Jan McFarlane

Reflections for Daily Prayer continues to be one of the most popular and highly valued daily Bible reading companions. The 2022-23 line-up of writers continues its tradition of excellence. Regular favourites and new contributors offer insightful, informed and inspiring reflections on the scripture readings of the day, based on the Common Worship Lectionary for Morning Prayer. In addition, Paula Gooder, one of the most outstanding biblical scholars writing today, provides the meditations for Holy Week. New voices this year include Sharon Prentis, Dean of Ministry at St Mellitus College and previously Dean of Black and Minority Ethnic Affairs for the Church of England in Birmingham, and Luigi Gioia, director of formation at St Paul’s Knightsbridge, whose book The Wisdom of St Benedict recently won first prize in the spiritualty category of the 2021 CMA book awards. For every day (excluding Sundays) of the 2022-23 church year, there are full references and a quotation from the day’s set of Scripture readings, a concise and challenging commentary on one of the readings, and a collect. Also included is a simple order for Morning and Night Prayer, and additional helps for nurturing a habit of regular daily prayer.

This volume in the popular Pocket Prayers series offers new and traditional blessing prayers for a wide variety of situations and life stages. As well as prayers for traditional times of blessing, such as a birth, a wedding or a new home, it provides material for a wider range of times and events, including pilgrimages, children leaving home, old age, land, seasons, healing, human work, machinery and civic occasions. From the beginning of time people have sought God's blessing on their endeavours. Jan McFarlane explores this deep urge in today's world and has created many new blessing prayers for a wide range of needs.