Poetic Justice:
Meditations on the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C

Jim Wilson

Poetic reflections on the Sunday texts of the Revised Common Lectionary, three year cycle, suitable for personal devotion and preparation for worship.

"In this volume of poetry Jim Wilson ponders the biblical text, inviting the reader into deeper dialogue with the lectionary passages. 'Poetic Justice' offers opportunities for individual prayer and reflection, small group lectionary study and homily preparation."

ISBN 978-1-878009-56-2 —350 pages; Paper — $24.95 retail

This Holy Mystery
A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion
A Study Guide for Children and Youth

by Carolyn Tanner

Congregations across the Methodist connection are studying This Holy Mystery: A United Methodist Understanding of Holy Communion. The document, adopted by the 2004 General Conference, is enriching our understanding and experience of the Holy Meal.

Now your entire church family can be involved in a “congregational study!” Designed as a companion to Gayle Carlton Felton’s seven-session adult study guide, this resource offers the full text of This Holy Mystery along with lesson plans and student papers useful for a broad age-range of children and youth.

ISBN 1-878009-54-0— Paper—$19.95

Advance praise for This Holy Mystery: A Study Guide for Children and Youth:

Carolyn Tanner’s careful understanding of This Holy Mystery is evident on every page of her comprehensive and practical study guide. Indeed, the hands-on exercises gave me fresh insights about the ways This Holy Mystery will shape the life of the United Methodist Church as it is received by the youngest members of our congregations. Not only will the students learn from her study guide, I expect that adult teachers using her lesson plans will come to a deeper understanding of the theology and practice of Communion. Thanks to Ms. Tanner for demonstrating what the communion study claims — that the Lord’s Supper is for the entire Body of Christ. Jesus invites us all to the Holy Table.

 

L. Edward Phillips
Associate Professor of the Practice of Christian Worship
Duke Divinity School
Chair, General Conference Holy Communion Study Committee, 2000-2004

This comprehensive study not only introduces children and youth to Holy Communion but also helps them become more familiar with the United Methodist Church. The special guide for younger children introduces them to the mystery of the presence of God. For older children, the study refuses a glib attitude toward Holy Communion, inviting students into the mystery that draws us to the true God, affirming that mystery as a part of our relationship with God. No matter how you use this study, students will learn to serve as they carry out their contributions to the Christian faith.

 

Delia Halverson
Educator, author, consultant
Faith Discovery Ministries

“Let the children come, and do not hinder them!” United Methodists now have an outstanding resource to help children and youth understand and experience our church’s theology and practice of Holy Communion. Carolyn Tanner’s experience as a Christian educator and curriculum writer helps to bring out the most valuable and relevant treasures from This Holy Mystery in age-appropriate ways without any “dumbing down.”

 

Taylor Burton-Edwards
Director of Worship Resources
UMC General Board of Discipleship

The lesson plans accompanying this edition of This Holy Mystery will provide an excellent resource
for teachers seeking to ground children and youth in understanding our United Methodist beliefs and practices of the eucharist.

 

Linda J. Vogel
Professor Emerita of Christian Education
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary