PETER ADAM believes that we have much to learn from the Prayer
Book, and that it has an important place in the history of Anglican
identity, and in worship today. He sets out his arguments in
The "Very Pure Word of God": The Book of Common Prayer as a
model of biblical liturgy (The Latimer Trust, £5;
981-1-906327-09-5).
David Mowbray has published a collection of his hymns,
Sing, God's Easter People, which is available from
him at Blackbird Cottage, 169 Newport, Lincoln LN1 3DZ, for £10
plus £2 p&p. For each hymn he suggests a well-known tune to
which it might be sung (except in two cases where the music is
printed alongside the words).
Praying Thrice: Prayers from hymns is a booklet
of collect-style prayers, inspired by hymns. Gordon Giles hopes
that they will be used in worship alongside the hymnody, but also
that he will inspire others to pen their own (The Hymn Society of
Great Britain and Ireland, £4 incl. p&p);
978-1-907018-05-3).
Pam Rhodes has written Love So Amazing: 40 reflections
on my favourite hymns, a hardback commended by Bishop
Timothy Dudley-Smith and the author's broadcasting colleague Sally
Magnusson. Each reflection ends with a prayer (Lion Hudson, £9.99
(£9); 978-0-85721-570-3).
Readings for Funerals, compiled by Mark Oakley,
has three sections: Bible readings, poems and reflections, and
hymns. The authors include Shakespeare, W. H. Auden, T. S. Eliot,
and Christina Rossetti. Many texts that are already popular choices
are conveniently brought together here (SPCK, £12.99
(£11.70); 978-0-281-07180-7).
Rites Surrounding Death: JLS 74 is the Palermo
Statement of the International Liturgical Consultation, with a
commentary by Trevor Lloyd. It looks at what different Provinces
have in common regarding funeral liturgy and concludes that further
study and sharing of rites, eased by electronic communication,
would be useful (Alcuin Club and GROW, £7.99;
978-1-84825-323-0).