By the end of the fifteenth century, the Eucharist had come to encompass theology, liturgy, art, architecture, and music. In the sixteenth century, each of these dimensions was questioned, challenged, rethought, as western European Christians divided over their central act of worship. This volume offers an introduction to early modern thinking on the Eucharist-as theology, as Christology, as a moment of human and divine communion, as that which the faithful do, as taking place, and as visible and audible. The scholars gathered in this volume speak from a range of disciplines-liturgics, history, history of art, history of theology, philosophy, musicology, and literary theory. The volume thus also brings different methods and approaches, as well as confessional orientations to a consideration of the Eucharist in the Reformation. Contributors include: Gary Macy, Volker Leppin, Carrie Euler, Nicholas Thompson, Nicholas Wolterstorff, John D. Rempel, James F. Turrell, Robert J. Daly, Isabelle Brian, Thomas Schattauer, Raymond A. Mentzer, Michele Zelinsky Hanson, Jaime Lara, Andrew Spicer, Achim Timmermann, Birgit Ulrike Munch, Andreas Gormans, Alexander J. Fisher, Regina M. Schwartz, and Christopher Wild.

Passing the Plate shows that few American Christians donate generously to religious and charitable causes -- a parsimony that seriously undermines the work of churches and ministries. Far from the 10 percent of one's income that tithing requires, American Christians' financial giving typically amounts, by some measures, to less than one percent of annual earnings. And a startling one out of five self-identified Christians gives nothing at all.
This eye-opening book explores the reasons behind such ungenerous giving, the potential world-changing benefits of greater financial giving, and what can be done to improve matters. If American Christians gave more generously, say the authors, any number of worthy projects -- from the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS to the promotion of inter-religious understanding to the upgrading of world missions -- could be funded at astounding levels. Analyzing a wide range of social surveys and government and denominational statistical datasets and drawing on in-depth interviews with Christian pastors and church members in seven different states, the book identifies a crucial set of factors that appear to depress religious financial support -- among them the powerful allure of a mass-consumerist culture and its impact on Americans' priorities, parishioners' suspicions of waste and abuse by nonprofit administrators, clergy's hesitations to boldly ask for money, and the lack of structure and routine in the way most American Christians give away money. In their conclusion, the authors suggest practical steps that clergy and lay leaders might take to counteract these tendencies and better educate their congregations about the transformative effects of generous giving.
By illuminating the social and psychological forces that shape charitable giving, Passing the Plate is sure to spark a much-needed debate on a critical issue that is of much interest to church-goers, religious leaders, philanthropists, and social scientists.

"Rediscovering the Beauty of Sabbath Rest"
Our bodies and souls were "created "to rest--regularly--and when they do, we experience heightened productivity, improved health, and more meaningful relationships.
In these pages you'll find wonderful stories of the senator's spiritual journey, as well as special Sabbath experiences with political colleagues such as Bill Clinton, Al and Tipper Gore, John McCain, Colin Powell, George W. Bush, Bob Dole, and others. Senator Joe Lieberman shows how his observance of the Sabbath has not only enriched his personal and spiritual life but enhanced his career and enabled him to serve his country to his greatest capacity.

What does God want to say and do in your worship service?As a pastor or worship leader, planning a meaningful, relevant, and theologically rich worship experience for your church is of the upmost importance. How do you meet the demands of the modern congregation without getting in the way of what God is doing through worship?Created to Worship: God's Invitation to Become Fully Human is a resource that provides a theology of worship in the Wesleyan tradition. This book will help you plan for a worship service in a discerning manner, while answering the question, 'What does God want to say and do today?'

Be still. For some, these two simple words a welcome invitation to slow down. For others, they feel impossible, out of reach in our increasingly noisy world, or simply just too hard to maintain. There is another way. In fact, there are many. In this practical, easy-to-read guide, Brian Heasley explores the multitude of rhythms of Christian prayer and devotion available to every believer. From memorising scripture and prayer running to noticing beauty everywhere, he demonstrates how we don't need to be static for our hearts to be still, and how even in the midst of a full, busy life, we can spend quiet time with God. Be Still is a prayer book for anyone looking for ways to revitalise the way they pray or who is struggling to make space for devotional time with God. Packed full of ideas for different ways to pray and tips and advice for how to build prayer practices into everyday life, Brian's book will change the way you think about prayer and devotion and equip you with all the tools you need to deepen your relationship with God. You can use the book individually or in small groups, or read it alongside 24-7 Prayer's new Be Still prayer course. It also makes a great resource for youth leaders looking to help teenagers cultivate daily rhythms of prayer and spend more quiet time with God, or as a gift for people starting out on their faith journey or those returning to faith after a while. Join Brian Heasley, and discover the different ways in which we can all Be Still.

Inspired by Jesus' prayer, his disciples asked him, `Lord, teach us to pray' (Luke 11.1). This book gives many time-honoured answers to that request. There is a wealth here of fresh ways to pray, such as using nature and dreams as inspiration and getting in touch with one's emotions. Key topics such as distractions, dryness and doubt, as well as joy and finding God in all things, are covered. The Church's tradition, from the Our Father to the Eucharist, the saints and pilgrimages, is offered as a resource for the individual. `God meets you where you are. And the fact that you are holding this book in your hand means you are already open to that encounter.' From the Introduction

In an age of tourism, the great challenge is to see ourselves at a deeper level: the dimension of pilgrimage. Being a pilgrim might involve a journey to distant places associated with God-revealing events, but it has more to do with simply living day by day in a God-attentive way. Jim Forest's book assists the reader to see one's life as an opportunity for pilgrimage, whether in places as familiar as your living room or walking the pilgrim path to Santiago de Compostela. Drawing on the wisdom of the saints and his own wide-ranging travels, Forest leads us to a range of "thin places," including Iona, Jerusalem, the secret annex of Anne Frank, the experience of illness, the practice of hospitality, and other places and occasions where we may find ourselves surprised by grace.

This daily devotional just cuts straight to the chase, we need the daily Bread in order to live large in this world. Start the day fortified and ready to conquer every day as you gain daily encouragement from Marialuz. As women, we're used to digging and drinking from our own cisterns; we are tempted to taste life on our own before we try His way. it is only when we realise how fragile we are, and how insurmountable and lonely the walk without Christ is, that we start to express an interest in trying God's way. God has revealed to me the secret of a joyous life; the secret is in leaving our own ways behind and embracing His way. In this first volume we have looked at the lessons God taught me, like learning to love each other despite our differences.