still and being motionless, walking has become an approach to meditation and prayer that fits my personality type.

And, as I have dug more deeply into scripture and tradition, I discovered that I am not alone. I wrote Every Step a Prayer to help others who may like me realize that a physical activity like walking can be a spiritual practice.

This was the first question in an interview with Thomas Hawkins. To see the rest of the interview, visit Books.UpperRoom.org/book-author/thomas-r-hawkins/.

BIRTHED IN PRAYER Pregnancy as a Spiritual Journey Kim Barker, Linda de Meillon, & Leigh Harrison A hopeful, grace-filled companion for the 9 months of pregnancy, Birthed in Prayer addresses and supports the spiritual journey of mothers-to-be.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-9941-3

eBOOK $5.99 978-0-8358-1273-3

KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1272-6

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PRAYER resources

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THE 28 DAYS OF PRAYER SERIES Some say it takes 28 days to create or change a habit. This series follows the same concept. Each book is designed to cover a specific topic and help you develop a daily prayer practice that hopefully continues beyond the 28 days.

1. PRAYING THROUGH CANCER A practical guide for anyone seeking strength, support, and hope for coping with cancer.

PAPERBACK $7.99 eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1575-8 978-0-8358-1577-2 978-0-8358-1576-5 2. HEALING FROM DIVORCE Offers hope and comfort to those suffering the pain of divorce.

PAPERBACK $7.99 eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1315-0 978-0-8358-1317-4 978-0-8358-1316-7

3. FREEDOM FROM WORRY Practical suggestions for leaving your worries in God’s hands and focusing on the Psalms.

PAPERBACK $7.99 eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 eCOURSE $15.00 978-0-8358-1189-7 978-0-8358-1191-0 978-0-8358-1190-3 eLearning.upperroom.org

4. T HE STRUGGLES OF CAREGIVING An encouraging yet realistic book that offers empathy and strength for any caregiver.

PAPERBACK $7.99 eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1091-3 978-0-8358-1128-6 978-0-8358-1099-9 5. PRAYING THROUGH A CHILD’S ILLNESS Offers strength to cope with a child’s illness through prayers, reflections, and other suggestions.

PAPERBACK $7.99 eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1064-7 978-0-8358-1152-1 978-0-8358-1072-2 6. AGING FAITHFULLY Discover what it means to age joyfully and see the positive side of aging.

PAPERBACK $7.99 eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1063-0 978-0-8358-1151-4 978-0-8358-1071-5 7. FACING FINANCIAL STRUGGLE Improve your perspective by learning to tackle your financial problems.

PAPERBACK $7.99 eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 eCOURSE $12.00 978-0-8358-1027-2 978-0-8358-1208-5 978-0-8358-1077-7 eLearning.upperroom.org

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THE SERENITY PRAYER A Simple Prayer to Enrich Your Life Trevor Hudson Explores the meaning of the famous Serenity Prayer and challenges us to discover peace when life seems out of control.

PAPERBACK $13.99 978-0-8358-1094-4

eBOOK $7.99 978-0-8358-1129-3

KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1102-6

CREATING A LIFE WITH GOD The Call of Ancient Prayer Practices Daniel Wolpert You are invited to fully experience the lifeline God offers us in prayer. Explore 12 prayer practices and methods with step-by-step instructions.

PAPERBACK $13.99 978-0-8358-9855-3

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1301-3

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1300-6

FORTY DAYS TO A CLOSER WALK WITH GOD The Practice of Centering Prayer J. David Muyskens Introduces a method of silent prayer that teaches how to center your thoughts and experience God’s presence. A simple 20-minute-per day practice.

PAPERBACK $14.99 978-0-8358-9904-8

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1265-8

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1264-1

SACRED BREATH 40 Days of Centering Prayer J. David Muyskens Building on the method of centering prayer introduced in Forty Days to a Closer Walk with God and grounded in scripture and Christian tradition, this guide walks you through the practice for 40 days.

PAPERBACK $15.99 eBOOK $4.99 KINDLE $4.99 978-0-8358-1031-9 978-0-8358-1289-4 978-0-8358-1288-7

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OLDER ADULT resources AN AGE OF OPPORTUNITY Intentional Ministry by, with, and for Older Adults Richard H. Gentzler, Jr. A companion to the author’s earlier book Designing an Older Adult Ministry (Discipleship Resources, 1999), this book provides new information and outlines ways to develop and strengthen ministries by, with, and for older adults that will enhance the spiritual growth and well-being of people of all ages.

The church is beginning to recognize that there are vast numbers of older people in its membership. It is becoming aware of its indebtedness to them for the leadership, support, service, and faith that has made today’s church possible. Gentzler sheds light on how the church is uniquely positioned to help older adults respond to the challenges of aging; to help older adults discover their potential for making the church and community better; and to assist older people as they experience new meaning and purpose in their later lives.

PAPERBACK $16.00 978-0-88177-903-5

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-88177-905-9 978-0-88177-904-2

A CONVERSATION WITH RICK GENTZLER From what you have learned in your research and experience, what are some major spiritual challenges of people age 65 and older?

The spiritual challenges many people 65 and older face are these: • Experiencing meaning and purpose in retirement. Older adulthood is sometimes described as “a season in search of its purpose.”

• Adapting to the many losses, transitions, and challenges of aging • Deepening a loving, meaningful relationship with God • Overcoming ageism that exists within our society and often in our churches • Even when older adults can no longer “do,” knowing that God loves people of all ages and stages of life, including older adults • Experiencing a church that cares for older adults as individuals and as a group • Having the opportunity, as older adults, to share their wisdom, generosity, and faith story with others

As you grow older, what are some of your prayer concerns? List them here. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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VOICES OF AGING Adult Children and Aging Parents Talk with God Missy Buchanan Uses paired conversations with God to present both the parent and the adult child perspectives on common situations of aging. Offers conversation starters, questions, and prayers.

PAPERBACK $11.99 978-0-8358-1366-2

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1368-6

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1367-9

JOY BOOSTERS 120 Ways to Encourage Older Adults Missy Buchanan Know an older adult who needs encouragement? Perfect guide for families, caregivers, senior residence facilities, and churches who want to minister to older adults.

PAPERBACK $9.99 978-0-8358-1192-7

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1194-1

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1193-4

10 GOSPEL PROMISES FOR LATER LIFE Jane Marie Thibault

Identify your own fears about aging and learn how to make the most of God’s gift of longer life.

PAPERBACK $13.99 978-0-8358-9801-0

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1642-7

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1641-0

SPIRIT BOOSTERS FOR THE JOURNEY OF AGING 366 Devotions Missy Buchanan Find hope for the journey of aging with this attractive reusable calendar. The encouraging devotions will help older adults keep a positive frame of mind with daily reminders that they still have purpose.

SPIRAL BOUND CALENDAR $12.99 978-0-8358-1668-7

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OLDER ADULT resources

LIVING WITH PURPOSE IN A WORN-OUT BODY Spiritual Encouragement for Older Adults Missy Buchanan Many older adults despair as they become more frail and dependent on others. Buchanan offers 42 devotions that show readers how to live with purpose despite decline.

PAPERBACK $11.99 978-0-8358-9942-0

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1203-0

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1205-4

NOT ALONE Encouragement for Caregivers Nell Noonan In the midst of caregiving, we often feel inadequate, fatigued, and overwhelmed with despair. Authentic devotions to comfort and encourage caregivers by letting them know they are truly not alone.

HARDCOVER $9.99 978-0-8358-9982-6

NO ACT OF LOVE IS EVER WASTED The Spirituality of Caring for Persons with Dementia Jane Marie Thibault & Richard L. Morgan A hopeful model of dealing with life and death in the realm of Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Offers practical ways to help and serves as a reminder that every act of love brings positive transformation to the recipient, the giver, and the world.

PAPERBACK $15.99 978-0-8358-9995-6

eBOOK 9.99 978-0-8358-1804-9

KINDLE 9.99 978-0-8358-1207-8

AT THE EDGE OF LIFE Conversations When Death Is Near Richard L. Morgan Thirty meditations offer perspective and advice to people coping with a family member, friend, or patient who is approaching the time of death.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1332-7

eBOOK $4.99 978-0-8358-1334-1

KINDLE $4.99 978-0-8358-1333-4

26 For older adult resources, visit PathsofStudy.UpperRoomBooks.com/Older-Adults

BEYOND DEATH What Jesus Revealed about Eternal Life Flora Slosson Wuellner What awaits us after death? Flora Wuellner brings her deep wisdom and a lifetime of study, reflection, observation, and spiritual direction to shed light on what Jesus revealed about eternal life.

PAPERBACK $9.99 978-0-8358-1318-1

eBOOK $7.99 978-0-8358-1320-4

KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1319-8

BOOMER SPIRITUALITY Seven Values for the Second Half of Life Craig Kennet Miller Relatable personal stories explore the values of brokenness, loneliness, rootlessness, and self-seeking that form the spiritual roots of boomers.

PAPERBACK $17.00 978-0-88177-781-9

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-88177-783-3

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-88177-782-6

Study Guide PDF Download $8.00 978-0-88177-877-9

PILGRIMAGE INTO THE LAST THIRD OF LIFE 7 Gateways to Spiritual Growth Jane Marie Thibault & Richard L. Morgan The Last Third of life doesn’t have to be feared. Suggestions for approaching the season of aging as a pilgrimage filled with meaning and opportunities.

PAPERBACK $15.99 978-0-8358-1117-0

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1176-7

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1122-4

SHAPING A LIFE OF SIGNIFICANCE FOR RETIREMENT R. Jack Hansen & Jerry P. Haas Identifies some of the key transitions in the first years of retirement, the unique opportunities for personal growth in this phase of life, and the real challenges we must face.

PAPERBACK $14.99 978-0-8358-1025-8

eBOOK $7.99 978-0-8358-1287-0

KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1286-3

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OLDER ADULT resources TALKING WITH GOD IN OLD AGE Meditations and Psalms Missy Buchanan Addresses the worries, fears, pain, and frustrations of older adults by using meditations and selected psalms to extend hope.

PAPERBACK $9.99 978-0-8358-1016-6

eBOOK $7.99 978-0-8358-1160-6

KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1252-8

SETTLING IN My First Year in a Retirement Community Richard L. Morgan An honest account of the author’s first year in a retirement community.

A helpful guide for older adults and their families in this transition.

PAPERBACK $15.99 978-0-8358-9908-6

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1295-5

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1294-8

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.

Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him. LUKE 24:30-31A

Encounter the Risen Christ FACE to FACE If you are 60 years and older, desire a deeper, more meaningful walk with the risen Christ, and hope for God’s love to be real in every relationship you have . . . Face to Face is for YOU. Face to Face, a program ministry of The Upper Room, is an experience in the tradition of the Walk to Emmaus for persons 60 and older.

Join other older adults in study, worship, prayer, and fellowship.

Learn more:

FaceToFace.UpperRoom.org | 877.899.2780 ext. 7288

Challenges of the Aging Journey

by Missy Buchanan While traveling for a speaking event several years ago, I was seated next to a table of four women in a crowded airport restaurant. Unlike most travelers on this cold November day, these women were decked out in tropical clothes and had sunglasses perched atop their heads. I tried to occupy myself with a book, but our tables were so close it was impossible not to overhear their conversation.

My ears perked up when one of the women told her friends how much she needed this time away from her caregiving responsibilities. It didn’t take long to put the pieces together. These women were all caregivers for their aging parents.

One woman leaned in close as she described her father’s stubborn pride. She was visibly frustrated by his refusal to surrender the keys to his car, even though he’d already knocked over a mailbox and dented the garage door. Another woman vented about the unfair distribution of caregiving responsibilities in her family. She was upset that her older sister, an attorney, had a long list of excuses for not helping their father, who lived nearby.

Another woman expressed how afraid she had been that she’d have to scrap her plans to go on the trip after her mother had a fall and landed in the emergency room. Gratefully, there were no broken bones, and this woman’s husband offered to take over her caregiving responsibilities while she was gone.

The last woman’s voice quivered with raw emotion as she shared her feelings about going on the trip. “I feel both guilty and happy at the same time. Does that even make sense?” she asked her friends.

Indeed, the woman’s statement makes perfect sense. Anyone who has walked alongside a parent on the journey through aging can relate to her mixed emotions. At the same time, it’s important to remember that aging parents are struggling with their own emotional upheavals. Along with physical decline and the loss of independence, they are also grieving the loss of friends and family and the loss of homes and belongings. Many are uprooted from everything familiar and left to navigate a world that is constantly changing.

As I travel to speak at retirement communities and senior ministry events across the nation, I intentionally engage older adults in casual conversation following my presentations. They often say that they wish their adult children had been there to hear the message or that they wish their sons and daughters were more understanding about the challenges of aging.

Everywhere I turn, it seems people from each generation are frustrated by the other. I hear comments from strangers seated next to me on airplanes and from longtime friends over dinner. I hear comments from neighbors, church members, and colleagues and on social media. It is evident that even families with great love and a strong faith foundation are struggling to understand and be understood as they journey together through aging.

My book Voices of Aging: Adult Children and Aging Parents Talk with God is a way to help families deal faithfully with issues of aging. By stepping inside the minds of two generations, the reader will be challenged to face the fears and frustrations of each age group. Every devotional reading brings God into the conversation with a scripture passage and prayer, and provides practical tips in a “Moving Forward Together” section.

I have often thought back to those four women at the airport. I wish I had had my book to give them to read as they relaxed on a sunny beach somewhere. I’d like to think that they would have reached down to brush the sand from their flip-flops before trying to stand in their parents’ orthopedic shoes.

Missy Buchanan travels widely to speak on issues of aging and faith at churches, retirement centers, and for special events. She is the author of several books for older adults. Her latest offering is Spirit Boosters for the Journey of Aging, a perpetual calendar of devotions to inspire older adults.

What challenges have you experienced as you and your parents age?

_________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________

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NEW LENTEN resources DIVINE FRIENDSHIP Reflections for Lent Anthony Egan, SJ; Trevor Hudson; & Russell Pollitt, SJ We are beloved children of a God who deeply desires friendship with us, this encouraging book reminds us. The authors invite you to set aside 15–20 minutes a day during Lent to spend time with God. They guide you to read scripture passages, reflect on them, and pay attention to the thoughts and feelings they evoke. Let this inspiring devotional book teach you how to talk to God just as you would to your best friend.

KEY FEATURES

• Readings for each day from Ash Wednesday through the Sunday after Easter • Each reading contains suggested Bible passages, a meditation, and reflection questions that help readers apply the scripture to their lives • Three authors offer diverse writing styles

PAPERBACK $13.99 978-0-8358-1796-7

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1798-1 978-0-8358-1797-4

EXCERPT FROM ASH WEDNESDAY READING The season of Lent—if we open ourselves to grace—can lead us into an ever-deepening relationship with God. Lent invites us to explore the attitudes, hurts, grudges, past situations, past relationships, addictions, and so on that have filled up our lives and prevented us from deepening our relationship with God. Sometimes these things occupy valuable space in our lives and prevent us from moving forward. Jesus wants to help us bring them before God so that we can let them go and, in so doing, reenter the place of truth where we can reclaim our identity.

The ashes that pastors distribute today remind us of our fragility and yet, paradoxically, also our great value. God sent Jesus to live on this earth; he became one of us. The great mystery of God becoming one of us is God’s way of showing us just how much God desires our friendship! We experience the life and love God offers when we open our hearts to a friendship without pretense or secrets. This sacred time is an invitation to a renewed friendship with the God who loves us—no matter who we are, where we come from, what we have done or failed to do. God desires to listen to us. Let’s embrace the season of Lent as a time to rekindle our relationship with God.

What attitudes, hurts, or grudges may prevent your deepening your relationship with God?

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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BECAUSE OF THIS I REJOICE Reading Philippians During Lent Max O. Vincent Many Christians view Lent as a season of selfsacrifice and discipline that sounds too much like a spiritual to-do list. Lenten disciplines can become the spiritual equivalent of New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, be healthier, or practice better money management. These promises are easily made and often quickly broken, leaving us feeling like we do not measure up to what we should be.

In his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul joyfully turns to spiritual practices that draw him closer to God amid persecution and imprisonment. These practices keep Paul connected to a sense of God’s power and presence.

Because of This I Rejoice is a 6-week study of Philippians that explores what Paul teaches about joyfully practicing spiritual disciplines.

The intent of these disciplines is to help us focus less on ourselves and more on God. This Lenten study invites us to engage in the same spiritual practices as a way to grow closer to God and allow joy to flow through our lives.

PAPERBACK $13.99 978-0-8358-1793-6

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1795-0 978-0-8358-1794-3

What spiritual need does this book meet?

Because of This I Rejoice helps us understand Lent as a season to intentionally focus on spiritual disciplines as a way to deepen our connection with God. The book explores how Paul describes his own spiritual practices as a joyful expression of Christian living.

What spiritual discipline would you like to practice during Lent? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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LENTEN resources PAUSES FOR LENT 40 Words for 40 Days Trevor Hudson Focus on one word each day in Lent. Each meditation pairs the word for the day with a scripture verse, brief insights, and a thought or an action for the day.

PAPERBACK $8.99 978-0-8358-1504-8

eBOOK $4.99 978-0-8358-1505-5

KINDLE $4.99 978-0-8358-1529-1

EASTER EARTHQUAKE How Resurrection Shakes Our World James A. Harnish Have you ever been in an earthquake? James Harnish explores the meaning of the Easter Earthquake. This earthquake shakes up our assumptions about God and about our own lives. Enjoy a practical Lenten study that invites you into a God-soaked world energized by the presence of the risen Christ.

PAPERBACK $13.99 978-0-8358-1716-5

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1718-9

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1717-2

eCOURSE $19.00 eLearning.UpperRoom.org EasterEarthquake.UpperRoomBooks.com

WORSHIP IN LIGHT OF THE CROSS Meditations for Lent John Indermark This 6-week study invites you to discover, through reflecting on the cross, what it means to be a faithful disciple of Christ. You will be inspired as you focus on the cross, its impact on Christian worship, and the meaning of Jesus’ sacrifice in your daily life.

PAPERBACK $12.99 978-0-8358-1572-7

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1574-1

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1573-4

eCOURSE $19.00 eLearning.UpperRoom.org WorshipInLightoftheCross.UpperRoomBooks.com

A WORLD WORTH SAVING Lenten Spiritual Practices for Action George Hovaness Donigian For anyone who dismisses Lent as a seemingly endless time of self-sacrifice and introspection, this 6-week study offers a breath of fresh air. It connects prayer and other inner spiritual practices with outward actions of mercy and compassion.

PAPERBACK $13.99 978-0-8358-1211-5

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eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1213-9 978-0-8358-1212-2

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REACHING TOWARD EASTER Devotions for Lent Derek Maul Join the author on a devotional pilgrimage through Lent. Features 49 daily devotions that include in-depth Bible study, personal stories, and prayers.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1061-6

eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1158-3 978-0-8358-1074-6

GOSPELED LIVES Encounters with Jesus, A Lenten Study John Indermark Explore the stories of people who met Jesus and the various ways they responded to him. This 6-week study includes reflections, scripture, prayers, and suggested exercises.

PAPERBACK $14.99 978-0-8358-9971-0

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1659-5 978-0-8358-1658-8

THE AWKWARD SEASON Prayers for Lent Pamela C. Hawkins Lent is an awkward season but also a season rich with possibilities. This unique book offers a simple prayer-filled path to follow through Lent.

Features a finger labyrinth to trace as you pray.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-9997-0

THE MIRACLES OF JESUS Meditations and Prayers for Lent Wessel Bentley Jesus’ miracles continue to touch our lives today, just as they transformed people’s lives and challenged attitudes and beliefs in his time. This interesting Lenten study helps you identify with the characters in the Bible stories and see the need for God’s grace.

PAPERBACK $6.99 978-0-8358-1113-2

eBOOK $6.99 KINDLE $6.99 978-0-8358-1172-9 978-0-8358-1121-7

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HENRI NOUWEN resources THE HENRI NOUWEN SPIRITUALITY SERIES This series captures writings from the beloved writer Henri Nouwen. Explore his wisdom and experience of God’s unconditional love. Find out how to become a Spirit-filled Christ follower.

A SPIRITUALITY OF LIVING Spiritual disciplines are key to creating space for God in our lives. Nouwen identifies 3 essential disciplines for maintaining a life of discipleship: solitude, community, and ministry.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1088-3

eBOOK $5.99 978-0-8358-1162-0

KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1096-8

A SPIRITUALITY OF HOMECOMING Explores essential elements of discipleship and shows how to find your true home in God. Offers a welcome message for our chaotic times: “Come home to God, and you will no longer feel like a stranger to yourself or the world.”

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1114-9

eBOOK $5.99 978-0-8358-1239-9

KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1238-2

A SPIRITUALITY OF CAREGIVING Offers heartfelt insights on what it means to be a caregiver and to be the care receiver. Nouwen’s warmth, respect, and compassion for both sides of the caregiving relationship will encourage and transform you.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1045-6 eCOURSE $9.00 UReLearning.UpperRoom.org/p/caregiving-from-the-heart

A SPIRITUALITY OF FUNDRAISING Fundraising is the opposite of begging. Nouwen explains that fundraising gives you a chance to invite others to join in your ministry and vision.

Drawing from scripture, he urges leaders to embrace fundraising as a ministry.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1044-9

eBOOK $5.99 978-0-8358-1165-1

KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1054-8

eCOURSE $30.00 UReLearning.UpperRoom.org/p/fundraising-from-the-heart

To purchase all 4 titles, purchase item #P91 $25.99

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COMPANIONS IN CHRIST resources

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vol. 1

vol. 4

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THE COMPANIONS IN CHRIST SERIES A Small-Group Experience in Spiritual Formation Offers a transforming experience in opening yourself to God’s presence and guidance. Explore classic spiritual practices and develop new daily habits that will open your life to a deeper relationship with God and with your group. Each week of study begins with a challenging reading, daily scripture, and questions to guide private reflection.

1. THE FOUNDATIONAL RESOURCE The original resource examines 5 topics of spiritual formation. Also available in Spanish.

PARTICIPANT’S BOOK $19.99 978-0-8358-9843-0 LEADER’S GUIDE $19.99 978-0-8358-9840-9 VOLUME 1 $7.99 978-0-8358-9830-0 VOLUME 2 $7.99 978-0-8358-9831-7 VOLUME 3 $7.99 978-0-8358-9832-4 VOLUME 4 $7.99 978-0-8358-9833-1 VOLUME 5 $7.99 978-0-8358-9834-8 Spanish Version Compañerismo en Cristo Libro del participante $11.99 Paperback 978-0-8358-9851-5 PDF 9851 $12.00 Guía del líder $11.99 Paperback 978-0-8358-9852-2 PDF9852 $12.00

2. EXPLORING THE WAY An introduction to the spiritual journey.

PARTICIPANT’S BOOK $11.99 978-0-8358-9806-5 LEADER’S GUIDE $14.99 978-0-8358-9807-2 3. THE WAY OF SCRIPTURE Strengthens understanding of the Bible.

PARTICIPANT’S BOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1034-0 LEADER’S GUIDE $12.99 978-0-8358-1033-3 4. THE WAY OF BLESSEDNESS Explores the Beatitudes and rules of life.

PARTICIPANT’S BOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-0992-4 LEADER’S GUIDE $12.99 978-0-8358-0994-8 5. THE WAY OF GRACE Discover God’s grace in the Gospel of John.

6. THE WAY OF PRAYER Offers many forms of prayer to practice and explore.

PARTICIPANT’S BOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-9906-2 LEADER’S GUIDE $12.99 978-0-8358-9907-9 7. THE WAY OF DISCERNMENT An introduction to discernment.

PARTICIPANT’S BOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-9958-1 LEADER’S GUIDE $12.99 978-0-8358-9959-8 8. THE WAY OF FORGIVENESS Learn how to give and receive forgiveness.

PARTICIPANT’S BOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-0980-1 LEADER’S GUIDE $12.99 978-0-8358-0981-8

PARTICIPANT’S BOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-9878-2 LEADER’S GUIDE $12.99 978-0-8358-9879-9

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SPIRITUAL CLASSICS

THE UPPER ROOM SPIRITUAL CLASSICS Explore the rich spiritual writings of influential leaders in Christian history. Each book introduces the leader, explains his/her times, and contains excerpts of the person’s writings in updated language. See God through these remarkable spiritual leaders.

WRITINGS OF AUGUSTINE

Augustine was the 4th-century spiritual leader from North Africa who had a vast impact on the Christian church.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1643-4

eBOOK $5.99 978-0-8358-1670-0

KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1669-4

WRITINGS OF JOHN WESLEY

John Wesley was an 18th-century preacher, writer, and one of the founders of the Methodist movement.

Includes selections from Wesley’s journals, sermons, and books, giving a clear picture of the spiritual vitality that ignited a movement.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1656-4

eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1696-0 978-0-8358-1695-3

WRITINGS OF JOHN CASSIAN

John Cassian was a monk from North Africa and a contemporary of Augustine.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1645-8

eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1674-8 978-0-8358-1673-1

WRITINGS OF THOMAS KELLY

Thomas Kelly was a 20th-century Quaker and philosopher whom Richard Foster calls “a giant soul.” Kelly is best known for his Testament of Devotion.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1653-3

eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1690-8 978-0-8358-1689-2

WRITINGS OF TERESA OF AVILA

Teresa of Avila was a 16th-century Spanish nun, reformer, and celebrated spiritual writer. Includes excerpts from her three most influential works.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1644-1

eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1672-4 978-0-8358-1671-7

WRITINGS OF JULIAN OF NORWICH

The writings of this late 14th-century nun and mystic offer some of the most moving discussions of God’s love in all of Christian literature.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1651-9

eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1686-1 978-0-8358-1685-4

WRITINGS OF TOYOHIKO KAGAWA

In the time between World Wars I and II, Toyohiko Kagawa was a Japanese Christian who blended prayer, personal care, and social action.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1652-6

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eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1688-5 978-0-8358-1687-8

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WRITINGS OF THOMAS À KEMPIS

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis is one of the most influential books, other than the Bible, on Christian spirituality.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1654-0

eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1692-2 978-0-8358-1691-5

WRITINGS OF FRANCIS & CLARE

These celebrated saints of 13th-century Italy founded influential religious orders (the Franciscans and the Poor Clares) that still carry on vital work.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1648-9

eBOOK $5.99 978-0-8358-1680-9

KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1679-3

WRITINGS OF EVELYN UNDERHILL

Evelyn Underhill, a 20th-century British spiritual writer and retreat leader, is known for her exploration of the spiritual life.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1655-7

eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1694-6 978-0-8358-1693-9

WRITINGS OF CATHERINE OF SIENA

Catherine of Siena practiced extreme self-sacrifice fueled by prayer so intense that she often lost awareness of the world around her.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1646-5

eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1676-2 978-0-8358-1675-5

WRITINGS OF JOHN OF THE CROSS

A 16th-century Carmelite monk used vivid metaphors and biblical stories to describe the “dark night of the soul.”

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1649-6

eBOOK $5.99 978-0-8358-1682-3

KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1681-6

WRITINGS OF THE DESERT FATHERS & MOTHERS

In the 3rd, 4th, and 5th centuries, thousands of men and women moved into the deserts of Egypt and Syria seeking simplicity, solitude, and Christian community. Others collected their stories and sayings.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1647-2

eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1678-6 978-0-8358-1677-9

WRITINGS OF WILLIAM LAW

In these selections from his book A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, Law calls for total devotion to God. PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1657-1

eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1698-4 978-0-8358-1697-7

WRITINGS OF JOHN WOOLMAN

Woolman’s journals reveal the development of a soul seeking to know and do God’s will in all things. A devout Quaker, Woolman lived simply and dedicated his life to the struggles of others.

PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8358-1650-2

eBOOK $5.99 KINDLE $5.99 978-0-8358-1684-7 978-0-8358-1683-0

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SPIRITUAL GIFTS resources UNDERSTANDING SPIRITUAL GIFTS Meeting God in Scripture Mary Lou Redding Let this 7-week study help you explore spiritual gifts using selected passages from the Bible. Includes a spiritual gifts inventory.

PARTICIPANT’S BOOK $8.99 978-0-8358-1015-9

eBOOK $6.99 KINDLE $6.99 978-0-8358-1616-8 978-0-8358-1615-1

LEADER’S GUIDE $9.99 978-0-8358-1014-2

eBOOK $7.99 KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1614-4 978-0-8358-1613-7

REDISCOVERING OUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS Building Up the Body of Christ Through the Gifts of the Spirit Charles V. Bryant Identifies, defines, and discusses 32 spiritual gifts including giving, healing, hospitality, service, witnessing, and music.

PAPERBACK $11.99 978-0-8358-0633-6

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1491-1 978-0-8358-1490-4

REDISCOVERING OUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS WORKBOOK John I. Penn A companion to Charles Bryant’s book, this workbook offers a basic understanding of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Contains 6 sessions to help individuals or groups discover their spiritual gifts.

PAPERBACK $9.99 978-0-8358-0771-5

eBOOK $7.99 KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1606-9 978-0-8358-1605-2

YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS INVENTORY Charles V. Bryant This packet contains 10 copies of the spiritual gifts inventory from the book Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts. The inventory adapts material from the basic text for small-group assessment and discussion about spiritual gifts.

PAPERBACK $21.99 978-0-8358-0819-4

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“The Academy for Spiritual Formation gave me the space, the time, the support, and the model I needed to learn again that God loves me deeply. This is my true story, and The Academy helped me discover it. What’s yours?”

—Kristen Vincent

To discover your story and to learn more about The Academy, visit: academy.upperroom.org

Psalm Prayer (Psalm 42) Quench the thirst of my heart, O God. Sing the song of your love deep within me.

Lead me to the waters of mercy, For my hope is in you. Amen.

Psalm 42, adapted by Judy Holloway. Adaptation © 2006 Upper Room Books. From The Upper Room Worshipbook: Music and Liturgies for Spiritual Formation. Copyright © 2006 by Upper Room Books. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Write your own psalm or draw a picture as a prayer of praise to God.

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INSPIRATIONAL resources SPOKEN INTO BEING Divine Encounters Through Story Michael E. Williams Storytelling helps us makes sense of the events of our lives, the world around us, and God. When we tell stories, we speak a world into being.

PAPERBACK $12.99 978-0-8358-1707-3

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1709-7

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1708-0

AUDIOBOOK $14.99 978-0-8358-1780-6 SpokenIntoBeing.UpperRoomBooks.com

THE MYSTIC IN YOU Discovering a God-Filled World Bruce G. Epperly Can ordinary people become mystics? Practical and accessible, this book helps us experience our world through the eyes of several mystics— people who sense God’s presence in their daily lives. Introduces 12 mystics from a variety of historical settings and faith backgrounds, giving insights about their spiritual experiences, lives, and view of God and the world.

PAPERBACK $13.99 978-0-8358-1760-8

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1762-2

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1761-5

FOR SABBATH’S SAKE Embracing Your Need for Rest, Worship, and Community J. Dana Trent In our culture of constant busyness, how exactly do we manage to build sabbath time into our busy lives? This book traces the rich history of sabbath and offers practical ways to incorporate sabbath into your life.

PAPERBACK $12.99 978-0-8358-1719-6

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1721-9

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1720-2

AUDIOBOOK $14.99 978-0-8358-1781-3

“I’m what self-help author Gretchen Rubin calls an obliger, a helper.”

—J. Dana Trent I am likely to respond promptly when I check email before bed rather than waiting. I will put students’ desires to learn before my seemingly trivial needs. I easily commit without assessing my own needs and work to the bone when someone else is depending on me. . . .

In addition to worship and community, rest is an important part of sabbath. How often do you carve out time in your schedule to take a nap or just “be”? How could you plan more time for self-care? ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

I tend to overdo it. There are times when I pay so much attention and energy to others that I don’t meet my own needs and expectations. The result? Burnout.

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To read more of this article, visit www.upperroom.org/news/246

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THIS IS MY BODY Embracing the Messiness of Faith and Motherhood Hannah Shanks Part personal narrative and part scriptural analysis, This Is My Body delves into what it means to be a woman, to have a woman’s body, to be a mother, and to be a member of the body of Christ. Encouraging readers to remove the patriarchal lens through which they have viewed God, Shanks helps women find acceptance and belonging, knowing that they too were created in God’s image and affirming that their bodies matter to God. PAPERBACK $13.99 978-1-935205-28-9

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-1-935205-30-2 978-1-935205-29-6

Hannah Shanks on Viewing God from a Woman’s Perspective The language and tradition I received from the church had few women characters, few connections to God that weren’t tied to a male form or body, and few ways to connect with God or my faith while also being connected with my own female body.

But the church of our ancestors was not this way. When I looked at Christian tradition— from the early church through the medieval period—I found a treasure trove of women’s words, women’s experiences, women’s leadership and examples to build from and see my life in. Instead of having to reach outside of myself to connect to God, I found myself connected, rooted in God with my experiences.

So many women have great difficulty relating to a male-imaged God. It can be hard to recognize the Divine if we limit God only to male bodies and pronouns. If we look to scripture, we find a God who is comfortable describing herself in feminine terms. If we look to the Epistles, we find Paul repeatedly describing himself as a woman and mother in order to illustrate his relationship to the early church. If we look to the writings of church fathers and mothers, we find them exhorting one another and all believers to relate to God as Mother, and to strive to lead, teach and care for others as women did.

Women have always been central to the life and leadership of God’s work in the world.

BLESSED ENDURANCE Moving Beyond Despair to Hope John R. Wimmer Where is God when we are hurting or in despair? Pain, despair, and struggle are part of life, and they test our character as God’s people.

John Wimmer approaches these challenges to our faith realistically and thoughtfully. Those looking for an easy answer to why despair, pain, and suffering exist will not find it in this book.

This inspiring book offers practical help for moving from pain and despair to the blessing of hope. Wimmer reminds readers that with hope we also have faith—not the false belief that our lives will be pain-free, but true faith that God will lead us through our struggles to more profound depths of spiritual growth and wisdom.

PAPERBACK $9.99 978-0-8358-1777-6

eBOOK $7.99 978-0-8358-1779-0

KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1778-3

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INSPIRATIONAL resources LIVING COMPASSION Loving Like Jesus Andrew Dreitcer How do we become more compassionate toward others, especially our enemies? This book introduces the Compassion Practice, a compassion formation process that has been developed in the last decade. Each chapter includes a “Review and Practice” section to help you apply what you learned.

PAPERBACK $14.99 978-0-8358-1723-3

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1725-7

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1724-0

The Jesus Prayer

(“Jesus Christ, Son of God, have compassion on me”) is a self-compassion practice.

Even the simple move to pray the Jesus Prayer was an act of self-compassion for the ancient people of faith who developed it. The religion of their day tended to tell them that they were full of sin, missing the mark in every moment, unworthy of God’s attention. . . . The very act of praying the prayer has been an act of selfcompassion for many Christians over the ages.

Permission to boldly seek compassion is not the only way in which the Jesus Prayer offers a path to self-compassion. When “the prayer begins to pray us”—that is, when the mind enters the heart—we begin to take on the attitudes of Christ; we begin to share Christ’s ability to love. The spiritual warmth that comes in the prayer is the “ ‘flame of grace’ kindled in the heart.” It is Compassion living within us. The Jesus Prayer leads us to become more and more like Jesus, “gazing favorably on everything, and considering it from God’s point of view.”

–Andrew Dreitcer in Living Compassion

COMPASSION IN PRACTICE The Way of Jesus Frank Rogers Jr. Jesus taught a way of personal and social transformation through the practice of radical compassion. Rogers describes not just what Christian compassion looks like but how to live out compassion in a world ravaged by violence, fear, and reactivity. He expands on his book Practicing Compassion to teach us how to love as Jesus loved.

PAPERBACK $14.99 978-0-8358-1566-6

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1568-0 978-0-8358-1567-3

CompassionInPractice.UpperRoomBooks.com

“ Compassion can involve bearing witness to the plight of those who suffer— vigils for peace and freedom abroad, prayer services for abused children, street corner signs in protest of the dumping of chemical waste, bumper stickers pleading to end human trafficking.”

—Frank Rogers Jr. in Compassion in Practice

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GOD UNBOUND Wisdom from Galatians for the Anxious Church Elaine A. Heath Worried about the church’s future? As she read Galatians, Elaine Heath realized her vision of God was too small. She inspires us to find an unbound God who is greater than our anxious fears. Offers practical advice and hope for how the church can move through anxiety to courageous, culturally sensitive, and Spirit-led engagement in our rapidly changing world.

PAPERBACK $9.99 978-0-8358-1583-3

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A Conversation with Elaine Heath, Duke Divinity School Faculty Do you think there is hope for the future of the church?

There is definitely hope for the future of the church. The church in America will look different 50 years from now than it has in the past century. It will be much more diverse in form.

There will be more creative expressions of local faith communities, and networks of small communities will be more normative.

The church will not be able to assume it is in charge of America anymore and deserves special perks (which is a good thing, as the true gospel invites us to a stance of kenosis [self-emptying and becoming receptive to God’s divine will] rather than dominance), and there will be more bivocational leaders and fewer full-time clergy with salaries and benefits. We are at the front end of a new reformation, which will likely take many decades to unfold. I am excited to be part of this era of the church’s life, to be able to participate in the new thing that God is doing.

God is faithful and will not forsake the “one, holy, catholic (universal), apostolic” church. Some of our versions of church will fail, and not a moment too soon. But the gathered people of God who are the body of Christ in the world today will continue, because God will not forsake us.

“ We must lead our communities of faith into a contemplative stance, helping them to reorient themselves as the beloved children of God. We must systematically and repeatedly introduce them to practices of prayer that encourage listening to help them soak in God’s love. We must teach them the practice of lectio divina, which in John Wesley’s terminology was called “searching the Scriptures.” We must encourage them to pray regularly using a prayer of examen so that they begin to recognize, habitually, what is life-giving and what is death-dealing not just in their personal lives but in the life of the church.”

—Elaine Heath in God Unbound

What are some life-giving practices that you think offer hope for the church’s future? __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________

For more specific categories, visit PathsofStudy.UpperRoomBooks.com

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INSPIRATIONAL resources DEEPLY ROOTED Knowing Self, Growing in God Christopher Maricle How is your soul like a tree? We understand how trees grow and how dirt, seeds, water, roots, and sunlight support their life cycle. Christopher Maricle uses the simple yet powerful metaphor of a tree to explain spiritual growth. Join him in exploring the tree of the soul.

PAPERBACK $14.99 978-0-8358-1563-5

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1565-9

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1564-2

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BEYOND LONELINESS The Gift of God’s Friendship Trevor Hudson Loneliness touches everyone—rich or poor, young or old. Have you ever considered that God actually longs to be friends with you? Trevor Hudson suggests that friendship with God is the only remedy for the ache of loneliness. Discover how to get to know and deepen your friendship with God. PAPERBACK $10.99 978-0-8358-1519-2

eBOOK $7.99 978-0-8358-1520-8

KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1531-4

BeyondLoneliness.UpperRoomBooks.org

HOLY SPIRIT HERE AND NOW Trevor Hudson Do you long for something more in your relationship with God? This book invites you to open yourself to the gift that God extends to you already. Hudson writes, “The Holy Spirit is deeply at work within you, right at this moment, wherever you are.”

PAPERBACK $15.99 978-0-8358-1220-7

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8358-1222-1

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1221-4

“ If we want to become more responsive to the Holy Spirit’s leading, we need to discern the Spirit’s movement in our lives. Discernment, as one of my favorite writers puts it, involves practice in prayerful attention to the inner movements of our hearts, prayerful reflection on them, and honest appraisal of what seems most in tune with God’s purposes.”

—Trevor Hudson, Holy Spirit Here and Now 44

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CREATIVITY AND DIVINE SURPRISE Finding the Place of Your Resurrection Karla M. Kincannon Grow closer to God as you discover your God-given gift of creativity.

Creativity is usually defined narrowly and associated only with artists or children. Learn to use creativity as a tool to navigate through everyday experiences and find the sacred in each God-given moment.

PAPERBACK $8.99 eBOOK $4.99 KINDLE $4.99 978-0-8358-9812-6 978-0-8358-1259-7 978-0-8358-1258-0

YOURS ARE THE HANDS OF CHRIST The Practice of Faith James C. Howell Find ways to apply faith to your daily life and show your commitment to Christ. By considering all that Jesus did with his hands as a teacher, a healer, and a compassionate servant, Howell challenges readers to be the hands and feet and love of Christ in the world.

PAPERBACK $13.99 978-0-8358-0867-5

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1755-4 978-0-8358-1754-7

QUESTIONS GOD ASKS US Trevor Hudson Look at 10 questions God poses in the Bible and see how they can lead to deeper conversations with God. PAPERBACK $14.99 978-0-8358-9990-1 eCOURSE $16.00 URelearning.UpperRoom.org/p/questions-god-asks-us

INTERRUPTIONS A 40-Day Journey with Jesus Jacob Armstrong Set aside your stress for a bit and refocus on God. Jacob Armstrong looks at the life of Jesus and gives insights on how you might respond to all the interruptions in your life. The scripture-based meditations guide you to think about interruptions from various angles: interruption as an opportunity, living in a culture of interruptions, Jesus’ response to interruptions, and Jesus as an interrupter.

PAPERBACK $9.99 978-0-8358-1347-1

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1349-5 978-0-8358-1348-8

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Help the children and youth in your life cultivate daily spiritual practices Pockets is a monthly magazine designed for the personal use of children to help them grow in their relationship with God. Kids learn to develop a daily time with God through fun activities, stories, poems, games, daily scripture readings, recipes, and contributions from other children.

Learn more at Pockets.org

$21.95

one-year (11 issue) subscription

devozine is a bimonthly devotional magazine of faith stories written by teens and those who love them.

Start helping the teens in your life draw on their relationship with God to help them make the right choices. In each issue, teen writers discuss challenging faith issues.

Learn more at devozine.org

$21.00

one-year (6 issue) subscription

Call 800.972.0433 use order code: F8HG01

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5 (NIV)

The Best Investment Lauren Fischer [Singapore] Originally from a small and humble town in Michigan, I am currently living in Singapore, a southeast Asian country full of wealth and abundance. Everywhere I go, I see ultra-modern architecture, multitudes of malls and shops, and an endless variety of restaurants. In a country with such abundance, many people place their primary focus on money and materialistic gain. I too have been caught up in this lifestyle. But realizing that there is no end to wanting more, I recently have begun to implement some principles of minimalism in my life.

Scripture tells us that money will not truly satisfy us. When we are faced with trials, our possessions will not save us. God is the one who helps us weather the storm. I am confident that knowing and loving God is the best investment of time and energy we can make and will bring us far more contentment in life.

SHIFT YOUR FOCUS Memorize today’s scripture or post it somewhere you will see it often. Let these words encourage you to focus on deepening your relationship with God. From page 31 of devozine, the lifestyle magazine for teens, March/April 2018. Copyright 2018 by The Upper Room. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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What are spiritual practices? Why is it important to help kids cultivate them?

Spiritual practices are simply the habits that help us draw closer to God and shape our lives as followers of Christ.

Children and youth are formed by the activities that make up their days—the rhythms of family life, the routines of school, the games they play, the tech they use, the friends they spend time with. If we want them to grow as Christian disciples, we need to help them practice spiritually formative habits. Here are a few practices to try: Paying Attention Young children are good at noticing. They notice bugs and flowers and the way a pea rolls around on the plate. That gives us a natural way to connect the things they notice to God the Creator. “Thank you, God, for creating that cool bug.” “Wow, God makes some beautiful flowers!” etc.

Scripture We show the importance of scripture by talking about Bible stories. We can also help children and youth learn how scripture can comfort, sustain, and guide them in difficult times.

Talk to them about verses that sustain you and the times you’ve used those verses. Encourage them to memorize scripture.

Teens become distracted by many of the same things that distract us. Help them by inviting them to notice signs of God all around them. “I see the beauty of God’s creation in the sunrise.” “I see God’s compassion in the way you care for your friend.”

Body Prayer A body prayer involves movement or physical action. Talk about what we do with our bodies when we pray: We close our eyes. We fold our hands. We bow our heads. Some people kneel, some raise their hands, some dance. Explain that God made our bodies and that we can use our bodies when we pray. Here’s one body prayer that works well for groups or individuals:

Blessing Helping children and youth know they are loved by God is a powerful gift. Bless your kids as they head out for the day or on special occasions, such as a birthday or the start of a new school year. Look for opportunities to say to one another: “You are God’s beloved. God delights in you.”

Placing both hands on top of the head, pray out loud: God be in my head and in my understanding.

Placing both hands over the eyes, pray out loud: God be in my eyes and in my seeing.

Placing both hands over the ears, pray out loud: God be in my ears and in my hearing.

Breathing Deep breathing is a reliable way to calm and center ourselves. We can also use a breath prayer, the repetition of a short prayer— typically a favorite name for God, along with a phrase stating what we’re seeking from God— timed with our breathing in and out (i.e., “God, give me courage,” “Christ, be with me.”) This is a great form of prayer to teach to our children and teens; it’s short and simple, and anyone can do it anywhere.

Placing both hands over the mouth, pray out loud: God be in my mouth and in my speaking.

Silence We live in such a noisy world. We can help kids learn the value of silence by practicing together. Simply be silent together and enjoy being in God’s presence. Start with a few seconds and gradually add on to that.

Placing both arms at the side of the body, hands open and turning outward, pray out loud: God be in my life and in my journeying. Amen.

Placing both hands over the heart, pray out loud: God be in my heart and in my feelings.

Placing both hands on top of the thighs, pray out loud: God be in my legs and in my moving.

Placing open hands one on top of the other in front of the body, pray out loud: God be in my hands and in my touching.

(Ciona Rouse, The Way of Pilgrimage, Upper Room Books)

reative Expression We can pray through writing, C drawing or coloring, music, and movements.

Encourage kids who love to write to keep a journal or to write their own prayers or psalms.

Those who love to express themselves through visual art can draw, paint, or sculpt their own interpretations of scripture.

Sharing Gifts We can help kids think about simple acts of generosity—buying a pair of socks or gloves to help someone who’s homeless, donating to an animal shelter, helping to build a well where there’s no clean water. Remind them that they can also be generous in other ways—with their time, with their ideas, with the way they regard others.

The Examen This prayer practice is the traditional Ignatian exercise of reviewing the day to find God’s presence in it. Many simple expressions of this practice can be used in family settings (happy, sad, sorry; thumbs up, thumbs down; highs and lows).

Encourage children and teens to make this a part of their personal prayers at the end of each day.

Do 1 Thing Small acts of kindness and compassion help us to share God’s love with others and to live the way Jesus taught us to live. Help kids make a habit of these acts by encouraging them to choose each day or each week one thing to do for a neighbor, a classmate, a friend, a family member, a stranger.

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CHILDREN, YOUTH, & FAMILY resources SCRAMBLED STARTS Family Prayers for Morning, Bedtime, and Everything In-Between Jenny Youngman Do you long to teach your children to pray? Youngman shares honestly from her family’s journey as she tried to build prayer into their daily lives.

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PASSING IT ON How to Nurture Your Children’s Faith Season by Season Kara Oliver Give your children the greatest gift of all—pass on your faith. In Passing It On, Kara Lassen Oliver provides a practical guide to help parents, grandparents, and other concerned adults nurture their children’s faith. For four weeks at a time, she offers easy-to-follow suggestions for families during the seasons of Advent, Lent, summer, and back to school.

This book features plans for weekly Family Gatherings with age-appropriate activities, symbols to remind family members of the week’s spiritual emphasis, a suggested daily practice and prayer for each week, and a Leader’s Guide for parent groups studying this book together.

PAPERBACK $9.99 978-0-8358-1497-3

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SPANISH $9.99 eBOOK $7.99 978-0-8358-1813-1 978-0-8358-1815-5

KINDLE $7.99 978-0-8358-1814-8

There is no better time to talk with our children about the fruit of the Spirit than during the return to school in the fall. New teachers will explain their rules, coaches will expect girls and boys to focus and learn new skills, and music teachers already have goals and expectations for recitals at the end of the year. In the midst of these new routines is a chance for us as parents, grandparents, or any adults who love children to speak a word of grace in the midst of changing routines and increased responsibility and to create space for kids to take a deep breath and notice that God is with them in the excitement and the stress that a new school year brings.

—Kara Lassen Oliver

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING Sacred Circle Time for Young Children Leanne Hadley Blessed to Be a Blessing is designed specifically for young children using a simple but effective model that will move them beyond learning about God to experiencing God through ritual, wonder, story, prayer, and blessing. Dr. Leanne Hadley provides all the leadership tools as well as ideas for resources that all congregations already have on hand.

PAPERBACK $25.00 978-0-88177-786-4

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eBOOK $9.99 978-0-88177-788-8

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AUDIOBOOKS CHRIST BESIDE ME, CHRIST WITHIN ME Celtic Blessings Beth A. Richardson Do you long to feel God’s presence in your daily life? Inspired by the prayers of Celtic Christians, Beth Richardson reflects on her own Celtic heritage and offers this rich collection of stories and prayers. This audiobook, read by the author, will inspire you to become aware of God’s presence in all the moments of your life—from waking to sleeping, from birth to death, from ordinary tasks to momentous celebrations.

DIGITAL AUDIO DOWNLOAD $14.99 978-0-8358-1726-4

FOR SABBATH’S SAKE Embracing Your Need for Rest, Worship, and Community J. Dana Trent Many Americans balk at the idea of setting aside a whole day for worship, rest, and time with those who matter most to them. Yet we long for more time to spend on what matters most—unrushed time to rest, reconnect with friends and loved ones, and deepen our relationship with God. An ancient spiritual practice exists that can help restore balance to our lives: the practice of keeping sabbath. But how exactly do we manage to build time for sabbath into our busy lives? Dana Trent explores this question in For Sabbath’s Sake.

With humor and honesty, Trent reveals her own struggles with setting apart a day devoted to God, rest, and community. This book traces the rich history of sabbath, helps you find ways to overcome barriers to this spiritual practice, and suggests achievable ways to build sabbath into your life.

DIGITAL AUDIO DOWNLOAD $14.99 978-0-8358-1781-3

HOW TO PRAY E. Stanley Jones This reissue of a popular primer on prayer by renowned evangelist E. Stanley Jones brings his excellent and practical advice to a new generation. Topics include the steps of prayer, the time and place for prayer, how prayer brings us into a deeper relationship with God, and more.

This audiobook is read by Dr. Dan Eischen. Dr. Eischen is a retired United Methodist minister from Oklahoma. In addition to his ministerial degrees, he received a degree from the American Broadcasting School in Tulsa and enjoyed a 16-year career in radio broadcasting with an emphasis in news and voice-over work for commercials. He has also recorded books for the Oklahoma Library for the Blind.

DIGITAL AUDIO DOWNLOAD $12.99 978-0-8358-1782-0

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AUDIOBOOKS A MISSIONARY MINDSET What Church Leaders Need to Know to Reach Their Community Lessons from E. Stanley Jones Douglas Ruffle Douglas Ruffle writes A Missionary Mindset using the timeless principles of E. Stanley Jones and transfers them for use today. He teaches us to approach the mission field as if we were from a different country and learning a new culture, a new way of communicating, and a new way to connect people to the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

DIGITAL AUDIO DOWNLOAD $19.00 978-0-88177-858-8

SPOKEN INTO BEING Divine Encounters Through Story Michael E. Williams Storytelling helps us makes sense of the events of our lives, the world around us, and God. When we tell stories, we speak a world into being— just as God did in the creation accounts in the book of Genesis.

“Everyone is a storyteller,” says author Michael Williams. You don’t have to be a professional storyteller to be able to tell good stories. In this book on storytelling as spiritual exploration, Williams shares stories from his life and offers practical prompts that guide us to tell our ownstories. He reminds us that we have been spoken into being as part of a much larger story. Using poetry, personal narrative, and retellings of biblical stories, Williams leads us to a deeper knowledge of the power of narrative.

DIGITAL AUDIO DOWNLOAD $14.99 978-0-8358-1780-6

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WHEN YOU COME UNGLUED . . .

STICK CLOSE TO GOD Patricia Wilson Even when your life and faith seem broken, God loves you and wants you to enjoy a life abundant in blessings, freedom, and opportunity. A motivational speaker, spiritual guide, and mentor to women, Patricia Wilson offers a wise and lighthearted take on the serious business of maturing in faith. Her deliciously candid descriptions of contemporary life reveal the ways we lose touch with God. Then she shows us how to reconnect and stick close.

“Sticking close to God is not as easy as I thought it would be,” Wilson writes. “Not because God moved on to someone less difficult and demanding, but because I keep forgetting that my walk with God requires a conscious, daily decision. That’s what this book is all about: how to stick close to God, even on those days and through those times when life comes unglued!”

DIGITAL AUDIO DOWNLOAD $7.99 978-0-8358-1783-7

WOMAN OVERBOARD How Passion Saved My Life Jo Kadlecek Do you long for more passion in your life? How do you define passion?

Many people associate passion with intense romance, adventure, creativity, vocation, or calling. If you ask a pastor or priest to define passion, he or she would likely link the word to the passion of Christ, to the events of Holy Week.

The definition of passion has evolved over the years. Originally the word came from the Latin passio, “to suffer.”

Woman Overboard invites you to join an adventure of • finding out what you were born for • living out your calling in the context of your Christian faith • making sense of a broken world in light of the passion of Christ When we pursue our passions, we must be willing to jump overboard, to take risks. Jumping overboard can be hard, scary, and dangerous. But staying where we are can also be dangerous.

When we anchor our identity in the passion of Christ, we are free to jump overboard. We are free to take the risks we’ve always wanted to take, to pursue the things we’ve always wanted to pursue.

So what are you waiting for? Dive into the journey of waking up to the passion and gifts around you!

DIGITAL AUDIO DOWNLOAD $14.99 978-0-8358-1735-6

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WEAVINGS short reads “What is a short read?” The Upper Room offers articles that can be read in one sitting. These articles are rich, timeless, and affordable. Additional topics are available in our bookstore at Bookstore.UpperRoom.org in our e-Reads category.

Contemplation in Time of War Wendy M. Wright In drawing together the seeming opposites of war and contemplation, Wendy Wright shows how war offers opportunities for deeper spiritual understanding. Writing during the Persian Gulf conflict, she notes the difference between seeing the war through the eyes of the vulnerable and marginalized—such as children and Vietnam veterans—and seeing it from the point of view of society’s elite.

From the perspective of the vulnerable, war is horrifying and painful; from the perspective of the powerful, war is but a series of glossy photos in a cast-aside magazine. She compares these two perspectives using Ignatius’s “Two Standards”: the world’s standard of power, wealth, and pride, and Christ’s standard of weakness, poverty, and humility.

Through Ignatian contemplative practice, she shows how we may become fully present to war, thus finding in it our own opportunities for formation in Christ’s image.

PDF reprint from Weavings July/August 1992 PDFW5 $2.50

Earth Has No Sorrow That Heaven Cannot Heal Luther E. Smith Jr. Luther E. Smith’s tender article invites us to touch our own desolation, our experiences of prolonged, chronic pain. Noting that desolation itself is less painful than the isolation that so often accompanies it, he advises the remedy of caring relationship found in community. By involvement in community and human relationship, the desolate soul is reminded of God’s love, and this love gives us the power to endure our pain.

“Earth Has No Sorrow That Heaven Cannot Heal” acknowledges desolation’s power and transforms its experience into an invitation, a leading into deeper, more honest community involvement and into fresh awareness of God’s abiding presence.

PDF reprint from Weavings September/October 1993 PDFW6 $2.50

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Staying Awake Deborah Smith Douglas Acedia, or “the noonday demon,” is the apathy, listlessness, and boredom that pulls us away from God at mid-day, mid-career, or mid-life.

In “Staying Awake,” Deborah Smith Douglas explores acedia and finds it to be “rooted not in laziness, but in sadness.” Thus its remedy is not in pressuring ourselves to work harder, as to do so would be to punish ourselves needlessly and possibly worsen our apathetic condition.

Douglas suggests instead that we heal our sadness by paying closer attention to God, by listening for God’s movement in our work, in our prayers, and even in our own limitations. By “staying awake” to our lives as they truly are, we rediscover our joy in God; we fall in love with God again, and thus find ourselves restored and renewed.

PDF reprint from Weavings July/August 1992 PDF1 $2.50

Fear or Fascination?

God’s Call in a Multicultural World Robert Corin Morris “Fear or Fascination?” presents contrasting approaches to the stranger— xenophobic retreat versus interested engagement.

Our approach to strangers deserves our attention, as we live in multicultural societies and engage in global interactions, and we so easily find ourselves falling into suspicion and even hostility. In stories of meetings with strangers, Robert Morris describes discoveries of connection, healing, and fresh visions as seen through others’ eyes, some of the gifts that may come from such encounters with God in disguise.

PDF reprint from Weavings September/October 2003 PDFW3 $2.50

How Do We Pray When We Are Divided?

Stephen V. Doughty Stephen Doughty’s article provides a constructive model for communal healing, and his attention to splintered communities is especially relevant now, as painful disagreements threaten to divide entire denominations.

His suggested healing process begins at the individual level, with each community member engaging in a process of prayerful transformation.

Healing then moves outward, through communal practices of silence, intercessory prayer, fasting, and attention to God’s grace.

Doughty’s model for gives us a template and a beginning point, and his optimism encourages us to stay in the process keeping the hope of God’s grace before us.

PDF reprint from Weavings July/August 2003 PDFW4 $2.50

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DISCIPLINES short reads For other short reads from The Upper Room Disciplines: A Book of Daily Devotions, visit our e-Reads category at Bookstore.UpperRoom.org.

A Double Take Maria Kane Seven devotions focus on relying on God’s power, wisdom, and mercy in our lives. eBOOK $1.99 978-0-8358-1415-7 KINDLE $1.99 978-0-8358-1414-0

Abiding in God Jennifer Moland-Kovash Seven devotions focus on proclaiming God’s goodness through praise and worship. eBOOK $1.99 978-0-8358-1419-5 KINDLE $1.99 978-0-8358-1418-8

Bless the Lord Majorie Hewitt Suchocki These seven devotionals focus on our response to Christ as a faithful companion. eBOOK $1.99 978-0-8358-1467-6 KINDLE $1.99 978-0-8358-1466-9

The Light of the Glory of God Sarah S. Howell These seven devotionals focus on recognizing God’s glory in bearing light to others. eBOOK $1.99 978-0-8358-1397-6 KINDLE $1.99 978-0-8358-1396-9

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PAPERBACK $9.99 eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8358-1799-8 978-0-8358-1801-8 978-0-8358-1800-1

Meet Jesus through some of the questions he asks. Your goal is not to answer them correctly but to respond honestly. Whether you have come to this book full of faith, full of questions, or both, the author hopes you find yourself in conversation with the living God. Written in a warm, encouraging style, this thought-provoking and imaginative book gives you starting points for conversations with God.

Conversations with Jesus Matthew Croasmun

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UNITED METHODIST WESLEYAN Leadership

SAFE SANCTUARIES resources Safe Sanctuaries is the only resource of its kind that offers the tools necessary to train church leaders on how to keep the children, youth, adults, elders, clergy and staff of your church safe. Offers valuable, practical advice to help churches safeguard against abuse and exploitation.

CHILDREN AND YOUTH Joy Thornburg Melton

Provides necessary forms to develop and implement a policy. The DVD includes an interview with the author and real-life stories.

PAPERBACK $25.00 978-0-8817-7543-3

DVD $27.00 978-0-8817-7415-3

VIRTUAL WORLD Joy Thornburg Melton and Michelle L. Foster

Addresses the challenges of ministry in the face of technology and the way we work, use, and interact with it.

PAPERBACK $25.00 978-0-8817-7630-0

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8817-7648-5 978-0-8817-7647-8

OLDER ADULTS Richard H. Gentzler Jr. and Joy Thornburg Melton

Learn how your church can recognize and respond to issues of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of your oldest parishioners.

PAPERBACK $25.00 978-0-8817-7613-3

MINISTERS Joy Thornburg Melton

Informs clergy and those who work with clergy the basics of ethical practice within their leadership role. Explore three large areas of special concern for clergy: counseling, finances, and sexuality.

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UM1

UNITED METHODIST WESLEYAN Leadership

OUR MEMBERSHIP VOWS Mark Stamm An easy-to-read booklet that reflects on the vows and covenant each member takes upon joining the United Methodist Church.

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THE UNITED METHODIST WAY Branson L. Thurston An overview of the history, beliefs, organization, and mission. Also available in Spanish.

10-PACK $22.00 978-0-8817-7215-9

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JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND LEADERSHIP TRAINING 2017-2020 Offers one-page job descriptions of leadership in congregational life and explores biblical roots and dimensions of leader development.

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eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8817-7861-8

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A MISSION JOURNEY A Handbook for Volunteers Encourages short-term mission volunteers to reflect on the reasons why they engage in mission and how they plan and prepare to be more intentional.

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ATTENDANCE REGISTRATION PADS These 6” x 9” pads are available only in sets of 20. Each pad has 50 sheets.

PACK OF 20 $27.00 978-0-8817-7606-5

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EACH ONE A MINISTER Using God’s Gifts for Ministry William J. Carter This study of Ephesians engages the reader in discovering the meaning of church, ministry, and gifts - from the early church up to the present.

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ACCOUNTABLE DISCIPLESHIP Living in God’s Household Steven W. Manskar A book about pastoral leadership in the Wesleyan tradition. Pastoral leadership is the ministry of caring for the household of God. PAPERBACK $15.00 978-0-8817-7339-2

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8817-7784-0 978-0-8817-7785-7

TRANSFORMING COMMUNITY The Wesleyan Way to Missional Congregations Henry H. Knight III & F. Douglas Powe Jr. Drawing from John Wesley’s organizing abilities, this will equip today’s congregations to be more transformational. Includes study questions.

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TRANSFORMING EVANGELISM The Wesleyan Way of Sharing Faith Henry H. Knight III & F. Douglas Powe Jr. Learn on your own or as a congregational group from this practical study on living an evangelistic life that demonstrates the transforming power of loving God and neighbor.

PAPERBACK $14.00 978-0-8817-7485-6

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UM3

UNITED METHODIST WESLEYAN Leadership

LAY SERVANT MINISTRIES BASIC COURSE Brian Jackson, Sandy Jackson A foundational course designed to equip new church leaders and renew current leaders in The United Methodist Church. The Basic Course can be used for both adults and youth. Consisting of five twohour sessions, it may serve as a short-term study for small groups, Sunday school classes, and new member classes. Also available in Spanish.

LEADER’S GUIDE

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PARTICIPANT’S BOOK

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978-0-88177-909-7 $15.00

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UNITED METHODIST WESLEYAN Small Group

Inspire leaders and individuals alike to grow disciples as children, youth, and adults. Believe, follow, grow, and transform! Covenant Discipleship helps connect participants with Jesus Christ and one another through ongoing mutual accountability and support for living in the world as Christ followers.

DISCIPLES MAKING DISCIPLES A Guide for Covenant Discipleship Groups and Class Leaders Steven W. Manskar Provides information needed to organize the ministry, form groups, write a covenant, lead a meeting, and support groups so they help the congregation live out its mission of making disciples for the transformation of the world.

PAPERBACK $17.00 978-0-8817-7774-1

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EVERYDAY DISCIPLES Covenant Discipleship with Youth Chris Wilterdink Resources pastors, youth leaders, and youth groups with information and planning materials related to Covenant Discipleship and accountability practices. Encourages a networked support structure for living as Christ followers PAPERBACK $14.00 978-0-8817-7793-2

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GROWING EVERYDAY DISCIPLES Covenant Discipleship with Children Melanie C. Gordon, Susan Groseclose, & Gayle Quay Equips adults who serve in ministry with children ages 8-11 to guide children toward a mature faith through everyday acts of compassion, justice, worship, and devotion under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

PAPERBACK $12.00 978-0-8817-7695-9

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UNITED METHODIST WESLEYAN Small Group Justice

in Everyday

Life

A LO O K AT T H E SOCIAL PRINCIPLES OF THE UNITED

JUSTICE IN EVERYDAY LIFE A Look at the Social Principles of The United Methodist Church Neal Christie

METHODIST CHURCH

Takes an in-depth look at the Social Principles and the church’s attempt to speak on contemporary issues with which it is confronted today.

NEAL CHRISTIE

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LIVING OUR BELIEFS The United Methodist Way Kenneth L. Carder Explore a basic explanation of the history, beliefs and practices of the United Methodist Church. Ideal for a new members class or an adult confirmation class.

PAPERBACK $13.00 978-0-8817-7571-6

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8817-7664-5

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LIVING OUR UNITED METHODIST BELIEFS A Leader’s Guide for Living Our Beliefs and A Brief History of the United Methodist Church George Hovaness Donigian PAPERBACK $7.99 978-0-8817-7715-4

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THIS HOLY MYSTERY A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion Gayle Carlton Felton A study guide divided into 7 sessions, providing commentary on the history, practice, and principles of Holy Communion in United Methodist congregations. It also points to implications of the sacrament for ministry and mission.

PAPERBACK $14.00 978-0-8817-7457-3

UM6

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8817-7675-1

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8817-7674-4

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UNITED METHODIST WESLEYAN Small Group

BUILDING SPIRITUAL MUSCLE A Six-Week Journey to Shape a More Powerful Faith Sabrina N. Short & Chris Wilterdink Designed for youth to work out their spiritual muscles and build their faith. Included in this resource are scripts for training and coaching the adult group leaders, as well as links to video clips of key speakers from the Youth 2015 event.

PAPERBACK $12.00 978-0-8817-7862-5

eBOOK $9.99 978-0-8817-7864-9

KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8817-7863-2

BY WATER AND THE SPIRIT Making Connections for Identity and Ministry Gayle Carlton Felton This booklet serves as a resource for congregational leaders who are helping members make connections between the baptismal covenant and discipleship in daily life.

PAPERBACK $10.00 978-0-8817-7201-2

eBOOK $9.99 KINDLE $9.99 978-0-8817-7658-4 978-0-8817-7659-1

PRAYING WITH JOHN WESLEY David A. deSilva While remaining true to intent and emphasis of Wesley’s model of prayer, deSilva has updated and interpreted Wesley’s prayers to be used by Christians who are seeking to grow as disciples, taking the reader through one full week of morning and evening devotions.

PAPERBACK $8.00 978-0-8817-7317-0

AFIRE WITH GOD Becoming Spirited Stewards Betsy Schwarzentraub Urges ministries and congregations to become stewards-in-action of all God has entrusted to us. Go beyond thinking in terms of dollars contributed to see becoming living examples of the gospel.

PAPERBACK $15.00 978-0-8817-7520-4

Bookstore.UpperRoom.org • 800.972.0433

UM7

KEEPING IN TOUCH Christian Formation and Teaching Carol F. Krau Describes five critical processes that are important to every teacher and small-group leader in forming Christian disciples. Also available in Spanish.

PAPERBACK $15.00 eBOOK $7.99 978-0-8817-7688-1 978-0-8817-7690-4

JOHN WESLEY FOR THE 21ST CENTURY John O. Gooch Addresses current issues from a theological foundation. Each chapter includes questions for reflection, making this book a great study for individuals and small groups.

PAPERBACK $15.00 978-0-8817-7445-0

LIFE TOGETHER IN THE UNITED METHODIST CONNECTION Beth Galbreath An advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries that gives participants an overview of the structure and organization of The United Methodist Church.

PAPERBACK $10.00 978-0-8817-7701-7

eBOOK $8.00 978-0-8817-7703-1

KINDLE $8.00 978-0-8817-7702-4

CHARTING A COURSE OF DISCIPLESHIP A Workbook on Christian Discipleship Teresa Gilbert, Patty Johansen, Jay Regennitter, Delia Halverson Guides congregations to understand the mission of the church, assess where they are in making disciples, dream what might be possible, and then either build or improve the way they help persons come to and grow in the Christian faith. Bible studies and discovery activities have been added.

PAPERBACK $20.00 978-0-8817-7608-9

Bookstore.UpperRoom.org • 800.972.0433

UM8