Stephen Cottrell

In returning and rest you shall be saved. - Isaiah 30.15. When was the last time you had a real day off? Ditched the 'to do' lists. Switched off the phone. Had a lie-in. Sat in the bath until the water went cold? Most of us live at break-neck speed. Busy lives - work, family, friends, endless tasks - leave us with little time to sleep, never mind stopping and reflecting. We urgently need to stop imagining everything is so urgent. We need to learn to nurture our inner slob. In this generous, life-affirming book, full of practical wisdom, Stephen Cottrell invites us to slow down and stop...and breathe. This work contains 12 chapters: tackling the difficult business of stopping, through to where God fits in, and offering a beginners guide to sitting still! Start an adventure of self-discovery, play and renewed creativity that will improve the way you see life and help you catch a glimpse of God.

Discovering What Happens When You Stop

Do Nothing to Change Your Life

P Is for Pilgrim

Messenger, sentinel, steward ... these three words have been used to describe the work of a priest in the Church of England since Cranmer wrote the original ordination rite in 1550. Two more, servant and shepherd, were added in 1980. Taken together, these five metaphors provide a rich and resonant set of ideas through which to explore the nature of Christian ministry. In this short, lyrical book, Bishop Stephen Cottrell explores each one; based on actual addresses given to ordinands on the night before their ordination, it is refreshing, challenging and accessible. Anyone considering ordination or already in ministry will want to read this book for the fascinating exploration of the five metaphors he considers.

Servants, Shepherds, Messengers, Sentinels and Stewards

On Priesthood

When someone hits the ground running, there is all the superficial attraction of movement and progress. But there is no guarantee that they are going in the right direction.’ In Hit The Ground Kneeling, Stephen Cottrell takes common statements about leadership – statements that we often take for granted – and challenges them in the light of the Christian faith and Christian perspectives on leadership. Wherever you exercise leadership (at work, organizing a home, or doing something like coaching a local football team), the author playfully suggests some models of leadership that can help you – whether or not you reckon you’re a Christian.

Seeing Leadership Differently

Hit the Ground Kneeling

How to Pray is a basic primer on prayer. It will get you started, keep you going and uses every stage of life and its varied events to renew and expand your understanding of being alive to God. Completely honest about the struggles and difficulties everyone encounters, it will help you discover how natural prayer is, even when you least feel like it. With his characteristic humour and realism, Stephen Cottrell offers a guide 'from an experienced beginner' for those starting out on the Christian journey and for those who feel there is more to discover. Full of stories and examples from the Christian tradition and daily life, simple principles to follow, some prayers to use and helpful insights from spiritual writers through the ages, this is a book to inspire over and over again. A great gift for confirmation or adult baptism. Previously published as Praying Through Life.

Alone, with Others, at Any Time, in Any Place

How to Pray

In the first fully comprehensive study of one of the world's most iconic musical instruments, Stephen Cottrell examines the saxophone's various social, historical, and cultural trajectories, and illustrates how and why this instrument, with its idiosyncratic shape and sound, became important for so many different music-makers around the world.After considering what led inventor Adolphe Sax to develop this new musical wind instrument, Cottrell explores changes in saxophone design since the 1840s before examining the instrument's role in a variety of contexts: in the military bands that contributed so much to the saxophone's global dissemination during the nineteenth century; as part of the rapid expansion of American popular music around the turn of the twentieth century; in classical and contemporary art music; in world and popular music; and, of course, in jazz, a musical style with which the saxophone has become closely identified.

The Saxophone

Most of us live at break-neck speed, cramming work, family, friends and endless tasks into every day. In this life-affirming book Stephen Cottrell encourages us instead to hang out with our inner slob and rediscover not just the pleasures but the real benefits, the unexpected gifts and the deep truths to be found in simply messing about.

Do Nothing to Change Your Life 2nd edition

In this attractive illustrated book, Stephen Cottrell reflects on five of the Christ in the Wilderness paintings, and reveals them to be a rich source of spiritual wisdom and nourishment. By dwelling in the wilderness of these evocative portraits, Cottrell encourages us to refine our own discipleship and learn again what it means to follow Christ.

Reflecting On The Paintings By Stanley Spencer

Christ in the Wilderness

Offers short, practical steps to help us slow down, take time out - and enjoy Christmas without piling on the pressure. This book presents thoughts and actions for each day of Advent.

Do Nothing... Christmas is Coming

“In returning and rest you shall be saved.” — Isaiah 30:15 When was the last time you had a real day off? Ditched the ‘to do’ lists? Switched off the phone? Unplugged the alarm clock? Sat in the bath until the water went cold? Most of us live at breakneck speed. Busy lives – work, family, friends, endless tasks – leave us with little time to sleep, never mind stopping and reflecting. We urgently need to stop imagining that everything is so urgent. We need to learn to nurture our inner slob. In this generous, life-affirming book, Cottrell invites us to slow down and stop... breathe... and start an adventure of self-discovery and renewed creativity that will improve the way we see life and help us catch a glimpse of God.

Christmas is one of the most joyful times of year, and it can also be one of the most stressful. This understanding and uplifting book offers another way to approach December and to discover how its joys and promises can restore our lives, not add to their burdens.

An Advent Calendar with a Difference

Let It Slow

Frantic and over-stretched in the run up to Christmas? This is the perfect gift book if you need to slow down over Advent, or if you know someone else who needs an injection of calm!

Do Nothing, Christmas Is Coming

Finding Hope, Taking Heart and Changing the World

Dear England

Steven Croft

Robert Warren

John Finney

Felicity Lawson

Emmaus: The Way of Faith is a course designed to welcome people into the Christian faith and the life of the Church. Knowing God is designed to deepen new Christians' understanding of the basics of Christian doctrine, addressing questions about the role of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in our lives.

Knowing God (Stage 3)

Emmaus

Paula Gooder

Robert Atwell

Pilgrim is a major new teaching and discipleship resource from the Church of England. It will help enquirers and new Christians explore what it means to travel through life with Jesus Christ. A Christian course for the twenty-first century, Pilgrim offers an approach of participation, not persuasion. Enquirers are encouraged to practice the ancient disciplines of biblical reflection and prayer, exploring key texts that have helped people since the earliest days of the Christian faith. Believing that the Christian faith is primarily about relationship, Pilgrim aims to lay a foundation for a lifetime of learning more about God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ and what it means to be his disciple. Assuming little or no knowledge of the Christian faith, Pilgrim can be used at any point on the journey of discipleship and by every tradition in the Church of England. Pilgrim is made up of two parts: Follow and Grow. Each consists of four short courses and a leaders’ guide. Follow introduces the Christian faith for complete beginners, while Grow aims to develop a deeper level of discipleship in those who have turned to Christ. Each short course contains six-sessions, supported by online audio-visual resources. All sessions combine a simple framework prayer, reflection on the Bible in the lectio divina style, an article by a modern writer, and time for questions and reflection. This first book in the Follow Stage, Turning to Christ, explores the questions candidates are asked when they decide to become followers of Jesus.

Follow Stage Book 1

Pilgrim: Turning to Christ

Pilgrim is a major new teaching and discipleship resource from the Church of England. It will help enquirers and new Christians explore what it means to travel through life with Jesus Christ. A Christian course for the twenty-first century, Pilgrim offers an approach of participation, not persuasion. Enquirers are encouraged to practice the ancient disciplines of biblical reflection and prayer, exploring key texts that have helped people since the earliest days of the Christian faith. Believing that the Christian faith is primarily about relationship, Pilgrim aims to lay a foundation for a lifetime of learning more about God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ and what it means to be his disciple. Assuming little or no knowledge of the Christian faith, Pilgrim can be used at any point on the journey of discipleship and by every tradition in the Church of England. Pilgrim is made up of two parts: Follow and Grow. Each consists of four short courses and a leaders’ guide. Follow introduces the Christian faith for complete beginners, while Grow aims to develop a deeper level of discipleship in those who have turned to Christ. Each short course contains six-sessions, supported by online audio-visual resources. All sessions combine a simple framework prayer, reflection on the Bible in the lectio divina style, an article by a modern writer, and time for questions and reflection. This fourth book in the Follow Stage, The Beatitudes explores the Christian vision for the world, including openness to God, thirsting for what is right, peace making and living as citizens of God’s Kingdom. Contributors include John Inge, Helen Ann Hartley, Emma Ineson, and Martin Warner.

Follow Stage Book 4

Pilgrim: The Beatitudes

Pilgrim is a major teaching and discipleship resource from the Church of England that helps enquirers and new Christians explore what it means to travel through life with Jesus Christ. A Christian course for the twenty-first century, Pilgrim offers an approach of participation, not persuasion. Enquirers are encouraged to practice the ancient disciplines of biblical reflection and prayer, exploring key texts that have helped people since the earliest days of the Christian faith. Assuming little or no knowledge of the Christian faith, Pilgrim can be used at any point on the journey of discipleship and by every tradition in the Church of England. Pilgrim is made up of two parts: Follow and Grow. Follow introduces the Christian faith for complete beginners, while Grow aims to develop a deeper level of discipleship in those who have turned to Christ. This second book in the Grow Stage, The Eucharist, explores in greater depth how Christians know and worship God. Its six sessions reveal the reasons why The Eucharist is celebrated as a memorial of Christ’s saving passion and stands at the very heart of Christian worship. They combine simple prayer, reflection on the Bible in the lectio divina style, an article by a modern writer, and time for questions and reflection, and are supported by free online audio and video resources.

Book 6 (Grow Stage)

Pilgrim: The Eucharist

One extraordinary week. Jesus rides a colt into Jerusalem. He shows righteous rage in the temple. He eats with the wrong sort of people. He lets a woman anoint him with oil. He washes his disciples’ feet. He breaks bread and shares wine. He prays passionately in the garden. He allows himself to be arrested. Jesus stands in the prophetic tradition of those who embody what they teach. The things he did were carefully planned. And in this riveting book, Stephen Cotterell draws out their political and religious significance as Jesus moves towards his greatest and final act – his death and resurrection.

The story of Holy Week

The Things He Did

Most of us live at break-neck speed. Busy lives - work, family, friends, endless tasks - leave us with little time to sleep, never mind reflect. Here is a challenge to stop - and start an adventure of self-discovery, play and renewed creativity that will improve the way you see life and help you catch a glimpse of God.

It's the simplest thing in the world, yet it can seem so difficult. It's as natural as breathing, yet it's hard to find the right words. Just how do you learn to pray? This practical, illustrated guide considers ten basic questions about prayer and offers simple helps for making prayer a part of everyday life. These include:* What prayer is;* When and where to pray;* Whether words are always needed;* What to do when prayer seems impossible;* Praying alone and with others. No one ever becomes an expert in prayer, but this book sets out to help you become more open to God's presence, which is the heart of prayer. It draws on the wisdom of Christians across the ages and offers a selection of easily-memorized favourite prayers to encourage you as you journey into prayer.This guide is adapted from a larger book first published as Praying Through Life and reissued as How to Pray.

Stephen Cottrell

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