Gravity Defied is a powerful new Lent course by Rachel Mann, based on scenes and ideas in the Oscar-nominated movie Wicked starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande.

The course explores a number of themes relevant to each of us in the contemporary world. These include recognising what is good and right, and standing up for it even when mocked, the temptations of success, popularity and respectability, and the importance of friendship and solidarity. All is discussed within the context of Jesus’s ministry recorded in the Gospels, the temptations and threats that he faced, and persecution of those who followed him.

The course is arranged in five weekly sessions suitable both for individuals and for group study:

• How do we judge goodness?

• Fear and loathing in the land of Oz.

• What is a life well lived?

• The attractions of popularity.

• The joy and cost of living life authentically.

Each session includes suggested clips from the film, as well as discussion questions, exercises and reflections, opening and closing prayers, and activities to consider across the week. There is also helpful guidance for people leading a group study of Gravity Defied.

Rachel Mann is a writer, poet, speaker and national broadcaster with a particular interest in the relationship between popular culture and faith. Ordained into the Church of England in 2005, she has served as a parish priest, Poet-in-Residence and Minor Canon of Manchester Cathedral, and is now Archdeacon of Salford and Bolton. Her many books include Dazzling Darkness and Fierce Imaginings, the novel The Gospel of Eve, and poetry Eleanor Among the Saints. She has previously written the Lent courses From Now On and Still Standing.

The Archbishop of Canterbury's Lent Book 2026

Dancing to the Heartbeat of God explores many aspects of discipleship.

With a foreword and an afterword by the Archbishop of Canterbury designate, an introduction by the Archbishop of York, and chapters by around thirty authors drawn from across the globe, the volume creates a sense of excitement, dynamism and faithful witness in its gloriously diverse writers and readers alike.

Includes prayers and questions for reflection.

Its testimonies and stories aim to encourage people in the Church of England and across the Anglican Communion to share their faith with others.

The idea of 'giving something up for Lent' is widely known and discussed today - yet how many know that the ancient discipline of the Lenten fast had several purposes?

It was designed as a reminder of our daily dependence on God for all our needs, to draw us closer to God in prayer, to reconnect with the idea of community, and to help us follow Christ's journey through the wilderness and on to Jerusalem.

How many of us simply abstain from some treat or other for a few weeks and fail to engage with this deeper meaning of Lent?

This book shows how Lent can be a time for exploring a different kind of 'giving up', one that can transform our lives. If we are to draw closer to God, we have to be willing to give up some of our entrenched ideas about him, in order to see him more clearly. In a series of daily studies, Maggi Dawn shows how, throughout Scripture, people were radically changed by encountering the true God. If we follow their examples, we can allow the Holy Spirit to shed his light on our ideas of God that are too harsh, too small, too fragile, or too stern. Then God will graciously reveal himself to us and bring us to an Easter joy that is richer and more profound than ever before. Contents include:

•Introduction

•Section 1: Giving up (Ash Wednesday to Saturday)

•Section 2: Jesus in the wilderness and beyond (First week of Lent)

•Section 3: Other wildernesses (Second week of Lent)

•Section 4: Changing perceptions (Third week of Lent)

•Section 5: Changing communities (Fourth week of Lent)

•Section 6: Changing your mind (Fifth week of Lent)

•Sections 7: 'The end of all our exploring' (Holy Week)

•Easter Sunday

At the end of each week's meditations there are reflection questions that can be used in a group setting.

Did Jesus of Nazareth really rise from the dead?

Of the many world religions, only one claims that its founder returned from the grave. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the very cornerstone of Christianity.

But a dead man coming back to life? In our sophisticated age, when myth has given way to science, who can take such a claim seriously? Some argue that Jesus never died on the cross. Conflicting accounts make the empty tomb seem suspect.

How credible is the evidence for--and against--the resurrection? Focusing his award-winning skills as a legal journalist on history's most compelling enigma, Lee Strobel retraces the startling findings that led him from atheism to belief. He examines:

• The Medical Evidence: Was Jesus's death a sham and his resurrection a hoax?
• The Evidence of the Missing Body: Was Jesus's body really absent from his tomb?
• The Evidence of Appearances: Was Jesus seen alive after his death on the cross?

Written in a hard-hitting, journalistic style, The Case for Easter probes the core issues of the resurrection. Jesus Christ, risen from the dead: superstitious myth or life-changing reality? The evidence is in. The verdict is up to you.

Draw Near is the official Church of England booklet for Lent 2026. It invites you to develop a rhythm of life that will help you grow as a disciple of Christ day by day, especially as we prepare to celebrate the mystery of God’s saving love at Easter.

Each week a different contributor explores an activity central to Christian discipleship: worship, prayer, Scripture, communion, service to others and sharing the good news. For each day of Lent it offers daily Bible readings, images, short reflections, prayers and practical responses to help you draw near to God this Lent and beyond.

Contributors:

Kate Bruce

Michael Leyden

Jessica Martin

Jitesh Patel

Matthew Porter

Whether you are completely new to John's Gospel or have read it many times before, Meeting God in John will help you see the Fourth Gospel with fresh eyes and gain a deeper understanding of its essential meaning and purpose.

David Ford, one of the world's most widely respected theologians and author of Theology: A Very Short Introduction and The Gospel of John: A Theological Commentary, offers an accessible and absorbing introduction to the main message of John's Gospel, packed with compelling observations into the personality and impact of Jesus, both in the first century and today.

Meeting God in John explores what the Gospel reveals about God through the person of Jesus Christ. Essential reading for anyone seeking a richer grasp of the gospel message, it will leave you with a renewed appreciation of and enthusiasm for John's writing, and the desire to return to it over and over again. Ford's straightforward and illuminating approach also makes it eminently helpful for new Christians just starting out on their faith journey.

Each chapter includes questions for reflection or discussion, making Meeting God in John ideal for Bible study, whether individually or in small groups. With its focus on the Passion narrative, it also serves beautifully as a Lent devotional.

Simple yet profound, this is an invitation to all who long to deepen their understanding of John's Gospel - and, through it, to meet the God revealed in Jesus Christ.

Journey through Lent with the insight and imagination of the Oxford Inklings - a group of writers who reshaped Christian thought and storytelling in the twentieth century. Drawing on the work of some of the Inklings’ most well-known members, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as friends of the Inklings such as Dorothy Sayers and T.S. Eliot, Wardrobes and Rings explores through their eyes a faith which is tinged with seriousness, creativity and joy.

This devotional draws on their writings - fiction, poetry, and essays - offering daily readings and reflections that illuminate the path to the cross and resurrection. Weekly themes such as temptation, time, nature and creativity guide the way.

Written by Julia Golding, Malcolm Guite and Simon Horobin: a novelist, a poet-priest, and an Oxford professor all deeply immersed in the Inklings’ world and wisdom, Wardrobes and Rings invites you to rediscover Lent through the lens of imagination-infused faith.

Each reflection ends with a Bible passage and a reflection question to consider.

There are some things which, if they are true, change everything.If Jesus rose from the dead, it would transform what we think of God and how we see ourselves. We could make sense of some of the deepest mysteries of our existence and enjoy real hope in our everyday lives.

But can a rational person actually believe that Jesus rose from the dead?

Mike Hood wants to show you that you can. In this short, personable book, he addresses questions like… Why do any of us believe what we believe about life after death? What makes us hesitate to change our view of Jesus or God? What historical evidence is there for the resurrection? What will it mean for our lives now if there is life after death?

Bringing together thoughtful examination of the evidence and real-life stories from people who have come to believe in Jesus' resurrection, The If That Changes Everything shows how Christianity fits into and makes sense of our deepest questions and desires. Readers will be encouraged to see that faith in Jesus is both reasonable and life-changing in the best way.

Includes appendices by respected scholars John Lennox and John Dickson.

In the midst of our noisy, fast-paced world, finding moments of stillness can seem impossible, and the idea of staying silent, perhaps even a little daunting. Yet, these moments are where true peace and spiritual depth reside. A Season of Silence invites you to embark on a transformative journey through the practice of silent, listening prayer.

Over 40 days, this book offers daily steps that will gradually and gently guide you into a richer and deeper experience of contemplative silence. Each day offers a short reflection, a thought-provoking quotation from the Bible and other wisdom sources, and practical exercises to help you as you begin to cultivate a lifelong habit of contemplative silence. This isn’t just about quieting external noise - it's about fostering an inner stillness that continues to resonate throughout your daily activities, bringing clarity, peace, and a profound sense of presence.

Whether you're seeking a structured spiritual practice, a retreat from the chaos of everyday life, or a way to deepen your connection with the divine, this book is an invitation and practical guide to help you pause, listen, and discover the transformative power of silence.

A Place of Belonging explores how we can find spiritual solace in our lives and the strength and confidence to flourish by understanding - through studying selected Bible passages as well as extracts from literature old and new - how, where and why we fit into certain places and spaces, both physical and incorporeal.

At the end of each chapter, there are questions and challenges to aid the reader.

Draw Near is the official Church of England booklet for Lent 2026. It invites you to develop a rhythm of life that will help you grow as a disciple of Christ day by day, especially as we prepare to celebrate the mystery of God’s saving love at Easter.

Each week a different contributor explores an activity central to Christian discipleship: worship, prayer, Scripture, communion, service to others and sharing the good news. For each day of Lent it offers daily Bible readings, images, short reflections, prayers and practical responses to help you draw near to God this Lent and beyond.

Contributors:

Kate Bruce

Michael Leyden

Jessica Martin

Jitesh Patel

Matthew Porter

Discover fresh hope as you see the miracle of redemption through a new set of eyes.

In If the Tree Could Speak, New York Times bestselling author Tim Tebow invites you into the story of Jesus’ crucifixion, told from the perspective of the closest thing to Jesus on that day—the wooden cross. This captivating poem portrays the journey of Jesus all the way to His crucifixion and resurrection. You’ll see His death and His humanity in a new light.

When a large tree is cut down, it hopes to be made into something the whole world would admire. But after being stripped and beaten down into two beams, the tree is aghast at its new shameful form—a cross used to execute only the worst of criminals.

Follow the cross to Golgotha and meet Jesus with fresh eyes as the cross discovers that it holds the King of kings, who has redeemed the tree’s shameful form to become a symbol of hope for all of humanity. Filled with striking illustrations from Rommel Ruiz, If the Tree Could Speak

• Is a compelling narrative written in rhyme from the perspective of the cross, making the crucifixion story accessible for all readers and levels of faith
• Is a perfect gift for Lent and Easter, baptisms, or for someone curious about or new to the Christian faith
• Is a great choice for churches to read from the pulpit, in Sunday school classes, or in small groups

Come to the cross and embrace the love and redemption that Jesus offers to everyone who believes.

Prepare your heart for Easter by making the most of Lent as you dwell daily on Jesus, the friend of sinners.

This reflective journey through Lent is full of... honest, conversational anecdotes about our need for grace; convicting insights into what it looks like to follow Christ; marvellous truth about the love of Christ; hope for the glory of eternal life; thoughtful reflection questions

"Remember who you are; remember who he is."

In this short phrase, Elyse Fitzpatrick summarises the heart of each devotion in Friend of Sinners. Beginning with Ash Wednesday and ending with the empty tomb, you'll remember daily the love of Jesus, who died so you could have eternal life.

This compelling sequence of reports on the events of Holy Week traces the journey Jesus made from his arrival in Jerusalem to his execution.

The reports read as if contemporary to the events as they happened, enabling you to imagine them unfolding as though in real time, without relying on the after-the-event wisdom that we carry.

The result is a moving experience in which you become a first-hand follower, not always knowing what comes next, or how it will end, and without possessing the weight or comfort of the theological and cultural understanding that has gathered over the centuries since.

The book concludes with a personal reflection on the meaning of Easter, followed by a series of questions and prompts for further reflection or discussion.

Contents

Recognition (Palm Sunday)

Confrontation (Monday)

Interrogation (Tuesday)

Anointing (Wednesday)

Parting (Maundy Thursday)

Noise (Good Friday - First Meditation)

Silence (Good Friday - Second Meditation)

Execution (Good Friday)

Encounter (Easter)

With immersive teaching filmed on location in Israel, this 8-week video-led Bible study from New York Times bestselling author Bob Goff invites you to walk where Jesus walked, engage Scripture with fresh eyes, and follow Him with greater love and purpose.

Join Bob Goff on a journey across Israel—not as a tourist but as a follower of Jesus. From Capernaum, where community took root, to the Sea of Galilee, where joy met calling, each session includes stunning video, fascinating biblical and historical insights, reflection opportunities for personal or group study, and Bob’s joyful storytelling.

Whether you're exploring faith for the first time, leaning in for a deeper connection with God, or gathering with friends who are ready to see their faith come alive again, A Journey with Jesus will stretch your perspective and equip you to love others more courageously.

Reflections on gospel stories around the theme of money, including the Holy Week narratives

The gospels are full of references to coins, money, taxes, costs, pricing, wages, bribery and gambling.

In The Cost of Christian Living, Martyn Percy explores the different meanings and uses of money in the gospels. Looking at twelve different stories – parables, miracles and encounters, six from Holy Week and six from elsewhere in the gospels – this book offers a unique perspective on the intersection of faith and finance to help you to engage in a new way with the stories of Jesus’ life and death, and to reflect on your own attitudes and choices with regards to money.

Includes group study material for Lent or any six-week period of study.

Draw Near is the official Church of England booklet for Lent 2026. It invites you to develop a rhythm of life that will help you grow as a disciple of Christ day by day, especially as we prepare to celebrate the mystery of God’s saving love at Easter.

Each week a different contributor explores an activity central to Christian discipleship: worship, prayer, Scripture, communion, service to others and sharing the good news. For each day of Lent it offers daily Bible readings, images, short reflections, prayers and practical responses to help you draw near to God this Lent and beyond.

Contributors:

Kate Bruce

Michael Leyden

Jessica Martin

Jitesh Patel

Matthew Porter