
Do Not Be Afraid
The Joy of Waiting in a Time of Fear: The Archbishop of York's Advent Book 2024
Rachel Mann(Author)
SPCK Publishing
Published on 19. September 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
144 pages
978-0-281-09001-3 (ISBN)
Description
'Waiting can be beautiful and, at least sometimes, it takes us to the heart of the Holy.'
As much at home with Strictly Come Dancing as the mystical writings of Julian of Norwich, Rachel Mann writes with disarming verve of something we all experience - waiting.
It may seem unlikely when you're stuck on a train, or nervously anticipating hospital treatment, or simply fearful of an uncertain future, that there is treasure to be found in the waiting. Yet the Psalmist says, 'I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.'
These luminous meditations tell stories of God waiting with us when we're in fear or distress; of coming - bidden or unbidden - to relieve our loneliness; of disconcerting us, desiring us and surprising us with joy... Most of all they remind us that Jesus Christ comes into the world as one long waited for; as the servant who waits on others; as the one on whom we are, adoringly, called to wait.
Covering 4 weeks, each meditation ends with a prayer and questions for reflection, which may be used by individuals or groups.
As much at home with Strictly Come Dancing as the mystical writings of Julian of Norwich, Rachel Mann writes with disarming verve of something we all experience - waiting.
It may seem unlikely when you're stuck on a train, or nervously anticipating hospital treatment, or simply fearful of an uncertain future, that there is treasure to be found in the waiting. Yet the Psalmist says, 'I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.'
These luminous meditations tell stories of God waiting with us when we're in fear or distress; of coming - bidden or unbidden - to relieve our loneliness; of disconcerting us, desiring us and surprising us with joy... Most of all they remind us that Jesus Christ comes into the world as one long waited for; as the servant who waits on others; as the one on whom we are, adoringly, called to wait.
Covering 4 weeks, each meditation ends with a prayer and questions for reflection, which may be used by individuals or groups.
Reviews / Votes
"Throughout the book, Rachel uses her wonderful gifts as a poet, priest and theologian . . . [returning] again and again to the awesome trustworthiness of Jesus." -- Stephen Cottrell, from the Foreword to DO NOT BE AFRAID [The author] has an ability to put a lot of theology into a simple statement - "Jesus comes into our midst and shows us the deepest reality of the world" - and an enviable gift for Christian wisdom sharply expressed. -- Church Times on DO NOT BE AFRAIDMore details
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Product notice
Paperback (UK-trade)
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 10 mm
Weight
235 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-281-09001-3 (9780281090013)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Rachel Mann
Do Not Be Afraid
The Joy of Waiting in a Time of Fear: The Archbishop of York's Advent Book 2024
E-Book
09/2024
1st Edition
SPCK
€14.49
Available for download
Person
Rachel Mann is a priest, poet, writer and broadcaster. She has written over a dozen books, including the Michael Ramsey Prize shortlisted Fierce Imaginings and A Kingdom of Love, which was highly commended in the Forward Poetry Prizes. She wrote the bestselling Lent course, From Now On, as well as the bestselling Advent Book, In the Bleak Midwinter and writes a regular column for The Christian Century. She regularly contributes to programmes on Radio 4, including 'Thought For the Day' on the Today Programme, as well as 'Pause For Thought' on Radio 2.
Content
Foreword by the Archbishop of York
Introduction
WEEK 1
Advent Sunday: The joy of waiting . . . 'Do not fear'
Monday: Waiting for insight: Connected
Tuesday: Waiting in isolation with others
Wednesday: Waiting to slow down
Thursday: Waiting on the word
Friday: Waiting for the privileged to catch up
Saturday: What is shown in waiting
WEEK 2
Advent 2: The discomfort of waiting
Monday: Waiting to breathe easy . . .
Tuesday: Waiting on God's song
Wednesday: Waiting to live?
Thursday: Waiting on the silence of God
Friday: The inequality of waiting
Saturday: Waiting on a miracle
WEEK 3
Advent 3: 'Using' the waiting
Monday: Waiting for blessing?
Tuesday: The stature of waiting
Wednesday: Struggling to wait
Thursday: The frustration of waiting
Friday: Waiting to dance
Saturday: Waiting on table
WEEK 4
Advent 4: Jesus Christ is waiting
Monday: Waiting in dependence . . . The joy of hospitality?
Tuesday: Christmas Eve: Waiting in fear and trembling
Christmas Day: The waiting is over
Acknowledgements
Introduction
WEEK 1
Advent Sunday: The joy of waiting . . . 'Do not fear'
Monday: Waiting for insight: Connected
Tuesday: Waiting in isolation with others
Wednesday: Waiting to slow down
Thursday: Waiting on the word
Friday: Waiting for the privileged to catch up
Saturday: What is shown in waiting
WEEK 2
Advent 2: The discomfort of waiting
Monday: Waiting to breathe easy . . .
Tuesday: Waiting on God's song
Wednesday: Waiting to live?
Thursday: Waiting on the silence of God
Friday: The inequality of waiting
Saturday: Waiting on a miracle
WEEK 3
Advent 3: 'Using' the waiting
Monday: Waiting for blessing?
Tuesday: The stature of waiting
Wednesday: Struggling to wait
Thursday: The frustration of waiting
Friday: Waiting to dance
Saturday: Waiting on table
WEEK 4
Advent 4: Jesus Christ is waiting
Monday: Waiting in dependence . . . The joy of hospitality?
Tuesday: Christmas Eve: Waiting in fear and trembling
Christmas Day: The waiting is over
Acknowledgements