Books | Claire Benton-Evans

All-sorts Worship

All-sorts Worship presents complete services for every Sunday of the year. They are designed to include everyone, which means that the whole congregation worships together and nobody is tidied away. Each service offers a completely fresh set of ideas, tailored to a specific theme:

•An opening prayer activity to gather people together
•Lively Bible storytelling which may be visual, dramatic or even edible!
•Creative prayers using tactile objects, movement, stillness, sound or silence
•Interactive multi-media teaching to help people of all ages explore their faith
•Complete scripts and checklists for leaders
•Visual resources on the accompanying CD-ROM

All-Sorts Prayer

How can we engage people of all ages and abilities in prayer? The All-Sorts Prayer books are here to help!

Claire Benton-Evans uses symbols, actions and sensory experience to provide adaptable and original prayers for an ‘all-sorts’ congregation. Each prayer clearly lists resources needed, words for the leader, a prayer action and closing words. The accompanying CD-ROM provides many of the resources needed for the prayers, while other suggested resources include essential oils, honey and glow-sticks. Both books feature a collection of seasonal prayers, for those occasions when you think, ‘Help! I need all-age prayers for the Harvest Festival next week!’

All-sorts Prayer 2 offers a fresh collection of bright ideas, including interactive prayers for those who physically can’t move about easily during a service – and for those congregations who simply won’t.

One for All

One for All presents complete services for every Sunday of the year. They are designed to include everyone, which means that the whole congregation worships together and nobody is tidied away. Each service offers a completely fresh set of ideas, tailored to a specific theme:

One for All is the themed version of All-sorts Worship. It is an ideal resource for real all-age worship which creates a sense of excitement and belonging in your church.

Your First Communion

The first is for adults and teenagers; the second is for children. These are clear, concise and beautifully illustrated books to help people prepare for their first Holy Communion. Both books explain what Holy Communion means, for the individual and the Church. They explain what happens in a Communion service and answer frequently asked questions. Each offers a selection of prayers and readings to inspire and stimulate thought. The children’s edition includes online resources for young readers.

These books are ideal parish gifts for Confirmation candidates.

Food for Prayer

Here are prayers inspired by fireworks, blackberrying, Doctor Who, saints’ feet, spring tides, a James Bond film, pantomimes and more.

Food for Prayer offers an imaginative prayer suggestion for every day of the year, rejoicing in the fact that the ordinary stuff of life can be food for prayer. It follows the changing seasons and the Church’s cycle of feasts and festivals so that whenever we begin, prayer may find its place in the rhythm of our days.

“If you feel the need for input to refresh and revive your prayer life, then I commend this book to you.” GoodBookStall

Revealed

The films Calendar Girls and The Full Monty, on which this course is based, have one thing in common: nakedness. However, this is simply the trigger for the true revelations which give these stories their heart. This course has six weekly sessions, taking themes from film scenes and applying them to the Bible, exploring ways in which we are revealed to ourselves and to God, and how God reveals himself to us and to the world. Meditations precede each session, encouraging participants to read, reflect, pray, think, question and be creative in their own time. Each session is self-contained, meaning if a participant cannot attend one week, they will not fall behind. And don’t worry, there is no nudity involved!

“It is a provocative, well-thought-through, carefully crafted course, with broad appeal.” Church Times

Encountered

This Lent course explores the ordinary places of the Easter story in which the extraordinary events of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection occurred. The five sessions and accompanying meditations lead you to examine the reality of these places and engage with the Gospel stories in a fresh, informed and imaginative way. You will be encouraged to look at the ordinary places of your own life, and rediscover them as places in which you may meet the living God. Above all, this course leads you on a shared journey through the Easter story towards a deeper understanding of Christ’s sacrifice and the joy which is ours on Easter Day.

“Marking her style out is its imaginative quality, which is reinforced by suggestions of visual props that might help the group think more intuitively. This is a safe, gentle course, which you could confidently hand over to inexperienced groups.” Church Times