Graham James

Reflections for Daily Prayer continues to be one of the most popular and highly valued daily Bible reading companions. The 2022-23 line-up of writers continues its tradition of excellence. Regular favourites and new contributors offer insightful, informed and inspiring reflections on the scripture readings of the day, based on the Common Worship Lectionary for Morning Prayer. In addition, Paula Gooder, one of the most outstanding biblical scholars writing today, provides the meditations for Holy Week. New voices this year include Sharon Prentis, Dean of Ministry at St Mellitus College and previously Dean of Black and Minority Ethnic Affairs for the Church of England in Birmingham, and Luigi Gioia, director of formation at St Paul’s Knightsbridge, whose book The Wisdom of St Benedict recently won first prize in the spiritualty category of the 2021 CMA book awards. For every day (excluding Sundays) of the 2022-23 church year, there are full references and a quotation from the day’s set of Scripture readings, a concise and challenging commentary on one of the readings, and a collect. Also included is a simple order for Morning and Night Prayer, and additional helps for nurturing a habit of regular daily prayer.

Reflections for Daily Prayer continues to be one of the most popular and highly valued daily Bible reading companions. Continuing its tradition of excellence, regular favourites and new contributors offer insightful, informed and inspiring reflections on the scripture readings of the day, based on the Common Worship lectionary for Morning Prayer. David Ford is the guest contributor for Holy Week. New voices this year include Gregory Cameron, the Bishop of St Asaph and author of the popular An Advent Book of Days and An Easter Book of Days; Chine MacDonald, author, broadcaster and Director of the religious think tank Theos; and Emma Parker, Deputy Warden of Cranmer Hall, Durham. For every day (excluding Sundays) of the 2024-25 church year, there are full references and a quotation from the day’s set of Scripture readings, concise and challenging commentary, and a collect. Also included is a simple order for Morning and Night Prayer, and additional helps for nurturing a habit of regular daily prayer.

It has been polemically argued that the most important aesthetic productions of the twentieth century have not been objects, buildings, or spaces, but exhibitions. There is a curious imbalance, however, between the centrality claimed for exhibitions and their fugitive character-exhibitions collect artifacts, exist briefly, and are then dispersed. Documentary Remains explores what we know of exhibitions through questioning archives, records, documents, and other forms of remains. With exhibition research and curatorial practices gaining increasing prominence as a mode of conceptual and historical thought, this edited volume (based on a conference hosted by Columbia University's Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation) revisits the stakes of exhibitions as they have developed across the history of architectural modernism as well as their current position within the field.

In The Lent Factor, Graham James wrote about 40 people (one for each day of Lent) who had inspired him and helped to shape his spiritual journey. In this new book he turns his attention to places, from the Flinders Ranges in Australia to Devil’s Island (French Guiana) via the Holy Land, Center Parcs and Holborn Underground Station. As with the previous book, each chapter of A Place for God offers a daily reflection, beginning with a suggested Bible reading and ending with a short prayer, and employing the same engaging combination of autobiography, history and spirituality. Some of the locations are well known and others very obscure: what they have in common is the part they have played in the author’s life, in enabling his ‘discovery of the divine in the landscape and the built environment, and of a God who always locates himself in our world, supremely revealed in Jesus of Nazareth’.

Human character is best described by telling stories about people. The Lent Factor describes forty very different people - one for each day of Lent - who have a special quality about them, and uses their stories to reflect on how faith and character are connected. A theme from each brief story is illuminated by reflection on a scene, passage or word from the Bible. The appropriateness of the use of a cross to mark out the 'X' factor within human beings becomes the more pertinent as the journey through Lent approaches Holy Week and Easter. The cast list includes Edith Cavell, Philip Toynbee (father of Polly), U.A. Fanthorpe, Dorothy Sayers, Charles Wesley, Rabbi Hugo Gryn, Julian of Norwich, Kathleen Ferrier, Eva Peron and many others from different backgrounds and diverse periods of history, some famous and some entirely unknown.

Using a compelling mix of theological reflection, sociological analysis, real-life case studies and personal experience this book explores ways forward for mission in a rural context in both traditional and fresh expressions of church. This insightful book looks at current issues in rural England and explores: The nature of mission with special reference to the rural situation; Ways for the Church to engage with rural culture; Examples of rural fresh expressions of church; Identifying and pruning the things which inhibit mission in the countryside; How all forms of church can work together for the glory of God. This compelling book is an essential read for all who seek to minister in a rural context – whether at a local, diocesan or national level.