Devotional material

The vision of the Centre for Contemporary Christianity in Ireland is to see the Christian community in Ireland nurture a radical biblical faith in God, who in Jesus Christ reconciles the world, restores human relationships and is concerned for all of life and creation.

We are committed to the development of both the knowledge and personal skills needed among Christians and churches to serve their communities at critical points of cultural contention, communal conflict and social change. The Centre offers biblical resources and practical support for the development of biblical faith for a changing world.

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Out of the depths

"Out of the Depths" is a resource from the Centre for Contemporary Christianity in Ireland designed to help us reflect on the consequences of the "Troubles". The material offers an opportunity to consider the legacy of hurt, the need for healing and the challenge of forgiveness if we are to remember the past redemptively. The resource provides a series of biblical reflections helpful to those with a particular experience of hurt and for the wider community, as we seek healing through remembering together. The content of this resource will be of value for both private and shared reflection and can be used on Thursday, 21st June 2007 as part of "A Day of Private Reflection," or some other occasion of personal or community remembering.

"You who have made me see many troubles and calamities
will revive me again;
from the depths of the earth
you will bring me up again."
Psalm 71:20

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Out of the ordinary
praying in unexpected places

‘Out of the ordinary’ is a devotional resource for use by individuals, groups and leaders during Lent, Holy Week or at other times.

The booklet and seven postcards which accompany it, encourages you to go and spend time in a range of places, both familiar and unfamiliar, and offers readings and guidance for reflection and prayer there.

By becoming prayerfully present to God in these ordinary and yet often quite challenging settings we can discover God’s transformative presence and connect with the needs of our world in new and meaningful ways.

An ordinary place	A place of deprivation and poverty	A place of division and conflict	A place you avoid	A place of loss	An empty space	A place of celebration and hope

What child is this?

“For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…”
Isaiah 9:6

The season of Advent is a time of hope, waiting, preparation and promise. This resource explores these themes through the stories of four figures each rooted in the prophetic tradition: Malachi, Mary, Rachel and Simeon and is suitable for both personal reflection and group study.

What child is this? and what does his advent mean? This is the long-awaited Christ whose coming is the ultimate expression of God’s love for the world. A world which he would turn upside-down.

Difficult Paths

We often regard the seven days which follow Palm Sunday as Holy Week. Following Jesus’ entry in to Jerusalem, the original Holy Week saw Jesus led to his death on a cross and climaxed with his resurrection.

This resource contains seven readings and reflections from the final chapters of Luke’s gospel, beginning at the end of Luke 19. They are intended as daily reflections running from Monday to Easter Sunday, but of course can be used on other occasions.

They highlight the difficult path that Jesus followed in the week leading up to his death and resurrection. Undeniably, these singular events have a profound individual significance – Christ died for our sins. But the concerns of Jesus and the implication of this story also demand that we look beyond ourselves. As we journey through Holy Week we are challenged, not only about how we follow him on this path to new life, but also how we can bring the new life of Christ to bear in our communities and the world in which we live.

The book of Esther is a dramatic tale portraying the seedier side of Persian court life, in the 4th Century BCE in all its rather murky glory. The authority of King Ahasuerus is called into question in a court beset by bitter rivalry, chaos and ancient hatreds. A royal edict is issued which condemns to death all Jews living in exile in Persia. What can be done in the face of this threatened genocide?

It is decision time for the Jews close to the king and, in particular, for the young Queen Esther. It is time to stand up and be counted.

One of the few Bible books in which God is not overtly mentioned, what has the Book of Esther to say to us today? How should we engage in the often morally ambivalent world of politics and power? How are we, as Christians, called to live in the public square?

This booklet of four studies is suitable for either personal reflection or group discussion and is offered as part of the Centre for Contemporary Christianity’s ongoing commitment to providing relevant and accessible biblical resources.