Worship is a dynamic, living encounter that should never be static. In the Church of England, although Common Worship provides texts for every season and occasion, the church constantly needs to refresh its worship, just as it reshapes its presence in local communities. In this comprehensive volume, a wide range of experienced liturgists, musicians and pastoral practitioners consider the principles that will determine the character and quality, as well as the content, of our worship in the future. It explores how new forms can meet new needs while remaining faithful to the church's essential understanding of worship. Over twenty chapters consider how emerging forms of worship can be: - Relational, accessible and inclusive - Rooted in Scripture, the Creeds, and Spirit-filled - Sacramental, symbolic and multi-sensory - Transformative, pastoral and prophetic The contributors are all members of the Group for the Renewal of Worship, a broadly evangelical group within the Church of England and including senior clergy, musicians, theological college tutors in liturgy and former members of the Liturgical Commission.

The International Anglican Liturgical Consultation (IALC) has since 1985 brought together liturgists from around the worldwide Anglican Communion to ref lect together on common issues, and to assist their respective provinces to stay broadly in line with each other in decades of liturgical revision and renewal. The Consultations have been held in different parts of the world at two- or four-year intervals, and have furthered their own purposes by agreeing Statements on the themes they have considered. Thus they have published groundbreaking Statements on inculturation of the liturgy, on initiation, on the Eucharist, and on ordination.IALC-8, meeting at Palermo in Sicily in 2007, worked on 'Rites surrounding Death'. The 53 participants worked for the inside of a week, and then reckoned that, although their drafting was very nearly sufficiently worded for publication, yet it was in some need of further re-touching and integrating. Thus the international Steering Committee asked three scholars to edit the draft, and this, when completed, became in principle the Palermo Statement. As, however, the original Consultation could not be convened to agree it, and as the next two Consultations had other urgent tasks to address, the Steering Committee then commissioned Trevor Lloyd, one of the three editors, to take responsibility for the further editorial work of bringing the Statement to publication with an Introduction and Commentary. This Study thus presents his work in fulfilling this charge. The Statement itself is strongly pastoral in its style, for the participants at Palermo recognized from the outset the extraordinary combination of requirements in a Christian funeral - objectively setting out Christ's victory over death, yet sensitively meeting mourners at a great point of emotional and spiritual need. Trevor Lloyd has been for more than 40 years among the leaders of liturgical revision in the Church of England, being one of the originators of Grove Booklets on Worship and Ministry. He joined the Church of England Liturgical Commission in 1980, and had a large and creative hand in the forming of the range of material surrounding death in the Church of England Common Worship provision. He has participated in IALCs since 1989, and has been a member of the Joint Editorial Board for the Alcuin/GROW Joint Liturgical Studies from the outset in 1986. He was from 1989 to 2002 Archdeacon of Barnstaple in the Diocese of Exeter, and lives in North Devon in retirement. The Rev Dr Eileen Scully, currently chair of the IALC Steering Committee, gives an appropriate 'Commendatory Note' to explain the origins and status of the Statement, and to affirm the Committee's confidence in the work Trevor Lloyd has fulfilled

Almost more than anything else, the experience of illness - in ourselves or in those close to us - can throw us off course. Realising our vulnerability, prayer is a natural response. This pocket collection contains familiar and loved prayers and blessings such as the Lord's Prayer and Psalm texts, plus a mix of traditional and modern prayers that cover: Being in hospital Prayers for medical staff and carers Healing prayers for others Healing prayers for ourselves Prayers for anointing Prayers of thanksgiving for recovery Prayers for wellbeing An ideal portable companion for all involved in ministry to the sick and as bedside companion for personal use.

Joint Liturgical Studies offers a valuable contribution to the study of liturgy. Each issue considers a particular aspect of liturgical development, such as the origins of the Roman rite, Anglican Orders, welcoming the Baptised, and Anglican Missals. It is aimed at all with an academic interest in worship. It is published twice a year in partnership with the Alcuin Club, which promotes the study of Christian liturgy, and the Group for Renewal of Worship (GROW).

""How is the Empire?" --George V, on his deathbed
For almost 200 years Britain dominated the world, its naval supremacy enabling it to acquire India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and much of Africa. Although it could not prevent its American colonies from becoming independent, its industrial and commercial power helped it to keep its scattered possessions under control, while a small army was sufficient to put down native rebellions in the absence of the involvement of other European states. A dwindling economy, and the cost of two world wars, saw this once-mighty empire crumble, giving in the process independence to nearly all of its dominions in the years after 1945. Trevor Lloyd has provided a succinct and highly readable account of this extraordinary rise and fall.