Liturgies for Hope

Description

Sixty contemporary, comforting liturgies that break through the noise of modern life to offer time-tested wisdom for readers navigating burnout, anxiety, and other stresses.“Beautiful words to help us access the longings of our souls and bring them to God. If you’re looking for a jumpstart to your spiritual life, start here.”—Rich Villodas, lead pastor of New Life Fellowship and author of Good and Beautiful and KindRemind us, Jesus, that You lay sleeping in the boat, in the middle of the storm at sea. You are neither surprised nor distressed by the mounting chaos. You are not a God who panics.When writers Audrey Elledge and Elizabeth Moore were inspired to create an anchor of hope for their own local community, they moved forward by turning to the past, to a time when Christians looked at the collapsing world around them and resolved to offer something beautiful—something true—through poetic prayers. 
The stunning result is Liturgies for Hope, an original collection of modern liturgies reminiscent of past generations of faith. Designed to awaken your prayer life, the entries in this gentle guide explore experiences such as
• feeling burned-out and soul-weary• embracing the mystery of faith• receiving the kindness of others• struggling with secret shame• bursting with thanksgivingWith Scripture references for every prayer, Liturgies for Hope is both timeless and ideal for this moment, offering words to express our longings, shore up our prayers, and reorient our souls. “As someone who has spent many hours praying, here’s what I’ve come to realize: it’s still very hard to do. One of the best gifts that has helped me develop my life with God is the prayers and liturgies of others. I often need the words of others to help me form my own words. This is what Audrey Elledge and Elizabeth Moore do for us in this needed book. They offer beautiful words to help us access the longings of our souls and bring them to God. If you’re looking for a jumpstart to your spiritual life, start here.”—Rich Villodas, lead pastor of New Life Fellowship and author of Good and Beautiful and Kind
“This is a marvelous book. I am not surprised it emerged from one of the urban epicenters of our global pandemic—of course this fierce hope would grow in such a place and such a season. Audrey Elledge and Elizabeth Moore weave rich Scriptural imagery into powerful, prayerful poetry covering topics that are at once universal but also timely in their particularity. The liturgical pronouns shift between we, you, and I in a way that is spacious and welcoming. Best of all, this book compelled even this solitary reader to reach out to her friends; these are liturgies that simply must be prayed in the company of others.”—Christie Purifoy, author of Placemaker
“Liturgies for Hope will be a trusted companion for those who struggle to find words for the cry of their hearts. In this book, Audrey and Elizabeth encourage us to lay our deepest requests before the Lord as a humble act of worship. This collection of prayers stirred my heart’s affection for Christ by reminding me of the strong hope we have in Him.”—Hunter Beless, founder and host of the Journeywomen podcast and author of Read It, See It, Say It, Sing It! Audrey Elledge also lives in New York, where she works at SparkNotes and serves at Church of the City New York. Audrey is the recipient of the Academy of American Poets Prize and the Virginia Beall Ball Prize.
Born and raised in Louisiana, Elizabeth Moore now lives in New York, where she works at Penguin Random House and serves with the Church of the City New York creative team. US