REVIEWS

TEMPLE AND TARTAN

Psalms, Poetry and Scotland

Written by: Jock Stein Published by: Handsel Press Price: £16.00

The sub-title of the book quite simply captures its premise – afocus on the Psalms, poetry and how it dovetails with Scottish life. Jock Stein, the author, is a familiar figure to many within the Church, having been behind the publication of numerous books through the Handsel Press and also serving as a minister of the Church of Scotland.

This work has received wide endorsement from many names familiar to the Church, all steeped in the poetry and theology of faith – including John Bell, Doug Gay and Will Storrar. Each chapter has a two-part introduction – one to explain the background, the second part to offer a more detailed academic analysis of the poetry to follow

The author describes the book as a ‘protest’ against the algorithms of social media which easily push people into extremes and silos and as he writes in an introduction: ‘a modest spinning of threads which can be used to join up rather than drive apart.’

The scholarship of the work has achieved the highest of academic plaudits, but it can be quite simply enjoyed as a tool to learn more about the Psalms and the relevance and continuing importance of poetry in reflecting meaning in some of the key issues of today.

OUR DAILY BREAD

From Argos to the Altar – APriest’s Story

Written by: Father Alex Frost Published by: Harper North Price: £16.99

Frost, the vicar of St Matthew the Apostle Church in Burnley, Lancashire, was catapulted to fame by a BBC documentary which charted his work over a year in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic with Pastor Mick Fleming from Church on the Street Ministries, highlighting the deprivation and difficulties faced within his community – and mirrored around the country.

The author freely admits he is not a typical minister – coming into the priesthood at the age of 40 after stints working with Argos and serving as a football referee. But the message which resonates from the book is that his parish was not seeking someone with a traditional calling, but rather someone who could deal with the demands of working (at times) in the toughest of cirumstances.

This book chronicles the gritty reality of working with the poorest in communities and highlights the need not only to feed tummies, but souls. It is a collection of meaningful and poignant encounters which reflect the reality of community today.

Warm endorsement for the work has come from former Labour spin doctor Alistair Campbell, himself a Burnley native, who writes in an introduction: ‘It would be my hope that politicians, journalists and broadcasters read this book and consider what they could do differently to change the road map that affects so many of our estates and urban settings.’

LYDIA

Written by: Paula Gooder Published by: Hodder and Stoughton Price: £16.99

This is Gooder’s long-awaited follow-up to Phoebe, which delved into the life of one of the little-known women of the Bible and attempted to imagine and bring their life to life.

The author, Canon Chancellor at St Paul’s Cathedral in London and a writer and lecture in Biblical Studies with a particular focus on the work of Paul, again seeks to encourage people to read the Bible by offering a perpective on the life of Lydia, again, one of the little-iknown women of the Bible.

In this reimagining of Lydia’s life, Gooder imagines the life of Lydia – based on what is written in the Bible (that Lydia was a seller of purple cloth and living in Philippi when she met Paul on his second missionary journey.

Drawing on her scholarship skills, she has woven a detailed story around the life of Lydia, based on knowledge of the life and place of women in culture around that time.

The book is divided into two parts – the first weaves the story of Lydia and how she came to encounter Paul – as detailed in chapter 16 of the book of Acts. The second part comprises notes, explaining why assumptions could be made about the life of Lydia and offering evidence for her life might have been.

Written in a popular style, the scholarship skilfully weaves a fascinating story which will encourage readers to learn more about the life of Lydia – and to pick up the Bible to understand more about her encounter with Paul (and Timothy who features at the end of the account).

The book is described as a companion piece to the first, considering the life of Phoebe.

In an introduction Gooder explains the notes can be read without reading the story, but should readers skip the semifictional account of Lydia’s life, they are missing out on a lively reimagining of the life of one of the small, but quietly influential, women of the New Testament.

JULIAN OF NORWICH’S TEABAG

Written by: Martin Wroe Published by: Wild Goose Publications Price: £9.99

The author, the former Chair of the Christian arts festival, Greenbelt, is an Associate member of the Iona Community. The Community’s publishing arm has published a collection of prayers and poetry which seeks to show the beauty and value of every day (good and bad) and to show that ‘every day is a poem’.

The title is drawn from the inspiring time early morning, when the words were ‘found’ as the first cup of tea is brewed.

This is a creative and lively collection which will inspire and resource those seeking the right words for the right time. Lynne McNeil