The ‘Touched’ series
As a young man, like many Christians of my generation, I was frequently moved and inspired by the wonderful prayers of Catholic priest Michel Quoist. He had a extraordinary gift of locating God in the humdrum business of daily life, not just in the beautiful but also in the ugly. The prayers in this series of books represent my attempt to do something similar. Each begins with an observation concerning something in everyday life – a signpost, an icy path, a harbour, a thistle – and then uses this as a metaphor or illustration leading into prayer. I wrote the prayers, two or three at a turn, while out walking near my home, frequently taking inspiration from the sights and sounds around me. I hope you will enjoy using them as much as I loved writing them.
HEAVEN TOUCHING EARTH: PRAYERS FOR DAILY LIFE
Does prayer seem remote from daily life? Out of touch with the modern world? It can. Yet to be worth anything, faith must relate to our day-to-day existence, touching us where we are. In Heaven Touching Earth, the commonplace and the ordinary provide the backdrop to an encounter with God so that every part of life might be enlightened by his presence.
TOUCHED BY HIS HAND: PRAYERS FOR DAILY LIFE
Imagine everything we see, hear, think and feel speaking to God. Touched by His Hand explores that possibility, cutting through religious jargon and stereotypes. It offers a resource for worship and daily devotion, a way of seeing all life as prayer, and of bring all prayer to life.
TOUCHING DOWN: PRAYERS FOR DAILY LIFE
In this book, Nick Fawcett draws inspiration from things as mundane as a, feather duster, a shopping trolley and even a burst pipe to show how prayer can touch down to earth in such a way that life in turn is touched by heaven.
TOUCHING THE SEASONS: DOWN-TO-EARTH PRAYERS FOR THE CHRISTIAN YEAR
Some days of the year are special, not just Christmas and Easter, but other occasions too. However, we’re not always able to articulate our thoughts as we would wish or to relate the occasion in question to daily life. This book offers 100 simple prayers rooted in everyday experience, the commonplace offering a springboard to personal devotion.
Books adapted from the ‘Touched by God’ series
After I’d finished writing the series above, Kevin Mayhew suggested to me that some of the prayers in them might appeal more to men and others to women. Why not reuse the material to put together a book for each? I had my reservations, not wanting to perpetuate narrow gender stereotypes, which I would strongly take issue with, but I understood that men occasionally find it difficult to relate to prayer, so I agreed to explore the idea further. First I selected material from the four books to put together four short gift books: A Cuppa and a Prayer, A Pause and a Prayer, A Walk and a Prayer and A Pint and a Prayer. The latter, of course, was aimed chiefly at women, with the housework referred to in the first reserved for men! Subsequently, combining prayers from the ‘Touching’ series with a number of new specially written ones, I produced the compilations Calling Mars and Calling Venus. I’m still very unsure that prayers can ever be gendered, but many readers seem to have valued these little books, A Cuppa and a Prayer having proved particularly popular.
A CUPPA AND A PRAYER: REFLECTIONS ON DAILY LIFE
God is always there in the everyday experiences of life – from the routine drudgery of housework to watching TV or sitting down with a nice hot cup of tea. Celebrate and respond to that truth through these down-to-earth prayers.
A PAUSE AND A PRAYER: DOWN-TO-EARTH PRAYERS FOR DAILY LIFE
God is always there at every milestone in our journey through life – from birth to adolescence, the middle years to old age, no matter what joys, sorrows, temptations and decisions we face. Celebrate and respond to that truth through these down-to-earth prayers.
A PINT AND A PRAYER: REFLECTIONS ON DAILY LIFE
God is always there in the everyday experiences of life – in our work and leisure, in everything and anything that might be chatted about over a pint. Celebrate and respond to that truth through these down-to-earth prayers.
A WALK AND A PRAYER: GLIMPSING GOD IN THE WORLD AROUND US
God is always there in the everyday experiences of life – in our work and leisure, in everything and anything that might be chatted about over a pint. Celebrate and respond to that truth through these down-to-earth prayers.
CALLING MARS: PRAYERS FOR MEN
Nick Fawcett’s prayers have long provided Christians around the world with a down-to-earth and challenging base for a rich prayer life. In this latest collection, he addresses matters that resonate with men including work life, home life, sport, money, and health. This is a practical and fresh tool for men as they walk the path of everyday life.
CALLING VENUS: PRAYERS FOR WOMEN
Nick Fawcett’s prayers have long provided Christians around the world with a down-to-earth and challenging base for a rich prayer life. This latest collection focuses on matters that spark with women, including work, home, shopping, money and health. Practical and fresh, these prayers will enable women to embrace God as they walk the path of their everyday lives.
Heart to Heart
I’ve written a lot of reflective prayers over the years for various of my publications, especially study books. The following book brings together a selection of those from a number of these.
HEART TO HEART: REFLECTIVE THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS ON CHRISTIAN THEMES
Is there one correct way to pray? Definitely not. The one essential, however, is that prayer comes from the heart, honestly expressing what we want to say to God. Heart to Heart aims to provide a stimulus prayer, offering 75 reflective prayers, conversational in tone, exploring the nature and journey of Christian discipleship.