To many, the word liturgy brings to mind juggling a hymnal, Bible and a bulletin printed with formal responsive texts as you worship in a cavernous Gothic-styled church. With great faith and affection, Benedict rescues liturgy from its stuffy associations, revealing it as a momentous occasion every Sunday, no matter the worship style. Worship is a remarkable spiritual adventure and the liturgy itself is God's playground—a pilgrimage of individuals and faith communities joining the divine purpose. Through the liturgy's daily, weekly, seasonal and annual dimensions, we experience God's power to shape our lives. We unite with Christ in heart, mind and work to participate in God's new creation. "Liturgy is more than personal piety," writes Benedict. "It is worship for the long haul… It simply goes on week by week and invites us to come along. It even carries us when our spiritual feet get tired and our energy level flags." Rather than seeing the ordered patterns of worship as a repetitive thing we do, liturgy has a cumulative effect as it transforms us to God-oriented worship and living. Benedict examines the hidden rhythms of Sunday worship Holy Communion baptism daily prayer the Christian calendar Exercises contained in the group discussion guide will awaken your imagination to the power of the liturgical life. Liturgy is where God is waiting. Your part is to include yourself in that community of open hands, hearts and minds.

A Pattern of Prayer is a guide to prayer based on the daily, weekly, and occasional prayers of an intentional, ecumenical, Christian community called Grace and Main Fellowship in Danville, Virginia. It's designed to cultivate a rhythm to the life of prayer either in groups or by individuals. Providing a structure for morning, midday, evening, and night prayer, it is an excellent devotional aid that also allows the reader, or readers, to pray along with others wherever they may be. Also included are some of the prayers and blessings used in the work of the community, as well as the community's "identity statements" or "little rule." To make use of the prayerbook, all you'll need, in addition to the book, is a Bible.

Discover the power of recovery ministry for your church. Churchgoers who experience painful family issues, addictions, abuse, loss, mental illnesses, and other secret sorrows begin to believe they live beyond the grip of God’s redemptive hand. Pastors often feel ill equipped to help with such problems and refer people to resources outside the church. People badly need Christ-centered counsel and encouragement, but few church leaders even know where to start. Bridges to Grace is an inspiring introduction highlighting the stories of churches across the country that are thinking systematically and organizationally about the ministry of recovery. The authors share how this ministry is bringing God’s grace to hurting individuals. They relate both success and failure, and best of all, they demonstrate how God uses recovery ministry powerfully for his kingdom purposes.

This book, and the exhibition it was written for, bring to light the extraordinary visual legacy of this remarkable twentieth-century Japanese artist on the eve of the centenary of his birth in 2013. Even though Watanabe's art can be found in the most important museums in the world, he always desired to have his work displayed where it could be seen and enjoyed by ordinary people. It is hoped that Beauty Given by Grace will introduce many new communities to the luminous biblical prints of this dedicated and gifted Japanese Christian artist. -- Amazon.com.

From the author of Grace's Guide and the host of The Grace Helbig Show on E! comes an illustrated, tongue-in-cheek book about style that lampoons fashion and beauty guides while offering practical advice in her trademark sweet and irreverent voice.

2018 Christian Book Award® This Journey Is as Perennial as the Seasons GraceLaced is about more than pretty florals and fanciful brushwork—it's about flourishing. With carefully crafted intention, this beautiful volume of 32 seasonal devotions from artist and author Ruth Chou Simons encourages readers in any circumstance to become deeply rooted in God's faithful promises. GraceLaced extends a soul-stirring invitation to draw close to God while... resting in who He is rehearsing the truth He says about you responding in faith to those truths remembering His provision to sustain you, time and time again More than 800 individual pieces of art came together in the crafting of this book, including dozens of new, hand-painted Scripture vignettes that Ruth is known for. Who we are and who God is never changes, even though everything else rarely stays the same. Let this book point you to truth as you journey through the changing seasons of your heart.