Poetry has always been a central element of Christian spirituality and is increasingly used in worship, in pastoral services and guided meditation. Here, Cambridge poet, priest and singer-songwriter Malcolm Guite transforms 70 lectionary readings into inspiring poems for use in regular worship, seasonal services, meditative reading or on retreat.
Malcolm's sonnets are powerful in the extreme.--Jan Payne "Church Times"
Table of Contents:
Introduction -- Acknowledgements -- The Sonnets -- Prologue: Sounding the seasons -- The lectern -- The Four Evangelists -- Matthew -- Mark -- Luke -- John -- The Great O Antiphons -- O Sapientia -- O Adonai -- O Radix -- O Clavis -- O Oriens -- O Rex Gentium -- O Emmanuel -- Christmastide -- 1. Mary -- 2. On the edge -- 3. Refugee -- St Stephen -- New Year's Day: Church bells -- Epiphany -- 1. The magi -- 2. The baptism of Christ -- 3. The call of the disciples -- 4. Nathanael -- 5. The miracle at Cana -- St Paul -- Candlemas -- Ash Wednesday -- Temptations -- 1. Stones into bread -- 2. All the kingdoms of the world -- 3. On the pinnacle -- Mothering Sunday -- The Annunciation -- Holy Week -- 1. Palm Sunday -- 2. Jesus weeps -- 3. Cleansing the Temple -- 4. The anointing at Bethany -- 5. Maundy Thursday -- The Stations of the Cross -- I. Jesus is condemned to death -- II. Jesus is given his cross -- III. Jesus falls the first time -- IV. Jesus meets his mother -- V. Simon of Cyrene carries the cross -- VI. Veronica wipes the face of Jesus -- VII. Jesus falls the second time -- VIII. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem -- IX. Jesus falls the third time -- X. Jesus is stripped of his garments -- XI. Crucifixion: Jesus is nailed to the cross -- XII. Jesus dies on the cross -- XIII. Jesus' body is taken down from the cross -- XIV. Jesus is laid in the tomb -- XV. Easter dawn -- Ascension Day -- The Visitation -- Pentecost -- Trinity Sunday -- Corpus Christi -- 1. Love's choice -- 2. Hide and seek -- St John the Baptist -- 1. St John's eve -- 2. Baptism -- St Peter -- St Thomas the Apostle -- St Mary Magdalene -- Transfiguration -- St Michael and All Angels -- All Saints -- 1. The gathered glories -- 2. A last beatitude -- 3. Thanksgiving -- Remembrance Sunday -- The Feast of Christ the King -- Epilogue: Sanctus -- Appendix A. The seven 'Great O' Antiphons in their Latin and English texts -- Appendix B. The sonnets and liturgy, by Fraser Watts -- Bibliography -- Index of Scriptural References -- Index of Liturgical Seasons.
Malcolm Guite is Chaplain of Girton College, Cambridge. A performance poet and singer/songwriter, he lectures widely on poetry and theology in Britain and the US and has a large following on his website, www.malcolmguite.wordpress.com. He is a contributor to Reflections for Daily Prayer.
Canterbury Press Norwich
Pub Date: March 14, 2013
0.3" H x 8.3" L x 5.4" W
108 pages
paperback