BOOKSPOT - MARCH 2008
Storytelling is at the heart of prayer. A new title from a writer in Oxford Diocese, published by the Bible Reading Fellowship.
- storytelling is at the heart of the prayer journey.
Eve Lockett says that the purpose of her latest book is to engage children and adults on a journey of learning together about prayer. Certainly the structure of the book, in 30 bite-sized chapters, is ideal as a springboard for discussion and reflection for mixed age groups.
Each section has a story and simple, related activity designed to capture the attention of younger readers, while Bible references encourage deeper reflection when appropriate. All are tied together neatly with a short, accessible prayer.Take, for example, the chapter on ‘You and Me, Praying for other People’: Wirabble pieces, even the youngest in a group will be drawn in to focusing on who they might include in their prayers each day. Older readers have clear guidelines for further exploration.
Eve Lockett, a licensed lay minister in the Oxford diocese, looks at the role of prayer in our meeting with and listening to God, and its role in our relationship with God, as well as tackling some of the thorny questions that can act as a barrier to successful prayer and providing some practical pointers on content. It’s easy to see the book, with its clear, accessible style and flexibility to tailor sessions to suit needs, appealing to church and school groups across a wide age-range. But it could be a winner in the home too, providing parents with the tools to open conversation with their children about the Christian faith – something many families find hard to talk about.
Too often, resources for nurturing the faith of young people involve them listening while we talk. But here we have a real chance to encourage honest discussion from which we may find we all learn something, whatever our age. And as the Rt Revd Stephen Cottrell, Bishop of Reading, writes in his foreword: ‘Let us not forget that Jesus himself taught us through stories.’
Tales for the Prayer Journey is a resource from Barnabas, which is part of The Bible Reading Fellowship (BRF).
