Embracing the World: Praying for Justice and Peace

"A wise, helpful and nourishing book, filled with personal storiesand practical guidance."
Marcus J. Borg, author, Meeting Jesus Again forthe First Time and Reading the Bible Again for the FirstTime

"Jane Vennard′s carefully constructed book creates much–neededbridges between the personal and political, the mystical andmundane, the pastoral and prophetic so that pilgrims canconnect to the world and beyond."
Swanee Hunt, former United States Ambassador toAustria

"In Embracing the World: Praying for Justice and Peace,Jane Vennard gives us fresh and creative perspectives on the manyquestions that surround prayer. With numerous and varied examples,she shows us how to connect with others through personal prayer tohelp bring peace in our chaotic, afflicted world. This is a verytimely book. While its focus is primarily Christian, readers whofollow other spiritual traditions will not go unrewarded."
Patricia Hopkins, coauthor, The Feminine Face ofGod: the Unfolding of the Sacred in Women

"A comprehensive and contemporary look at the meaning and powerthat will speak to all who are hungry for the voice of God intoday′s world. Jane Vennard reaffirms our essential connectednessto the mercy and comfort of God who forever waits to hear ourvoices and listen to our silences."
Edwina Gateley, minister, speaker, poet, and authorof I Hear a Seed Growing

Preface.

1. Grounding Ourselves in God.

2. Praying for Others and the World.

3. Praying with Our Actions.

4. Praying for Renewal.

5. Praying to Be Transformed.

6. Praying for Discernment.

7. Trusting the Mercy of God.

Afterword.

Notes.

Suggested Reading.

Acknowledgments.

The Author.

Index.

Jane E. Vennard is the author of three previous books on prayer and is a popular speaker, retreat leader, teacher, and spiritual director. This book grows out of her teaching at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver, where she witnessed firsthand the many shifts in her students′ lives as they began to focus their prayer in new ways and to discern what actions they might take to promote justice and peace in the world around them.