Praying with the Earth (rights to Eerdmans)

Following the pattern of his bestselling Celtic Benediction, Philip Newell provides lyrically beautiful and profoundly theological prayers for morning and evening for each day of the week. Each begins with a Beatitude and is followed by a Prayer of Awareness, Scripture readings for meditation, a Prayer for the Life of the World and a Prayer of Blessing. It is richly illustrated throughout. Their theme could hardly be more critical. Divisions between Jews, Christians and Muslims are at the centre of much of the world's most serious places of conflict. Yet all three share the same spiritual descent from the household of Abraham. Praying With the Earth articulates the longings for peace that are closer to the heart of the world's spiritual traditions than their divisions. Morning and evening we open ourselves to the wisdom of our inherited Scriptures, to be enriched by others' understanding of the one God whom we call by different names, and especially to pray for peace.