Praying with the Earth: A Prayerbook for Peace

by John Philip Newell, J. Philip Newell

We as Jews, Christians, and Muslims share a common spiritual descent, yet painful divisions between us lie at the center of much conflict and war in the world today. Praying with the A Prayerbook for Peace articulates the deep longings for peace that unite these great spiritual traditions.

For each morning and evening of the week, John Philip Newell provides strikingly beautiful and profound prayers that call us to be the people Jesus named “those who know their need,” “those who weep,” “the humble,” “those who hunger for earth’s oneness,” “the forgiving,” “the clear in heart,” and “the peacemakers.”

Whether prayed alone or with others, these richly illustrated, simple liturgies invite and inspire us to live as those whose hearts yearn for peace.

Genres: Prayer, Spirituality

74 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2010

About the author

JOHN PHILIP NEWELL is an internationally acclaimed spiritual teacher and popular speaker and the widely read author of several books, including Listening for the Heartbeat of God and A New Harmony. The former Warden of Iona Abbey in the Western Isles of Scotland, he is the founder of The School of Earth and Soul (A Celtic Initiative of Study, Spiritual Practice and Compassionate Action) and teaches regularly in California, New England, Virginia, Colorado, New Mexico, and Canada as well as leading international pilgrimages to Iona.

Reviews

[Georgia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book and the music. The Scriptures from Jewish, Islam and Christian sacred texts are woven in beautiful prayers.

[Allan Savage]

This non-denominational book presents a weekly programme of spirituality for busy people. It is intended to afford the reader an opportunity to undertake a quest in search of the human soul as much as contemporary life with its distractions allows. The author claims that the spiritual life sought through these meditations transcends the limiting factors often found in Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions. The format of the little book facilitates this process and its pages are illuminated with artwork that emphasizes the spiritual themes that emerge from these distinct spiritual traditions. To my mind the book presents an opportunity for the seeker of spirituality in a secular age to engage in an activity of spiritual development that ultimately will spill over into the world. In the author's concluding remarks, he says: "If as nations and religious traditions we were to follow the wisdom of artists, if we were to remember what they seem never to forget, then we would know the themes that underlie the human soul are deeper than the patterns that distinguish us."

[Jaime Wright · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book felt lacking. Maybe I wanted it to be longer than a single week (and some of the prayers needed to be read in the morning or evening—they did not fit thematically with an attempt to read the prayers over two weeks). Maybe I could decide if it was meant to be heard aloud, rather than simply read (but then how would the images be conveyed). I also tried to go through this with my husband, but as some one not attuned to poetic language, he did not feel properly led by the prayers. It is a beautiful book and I was pleased with the structure of the prayers, but I still find myself thinking ‘something is lacking’.

[Bonnie Westmark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was in a contemplative prayer Zoom and the reader read a beautiful prayer for peace from this book. Another friend held his book up as well, so I knew then I must have it. This is the perfect book for lectio devina or meditation, as time is needed to be with the words and prayers. Peace comes as you read each passage from different faith traditions. In this time of worldly strife, this book is a breath of fresh air, reminding me that I can find peace within myself despite the circumstances.

[Margaret E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Renewed hope for peace

I have recently been too overwhelmed by the state of the world even to pray. But these devotions from JPN have made it possible for me to contemplate a hope for reconciliation.
This is the first book I have come across that so beautifully and clearly brings the three Abrahamic faiths together, illuminating the truths that bind them.

[Robert D. Cornwall · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a small book of prayers, enough for one week -- morning and evening. It is a call to pray for peace and incorporates prayers, brief excerpts from the Psalms, Gospels, and the Qur'an. In addition art work is incorprated that stems from each of these faith communities -- Jewish, Christian, and Muslim.

It is a book that is worth using in prayer. I did for the week and found it a blessing.

Written by John Philip Newell, a Church of Scotland minister, poet, scholar.

For a fuller review check here: http://pastorbobcornwall.blogspot.com...


This was provided to me by Eerdmans.

[Brent Wykle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this prayer book! It is a wonderful combination of the 3 Abrahamic faiths and their promotion of peace.