"With clarity, wisdom and wit, Brian Taylor offers us a fresh look at contemplative prayer as the pathway to genuine healing and spiritual transformation. This book is itself the fruit of years of contemplative practice, and whether you are new to this form of prayer or an experienced practitioner, Taylor's insight, encouragement, and practical guidance will enhance and strengthen you efforts to draw nearer to the heart of God in prayer, and in doing so, become more conformed to the image of Christ". -- back cover.
Contents divided into three main sections: Part One: Practice -- Part Two: Context -- Part Three: Transformation.
Contents: Acknowledgements -- Foreword / Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M. -- Getting Started -- Praying with the Will, the Mind, and the Heart -- The Contemplative in the Church -- Traditional Disciplines -- Finding Support -- Going Deeper -- Learning from Difficulty -- Becoming Free --Appendix : A Bibliography of Patristic and Eastern Orthodox Sources.
Contents: Noticing the pull of gravity -- Noticing your breathing -- Movement mantras -- The Trinity -- "Dona Nobis Pacem" (Give us peace) -- Your own body prayers -- Psalm 139:13-16.
Author "is an Episcopal priest, retreat leader and writer".
"Although spiritual growth occurs within an individual, Corinne Ware persuasively explains that it is the calling of the congregation to be a community of support and encouragement for the individual's spiritual formation. Indeed, it is only within the support of a group that an individual learns how to live out their own faith. The author provides a practical and accessible model of spiritual formation for self-directing groups that can be led by clergy or laity. Includes thorough guidelines, do's and don't's, and ground rules for successful pursuit of spiritual growth within the small group setting". -- inside front cover.
Contents: Dedication -- Foreword - Acknowledgments -- Do I Really Want to "Be Spiritual" ? -- Spiritual Formation" Individual and Group Approaches -- What Happens in Spiritual Formation Groups ? -- The Practice of Prayer -- "Read, Mark and Inwardly Digest" -- Sharing the Journey -- Making a "Rule" -- Safeguards -- Commencement -- Notes.
"Although spiritual growth occurs within an individual, Corinne Ware persuasively explains that it is the calling of the congregation to be a community of support and encouragement for the individual's spiritual formation. Indeed, it is only within the support of a group that an individual learns how to live out their own faith. The author provides a practical and accessible model of spiritual formation for self-directing groups that can be led by clergy or laity. Includes thorough guidelines, do's and don't's, and ground rules for successful pursuit of spiritual growth within the small group setting". -- inside front cover.
Contents: Dedication -- Foreword - Acknowledgments -- Do I Really Want to "Be Spiritual" ? -- Spiritual Formation" Individual and Group Approaches -- What Happens in Spiritual Formation Groups ? -- The Practice of Prayer -- "Read, Mark and Inwardly Digest" -- Sharing the Journey -- Making a "Rule" -- Safeguards -- Commencement -- Notes.
"Prepared by the laity and clergy of the Associated Parishes". -- inside front cover.
"This booklet is one of a series dealing with the life and work of the Parishes of the Episcopal Church". -- inside front cover.
"The Book of Common Prayer provides in the Daily Office a cycle of daily prayer. Its aim is to hallow time itself as it passes, and to draw the Christian deeper into the life of Christ. This brochure explains how an individual or group can pray the Daily Office". -- Foreword.
Contents divided into sections: Foreword -- To Live is Christ -- Some Historical Background on the Daily Office -- How to Pray the Daily Office -- Checklist for Morning and Evening Prayer -- Postscript.
Pages 15-16 are blank pages headed "Notes". List of Associated Parishes brochures on parish life and worship printed on inside back cover.
"The Book of Common Prayer offers an ancient pattern of prayer and praise that goes back to Old Testament time" (p. [1]. "The Book of Common Prayer enables us to continue this beautiful tradition of Judeo-Christian devotion. Whether we gather with others to share our times of prayer or whether we carry out our worship alone, we join the faithful everywhere who share the same tradition. We are a part of the Church's daily prayer even as we sit quietly with Prayer Book in lap in our own sitting room. We bind ourselves more closely to the praying, witnessing Church and to Christ in the simple act of opening Prayer Book and Bible" (p. 2).
Contents: The Daily Office -- Reading God's Word -- Reflecting God's Word -- Praying and Giving Thanks -- Easy Does It -- What is the Apocrypha ? -- Day by Day -- Less and More.
"Many people are ... living in constant fear of what might happen. Our very fear itself can bring to pass what we're afraid of. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said not to worry, not to be afraid about tomorrow (p. 2). .... Our fears over what hasn't happened and probably won't happen come from our lack of trust in God. I say this not to send worriers on a guilt trip, but so that you may better know how to pray, for it is only through prayer and by the grace of God that the groundless fears of what may happen can be eradicated. It is God alone who can liberate us from fear. We can't do it by simply waking up one morning and saying, 'Well, I guess I won't worry today'. Let us rather ask God to deliver us from fear and anxiety today. He alone can liberate us from everything which is not of his kingdom" (p. 3-4).
Author was an Episcopal deacon. "This tract is based on a meditation by Emily Gardiner Neal (1911-1989), a pioneer in the healing ministry in the Episcopal Church. Her books and tapes are available from www.episcopalhealing.org or by writing to: Episcopal Healing Ministry, Christ Church Cathedral, 318 E. Fourth St., Cincinnati, OH 45202". -- back page.
A series of 23 questions and answers about spiritual healing and prayer.
Contents: What is healing ? -- What is healing prayer ? -- Will I be healed ? -- Will I be cured ? -- Will God perform a miracle in my life ? -- What are the benefits of healing prayer ? -- What about the medical profession ? -- Should I see a doctor ? -- Is healing prayer just for the sick or critically ill ? -- Who should pray for me ? -- When I seek prayer from others, what do I have to do ? -- Will anyone else know what I have requested ? -- Will anyone approach me about my requests at a later time ? -- What about the laying-on-of hands ? -- What about anointing with oil ? -- Do I have to kneel ? -- Do I have to believe in healing prayer ? -- Do I need to have faith ? -- What about painful or traumatic memories ? -- Is illness a result of sin ? -- What about death ? -- Can I pray for the same thing twice ? -- What else should I know ?
First published 1958. Forward Movement Publications edition 1968. Second revised edition 1984. Third edition 1997. -- verso of t.-p.
The author, an Episcopal priest, visited Lindisfarne in the 1950's "Using his own pilgrimage to Lindisfarne as a point of departure, the author makes Lent a Holy Island accessible to everyone, here and now. In sections designed for daily reading from Ash Wednesday through Easter Monday, he explores the reaches of our thinking and doing, offering suggestions that will stimulate the process of spiritual enrichment, not only in the special times set aside for devotion,but in the whole of life". -- p. [2].