7 mins
REVIEWS
SAYING YES TO LIFE The Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 2020
Written by: Ruth Valerio
Published by: SPCK
Price: £9.99 (e-book £7.99)
Environmentalist and theologian Ruth Valerio is no stranger to the bookshelves, with her emphasis on ethical living that actively cares for creation. As issues over climate change and plastic pollution dominate the headlines, the social activist has been chosen to craft this year’s Archbishop of Canterbury Lent book.
Divided into six chapters, Valerio draws on themes of light, water, land and the creation of life in land and sea, drawing on the days of creation from Genesis, chapter 1. Mirroring Genesis, a final conclusion draws on the seventh day and offers a resurrection theme in both churches and lives.
Outlining the premise of the book, the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby writes in an introduction: ‘It is of the utmost importance that we now stand in solidarity together, repenting of our sins towards the earth and committing to face our responsibilities as God’s people. As people of faith, we cannot just say what we believe. We are obliged to live out the life that Christ calls us to live, to care for our neighbours, for the creatures and the creation that God has so generously given us.’ The book is suitable for individuals or for groups to consider together and will provide a challenge to consider leading more sustainable lives.
Valerio practices what she preaches, living a life that involves reuse and recycling and living as sustainably as possible, whilst reflecting her role as Global Advocacy and Influencing Director at Tearfund.
All proceeds from the book will be donated to Tearfund.
PARISH MEMORIES
Written by: Mary B Morrison Published by: Available from Cassock12@hotmail.co.uk Price: £3 plus £1 post and packaging The Rev Mary Morrison was the first female minister in Fife at Dunfermline: Townhill, which also encompasses the nearby village of Kingseat. These stories, written shortly after she left the parish in the 1980s, trace her journey from new minister to fully fledged parish minister in a former mining community coming to terms with change.
The volume also covers her call to the parish and the conflict that can be experienced in finding a way to follow.
The names of those whose stories she also recalls have been changed but will resonate with those involved in parish life.
It is a story of growth from a predominantly ageing but faithful congregation and shows how a new manse family can bring colour, energy and life and encourage the shoots of new faith and growth at a time of turbulent social change for a community.
The short volume is a compelling volume of faith: from the unexpected call to the parish to the growth of a healthy, faithful congregation. Individual stories will fascinate and move readers in equal measure. The telling of the story is optimistic and enthusiastic – yet at the time there remained suspicion and hostility towards women in ministry but none of that is evident in this work which recalls only an accepting community seeking to learn more and be encouraged in their faith through life.
THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO FAMILY MINISTRY
Written by: Gail Adcock
Published by: BRF
Price: £8.99
Bringing families to Church is a key missional goal of many congregations. Some have staff to help them reach out, others rely on their own resources.
In an effort to help, the author, Family Ministries Development Officer with the Methodist Church, has gathered together her comprehensive research and knowledge to offer a helpful guide for those charged with bringing new generations to faith.
Whilst written in a Methodist context, the lessons and advice offered could be put to practical use for anyone seeking to work with children and families in a similar context.
The book opens with a specific guide to theology and families, past, present and future before breaking into chapters offering advice on laying the foundations for the development of an effective family ministry that seeks to be intergenerational and sustainable.
The book concludes with advice on further reading for anyone interested in the development of ministry for families, offering not only pointers to printed books but to websites and e-resources that may be helpful to those working in the field.
SASRA IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR
Edited by: Bill Newton
Published by: Day One Publications
Price: £7
As the 75th anniversary of the end of the Second World War approaches, the ex-forces charity SASRA (the Soldier’s and Airmen’s Scripture Readers Association) offers a reflective publication, using archive material, tracing the history of the organisation which became SASRA, alongside contemporary accounts of the work of the scripture readers deployed to work with forces involved in conflict.
The book traces the six-year conflict both in the UK and overseas and ends with peacebuilding at the end of the war.
The book is a joint project between SASRA, Day One and MissionAssist.
Lynne McNeil
CROSSWORDS
April 2020 Crossword – Compiled by Jeannie Hollands
Across
1 Animal without teeth (8)
9 OT book preceding Esther (8)
10 Smudge (4)
11 ‘Who is on --- --- ---?’, (hymn) (3,5,4)
13 ‘--- Father, strong to save’, (hymn) (7)
15 Reprimand (4,3)
16 Father of Leah and Rachel (5)
17 Stringed instrument (5)
18 Of the Vatican (5)
20 ‘A safe stronghold our God is ---’, (hymn) (5)
22 Track from terminal to runway (7)
23 Simplest (7)
25 ‘--- -- --- -- in majesty’, (hymn) (4,2,4,2)
27 Basra’s country (4)
28 Part of monastic habit (8)
29 Append notes (8)
Down
2 Territory visited by Titus in 2 Timothy
4:10 (8)
3 ‘Hills of the --- ---’, (hymn) (5,7)
4 London football team (7)
5 Town where Saul consulted a witch (OT) (5)
6 Rebuked (7)
7 New Zealand bird (4)
8 ‘Come let us join our --- songs’, (hymn) (8)
12 Worshipper at the citadel (12)
14 Non-clergy (5)
15 Altar furniture (5)
17 Wall support (8)
19 Theoretical (8)
20 Virtuous (7)
21 Pope’s cathedral church (7)
24 Headdress (5)
26 Pull roughly (4)
April 2020 Cryptic Crossword – Compiled by Peter Chamberlain
Across
1 Coyness naiad displayed during festival (9,3)
9 Complain endlessly about flirt (5,2)
10 Slightly different form of stardom in office of old Russian leader (7)
11 Unconventional, not like some Russian churchgoers (10)
12 Make notes about second in new group initially (4)
14 Light oil-yielding fruit? (9)
16 Sounds like specialised skill. Not in any way (5)
17 Heartless pig rushed inside causing crash (5)
19 Coming from Trieste, RM for three months (9)
21 Rush again with Edward (4)
22 Vigil for beetle? (10)
25 Made divine whichever way you look at it (7)
26 Egghead devoured peanut, completely devoured (5,2)
27 Special occasion when final reminder arrives? (3-6,3)
Down
2 Schoolmaster takes look inside joint (7)
3 Heartless guy entered new logotype in old study (10)
4 Bet on nuns removing head and face protection (9)
5 Surpass without doubt only part of it (5)
6 University official placed article inside room (4)
7 I did shy from Jewish language (7)
8 Bizarre ogreish wimp included one form of idolism (5-7)
9 Religious gathering of troops? (6-6)
13 Below the surface in the main perhaps (10)
15 I set out after twits negotiating having most sharp bends (9)
18 Teal fluttering that is right over artist’s studio (7)
20 Giant individual, a queen (7)
23 Last not having river supply (5)
24 Discover heartless devil (4)
A £15 book token will be awarded to the senders of the first three correct solutions to Crossword (April). The first two winners of Cryptic Crossword (April) will receive a £20 book token. Entries should be addressed to Life and Work (Crossword), 121 George Street, Edinburgh, EH2 4YN and should arrive by April 16.
The solution will be published in May and the prizewinners in June.
Solution to March 2020 Crossword
ACROSS: 1 Breathe on me; 9 Petri; 10 Evergreen; 12 Dear Lord; 13 Begging; 15 Imply; 16 Calvinism; 17 Adam; 18 Levi; 19 Scavenger; 20 Asdic; 21 Tabaret; 24 Duellist; 26 Tail winds, 27 Awake; 28 Love unknown.
DOWN: 2 Revue; 3 Aerogram; 4 Heron; 5 Owed; 6 Ephraim; 7 Stroppier; 8 Kindly light; 11 Negligent; 13 Broad and far; 14 Guitarist; 16 Candlemas; 18 Legation; 19 Scalpel; 22 All-in; 23 Endow; 25 Take.
Winners of February 2020 Crossword – Mrs Irene Brodie, North Berwick; A W Lockie, Milton of Campsie; Mrs I Y MacIntyre, Tarbert
Solution to March 2020 Cryptic Crossword
ACROSS: 1 Sanctity; 5 Andrew; 9 Rumbelow; 10 Spirit; 11 Prodigal; 14 Italia; 15 Susanna; 16 Slated; 19 Malachi; 20 Easter; 21 Saguaro; 26 Christ; 27 Shepherd; 28 Isaiah; 29 Frequent; 30 Reefer; 31 Redeemer.
DOWN: 1 Seraph; 2 Nimrod; 3 Thesis; 4 Thomas; 6 Naphtali; 7 Rurality; 8 Wetlands; 12 Gujarat; 13 Lazarus; 14 Inshore; 17 Melchior; 18 Username; 19 Messmate; 22 Ahorse; 23 Opaque; 24 Te Deum; 25 Editor. Winners of February 2020 Cryptic Crossword – Mr Robert Thomson, Galashiels; Mrs M Murray, Edinburgh
This article appears in the April 2020 Issue of Life and Work
If you would like to view other issues of Life and Work, you can see the full archive
here.