REVIEWS
49
Learning to Walk in the Dark
Barbara Brown Taylor, Canterbury Press( 2015)
RRP £ 12.99
Fresh from the Word
– A preaching companion for Sundays, Holy Days and Festivals, years A, B and C
Rosalind Brown, Canterbury Press( 2016)
RRP £ 19.99
‘ Whether it is a seed in the ground, a baby in the womb, or Jesus in the tomb, new life starts in the dark’. This book is full of little gems like this one. Unfortunately, you have to dig hard for them, as there are long passages about caving, light pollution, and an experience of blindness called‘ dialogue with the dark’. I feel it’ s worth it, although the Christian content is surprisingly thin on the ground at times and there were episodes in which I asked myself what her perspective was, because she both reinforced and challenged my ideas about God. She admits her aim is to write a book about various aspects of darkness, more positive than negative. I found her description of the‘ full solar version of Christianity’ useful, which is when churches insist on equating darkness only with bad things that have to be removed and are unable to cope when confronted with someone suffering some really‘ dark’ problem.
Until she mentioned it, I had never realised just how many biblical things happened in the dark such as God showing Abraham the uncountable number of stars in the night sky.‘ Each of us has a personal history of the dark’ as she says and so I realise that we will all get something different out of this book. Perhaps it will not mean as much to you if you have not experienced your own‘ dark night of the soul’ or been forced to confront the‘ dark emotions’, but then I am sure you will find some of its snippets invaluable and want to share them with others – perhaps the many who are going through their own difficult times.
KATHRINE DAVEY
Fresh from the Word is a compilation of reflections by Rosalind Brown, a canon of Durham Cathedral and accomplished preacher. Based on the church lectionary readings, these writings have featured in the columns of the Church Times for years A, B and C( 2013, 2011 and 2012 respectively), also including saints’ days and festivals throughout the year.
This is the first time I’ ve dipped into a preachers’ companion. Preaching from the lectionary has not been my normal practice until very recently. The title Fresh from the Word grabbed me instantly, giving an expectation of finding treasure perhaps not previously discovered before in all too familiar gospel passages, helpfully blending in the accompanying OT and NT readings. Rosalind makes use of the collects as an introduction to her reflections. She believes they are‘ under-valued, both as prayers that all Christians can use during the week and as lenses or filters for the biblical readings’.
Each reflection is about 600 words and would easily be usable during an act of worship in most traditions and easily accessible at any point on the Christian journey. Practical in their suggested application, Brown’ s reflections impressively contribute valuable insight into the context of the lectionary readings, occasionally dipping into the Greek and Hebrew translations. They offer inspiration, challenge and encouragement that is very relevant for our culture today.
I would recommend this book for seasoned preachers of different traditions wishing to refresh old sermons or writing afresh. The book’ s rich offerings would admirably assist preachers and pastors during particularly busy periods and be a helpful guide for those starting out in preaching and provide a confident message for those having to‘ fill in’ at the last minute. Even though the book is entitled a‘ preachers’ companion’ I believe these reflections would be valuable for anyone as a devotional aide.
JILL ROTH